Since we will be reviewing each of the 128 views monthly as part of our study and practice of the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation, I wanted to publish the original titles given when the Buddha Master’s brief discourse on each one was published. We know there are errors in this, but this is a start. When you come to the temple and are able to read a later translation, you will find slight variations, but that, too, is not an authentic translation. We will provide any approved translations whenever they are available. Please understand this limitation.
“H.H. DORJE CHANG BUDDHA III GIVES A BRIEF
EXPLANATION OF EVIL VIEWS AND ERRONEOUS VIEWS”
The following text is a preliminary translation excerpted from an oral dharma discourse given by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. CLICK for the complete discourse that offers an explanation of these views and more information on this discourse that was given in 2009. Also CLICK for a more recent translation of the views as stated in the English translation we are using of the SAUMOL.
The EVIL VIEWS:
1. THE VIEW THAT GHOSTS AND GODS ARE ONE’S LIBERATION MASTERS
2. THE VIEW THAT ATTAINING SUPERNATURAL POWERS IS THE GOAL OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE DHARMA
3. THE VIEW THAT ONE MAY VIOLATE THE PRECEPTS OF THE THREE VEHICLES—HINAYANA, MAHAYANA, AND VAJRAYANA
4. THE VIEW OF APPROVING CULTIVATION THAT IS DIVORCED FROM BODHICITTA
5. THE VIEW THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO ABIDE BY ALL OF THE PRECEPTS YOU HAVE RECEIVED
6. THE VIEW THAT ONE MAY FALSELY CLAIM TO BE A BUDDHA OR BODHISATTVA IN ORDER TO PROPAGATE THE DHARMA
7. THE VIEW OF SUBSTANTIALISM IN WHICH WORLDLY PHENOMENA TRULY EXIST AND ARE NOT ILLUSORY
8. THE VIEW THAT EMPTINESS IS SEPARATE FROM AND INDEPENDENT OF WORLDLY PHENOMENA
9. THE VIEW THAT ONE CAN BECOME LIBERATED ONLY BY PRACTICING A DHARMA AND WITHOUT CULTIVATING ONESELF
10. THE VIEW THAT THE DHARMAKAYA IS A BODY WITH FORM
11. THE VIEW THAT YOU CAN DO BAD THINGS AND STILL BE FREE OF SIN BY RELYING ON THE POWER OF THE BUDDHAS
12. THE VIEW THAT CUTTING OFF ATTACHMENT TO SELF MEANS CUTTING OFF FEELINGS FOR YOUR PARENTS
13. THE VIEW THAT ONE CAN ATTAIN HOLY NIRVANA BY SIMPLY DOING GOOD DEEDS
14. THE VIEW THAT REGARDS AS A BODHISATTVA SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT ACT OUT OF GREATLY COMPASSIONATE BODHICITTA
15. THE VIEW OF NOT CLEARLY BELIEVING IN CAUSE AND EFFECT BUT SUPERSTITIOUSLY BELIEVING IN DIVINATION AND LUCK INSTEAD
16. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO SIMPLY EXPOUND THE PRINCIPLES OF EMPTINESS WITHOUT SPEAKING ABOUT REAL CULTIVATION THROUGH CONCRETE PRACTICE
17. THE VIEW THAT THE EXISTENCE OF THE SIX REALMS OF SAMSARA IS AN UNTRUE LEGEND
18. THE VIEW THAT FAMOUS LAMAS OR FAMOUS MONKS ARE DEFINITELY PEOPLE OF GREAT HOLINESS AND VIRTUE
19. THE VIEW THAT PERSONAL INTERESTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BUDDHA-DHARMA
20. THE VIEW THAT ONE MAY KILL A LIVING BEING WITHOUT COMMITTING AN OFFENSE SO LONG AS ONE CHANTS THE MANTRA TO RAISE THE DECEASED TO A HIGHER REALM OF EXISTENCE
21. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GO AGAINST MATTERS DECIDED UPON BY YOUR ROOT MASTER WHO HAS BOTH HOLY REALIZATION AND BODHICITTA
22. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO RESPECT THE BUDDHAS AND YOUR MASTER BUT NOT SHOW FILIAL PIETY TOWARD YOUR PARENTS
23. THE VIEW OF BELIEVING IN SOMEONE’S POSITION AND STATUS RATHER THAN THE DEFINITIVE TRUTH
24. THE VIEW THAT LIVING BEINGS WERE BUDDHAS WHO LATER DEVOLVED INTO LIVING BEINGS
25. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO MIX HERETICAL PRACTICES WITH THE PRACTICES OF THE BUDDHA-DHARMA
26. THE VIEW THAT THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT IS IMAGINARY AND NOT REAL
