A Brief Introduction of “Yidam”(1)

A Brief Introduction of “Yidam”(1)

After reading the previous chapters, some careful readers may ask: you always say how superior Shangpa Kagyu is; then, in what aspects is she superior?

Answer: First, the lineage is superior. It originated from holy saint Vajra Dhara, and is not the fabrication of ordinary mortals, it is not transmitted by wrong sayings and does not cause people to blindly believe and meditate abnormally. Secondly, the gurus are superior. From Vajra Dharma, every lineage guru in every generation of Shangpa Kagyu was the great saint of a generation who achieved in one life. Thirdly, the teaching is superior. Her teaching has integrated the great achievements of all vajra dharma of Anuttara Yoga. Therefore, people with upper roots can attain highest upright-class upright enlightenment in six months of retreat.

In religious research, there is the long standing mistake of giving great weight to the theoretic opinions and teachings of a religious lineage, but overlooking their rich and unique rituals. Professor Smith of the United States rejects this mentality, saying “an illusion of rationalism is that the general principles of religion are far more important than the models and rituals which nurture them, to come to this conclusion is to conclude that the leaves on a tree are more important than the roots from which they grow”. Therefore, in this book, the author gives relatively more emphasis to the teaching and rituals of Shangpa Kagyu.

Professor Smith said, “True religion is the most free flowing life channel, conducting the continuous energy of the universe through it to enter human lives. What can more inspire the deepest creative core in life? Through religious stories and rituals, it provides many symbols to push history forward, until the last strength is used up and life again awaits new salvation. This rotating model has made even a humorist like Bernard Shaw conclude that religion is the only true motivator in the world (Huaite also adds science, making two motivators).”

Obviously, one of channel forms he spoke of is religious ritual, which we have called teaching and ritual.