English
H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng's Discourse after the Five Colored Acalanatha Grand Ceremony
Translated into English by the True Buddha School VSTT
Five Colored Acalanatha Grand Ceremony organized by Fahua Chapter in Chiayi, Taiwan on 2023-01-01
Grandmaster wishes all of us to be reborn at the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds in the future and continue to attend dharma ceremonies there. I love everybody, and I embrace you all in my heart. Let us all gather again in the buddhaverse beyond the heavens—be sure to be there, as I will call on your name and check one by one!
Acalanatha [also known as Acala] is Grandmaster Lu’s protector deity; he is the main deity for boundary protection at home; he is a deity I rely on. I have two protectors: Acala and Yamantaka. The five major herukas of Tibetan Tantrayana are Hevajra, Guhyasamaya Cakrasamvara, Yamantaka, and Mahottara or Kalacakra. The five vidyarajas of Japanese Tantrayana are Aryacalanatha (The Holy Acalanatha at the Center), Yamantaka, Trilokyavijaya, Vajra Yaksa, and Kundali.
Acala is my main deity for boundary protection. Acala is also the first protector I enshrined at my home in the USA, and in Taiwan, you’d see a statue of Acala as soon as you enter my front door. One time, he provided great help to Grandmaster. On the night of October 3rd [a few years ago], Acala, together with Mahabala, helped me behead the humungous troop of ghosts from San Francisco. His sword flew and transformed into a propeller, beheading the ghosts and their leaders who came to take Grandmaster to see their boss—you know who that is! They were all wiped out by my two main protectors. Since then, these ghosts have not come anymore. Behind me here are Vairocana Buddha and all deities in the Garbhadathu and Vajradathu mandalas. All I am saying is the truth!
That night, I was suddenly awakened—I had never been awakened like that. My eyes opened wide, and Mahabala flew out of my mouth. Because I am always in union with Mahabala, he is inside my body. Acala also started to move. As I was lying in bed, I chanted Acala’s mantra: namo samanto modanan warila lan han. With the syllable “han!” all the Acalas that I set for boundary protection around my house emerged, and their swords swung out like propellers exterminating all those ghosts. I opened my dharma eyes and saw their blood flowing like rivers and bones piled mountain high. From then on, none of these ghosts from San Francisco dared to come to my house again!
So, after receiving this transmission of the Five-colored Acalas, you don’t need to be scared of ghosts anymore! As Buddhists, we should never be afraid of ghosts. Have faith in your dharma protectors! The herukas and the vidyarajas have mighty power—they are boundless! They have many dharmas: purification, enrichment, magnetization, subjugation, and eradication of hindrances. They do have these powers!
After receiving the empowerment today, you can set your boundary protection at home, and you need not be afraid of anything anymore. No ghosts, no spells, or black magic can ever harm you! The Five-colored Acalas can easily handle thousands of ghosts and eradicate all kinds of obstructions, as Grandmaster has experienced himself. Any ghosts can be taken care of. The only problem is when it is the “ghosts” of your own heart-mind—it is the ghosts within that is most troublesome. [This Chinese idiom “ghost within” means that you have bad conscience or being deceitful and deceptive.]
As a human being, we should have a clear conscience and be fair and just. When you have no ghosts within and you are protected by the vajra deities and wise protectors, then there is no need to be afraid. You would be a “big shot” when you are upright, your conscience is clear, and you have the protection of Acala. It would be the ghosts who are scared of you and not the other way around.
Look at the appearance of Acala, with one glaring eye and one squinting eye! My eyes are as such, too. Do you know how to visualize Acala? First, you form the Acala sword mudra with your hands. You visualize the seed syllable “han,” transforming into five seed syllables in five colors, which in turn transform into the five-colored Acalas.
Visualize your home and the four directions. Then visualize the green Acala in the east, the white Acala in the west, the black Acala in the north, the red Acala in the south, and at the center, the yellow Acala. They are the Five-colored Acalas. Or visualize that you become the yellow Acala at the center, surrounded by the other Acalas. Then chant the mantra: namo samanto modanan warila lan han!
Visualize them protecting you and your home, so you can sleep safely and soundly. It is guaranteed! You can perform the boundary protection either every night or every two weeks—the protection can stay for that long.
Acalanatha spoke the following verse:
Those who see me will generate bodhicitta,
Those who hear my name will stop all evils and practice goodness,
Those who listen to my teachings will obtain great wisdom, and
Those who know my mind will attain buddhahood in the present body.
Now, let me first ask you: Why is it that anyone seeing his body will generate bodhicitta? Why is it that anyone hearing his name will stop doing evil and begin doing good? Why is it that anyone listening to his words will obtain great wisdom? And why is it that anyone knowing his mind will attain buddhahood in the present body? Can anyone here try to explain this verse?