27. THE VIEW THAT STRANGE PARANORMAL PHENOMENA ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF SUPERNATURAL POWERS THAT FLOW FROM THE BUDDHA-DHARMA
28. THE VIEW THAT A MASTER WHO LEARNED A GREAT DHARMA IS DEFINITELY A PERSON OF GREAT HOLINESS
29. THE VIEW THAT YOU CAN PUT OFF CULTIVATING YOURSELF UNTIL TOMORROW
30. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A MASTER TO SPEAK FALSELY AND DECEIVE LIVING BEINGS
31. THE VIEW THAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS FROM YOUR PRACTICE EVEN THOUGH YOU INTENTIONALLY SPEAK FALSELY TO YOUR ROOT MASTER
32. THE VIEW THAT APPROVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPERNATURAL POWERS BUT WHO DO NOT ACT OUT OF BODHICITTA
33. THE VIEW OF APPROVING DHARMA TEACHERS, RINPOCHES, AND LAYPERSONS WHOSE CONDUCT DOES NOT COMPORT WITH THE PRECEPTS
34. THE VIEW THAT HELPING YOUR EVIL MASTER DO EVIL THINGS IS A DHARMA-PROTECTING PRACTICE
35. THE VIEW OF ACCEPTING AND FOLLOWING A MASTER WHO MISTAKENLY EXPOUNDS AND DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE BUDDHA-DHARMA RATHER THAN SEEKING A GOOD MASTER
36. THE VIEW THAT APPROVES OF IMPURE GIVING IN WHICH THE GIVER REMEMBERS AND IS ATTACHED TO HIS ACT OF GIVING
37. THE VIEW THAT ONE DOES NOT NEED TO REPENT OPENLY FOR HAVING MISTAKENLY EXPOUNDED THE TEACHINGS OF THE SUTRAS
38. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO CALL YOURSELF A BUDDHA OR BODHISATTVA IN FRONT OF YOUR DISCIPLES
What I have described above are evil views. These views are not only heretical but also atrocious. They are very serious matters. You should bear in mind that the propagation of this dharma book cannot be blocked. The whole world will study it. People will copy it from Records of Irrefutable Cases. Only by sincerely learning Buddhism and benefiting all living beings can you become a leading greatly virtuous one or a leading great master in your generation.
Take, for example, our three greatly virtuous ones who attained the fruit of the path. The crown of their head opened widely. Their consciousness can leave and return to their body at will. They even have the ability to have their consciousness leave their body to fetch an object or leave their body to meditate. They can do such things without hindrance. They have understood their mind and seen their original nature. They have reached perfect liberation. These and other attainments of theirs reflect a whole series of realization powers. However, they are still very modest.
You must be especially careful and attentive. Upon discovering that you are following any one of the evil views, if you do not deeply repent and immediately correct yourself, you will experience no beneficial effects from your practice of any dharma and will even degenerate. This applies to everyone no matter how high his status may be, such as a patriarch, dharma king, or venerable one. Such is the negative karmic retribution for not correcting yourself after following one of the evil views. You are still subject to this negative karmic retribution even if you claim you are not because you are a marvelous-enlightenment stage Bodhisattva. Your claim just means that you are a false marvelous-enlightenment stage Bodhisattva. When a marvelous-enlightenment stage Bodhisattva discovers his mistake, he will immediately say, “I am very wrong. I repent before all the Buddhas in the tens directions and before my disciples!” He would say that because he is open and aboveboard and does not have any defilement. Therefore, no matter how high your status may be, if you do not repent after discovering you are following an evil view, you will experience no beneficial effects from your practice of any dharma. You will all the more be devoid of realization powers.
