The World Buddhism Association Headquarters  Headquarters Announcement No. 20190103

Theannouncement issued by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters on January 14, 2019 (No. 20190101) already stated very clearly the principles and nature of the following questions brought up by Buddhist disciples, but some people are still sending in questions. We will now reply concisely and succinctly to the questions you asked.

First, note that in many Buddhist treatises, discussions and studies, the terms “holy” and “mundane” are mentioned. Those usages are for the analysis and categorization of knowledge and are not the same as the concepts of holy or mundane that we speak of. What we now put forth as holy or mundane means holy vs. worldly. They represent the different characteristics between becoming liberated and attaining holiness directly versus diligently cultivating oneself to seek liberation.

1. The Yidam referred to is not any holy virtuous master but a Buddha or Bodhisattva in the space.
2. A dharma script or a ritual script of any kind that underwent a Determination by Holy Selection and has been approved by the Buddha or Bodhisattva is a dharma script or ritual script in the holy sense. The Yidam will regard any dharma script with even one altered word as mundane and tainted! It will immediately become a mundane script and will not be empowered by the Yidam.
3. An orally transmitted inner-tantric initiation only represents the master’s approval; the Yidam does not approve it.
4. A proper inner-tantric initiation entails approval by the Yidam, but it does not mean Transmission by the Yidam.
5. In an inner-tantric initiation in the holy sense or a holy inner-tantric initiation, the Yidam will accept the article of faith from the disciple in person and take it away. That signifies a Transmission by the Yidam.
6. What is meant by a Holy Inner-tantric Initiation? At the time of the initiation, you present in person what you must offer the Yidam. As a result, the Yidam approves you as His disciple. That is the Dharma that ensures your accomplishment. That is the only Transmission by the Yidam format.
7. What is meant by mundane Buddha dharma? Any Buddha dharma that has not undergone the Determination by Holy Selection and has not been approved by the Yidam is mundane. Such a dharma is mainly within the domain of theory and knowledge. Mundane Buddha dharmas include what have been elevated by praises, such as the Mind-seal Transmission, the Light-manifest Transmission, the Oral Transmission, the Ear Transmission, the Gama (?) or Daima (?), depending on whether the dharma is from northern or southern Tibet. There are also the Dao (?) initiation, the Treasure Vase Initiation, and the Secret Tantric (?) Initiation, the Wisdom Initiation, the Casting-flower Initiation, the Acarya Initiation, the Initiation by the Five Buddhas and so on. The Yidam will not arrive in person to accept the article and transmit the dharma because none of these is a holy inner-tantric initiation. They are all theoretical or orally transmitted initiations. However, a Tremendously Holy Guru capable of Uncovering the Terma with Immediate Validation can administer a transmission by the Yidam for the disciple.
8. Practicing a mundane Buddha Dharma must ultimately rely on studying the essence of the teachings in theory and practicing it diligently by oneself to move and invoke the Yidam. There is no one-hundred-percent certainty. The chance of success can only be higher if the dharma is transmitted to you by a Buddha, Bodhisattva, or a Tremendously Holy Guru. However, that is still inferior to a proper Inner-tantric Initiation with the Yidam’s approval and even more to a Holy Inner-tantric Initiation with Transmission by the Yidam. Transmission by the Yidam means the supreme and utmost holy cause and dharma affinity and includes dharmas in many different levels and classes.

The World Buddhism Association Headquarters 

February 26, 2019

Translator’s Note: items marked by (?) require further clarification.

(Eric Huang worked on translating this public announcement from Chinese to English. The translation was edited on 2019-02-28 and 2024-06-04.)