[At first, an upasaka, Prof. Wang, who is also Rev. Lian Ying’s father, spoke. Then Grandmaster pressured members of the ordained sangha to say something since they are always very quiet. Two dharma masters and a dharma educator spoke.]
That’s about right. You all spoke very well. But Grandmaster’s explanation of this verse will be different from yours and it will be very profound. The Buddha once said only when one sees all appearances as non-appearances, will one see the Tathagata. This statement reflects the verse’s first line:
Those who see me will generate bodhicitta.
In our merit dedication, we say, “May we see the Buddha, and transcend life and death. May we liberate all, like the Buddha.” By seeing the Buddha, one will transcend life and death and liberate all. To see the buddha, you need to know that all appearances are non-appearances, and all phenomena are no phenomena. Only then, will you see the Buddha, because the Buddha has no appearances and is without any phenomena.
Acala is Vairocana’s Wheel of Injunction, and of course, he also has no appearances, as any appearance is not the real thing. But you cannot think of complete emptiness; otherwise, you’d fall into nihilism. So you still have one thing left, and that is “to liberate all—like the buddhas, may we liberate all beings.” To liberate all is to generate bodhicitta.
When you comprehend what you see—the body of the buddhas and all its appearances are not appearances—and you truly understand that all phenomena are illusory, you need to generate bodhicitta to liberate deluded sentient beings.
The Vimalakirti Sutra states that bodhisattvas have realizations. The awakened are called bodhisattvas, while the deluded are called sentient beings. When a bodhisattva is still deluded, he is called a sentient being, and vice versa, if a sentient being has been awakened, he becomes a bodhisattva. Sentient beings are bodhisattvas who are still in delusion. They need to be awakened so they can become bodhisattvas with realizations. “Bodhisattva” means the one generating bodhicitta.
Just now the dharma educator said that when you see Acala’souter appearance, you need to know that Acala generates bodhicitta to deliver sentient beings. We start from the external to the internal, from Acala’sbodhicitta to our own bodhicitta—we, too, generate bodhicitta. This is my explanation of the first phrase: Those who see me will generate bodhicitta.
The second phrase:
Those who hear my name will stop all evils and practice goodness.
Acala is equivalent to Vairocana Buddha, the buddha at the center among the Five Dhyani Buddhas. Hearing Acala’s name is the same as hearing a buddha’s name. What do buddhas do? They eliminate bad thoughts and purify themselves by practicing goodness. Doing good is purification, whereas evil is contamination. When you hear the name of Holy Aryacalanatha at the Center—buddhadharma—you need to stop all evils and practice goodness. Those who see the buddhas will generate bodhicitta and those who hear the name of the buddhas or buddhadharma will avoid evil and practice goodness—the most important teaching of the Buddha. So, those are my explanation on generating bodhicitta and stopping all evils and practicing goodness.
Next is:
Those who listen to my teachings will obtain great wisdom.
These are all interrelated. When you hear buddhadharma, you will attain great wisdom—the greatest wisdom, which is the wisdom of the Tathagata.
Those who know my mind will attain buddhahood in the present body.
The mind of Acala is essentially the mind of the Buddha. We often write “Buddha mind” in our calligraphy. The dialog between Shen Guang and Bodhidharma is a good example. Shen Guang told Bodhidharma that he had no peace in his mind, so Bodhidharma asked Shen Guang to give him his mind so he can make it at peace. Shen Guang replied, “I cannot find my mind no matter how hardI try!” Bodhidharma told him, “Your mind is now at peace.”
You have peace of mind only when you cannot find your mind. The mind is neither inside, outside, nor in-between. At this time, you would know that the mind is just a human’s concept—a mere notion. You practice until you have no self, which means you have no mind. This is the State of No-self, where the “I” does not exist.
When you have no self, how can you possibly have mind? When you have no mind, how can you possibly have greed, anger, delusion, doubt, or pride? In this state, all afflictions disappear. On the contrary, when you still have a “self,” then you will have attachments. You would want to wear certain clothes or hats or shoes, or to eat certain food, etc. You are still attached to yourself in your daily activities. If you have no self, then you can live anywhere and be at ease. You just follow your affinity and have peace of mind wherever you are, without exception. If you do, then you know my mind.
If you have attained buddhahood in this lifetime, you can have peace of mind wherever you are. Only people with no mind can attain buddhahood while alive. On the other hand, if you do not have peace of mind, it means you still have attachments and afflictions.
The True Buddha Sutra states that No-thought is the buddha jewel of right realization. Why No-thought? Because when there is no mind, there are no thoughts. If you have thoughts, then you will certainly have afflictions and attachments. If you still have a “self,” then you will not attain buddhahood, for sure. Only those who have reached the state of no thoughts but still generate bodhicitta can attain buddhahood in this lifetime. Now, you should understand this clearly.