Why do I mention the term “realization powers”? It is because many people have already asked me to transmit to them a dharma whereby they would have the supernatural power to subdue living beings. The kind of rinpoche or dharma teacher who made that request is immature and ignorant in the extreme! Dharma-protecting deities control whether you are able to manifest realization powers. When you follow these evil views, dharma-protecting deities regard you as a bad person. They record your offenses. They may even one day assist death in catching you. Nonetheless, you still greedily seek to deceive your way into obtaining realization powers. How could dharma-protecting deities possibly help you to carry out your deception? In the Buddha-dharma, there is only the enlightenment state that is pure, flawless, and selfless. There is no such thing as obtaining a supernatural ability or dharma power by fluke. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will not give you such powers. It is not that I refuse to give you such powers. Even if you learn and practice the rituals, you will not be successful in acquiring such powers. Moreover, your motivation is not good since you outlandishly seek to “subdue” living beings. You must be clear about something. You should not apply methods to subdue living beings. You should edify living beings out of great compassion.
I am very ashamed that I do not have realization powers. I told Kaichu Rinpoche, “Your practice of tummo concentration dharma is truly amazing. It has opened my eyes. I do not have that ability. However, I hope that I do not see you manifest your tummo powers a second time. I hope to see you manifest more holy bodhicitta that is based on great compassion. Without bodhicitta, you will not reap any benefits that flow from correct thinking.”
If you follow just one evil view and do not repent and correct yourself thoroughly, not only will you not have realization powers or experience any beneficial effects in your practice, you will also stay in samsara forever. Moreover, those who seriously adhere to an evil view will necessarily descend into one of the three lower realms! This even includes those who associate with followers of an evil view. If you do not leave someone who is following an evil view but who does not change and repent, you will be stained by the dark karma of his offense. Let us say that you associate with someone who follows an evil view. Perhaps you are his disciple or fellow-disciple. You discover that he has committed the offense of following an evil view. Perhaps in the beginning he did not know he was following an evil view. However, later someone informed him that he is following an evil view, but he does not change or repent. If at this juncture you continue to associate with him and do not leave him, you will be stained by the dark karma of his offense. This is very serious.
If a master does not follow any of these 128 evil and erroneous views, he undoubtedly is a master of holy virtue. Those who are his disciples should respect and make offerings to him with a most devout heart and should do all they can to introduce people to him to become his disciples. Any disciple who does so will accumulate boundless merit. Any disciple who does not follow these 128 evil and erroneous views is a person who possesses the morality and qualifications of a holy master. Not only will he undoubtedly become accomplished himself, he will also definitely benefit others, save living beings, and be a model for others.
The above dharma was spoken from the bodhicitta mindset of impartially and selflessly benefiting living beings. The purpose is to benefit those who are masters and to protect and care for living beings so that they will accumulate meritorious virtues that are the basis of good fortune and wisdom. All of the principles I explained above are in accord with the dharma and teachings of Buddhism. What I have explained above has nothing to do with benefiting myself or any particular individual and is devoid of any sectarian bias. All Buddhist disciples should conquer their minds and adopt the right mentality based on what I have explained above.
Next, I will explain the erroneous views. Erroneous views are slightly less serious than evil views. However, following two or three of them will result in almost the same negative karma as following an evil view, depending on the seriousness of the erroneous views that are followed. If you follow a certain erroneous view and the resulting offense is relatively light compared to following other erroneous views, the consequences may not be that serious. However, if you follow a certain erroneous view and the resulting offense is relatively heavy compared to following other erroneous views, the consequences can also be very serious. You certainly should not overlook this fact.
