Chapter 24 Part Three Taoist Academic Thought and Buddhist Esoteric Culture-5

The study of Tibetan Buddhist culture is a specialized academic issue, and it cannot be explained roughly, nor is it necessary for the current situation. Now I will only briefly describe a few key points, and understand it as common sense.And it is easier to clear up the clues by making a step-by-step explanation according to the historical evolution. After Princess Wencheng was married to the Tibetan king in the fifteenth year of Emperor Taizong’s Zhenguan period, Tibet decided to establish culture and sent the clan’s children to India to study Buddhism, create characters according to the Sanskrit “Gupta” font, translate Buddhist scriptures, and invite North Indian Buddhist Tantric masters Padmasambhava came to Tibet and established Esoteric Buddhism, laying the foundation for Tibetan culture.But at that time, dozens of Confucian scholars and Taoists who entered Tibet from Princess Wencheng also sowed a lot of cultural seeds. As far as I know, there are some mantras, talismans and mandalas in the primitive esoteric religion of Tibet (the mandala has primitive religious totems. role), which is very similar to that of the Nangong Zhengyi School of Taoism.At the same time in Tibet, you can also see the Bagua and Taiji diagrams depicted.The divination methods of lamas generally use the algorithm of heaven and earth governing and Qimen Dunjia.Even the names of the calendars used in Tibet today are still the same as our ancient twelve zodiac signs that symbolize the yin and yang sequence of the year: for example, the year of the rat (child), the month of the ox (ugly), the hour of the tiger (yin) and so on.Also, before Esoteric Buddhism was introduced to Tibet, there used to be a local witch religion, commonly known as the Black Sect or the Stupid Sect, which still exists today.There are still about a thousand black believers on the border between the two provinces of Qingkang.This kind of shamanism has more similarities with Taoism Fuzhuan School.In the Yuan Dynasty, it was related to the White Lotus Sect of Liu Futong and others, and the red light in the Qing Dynasty.This kind of witchcraft and alchemy left over from ancient times is not only a deceptive sorcery, but also sometimes involves political issues.In the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong dynasties of the Qing Dynasty, the use of troops on the border areas of Xinjiang and Tibet was related to the fact that the elders of the late Ming Dynasty disappeared in the frontiers and organized and taught the people in order to restore the country. Witchcraft was also used repeatedly.

Princess Wencheng is a talented woman with strong religious accomplishments. When she was sent to Tibet, it was a painful experience for her personally.As an educated woman with a high level of education and rich in a civilized country, being a concubine in a backward area really feels infinite sorrow and a great sense of sacrifice.The harmony policy since the Han and Tang Dynasties has left people with many sad thoughts.For example, Wang Zhaojun and others in the Han Yuan Dynasty were all great women who sacrificed their personal happiness for national policies.Therefore, later poets satirized the similar chants of "Han's parents' policies are in peace with the Tibetans", vaguely thinking that this policy is a kind of shame to the nation, but in fact, it is just a difference in political concepts of an era.Although Princess Wencheng's personal experience was unfortunate, she conquered Tibet for the Tang Dynasty and opened up the cultural foundation for Tibet in the future.In Lhasa and other places in Tibet, there are many places and temple buildings. According to legend, Princess Wencheng or Master Padmasambhava decided on it after reading Yin Yang Feng Shui, and some areas are still listed as restricted areas, and they dare not break ground for development.There are many metal ore deposits in Tibet, but up to now, they still adhere to the legacy of their ancestors and forbid mining.

Buddhism was introduced to Tibet from India in the early Tang Dynasty, and it was also the time when Master Xuanzang returned to China after studying Buddhist scriptures.At that time, Indian Buddhism was mostly late Buddhism, and the teachings of Consciousness-only, Madhyamaka, Yinming, and Maitreya Bodhisattva's five enlightenments were particularly prosperous.The debate between Prajna's ultimate nature and emptiness and consciousness-only's ultimate meaning and reality, each is good at winning.Therefore, Tibetan Buddhism has always maintained this style of study of the main school of discernment. Thinking must be correct, and debates must be precise. Often, they spend years and years researching and discussing with each other on a single issue.This kind of academic spirit is very admirable and maintains the legacy of late Indian Buddhism (refer to the biography of Master Tang Xuanzang).Even in today’s Tibet, to obtain the qualification of a Geshe (dharma master), one must accumulate more than ten years of knowledge, and publicly debate a major topic of Buddhism in front of thousands or tens of thousands of monks and laymen. It is recognized that his cultural accomplishment is enough to be a Geshe, so he was qualified as a mage.Regarding the translation of Buddhist scriptures, because the text is basically born in Sanskrit, the translation is easier and more accurate, and there are more classics, which are roughly the same as those translated in the mainland.The writings of its local sages are also very rich.However, there are also a few inland translations that are not available in the Tibetan translation, such as "Theory of Great Wisdom" by the Prajna Department.But Tibetans have a high self-esteem for their cultivation of Buddhism, thinking that there is almost no Buddhist teachings in the interior, and they have the air of closing their doors to respect them.Scholars in the mainland who are generally inclined to Tibetan Tantric Buddhism even echoed their voices.

