''Wholehearted Refuge''
from Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu Book 256 Paying a Visit to an Eminent Master


Some came up the mountain and asked me about ''wholehearted refuge.'' I replied with simplified answers.

One asked (Q), ''What is wholehearted refuge?''
I replied (A), ''This is when one offers one's body, speech, and mind completely to one's root guru. Take notice of this, one must see one's own guru as a buddha! Pay homage to, think of, and make offerings to the root guru three times a day. This is the original meaning of wholehearted refuge.''

Q: ''What should one do when one sees one's root guru?''
A: ''Prostrate to the root guru with the most sincere respect, because the root guru represents buddha, dharma, and sangha, namo guru bei.''

Q: ''Can one doubt one's root guru?''
A: ''Yes if one has not taken refuge under the guru. However, one must not doubt or slander one's root guru after having taken refuge with the guru.'' (Both slandering and doubts are deceitful to the guru.)

Q: ''Is it easy to taking refuge wholeheartedly?''
A: ''No, not at all, because one must act on the root guru's decree. One must not act on one's own feelings. The wholehearted refuge takes one to act on the root guru's decree one hundred percent.'' (It would be irreverent if it were not hundred percent.)

Q: ''Isn't this correct that wholehearted refuge vanishes as soon as one starts to slander or doubt one's root guru. It is no longer wholehearted refuge and shows the sign of betrayal when one disbelieves root guru's words and starts one's own school?''
A: ''Yes.'' (it is deceiving the root guru and obliterating one's ancestors)

Q: ''One who wholeheartedly takes refuge only makes the root guru happy, never angry, is that right?''
A: ''Yes, don't let root guru be worried because of you.''

Q: ''Can one take someone who is already the root guru's disciple to be one's own disciple?''
A: ''Of course not. Vajra brothers cannot become their guru or disciple ever. This messes up the lineage.''

Q: ''Is it ok for laypersons to take more honored seats than ones who are ordained?''
A: ''Buddha said, this is the evil manifestation of the dharma-ending age.'' (Disallowable per precept)

Q: ''What kind of mind should one who takes wholehearted refuge have?''
A: ''Be single-minded without other thoughts. Otherwise one sins if one is irreverent.''

Q: ''Is it correct that one should often ask for a blessing from one's root guru?''
A: ''Yes. Root guru's blessings form the foundation of successful cultivation.''

Q: ''What should one have to do for wholehearted refuge?''
A: ''Hand over one's life to the root guru. Offer oneself and one's property.''

Q: ''Can one achieve merit by oneself?''
A: ''All merit comes from the root guru.''

Q: ''Can one be haughty?''
A: ''One is already evil if one is haughty, not to mention if one has also taken wholehearted refuge!''

!!Please be aware that before engaging in any True Buddha Vajrayana practices, one must first take refuge and receive the respective empowerment.!!