Erroneous views are generally those listed below. The term “generally” here means that not all erroneous views are included below. However, the more important ones are included.
The ERRONEOUS VIEWS:
1. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO PRACTICE MEDITATION IN LIEU OF PUTTING CONCEPTS INTO PRACTICE
2. THE VIEW THAT SITTING MEDITATION IS CULTIVATING YOURSELF
3. THE VIEW THAT SIMPLY APPLYING MUDRAS AND CHANTING MANTRAS IS DOING YOUR DHARMA PRACTICE
4. THE VIEW THAT DOING A DHARMA PRACTICE IS CULTIVATING YOURSELF
5. THE VIEW THAT STUDYING THE TEACHINGS OF THE SUTRAS IS CULTIVATING YOURSELF
6. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO HAS EVIL OR ERRONEOUS VIEWS CAN STILL SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP SUPERNATURAL POWERS THROUGH HIS PRACTICE
7. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A MASTER TO MAKE UNREASONABLE DEMANDS UPON HIS DISCIPLES
8. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO HEAR OR READ THE HERETICAL IDEAS OF SOMEONE WITHOUT NOTIFYING LIVING BEINGS THAT SUCH IDEAS ARE HERETICAL
9. THE VIEW THAT YOUR ILLNESS WILL BE CURED BY REQUESTING EMPOWERMENT AND WITHOUT CULTIVATING YOURSELF
10. THE VIEW THAT BUDDHIST PILLS CAN CURE ALL ILLNESSES
11. THE VIEW THAT ONE MAY EAT MEAT AFTER ONE IS TONSURED AND BECOMES A MONASTIC
12. THE VIEW THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO PRACTICE BODHICITTA AFTER YOU RECEIVE A GREAT INITIATION
13. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE NOT TO PRACTICE THE SIX PARAMITAS
14. THE VIEW THAT THERE EXISTS A HIGHEST DHARMA THAT CORRESPONDS TO ALL LIVING BEINGS
15. THE VIEW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO PERFORM AN INITIATION FROM A PLACE FAR AWAY FROM WHERE THE RECIPIENT OF THE INITIATION IS
16. THE VIEW THAT AS LONG AS YOU DO GOOD DEEDS YOU CAN ATTAIN LIBERATION WITHOUT DOING YOUR DHARMA PRACTICE
17. THE VIEW THAT CUTTING OFF ATTACHMENT TO SELF MEANS NOT CARING FOR THE SUFFERINGS OF OTHERS
18. THE VIEW THAT REALIZING EMPTINESS IS UNRELATED TO THE LEVEL OF ONE’S REALIZATION AND MERIT
19. THE VIEW THAT THOSE WHO LEAD A LEGITIMATE LINEAGE ARE ALL LEGITIMATE LEADING MASTERS OF THEIR SECT
20. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO PERFORM AN INITIATION OR TRANSMIT BUDDHA-DHARMA IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY
21. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO SUCCEEDS TO THE POSITION OF HEAD OF A HUGE TEMPLE IS DEFINITELY A PERSON OF HOLY VIRTUE
22. THE VIEW THAT A SMALL TEMPLE HAS NO EMINENT MONASTICS
23. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO SLACK OFF IN YOUR PRACTICE AFTER YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD YOUR MIND AND SEEN YOUR ORIGINAL NATURE
24. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO PUT OFF LEARNING BUDDHISM UNTIL YOU ARE NO LONGER BUSY WITH WORLDLY MATTERS
25. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO HAS NUMEROUS DISCIPLES IS A HOLY AND VIRTUOUS PERSON
26. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO REGARD SOMEONE WHO HAS NO HOLY REALIZATION AND BODHICITTA AS BEING A TRUE HOLY PERSON
27. THE VIEW THAT REGARDS AS A HOLY OBJECT A TERMA THAT IS NOT A TERMA IN THE DEFINITIVE SENSE
28. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO INTENTIONALLY DENY WHAT YOU IN FACT SAID OR DID
29. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO INTENTIONALLY CONCEAL MATTERS FROM YOUR MASTER OF GREAT HOLINESS AND VIRTUE