Most of the esoteric Buddhist teachings were transmitted by Master Padmasambhava, which is roughly the same as the esoteric teachings introduced to China by the three great masters of Indian Tantric Buddhism in the Tang Xuanzong era in the Mainland—Shanwuwei, Vajra Wisdom, and Bukong Tripitaka.Our Tantric Buddhism was very popular from the prosperous Tang Dynasty to the Song and Yuan Dynasties. It was not until the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty that it was explicitly abandoned. Except for a few irrelevant mantras and methods, they were all spread to Japan.Now the difference is as follows: the Tantric Buddhism introduced to Japan is called Dongmi, and the Tantric Buddhism in Tibet is called Zangtan.Some of the characteristics of Tibetan secrets are indeed not found in Eastern secrets: (1) Tibetan secrets integrate Indian Brahmanism, yoga and other self-cultivation methods, and then cultivate the spirit, sublimate and detach, and enter the realm of the great sea of ​​quiescence.In modern terminology, it is the most profound science of mind and body, experimenting with the unity of mind and matter.Its method is also in line with modern science, so now people in Europe and the United States, such as Germany, France, Britain and the United States, have many admiring learners and are highly respected.Many of the theories and methods in this part are the same as those inherited by the orthodox Taoists in the Mainland, but they are beyond the reach of ordinary heretics. (2) There is a method of regulating the mind and nature in Tibetan secrets, such as Mahamudra, Dzogchen, etc., which are very similar to the Zen Buddhism in the mainland. In addition, among the patriarchs passed down through the ages, there are also Han people, but they are not as enlightened as Zen, and they always fall into the lottery.After all, Tantra belongs to the secret religion. The incomprehensibility of incantations, the miraculous effects, combined with the spirit of devout religious admiration and belief, coupled with the undeveloped forest areas and the mystery of snow-capped mountains, make the whole of Tibet forever shrouded in a mysterious atmosphere. .In addition, there is another characteristic of Esoteric Buddhism. Although its spirit is out of the world, its methods are not completely out of the world. It is combined with human life to sublimate to the realm of Buddha nature.Therefore, part of their practice includes the double-body method of male and female dual cultivation, which leads to many disadvantages and disasters.Master Tsongkhapa's reform of Tantric Buddhism and the establishment of the Yellow Sect is a response to this method.Everyone who has seen the twin Buddha statues in Lama Temple in Beijing must have many questions.In fact, this is just a method of Esoteric Buddhism. It shows that when a person lives and dies, he is greedy and obsessed with one thought, and then he can liberate his spirit, sublimate to the world of physical and mental material desires, enter the realm of extinction, and obtain incredible wonderful music.But precisely because of its method, using the habit of human nature and animal nature to seek detachment, it is easy to be misunderstood and misunderstood by others. This is the case of Esoteric Buddhism in Tibet from Tang to Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties.Even Mongolia is involved.

In the Song Dynasty, Atisha, a master of Indian Buddhism, came to Tibet. He advocated correct knowledge and correct views, and taught the method of calmness and insight in the middle view. The seeds of a reformed Dharma.At that time, a Mahayana monk, a monk who had not studied Zen thoroughly in the Mainland, went to Tibet to promote Chinese Buddhism.Later, he debated with Atisha's disciples in public, and was refuted to the point where he fled in embarrassment.Therefore, Tibetan Buddhist circles have always believed that there is no real Buddhism in the mainland. This is a naive, ridiculous and subjective concept, which is planted on this matter.During the Anti-Japanese War, Geshe Huang taught Dongben, who went to Chengdu to give lectures, still said the same way, which caused a debate.In fact, they are really ignorant of the real Buddhism in the Mainland.Compared with the inland orthodox Zen and the Tiantai sect's meditation, meditation and wisdom methods, there is no special superiority.

