The Identity of Padmakumara
The Identity of Padmakumara
Translated by Janny Chow of Purple Lotus Society
The Secret of Padmakumara
I shall begin with a verse:
Pure Awareness has never been born,
It is undifferentiated, unqualified, and unmanifest;
Discriminations occur only in phenomenal worlds,
Thus born the psuedonym, `Padmakumara.`
This verse is a description of the following happening:
I was resting in the meditative state of unmanifest absorption, the ultimate state of pure awareness. At that moment, the Luminosity of my Original Face outshone everything, and I became one with the Buddhas in all times and spaces.
Then, I entered into the seed consciousness of `Padmakumara.` In an instant, a thought stirred, like a cloud arising in a vast stainless sky or fish leaping out of a deep pool, and I watched, suddenly within myself, scenes from a series of magical dramas. I saw:
At the Great Dharma Conference Room, which is completely free of any samsaric dust and untouched by manifest worlds, many guards are on duty. Rays of sunlight are shining out of the Deva King Hall, and purple flames are shooting up in front of the Hall of the Dharma Protectors. Among the guards are the four Ferocious Deities, the three thousand Gatis, the twelve Heavenly Luminaries, and the eighteen Monastery Guardian Spirits.
Inside the Great Dharma Conference Room, thirty-five Buddhas are holding a secret conference. The first of the thirty-five Buddhas is Shakyamuni Buddha and the last in the assembly is the Precious Lotus Well-abiding Brahmin Tree King Buddha.
As the whole process of the conference is too long to be described here, I will just synopsize the important points of the conference:
Main Topic of the Conference: Since the number of people in samsara committing the five unpardonable sins is escalating, it is necessary to send a Great Buddha to go down to the world to help the sentient beings.
Outcome of the Conference: Elect the most well-known Buddha to descend to samsara. The Buddha with the most popular vote turns out to be Amitabha.
One of the thirty-five Buddhas, the Buddha Manifesting Non-ignorance, protested, `It won`t work. Amitabha won`t be able to do it!`
`Why not?` asked Shakyamuni Buddha.
Buddha Manifesting Non-ignorance explained, `As all cultivators today are chanting the epithet of Amitabha and calling out to him, they are not going to believe it when Amitabha is truly incarnated among them. Before Amitabha could even start his mission, he would have to enter nirvana. It won`t work.`
`What can be done then?` sighed Buddha Well-travelling.
Shakyamuni Buddha suggested, `Amitabha can take on an alias. How about Padmakumara?`
As soon as the other thirty-four Buddhas heard the name Padmakumara, they were delighted. Each nodded his head in consensus. Therefore, the decision was made that Amitabha would be incarnated in the world under the pseudonym of Padmakumara.
Buddha Worry-free Virtue asked, `What kind of teaching should Amitabha give to the world?`
Buddha Vigorous Army replied, `In the past, Shakyamuni Buddha has taught the exoteric through the esoteric. Today, Amitabha shall teach the esoteric through the exoteric. This way, both the exoteric and esoteric will be integrated.`
This suggestion was happily accepted by every one of the Buddhas.
The High-Secret File
The decision made in that conference has been classified as a high-secret decision in the Buddha Realm, and none of the Buddhas is to disclose it. Although I learned about it when I was twenty-five, I am only now revealing it at the age of fifty-two. I do so because the time has arrived for the true identity of Padmakumara to be disclosed. In this essay, I will clarify a few issues which have created doubts in people`s minds.
Some people have wondered: does Amitabha still exist in the Pure Land if the founder of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss (Sukhavati) has incarnated in the world? Actually, anyone with a slight knowledge of the Buddhadharma knows the answer to this question. There are Three Bodies to the Buddha and they are the Dharma Body, Bliss Body, and Emanation Body. The Amitabha at Sukhavati is at the level of the Bliss Body. At the level of the Dharma Body, Amitabha is the Wisdom of Discriminatory Awareness of Vairocana Buddha. The Dharma Body of Amitabha exists as one of the five aspects of the wisdom of the Great Sun Buddha.
Sheng-yen Lu is one of the Emanation Bodies of Amitabha. In Buddhism, this may be explained by an analogy of the moon. When the moon in the sky is reflected in a river, a lake, or any body of water, it gives rise to the phenomenon of thousands of moons in thousands of bodies of water. The moon in the sky represents the Bliss Body of Amitabha, and the reflection of the moon in the river represents the Emanation Body of Sheng-yen Lu. Therefore, the true lineage of Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu is as follows:
Great Sun Buddha * Buddha Eyes (Locani) * Padmakumara * Sheng-yen Lu (previously disclosed)
Great Sun Buddha * Buddha Eyes * Amitabha * Sheng-yen Lu (presently disclosed)
The second major puzzle people have in their minds is: when Shakyamuni Buddha conferred the Buddha epithet on Living Buddha Lian-sheng, why did he use the descriptive epithet Flower Light Self-mastery Buddha, instead of Amitabha Buddha or other names used by Amitabha?
This is my explanation. In recounting the episode in my book of the meeting with Shakyamuni Buddha, I kept hidden a minor detail. But then, I also disclosed this minor detail during my Dharma talks, and many people are aware of it.