30. THE VIEW THAT YOU CAN BECOME ACCOMPLISHED IN THE DHARMA IF YOU HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE GREAT PILLS
31. THE VIEW THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SEED TO BECOME A BUDDHA BECAUSE YOUR NEGATIVE KARMA IS HEAVY
32. THE VIEW THAT LIVING BEINGS IN NON-HUMAN REALMS DO NOT HAVE BUDDHA-NATURE
33. THE VIEW THAT AS LONG AS ONE LEARNS DHARMA ONE WILL ATTAIN REALIZATION POWERS
34. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE NOT TO CORRECT MISTAKES IMMEDIATELY
35. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO DOES GOOD DEEDS AND GIVES TO OTHERS IS DEFINITELY AN EMINENT MONASTIC OR GREATLY VIRTUOUS PERSON
36. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO ALTER A DHARMA MANUAL, MUDRA, OR MANTRA
37. THE VIEW THAT THE FIVE VIDYAS CAN BE ATTAINED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT BODHISATTVAS
38. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A MASTER TO DEMAND AND TAKE PROPERTY FROM HIS DISCIPLES
39. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO USE ONE’S SUCCESSION TO THE POSITION OF LINEAGE LEADER AS A MEANS TO OBTAIN OFFERINGS FROM DISCIPLES
40. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO PRAISE OR BOAST OF ONESELF AS A VIRTUOUS PERSON, HOLY PERSON, OR MODEL FOR OTHERS
41. THE VIEW THAT SONS AND DAUGHTERS DO NOT HAVE TO KINDLY GUIDE THEIR PARENTS TOWARD CORRECT VIEWS
42. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO CALL A MANDALA A HOLY MANDALA WHEN THAT MANDALA IS NOT COMPOSED OF COLORED GRAINS OF SAND THAT CAME INTO SHAPE TELEKINETICALLY BY A MASTER’S POWER APPLIED THROUGH THE BLOCKAGE OF A BOULDER
43. THE VIEW THAT THE PROTECTIVE POWERS OF MOUNTAIN DEITIES ARE GREATER THAN THE PROTECTIVE POWERS OF GREAT BODHISATTVAS
44. THE VIEW THAT PILLS MADE OF ORDINARY MEDICINE ARE REAL NECTAR
45. THE VIEW THAT THE LIGHT YOU SEE WHEN YOUR EYES ARE CLOSED IS A MANIFESTATION OF BUDDHA-DHARMA POWER
46. THE VIEW OF BELIEVING IN SOMEONE WHO TALKS OF HIS WONDROUS FEATS AND SPEAKS HOLLOW THEORIES ABOUT THE DHARMA WITHOUT TESTING HIS VAJRA POWERS
47. THE VIEW THAT YOU CANNOT BECOME ACCOMPLISHED IN THE DHARMA UNLESS YOU RECEIVE AN INITIATION EVEN THOUGH YOU LEARN DHARMA AND CULTIVATE YOURSELF
48. THE VIEW THAT REGARDS SOMEONE AS A VAJRA BODHI INITIATION MASTER EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT MAKE THE REQUISITE PREDICTION DURING SUCH AN INITIATION
49. THE VIEW THAT TAKING REFUGE AND RECEIVING PRECEPTS IS THE REFUGE STATE
50. THE VIEW THAT UNREAL, ILLUSORY PHENOMENA ARE HOLY MANIFESTATIONS
51. THE VIEW THAT ESOTERIC DHARMA IS THE HIGHEST DHARMA
52. THE VIEW THAT EXOTERIC DHARMA IS THE LOWEST DHARMA
53. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO IS ILL NEED NOT TAKE MEDICINE
54. THE VIEW THAT ONE CAN PASS ON TO THE PURE LAND ONLY IF ONE CHANTS THE NAME OF AMITABHA BUDDHA
55. THE VIEW THAT ONLY PRACTITIONERS OF THE ZEN SECT CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR MIND AND SEE THEIR ORIGINAL NATURE
56. THE VIEW THAT REGARDS THE INSERTION OF AN AUSPICIOUS STRAW INTO THE CROWN OF THE HEAD WITHOUT SEEING TRUE EVIDENCE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AS BEING AN OPENING OF THE CROWN OF THE HEAD
57. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE NOT TO MAKE OFFERINGS TO YOUR MASTER AFTER YOU ATTAINED REALIZATION THROUGH RECEIVING YOUR MASTER’S DHARMA
58. THE VIEW THAT REGARDS ONE WHO IS MEDIOCRE IN THE FIVE VIDYAS AS A PERSON OF GREAT HOLINESS AND VIRTUE
