Corresponding in Sincere Worship

Lineage Of Wisdom Dakini

1.8. Corresponding in Sincere Worship

Guru Niguma once told Khyungpo Naljor that she would appear before all persons who prayed sincerely and had confidence in her, whenever and wherever they may be. Disciples of Shangpa Kagyu trust this without doubt. In our daily meditation, we chant a long pray of invitation to all gurus, including Niguma. We believe that all gurus, whether or not they are staying in this world, will answer this invitation and blessing their disciples early attainment of Buddhahood. I have intimately experienced what it is to correspond with guru. These gurus also include the guru of each generation after Vajra Dhara and Niguma. Meeting guru was the turning point in my life, and there are huge differences in both my meditation of religion and events in the temporal world. Frequently, I can understand the heart of guru. This has been confirmed many times in my daily life. A brother is astonished because I always can know what my guru will do soon. I even believe I can correspond to my guru heart by heart. This guru refers to Jianggong Living Buddha, and all gurus including Niguma.

I was thirty-two when I met the teaching of Shangpa Kagyu. Before that, despite searching on many fronts, I met with a vacuum and sighed for a refuge for my soul. Once I met Guru Jianggong, he was to me the same as Buddha. There have been many religious experiences since that time, which are briefly revealed in the following text, but most must remain undisclosed in respect for prohibitions. I understand that I have deep relationship with Shangpa Kagyu. Up to now, it has been ten years, and Guru and Yidam have never departed once from my heart.

Although I did not achieve the rainbow body immediately as Niguma did on meeting her guru, I did reach the stage of corresponding as one. Within a few days of meeting guru, I entered the light Mahamudra (Great Seal), which was confirmed by a disciple of the tenth Banchan Master as well as Jianggong Living Buddha. I then understood, the major elements in corresponding with guru are faith and sincerity. Augustine, the famous medieval theologist said “Religion is built on faith. Faith must come first, and then understanding.” Once, many disciples asked Milarepa, “Guru, please bless us.” Milaripa said, “Disciples, I need your devotion.” Thus, with 100% sincerity, on meeting guru I immediately corresponded and entered Mahamudra and joined my heart with guru and Yidam. Those predestined may one day read my diary of meditation, which has these narratives in detail.

Many times, confronted with the teachings of Shangpa Kagyu, I am awed by her heights and exclaim over the sophistication and depth of her wisdom.

       Perhaps some readers had read my novel LIE YUAN. In the epilogue, I wrote that I once had burning frustrations in my soul. After you finish reading it, you perhaps will understand how much I cherish the tranquillity of spirit brought by the teaching of Shangpa Kagyu. I love Shangpa Kagyu and all her gurus more than life itself.

One day, my son asked me, “Dad, since you have seen through the transience and illusions of the temporal world, why do you still write novels?” On another day, I also asked Guru Jianggong, “Since you have attained the nature of emptiness, why do you still chant so diligently?” He said, “Before enlightenment, I chanted for my own enlightenment; after enlightenment, I chant for all living beings.”

I also told my son, my writing is not for me, it is to benefit all living beings. This world is better off with my books than without; it is better off having read my books than not. Thus my writing refuses fashion, and writes instead on hardships of the common people. More often, my writing contains the benevolence and wisdom of emptiness transmitted from Niguma and passed through gurus generation by generation.

One day, I talked about literature with a disciple of Shangpa Kagyu. He said that there were some aspects of Buddhist wisdom in my LIE YUAN which affected readability. I told him that I took every opportunity to share with the outside world what I have achieved through meditation. I believe that readers who can truly appreciate my words will have definitely more clarity and generosity of spirit. If because of my existence, there are more people of understanding, more people who are kind to render the world more beautiful, then I have not wasted this life.

What differentiates Shangpa Kagyu from other schools of Tibetan Buddhism is that, in outward appearance, Shangpa Kagyu emphasises the meditation of secret tantra and gives little attention to classic scripture. However, practically every guru of each generation in the Shangpa lineage is proficient in the five major theories. Throughout history, there have been many saints of Shangpa Kagyu who achieved enlightenment through the “Five Golden Dharma of Niguma” within only a few years or even just a few months. Accentuating the practice gave rise to many big achievers but at the same time rendered Shangpa Kagyu the lineage of Tibetan Buddhism most lacking in verbal theory. Only the dharma of Shangpa Kagyu remains, while many historical documents were buried by history.

What I received from Jianggong Living Buddha about the lineage of Shangpa Kagyu contained not only the formal meditation ritual and essential abstracts of the “Five Golden Dharma of Niguma”, but also Guru Yoga, Career Protection of Five Golden Dharma-Vajra Dakini Fire Offering, Four Careers Firing Offering of Extinguish Increase Placate Killing, Self-empowerment of Five Great Vajras, Together Offering, Opening Light (Consecration), Leading to Good Place of Rebirth, Longevity Dharma and Money God Dharma. The detailed rituals cover the richness of blessings from Guru, Yidam, Dakini and protectors. They each have their individual wonders but can also be integrated and supplemented with each other, and form a complete and exceptionally unique practical meditation system of secret tantra.

Disciples of Shangpa Kagyu believe that the Dharma Body never dies. As long as one prays sincerely, all gurus of every generation will bless their disciples’ swift enlightenment. Therefore, everyday, we chant a long text of lineage prayer during formal meditation (see later text for content). Sometimes, even gurus who have displayed nirvana teach unpassed secret tantra to gurus and disciples with high meditation achievement. “Longevity Dharma of Niguma” was passed on by Lama Tangtong himself to Jianggong Living Buddha.