When Shakyamuni Buddha conferred the title of Buddhahood to me, he had, at first, written down, `Great Light Self-mastery Buddha!` I shook my head to this because the time was not yet ripe. Then Shakyamuni Buddha wrote again and changed the epithet to `Flower Light Self-mastery Buddha.` And this time, I nodded in agreement. Flower Light Self-mastery Buddha turned out to be the same Buddha epithet that was prophesied to Shariputra in the past. So the new epithet turned out to be most appropriate.
The epithet `Great Light Self-Mastery Buddha` originally conferred to me by Shakyamuni Buddha is, indeed, intimately linked with Amitabha. Take a look at the Infinite Life Sutra [Sukhavativyuha-sutra]. It says, `The Infinite Life Buddha has the most powerful and greatest light. That is why he is also called the Infinite Light, Limitless Light, Light That Meets No Obstacle, Unequalled Light, Flamboyant and Ardent Light, Pure Light, Light of Joy, Light of Wisdom, Uninterrupted Light, Inconceivable Light, Indescribable Light, and Light That Exceeds That of the Sun and the Moon.` The collective name for these twelve Buddhas of Light is the `Great Light Self-mastery Buddha.`
Also, in the Amitabha Sutra, it says, `Shariputra, in the Western Pure Land there are the Infinite Life Buddha, Infinite Form Buddha, Infinite Banner Buddha, Great Light Buddha, Great Bright Buddha, Precious Form Buddha, and Pure Light Buddha.` The Great Light Buddha mentioned is the `Great Light Self-mastery Buddha,` who is also a manifestation of Amitabha.
Let us take a look at the verse of praise dedicated to Amitabha:
Amitabha`s beautiful body is gold in color,
Radiating light beyond any comparison;
His brow-point white light reveals five worlds,
His violet eyes clarify four oceans;
Appearing in the light are countless billions of incarnate Buddhas,
As well as infinite numbers of incarnate Bodhisattvas,
Committed to His forty-eight vows to carry sentient beings over;
His Pure Land accommodates nine grades of development.
In the one hundred twenty books I have written, Padmakumara was used extensively as a metaphor for Amitabha!
-`The Great White Padmakumara residing at the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds at the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.`
-`Namo thirty six trillion one nineteen thousand five hundred Amitabhas` is chanted during True Buddha practices.
-I practice the Amitabha Yoga as my Personal Deity Yoga, indicating that the origin of Padmakumara is Amitabha.
-The first Buddha statue I brought with me to the United States was that of Amitabha.
-The three Deities I venerate the most are: Golden Mother of Jade Pond, Amitabha, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
I knew very well about this `highly classified file` of my origin, but how could I divulge it before the time was ripe? This secret has been kept inside me for the last twenty-seven years, and, with all those rumors circulating outside, it was very difficult to remain reticent. Now, the time is ripe, and I finally am allowed to make known the true identities of Padmakumara and Mr. Three-Peaks-Nine-States to the world!
Deva Mara Attacking the Proper Dharma
When I first attained the divine-sight and received teachings from Mr. Three-Peaks-Nine-States, I was twenty-five years old. At that time I was very innocent and child-like, and I revealed that I was the incarnation of Padmakumara. The consequences that followed the divulging of this secret are best described by this classical saying: a slip in one`s talk may greatly irritate others, even causing resentment and viciousness.
In the deva realm, the Deva Mara was provoked into great wrath and declared war on me in the spirit realm by setting up great roadblocks on my path of cultivation. The challenges I had to face in the human world were much worse. Culture circles, religious circles, political circles, and the media all attacked me in an effort to suppress me. They made countless groundless accusations.
I am still alive today because the Vajra Dharma Protectors and various devas have been guarding and protecting me. Each time I ran into a great disaster, a miracle would always happen, or someone would lend me a helping hand and turn the ill situation into a good one.
For example, one time while meditating, I saw an old demon appear with a sharp steel blade high in his hands. Quickly and forcefully, he sank the sword into my head, with the single intent of killing me. Right at that critical moment, at the spot right above my head, a golden head appeared and got in the way between my head and the sword. `Dong!` A loud sound reverberated. The protector who had saved me was the `Golden Head Gati.` When the old demon saw that his plan to harm me had failed, he fled. In a flash, the Golden Head Gati, with auspicious lights under his feet, took off in chase.
I have learned in meditation:
When there is not a single thought in one`s mind,
When the wandering mind is recalled and quiets down,
When sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and thought are eliminated,
When the three Vehicles are understood,
When all attachments are laid down,
I rest in the state of Pure Awareness
And arrive at the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Just imagine, the mere mention that I was the incarnation of Padmakumara almost brought about my demise. If I had disclosed that I was an incarnation of Amitabha, I would have been drowned a long time ago in the spit of numerous eminent monks and practitioners.