59. THE VIEW THAT ONE WITH THE THOUGHTS OR CONDUCT OF AN ICCHANTIKA IS AN EMINENT MONASTIC
60. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO HAS UNDERSTOOD HIS MIND AND SEEN HIS ORIGINAL NATURE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL TO AND WORSHIP THE IMAGES OF THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS
61. THE VIEW THAT GREAT BODHISATTVAS DO NOT GET SICK
62. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A DISCIPLE TO SIT ON A SEAT HIGHER THAN THE SEAT OF HIS MASTER OF HOLY VIRTUE
63. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO PLACE BUDDHIST BOOKS AND IMAGES OF BUDDHAS AT A HEIGHT LOWER THAN THE SEAT OF AN EMINENT MONASTIC OR PERSON OF GREAT VIRTUE
64. THE VIEW THAT A PERSON OF HOLY VIRTUE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL TO AND MAKE OFFERINGS TO LOCAL DEITIES AND EARTH DEITIES
65. THE VIEW THAT THOSE WHOSE STATUS IS THAT OF A BUDDHA OR BODHISATTVA NEED NOT WORSHIP IMAGES OF HOLY BEINGS AFTER ENTERING A TEMPLE
66. THE VIEW THAT NOT ALL LIVING BEINGS HAVE BUDDHA-NATURE
67. THE VIEW THAT ACCEPTS A PREDICTION THAT A GREAT GLOBAL DISASTER WILL OCCUR IN A PARTICULAR YEAR
68. THE VIEW THAT THOSE WHO WEAR THE ROBES OF A MONASTIC OR THE ROBES OF A RINPOCHE ARE ALL HOLY PEOPLE
69. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO EXPOUNDS THE DHARMA IN A GENTLE VOICE IS DEFINITELY A BODHISATTVA
70. THE VIEW THAT USING THE VAJRA VOICE TO EXPOUND DHARMA AND ELIMINATE KARMIC HINDRANCES IS NOT COMPASSIONATE
71. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO USES THE VAJRA FORM OF BODHI CONDUCT TO BENEFIT OTHERS IS NOT ONE OF HOLY VIRTUE
72. THE VIEW THAT REGARDS ONE WITH SELF-PRIDE AND ARROGANCE AS A VAJRA MASTER
73. THE VIEW THAT YOU HAVE TO RESPECT A FALSE “HOLY MASTER” ACCORDING TO THE FIFTY STANZAS OF GURU DEVOTION
74. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO FOLLOW A MASTER WHO NO LONGER HAS BODHICITTA
75. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO HOLDS A RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A GREAT DHARMA KING IS DEFINITELY A PERSON OF TRUE HOLINESS
76. THE VIEW THAT EVIL SPIRITS SHOULD NOT BE RAISED TO HIGHER REALMS OF EXISTENCE
77. THE VIEW THAT DEMONS MUST BE KILLED RATHER THAN TAUGHT AND CORRECTED
78. THE VIEW THAT ONE NEED NOT OFFER FOOD TO YAKSHAS AND HARITI
79. THE VIEW THAT MONEY MUST BE PAID IN EXCHANGE FOR LEARNING DHARMA OR LISTENING TO DHARMA
80. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR LISTENERS OF THE DHARMA TO TREAT RECORDED ORAL DISCOURSES ON THE DHARMA DISRESPECTFULLY
81. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A MASTER TO TRANSFER PART OF HIS LIFESPAN TO HIS DISCIPLE
82. THE VIEW THAT ONE TRAINED AT A FAMOUS TEMPLE IS DEFINITELY AN EMINENT MONASTIC
83. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO LEARNED UNDER MANY MASTERS IS DEFINITELY A HOLY PERSON
84. THE VIEW THAT THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION OF FEMALES IS NOT AS GOOD AS THAT OF MALES
85. THE VIEW THAT THE LIVES OF SMALL LIVING BEINGS ARE NOT AS VALUABLE AS THE LIVES OF LARGE LIVING BEINGS
86. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO RECITE SUTRAS WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF THE TEXT
87. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO ACCUMULATE MONEY SECRETLY IN THE GUISE OF COLLECTING DONATIONS TO BUILD A TEMPLE, BUILD A STUPA, OR CONDUCT A DHARMA ASSEMBLY
88. THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO MISUSE DONATED DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS FOR ONE’S OWN GREEDY PURPOSES
89. THE VIEW THAT ONE MUST GIVE UP ONE’S WORK IN ORDER TO CULTIVATE ONESELF AND LEARN BUDDHISM 90. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO HAS TAKEN REFUGE IS DEFINITELY A BUDDHIST
90. THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO HAS TAKEN REFUGE IS DEFINITELY A BUDDHIST
We should deeply examine ourselves to see whether we are following any of the erroneous views. If you follow one, two, or three of the above erroneous views, the consequences will depend on whether the resulting offense is relatively light or relatively heavy. That in turn will depend on which of the erroneous views you follow. If you follow three erroneous views that result in a relatively light offense or if you follow one or two erroneous views that result in a relatively heavy offense and you do not immediately correct yourself, you will not experience any beneficial effects from the practice of any Buddha-dharma!!! You will not acquire through your practice any supernatural abilities or realization powers!!! You will be unable to manifest any real powers unless you engage in evil non-Buddhist practices and thereby manifest evil dharma. However, that will cause you to die an early death and descend into the hell of uninterrupted suffering. There will be no outcome other than this.
There is only one correct path in cultivation. If you follow evil views and/or erroneous views and do not immediately correct yourself, it is possible that from that moment for the rest of your life you will lose all opportunities to receive true Buddha-dharma, will lose the true dharma you have received, and will descend into one of the three lower realms without ever being able to attain liberation. Therefore, you absolutely must not follow any of the evil and erroneous views explained today. No matter what dharma you learn or which sect you belong to, if you follow evil views and/or erroneous views, you are simply a heretic. You will receive negative karmic retribution in the future. This is inevitable. This is certain. That is how all Buddhas in the ten directions and all Bodhisattvas guard correct knowledge and correct views. Anyone who follows these evil and erroneous views becomes like the source of a malignant tumor that poisons living beings as well as oneself. Therefore, I must tell you that none of these views may be followed.
At the same time, we must bear in mind a very important concept. Some people say, “These 128 views are not in the teachings of our sect. They have nothing to do with us.” If you have this perspective, you have planted the seed of descent into one of the three lower realms of existence. These evil and erroneous views are non-sectarian. They belong to Buddhism, not to any particular sect. They are the laws of cause and effect in the universe. They are provided in response to the dependent arising and dependent perishing of living beings and in response to the delusion-based negative karma of living beings. Thus, these views are non-sectarian.
The above text and views are from a preliminary translation for the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation (SAUMOL) as imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
CLICK for schedule of reading of these at the Holy Vajrasana Temple.
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