(Eric Huang worked on translating this public announcement from Chinese to English. The translation was last edited on 2025-12-19.)
Reply to Inquiries No. 20180108: More on Status of unnamed Master, 2019 holy Exam, Establishing a Buddhist Organization, Beseeching an Inner-Tantric Initiation, and level of Henghsing Gyatso Rinpoche
The Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters has replied publicly to your inquiry. Now, you are asking the same question again. We are replying again, but won’t mention your master’s name. You asked why he claimed to have learned the Namo Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s Blessing Dharma, even though he had not. That means he lied to deceive people. There is no need for the Headquarters to check. The Headquarters precisely knows who has learned the Namo Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s Blessing Dharma because it keeps records of the transmissions by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, including the third-generation lineage holders who received the Dharma from the second-generation lineage holders and their names. As of now, the lineage has not been extended to the fourth generation yet. It is obvious. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has not transmitted the Namo Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s Blessing Dharma to your master. None of the second-generation lineage holders has transmitted to your master either.
Buddha Dharma must be learned with a pure and upstanding mind that benefits living beings. We again remind you that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III brought the Namo Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s Blessing Dharma to this earthly world. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the sole holder of the Dharma and transmitted it as the first generation. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III started transmitting this Dharma as early as 1991. In the United States, the transmission of this Dharma began in 2000.
According to our information, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III never transmitted this Dharma to the elderly dharma king you mentioned in Tibet. He does not have the transmission of the Namo Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s Blessing Dharma; he has not practiced it. Since you kept mentioning the elderly dharma king in Tibet, Wangzha Shangzun specifically observed your mentality and said: “The accomplishment realized by the elderly dharma king is that of a Ruzun of Gold Button Level 1. As of now, he has not yet attained the realization of a Jiaozun at Gold Button Level 2.”
The best way to resolve your question is to ask your master to request that Headquarters publish his answers to the written test. If your master scored 60 points or higher, he may teach people with some limitations. Even in such a scenario, he would still hold many erroneous views and cannot claim to have authentic Dharma! That is because what he answered correctly can be called authentic Dharma, but what he answered incorrectly may be the wrong Dharma or the Dharma of evil views.
We hope you will refrain from repeatedly asking absurd questions. You repeatedly tried to defend your master. The situation is becoming increasingly severe. You are only forcing him to make his answer sheet public. When that happens, you and your master will only weep with tears on your cheeks.
- Regarding whether your master’s paintings are good or bad, you can submit his work for evaluation. We will also provide two paintings for him to copy. If his copy reaches 60%, he can be considered to have the “foundation of craftsmanship.” If his copy achieves 80% or more, he may be deemed to possess Craftsmanship Vidya. You and others can also be present to watch it. Let’s reach a fair and just conclusion that way, shall we?
- On what basis do you say your master possesses authentic Buddha Dharma and is holy? Did he attain a level of Gold Button from the holy examination? All those who are still at the Blue Button level have errors. How could your master proclaim having authentic Buddha Dharma without feeling embarrassed? Again, we remind you that a person without the Gold Button level is not holy and cannot be guaranteed to have correct views. Since you and your master are both Buddhists at the beginning level and still in the learning phase, your views are bound to be a mix of correct views, erroneous views, evil views, and so on. Otherwise, your exam scores would have reached the level of passing. Don’t you agree?
The reason that even holy, virtuous ones at Gold Button Levels 1 and 2, who are much, much higher than your master, are not qualified to give discourses is that their views have not yet been pure, and therefore, they may intentionally or unintentionally mislead living beings. Accordingly, they may only lead people to listen respectfully to the Dharma discourses given by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Regarding realization and accomplishment, the level of Gold Button Level 3 is equivalent to 1,097 times that of the Blue Button Level 3. It is very hard to find someone at the Gold Button level! You should think about it well! Suppose you continue to argue for your master in such a stupid and ignorant manner, trying to defend your master with your evil views and understanding hopelessly. In that case, you are exposing your master in broad daylight. Don’t you feel very stupid about yourself? Aren’t you harming your master?
Think about this. It would be impossible to benefit living beings if Buddhism and Buddha Dharma could only be propagated by the holy ones, since they are tough to find in this world. Although people at the Blue Button level are not holy beings, it is still necessary that they take action to benefit living beings and advocate listening to Dharma discourses, as such actions accrue merits.
In your mind, you still hope the Headquarters will recognize your master as holy. We must make it clear that the Headquarters can only speak from the facts and cannot call a non-holy person a holy one. If your master agrees, Headquarters will use a simple yet accurate method to determine his status and assign him to the appropriate category. The Headquarters will publicly announce the list of candidates who will take the first round of the annual examination in early 2019, and your guru master will be included. The annual examination will consist of tests in Sutra, Vinaya, and Sastra, as well as the holy exam. Once he is included on the list and publicly notified to take the examination, if he fails to appear or resists taking it, it clearly shows that he is an amateur who knows nothing about Sutra, Vinaya, or Sastra. He is a piece of scrap metal rather than gold or silver; he is an ordinary person who has sneaked into the ranks of Buddhism. If he takes the examination, his score will be made public, and you will know everything. That is the fairest and most just way to ensure everyone is convinced, both verbally and mentally. We assume that you will not object to that approach!
- You inquired about how to establish a Buddhist organization.
Reply: You should comply with the country’s and local government’s laws and regulations to establish it legally.
- You inquired about how to beseech an inner-tantric initiation.
Reply: This question was already answered very clearly in the Important Replies from Holy Virtuous Ones and Eminent Monastics (the 35 questions and answers). As to how to implore in a manner that is in accord with the Dharma, meeting the requirements and standards is in accord with the Dharma.
- What is the level of Henghsing Gyatso Rinpoche from the annual examination?
Reply: Henghsing Gyatso Rinpoche received Blue Button Level 3 plus 1 Black Button from the annual examination.
The Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
October 25, 2018