Some people feel that it is impossible that the `negative forces can attack the positive Dharma.` Why is it not possible? Just give some thought to the movement known as `Destroying the Four Olds` during the Cultural Revolution in Communist China. Many temples and monasteries were destroyed, the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were broken into fragments, labels such as `old monster,` `superstition,` `causing calamity to the country and the people` were taped to the faces of the statues. Monks and nuns were forced to return to household life, and many Buddhist relics of historical and cultural importance were burnt. It was a great disaster which happened all over China. Not even secluded monasteries in remote mountains escaped destruction.
During that one trip I made to China, I was told, `Fortunately at that time, some wise people were able to use the classification of `important relics` as excuses and secured many historical relics, Buddhist statues, and sutras in safe places. Otherwise, they could have all been destroyed. The Cultural Revolution was indeed a tragedy!`
According to my observations, one cannot really lay the blame just on Jiang Qing and her Gang of Four. Behind their backs, the true order came from a realm in the heavens - the Great Deva Mara was the real mastermind. The Deva Mara of Mahesvara was the director of this tragedy. It was definitely a case of `negative forces attacking the positive Dharma` wherein the Great Deva Mara saw an opportunity to destroy Buddhism. Thought-forms scattered by the evil spirits onto the masses were very powerful and, after they turned into `the consciousness of the masses,` they could make the masses hysterical.
I still remember that, when I was making my way down to earthI debated with the Deva Mara. The Deva Mara declared to me, `I shall enter into the hearts of your family members and students, to turn them away from you, so your aim to help the sentient beings will fail. I shall enter into your teachers` hearts, so they will turn their backs to you.`
I replied, `I will give away all of my attachments, but I will never give up my Bodhicitta.`
`If that is the case, we shall find out if you can really meet the challenge,` said the Deva Mara.
`Wisdom and Stabilization shall be the two wings carrying me to soar into Emptiness. I will not fall. Ultimately, I shall be able to return to the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds,` I declared in certainty to the Deva Mara.
Of course, I knew that I would face the fate of teachers and family members leaving me but, by abiding in the Immeasurable Benevolence and Immeasurable Equanimity, my Bodhicitta has not wavered at all.
Besides, I have in my deployment the Moon-black Maharaja, who is also known as the Raja Who Conquers the Three Worlds [Trailokya-vijaya-raja]. This Raja has four faces, eight arms, and two feet which are trampling Mahesvara and his wife. Three different Moon-black Maharajas are present in the Garbhadhatu Mandala: at the Vajrapani Court, the Achala Court, and the Ksitigarbha Court. These three Moon-black Maharajas can all easily subdue the Deva Mara. I also am one who can enter into the Vajra Play Samadhi to bring the Four Deva Maras into subjugation!
Causes and Conditions of Padmakumara
Padmakumara is Amitabha.
At the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds, there are also the seven terraces, seven tiers of trees, seven jewelled pools, eightfold merit waters, as well as constant playing of peaceful and elegant celestial music, golden ground, jewelled trees, jewelled nets, infinite light, infinite life,... all features depicted in the Amitabha Sutra.
The three main personalities of the Amitabha Sutra are:
Speaker: Shakyamuni Buddha
Chief Listener: Shariputra
Principal Role in the Sutra: Amitabha
The roles played by these three main personalities of the Amitabha Sutra in today`s life of Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu are very clear.
Padmakumara ?Amitabha
Shariputra - Sheng-yen Lu
Three-Peaks - Three Bodies of Shakyamuni Buddha
Nine-States - The Five Buddhas and Four Bodhisattvas
Based on the connections between `previous lives` and `present life,` it is not singular at all that Sheng-yen Lu should receive blessings and empowerments from Shakyamuni Buddha and the Five Buddhas and Nine Bodhisattvas of the central court of the Garbhadhatu Mandala. The connections are logical.
Today, four million people have taken refuge in Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu; thirty True Buddha Lei Tsang Temples have been built; over three hundred local chapters have been established; one hundred twenty books have been published; and numerous books, cassettes, and video tapes on my Dharma talks have been produced - these have happened as a result of causes and conditions which are linked into the past. I am cognizant that, in my previous life, I played an important role which has continued into this life. The responsibility I have in this life to disseminate the Dharma is, correspondingly, just as great.
What is my purpose for disseminating the Dharma? Here is a poem!
The Triple Jewels and the Supreme Tao,
The Four Holy Existences and Six Ordinary Realms,
In Enlightenment, Heaven and Earth become transparent;
It is to help you see your Original Nature
That I have come to transmit the Lamp of Wisdom.
Truthfully, when I was young, I was not outstanding at all and my ambition was not great. During my high school years, I loved to write and wanted to become a poet and a journalist. In college, I studied land-surveying. After college graduation, I became a surveying engineer and worked in that field for ten years. It was during this period of my life that fate suddenly took an unexpected turn. I was brought face to face with the teachings of Buddhism and Taoism and started my studying and training in these two disciplines. What an enormous change! After penetrating deeply into the treasury of the sutras, I discovered that what is contained in the sutras is all the crystallizations of life. There, I explored life, found its worth, and unlocked its mystery.
Ever since, I have submerged myself into this mission without any regret. I knew I would be playing an uncommon role, that the happenings in my life would be uncommon, and the accomplishments achieved in my life would also be uncommon. All these would eventually make their way to the surface.