During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, Master Tsongkhapa founded the Yellow Sect. According to Atisha's "Bodhi Daoju Lun", he wrote "Bodhi Road Stages Broad Theory" and "Short Lun", based on human, heaven, sound-hearer, predestined awareness, The sequence of the five vehicles of the bodhisattva path runs through the ultimate of precepts, samadhi, wisdom, and liberation.At the same time, he also collected the practice theory of Esoteric Buddhism and wrote "The Theory of Esoteric Buddhism".Strictly abiding by precepts, practicing quietly and focusing on the development of Maitreya's Five Theories, has indeed made a difference for Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism. His inherited teaching methods have been passed down to the present.Since Princess Wencheng entered Tibet, Master Tsongkhapa influenced Tibet and brought Tibetan culture to a complete peak.Even so, the evolution of history never stops.

Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism, from the early Tang Dynasty to the present, can be roughly divided into four schools. (1) The Nyingma School (commonly known as the Red Sect), which was later divided into five small schools.Most of them are still spread in the border regions of Houzang and Qingkang. (2) The Kagul Sect (commonly known as the Baijiao), which is divided into nine sub-sects.Now the main inheritance is in the Gongga Mountain area of ​​Dajianlu Muya Township, Xikang. (3) The Sakya School (commonly known as the Flower Sect), has been spreading in Tibet and Qingkang since the Yuan Dynasty Dharma King.Along the Jinsha River basin, places such as Nujiang and Lijiang in Yunnan also inherit this sect of esoteric teaching, which is very prestigious. (4) The Yellow Sect created by Master Tsongkhapa.The Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama in Tibet, and the Zhangjia Master in Mongolia are all leaders in charge of teaching.Lama Tilawa, who is now teaching the Dharma in San Francisco, USA, is also an authoritative and upright monk in Mongolia.

The first three factions mentioned above have all evolved from past dynasties.But according to the Yellow Sect, it is not the right view of Buddhism.In the practice of the Yellow Sect, in addition to the Madhyamaka Right View and Shamatha-Vipassana method, the Esoteric Buddhist Dharma pays special attention to the practice of Yamantaka and the Kalachakra.For example, the ninth Panchen Lama held Kalachakra Dharma meetings in various places in Beijing and Nanjing, as many as eleven times.At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty's entry into the customs, several emperors had personally studied Tantric Buddhism, such as Yongzheng and Qianlong, who were all experts in it.I used to be in Xikang, and according to several Han lamas, Yongzheng once translated the Rituals of Yamantaka in person, and it is the most complete version of Tantric translations in history.I have been searching for this translation for many years, but I have not found it yet.It can be seen from this that the Qing government was very careful in everything in terms of political measures. Therefore, the policies of the Yong and Gan Dynasties towards Mongolia and Tibet did have their own unique success from the standpoint of the Qing court, so there is no need to discuss them in detail here.

Tibet at the present stage is generally still very conservative, but the upper class does have a high degree of cultural knowledge, such as the general big lamas and nobles, there are quite a few who can speak English, and they are not ignorant of the current situation in the world, or more than the general opinion, A deeper understanding.However, they are content with a peaceful and worry-free life and do not want to have much contact with the outside world. It is very hopeful that the outside world will forget their spirit.They believe that the development of Western material civilization is crazy, and that science leads the world and human beings will quickly go to the road of extinction.Westerners tend to focus on autocratic dogmatic beliefs, which are blind superstitions and lack intelligent analysis. Buddhism focuses on the pursuit of wisdom to sublimate the spirit and personality, not blindly following superstition.They know in their hearts that if Tibet is to be stable forever, it can only be guaranteed if China becomes stronger, and it has time and space.Moreover, there are some problems, which are actually caused by the wrong handling in the past and the mutual misunderstanding with the Han people in the border areas.

