Answer 28 On Day 28 of the Lunar year
For a holy and virtuous one to receive a sacred title, he or she must pass the written test on Sutra, Vinaya, and Sastra and the additional Holy Test on the level of his or her realization power and holy accomplishment. Only then can they be qualified as a sacred being and receive the Gold Button or Lotus Button levels, not the Blue Button levels.
Some masters of the Blue Button level cannot fathom why they are no longer considered holy after having always appeared as a holy virtuous one before their disciples. We ask you, the master: are you indeed a holy virtuous one? Are you an Arhat? Do you genuinely possess the three vidyas and the six supernatural powers? If you are not an Arhat, you are not a holy virtuous one, and you are not a venerable one. Only those who are a Ruzun, Jiaozun, or a Lianhuazun (a Lotus Button Venerable) are venerable. Isn’t that the case?
Make it clear to yourselves for our sake! Any holy virtuous one is at least a reincarnated one with the accomplishment of an Arhat. Only so can he or she be given a sacred title as holy. You thought that a holy virtuous one was so worthless as if you could find them anywhere. You thought people were holy virtuous ones as long as they carried the titles of a great rinpoche, a great dharma master, or a venerable one. You are stupid and ignorant!
We often hear someone being called a great rinpoche, a great dharma master, or a venerable one. As long as someone is not at the level of Gold Button, that is, if he is not a Ruzun, Jiaozun, or Lianhuazun, then the title is merely a respectful way to address the master. It would be a disgrace to holy beings if one should treat an only respectful title as a true venerable one.
A venerable one wearing a Lotus Button is a true venerable one, who has reached above the Gold Button Level 2 but falls short of Gold Button Level 3. They are called Lianhuazun in general. Someone reaching above Gold Button Level 3 is called Shangzun, which means above the venerable level and is a great Bodhisattva.
Some of the masters among you are already much higher than ordinary masters. Some are already at the levels of eminent monastics and greatly virtuous ones, which are very rare. Some of you who are masters have seen real powers of Buddha Dharma much more so than some great rinpoches and dharma kings in society. Although you might have been embarrassed when you got burned by Venerable Mozhi’s Tummo heat, at least you were there witnessing it. Those other dharma kings could only hear or read about it; they have never seen in person the practice of true Tummo Samadhi in their entire lifetime.
One more thing. Anyone wearing Blue Buttons has nothing to do with the word holy because they have not achieved the power of accomplishment of an Arhat. Regardless of how high their status may be, no Blue Button master can perform a real Inner-tantric Initiation and can at most give an Inner-tantric Initiation using handed-down Holy Dharma Water. If you do not believe it, ask a master who claims to know Inner-tantric Initiations to try it for you. Can he cause a Vajra pill in your hand to manifest miraculous transformations from afar? We tell you clearly: “No way!” You can see that he is a false holy virtuous one as soon as you test him.
The Great Rinpoches and Great Dharma Masters of Gold Button Level 1, Gold Button Level 2, or Lotus Button, despite the status of Holy Guru, can only give a Borrowed Inner-tantric Initiation. It is because they have not realized the level of accomplishment to perform direct Inner-tantric Initiations yet.
However, there are also remarkably few holy persons who are not willing to make public appearances, accept disciples, or engage with living beings who have no karmic affinity. They exist among ordinary people without being known. Buddhist disciples simply do not know what their status is. They do not come forward to take the holy test, but they are genuinely holy ones. Still, this type of person must have morality, virtue, and holy realization; they absolutely have great loving-kindness and great compassion. Additionally, with a one-hundred-percent certainty, they possess a few of the Five Vidyas. Otherwise, they are not holy either.
The Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
Written on behalf of great holy virtuous ones to answer questions raised
March 15, 2018
(translation by Zunba 2020-10-20)