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Hanmi Buddhism

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Subhakarasimha, Vajrabodhi, and Amoghavajra, brought Esoteric Buddhism from India to China during the Tang Dynasty around 716 to 720 AD; introducing the Chinese to a mysterious and dynamic ancient culture, which includes methods for self-realization, to achieve Enlightenment with this very Body in one lifetime, to protect a person or an empire, to affect a person’s fate after Death, and, particularly popular, to bring rain in times of drought.


All three masters had absorbed the essence of Confucian and Taoist (pronounced Dow-ist) teachings and were well received by the emperor Tang Xuanzong. Their teachings quickly became popular from the court to the commoners, enabling the Esoteric School to instantly flourish.


Vajrabodhi had studied various kinds of Buddhism and received complete transmission from Nagabodhi, who in turn received from Nagarjuna. The Yoga Tantra, Sarva-Tathagata-Tattva-Samgraha,

partially translated by Vajrabodhi, along with the Mahavairocana Sutra translated by Subhakarasimha, provides the foundation of the Mantrayana or Esoteric School in China, where the Shingon and esoteric branch of the Tendai came from.

Amoghavajra, a prolific translator, and especially noted for rainmaking and stilling storms, was the most famous Yogacharya of his time. He was the disciple of Vajrabodhi and Subhakarasimha, and became the Lineage Holder of the ‘Not-Two Dharma Teaching.’ Empress Wu Zetian decreed the Daxing Shansi Monastery, located in today’s Xi’an, as the first abhiseka-Bodhi-Mandala and awarded Amoghavajra the title ‘National Master.’ Tang emperor granted Dharma instruments to Amoghavajra, thus began the Esoteric School in China.

As the saying goes, “Good things are often turned about.” The immeasurable, virtuous Dharma had encountered defamation, which resulted in ruthless attitudes towards the Esoteric School, the school that has The Buddha lineage and also the essence of the Confucian and Taoist teachings. The situation worsened to the point that even Amoghavajra’s most famous disciple, Huiguo, was rumoured to go eastward with the famous Japanese Monk, Kukai.

Historically, the Esoteric School was thought to be lost when emperor Tang Wuzong, fearful of the popularity and the magical abilities of the practice, banned the teachings. In reality, Amoghavajra's last disciple, Huisu, who received all the religious instruments and transmission, became the Dharma Lineage Holder. The lineage was hidden away for twelve centuries.

Dechan Jueren, Master Yu Tianjian, is Mahavairocana Dharma King, the 49th Lineage Holder of the , Esoteric School, and the 47th Lineage Holder of the Linji Chan School, Speaker at U.N. Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, and Special Advisor First Secretary to the World Council of Religious Leaders.

Source

wisdom.yogadiamond.net