The great lamas in Tibet have practiced Esoteric Buddhism all their lives, and they have a long period of strict academic cultivation. After decades of hard work, the experience of field experience cannot be ignored.They are a formal master lama who can read and teach at the age of seven or eight. To study Buddhism, he must have 12 years of dedicated research, and most of them must understand everything about Buddhism.Only after you have completed your studies, you can take the exams at the Dafa Assembly and get Geshe qualifications, can you speak the scriptures.If you want to specialize in Buddhism, you must also learn esoteric teaching from a teacher, and concentrate on retreating or living in caves to practice, often for decades or more.Therefore, their process of "teaching, reasoning, action, and fruiting" is a strict process of earnest study, deliberation, and discernment.The cultivation of behavior and skills, according to the Mahayana Bodhisattva way, must learn the five wisdoms in sequence: (1) statement (including philology, and even foreign languages, etc.). (2) Reasoning (including the logic of Buddhist teachings and general philosophy, etc.). (3) Medicine Fangming (including medicine, prescription skills, Red Sect and swordsmanship and martial arts, etc.). (4) Skillful workmanship (including painting, carving, felt weaving, etc.). (5) Inner clarity (the highest state of mind cultivation in Buddhism).A true lama who possesses so much academic accomplishment should not be regarded as a culturally backward person. Otherwise, he will be either blindly complacent and self-respecting or blindly contemptuous of others.In the way of learning, the most important thing is to be modest. You can neither be inferior to yourself, nor be arrogant and complacent. You must accept it with an open mind in order to understand it.Although the lamas are pure and devout Buddhist monks, they must also obey the special precepts of Esoteric Buddhism in addition to the ordinary Buddhist precepts.In order to protect the teaching and protect the Dharma, they can give up the precept of not killing at any time, take off their monk clothes, and fight to resist invasion and wipe out the demon army.

Between the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the Han-Tibetan culture gradually communicated. The Xishui Cultural Institute was established in Beijing. Until the Anti-Japanese War, this signboard was still hung in Chengdu.In the early years of the Republic of China, the Tibetan lama Venerable Bai Puren and Dorje Geshe went to Beijing to promote Tibetan secrets, which aroused the interest of ordinary monks and laymen. Therefore, there was a pioneering move by the Han monk Master Dayong to study in Tibet.Dayong passed away when he arrived in Xikang. During the Anti-Japanese War, it is said that Dayong's reincarnated soul boy had been found, and he went to study secrets in Tibet.Later, Master Fazun, Shu monks Nenghai, Nengshi, and Chaoyi went to Tibet to study. They all studied the Yellow Sect, and they all became famous for a while.Many other monks and laymen also came to Kangzang to learn Tantra, or to learn red and white religions, or to specialize in red religion.However, the lamas of the Yellow Sect have always looked down on followers of other sects, thinking that their Buddhism has deviated.Even, as outsiders.At the same time, lamas and living Buddhas of various sects in Kham and Tibet also came to the mainland to spread the Dharma, such as Nona Living Buddha of the Red Sect, Gongga Living Buddha of the White Sect, Gensang Living Buddha of the Hua Sect, Dongben Geshe and Ngawang Khenpo of the Yellow Sect, etc.Among them, except Nuo Na Living Buddha, I learned indirectly, and several others have personally learned from them.According to Living Buddha Gongga told me: People in the inland area have many Mahayana foundations, such as Powa, who practiced in Kangzang and achieved success, only two or three out of ten people.In the Mainland, almost all scholars can make small achievements, which is really gratifying.I said at the time: That's why Master Bodhidharma came to China to spread the Buddha's heart seal, saying that the eastern land has a Mahayana atmosphere.Among the masters mentioned above, a few of them experienced teaching in the capitals of southwestern provinces, and some went deep into the Central Plains, going to Hankou, Shanghai and other places.As far as its influence is concerned, Tantric Buddhism has mushroomed in recent years.Some people do not have a real understanding of their own Buddhism in the Mainland, and they tend to favor Esoteric Buddhism and regard it as the highest mentality, which seems to be too clever.In fact, most of them are not familiar with themselves, and they are not well-trained in Tibetan, so they have this kind of abnormality.This kind of phenomenon and trend, just blindly worshiping Western civilization, abandoning the quintessence of China, time and emotion, all came into being at the same time, it is really a sickness of Chinese culture in this period.In addition, among the Han monks who went to Tibet to study, a few were subsidized by the government office in Tibet at that time, and those who returned to the interior to promote Tantric Buddhism, Yi Fazun and Neng Hai, each had their own achievements.He is like a super master, and he can also promote one side.Fa Zun is engaged in translation, and Neng Hai is engaged in teaching the Dharma.There is also a student monk whose name is Mankong, who knows a lot about the Red and White Flower Sect, and most of the esoteric scriptures used are his translations.What is their level of Tibetan language and Dharma cultivation?I can't be arbitrary, but most of the translated texts are obscure and blunt, not brilliant, and I feel that there are many problems in the fly in the ointment.On the contrary, the translations of the English and American people who studied esotericism in Tibet are relatively clear, but they are more scientific and mechanical, and it is difficult to indicate the highest state of rationality.However, it is difficult to be very good or beautiful in the translation business, and I can't help recalling the great wisdom of the former sages such as Kumarajiva and Xuanzang.