Let the bodies of the five-colored Acalas reflect upon you to generate bodhicitta. Upon hearing the name of the buddha or buddhadharma, may you follow the precepts and stop all evils and start doing good. The five precepts are not to kill, not to steal, not to have sexual misconduct, not to lie, and not to have alcohol or intoxicants.
By listening to the buddhadharma, you develop great wisdom. These two phrases are interrelated. By accepting buddhadharma, you should sever your afflictions and attachments. The sword of Acala is to cut off afflictions and self-attachments. When you cut off your self-attachments and afflictions, you reach the state of No-self. When there is no more self, do you still have mind? No. Do you still have thoughts then? No. With no self, no mind, and no thoughts, you will attain buddhahood in the present body in this lifetime.
This is my explanation of the verse. It is very important! The mind is something you can never find! You will never be able to find your mind. If you use your mind to (intentionally) search for the mind, you will never find it. Only when you are in a state of no mind, would you realize that “I” am illusory—the “self” is illusory. You would then be able to abandon wealth, looks, name, etc. You can attain buddhahood directly only after you eliminate them completely.
Only when you have no more afflictions and attachments, and you have no self would you attain buddhahood in this lifetime. Therefore, generating bodhicitta, stopping evils and practicing goodness are for the purpose of attaining buddhahood in this body.
Acala’s verse is very simple. Replace “me” and “my” with “the buddha” and “the buddha’s” in the verse:
Those who see the buddha’s body will generate bodhicitta,
Those who hear the buddha’s name will stop all evils and practice goodness,
Those who listen to the buddha’s teachings will obtain great wisdom,
Those who know the buddha’s mind will attain buddhahood in the present body.
“The buddha” here refers to Acala, who is also Vairocana Buddha. Acala is an emanation of Vairocana Buddha, just like Guru Padmasambhava and Padmakumara are emanations of Amitabha Buddha.
Sentient beings are bodhisattvas who are still deluded. As soon as they are awakened from their delusion, they become non-regressing bodhisattvas. That’s why the Buddhist sutra states, “Buddha, mind, and sentient beings are identical.” There is no difference among the three.
Now you comprehend the “mind.” …to know my mind… “My mind” is equivalent to “no mind.” Having no mind, you attain buddhahood right there and then. Only in a state of no-mind can you be awakened and enlightened!
That’s why we say, “The Buddha speaking is equivalent to the Buddha not speaking. Speaking dharma is the same as not speaking dharma.” The buddha’s body does not exist, and subsequently, the buddha’s name does not exist, either. How can his name exist if his body does not exist? The buddha has no mind too. When nothing exists, this is complete purity; at such time, you attain direct buddhahood.
So if you have the mind of becoming a master, then you have the affliction of becoming a master. It’s just for name, right? What does “dharma teacher” mean? It means someone who knows dharma and can teach dharma. So, not only the ordained monks and nuns are called “dharma teachers,” but also any upasaka or upasika who knows and can teach dharma. So, if a lay Buddhist knows dharma, they can also be called a dharma teacher (fashi).
Recognize and comprehend that the body is illusory, and name is likewise illusory. Know that the Buddha spoke on the dharma merely to awaken sentient beings from illusion and guide them in finding the Truth. Know that sentient beings are also buddhas, and that buddhas, minds, and sentient beings are completely identical.
The title “master” is just a name. “Lineage Root Guru” is also a mere name. “Dharma teacher,” “dharma educator” are all just names, as are “upasaka” and “upasika.” Even “sentient being” is merely a name. None of these names matters. Gender also does not matter—in the view of the buddhas, no one is male or female.
When you truly comprehend the buddha’s mind, you would know. Nothing is left except bodhicitta, goodness, and wisdom. As a Buddhist practitioner, cutting off all afflictions is most important. Once all afflictions and attachments are gone, then you will have no mind, no thoughts, and no self. Such is called buddhahood in this present body. What I am teaching you today is extremely profound. Contemplate it!
Nonetheless, in our spiritual cultivation, we cannot immediately reach the state of No-self, No-mind, and No-thought. So, before we reach the highest attainment, let me teach you another protection practice at this Five-colored Acalas Ceremony, since they are also dharma protectors. Acala’sNine Syllable Mantra is “lin, bing, dou, zhe, jie, zhen, lie, zai, qian”with the following nine mudras [Grandmaster demonstrates]. Or when the ghost is too close and you have not much time, you can form the Four Verticals and Five Horizontals Mudra instead. Then push your mudra away while releasing it. It has power and all ghosts will scamper away. You can do this anytime you want to send ghosts away, whenever you see them, even in your dreams.
May you have great spiritual experiences, gain enlightenment swiftly, and attain buddhahood.
Thank you everyone. Om mani padme hum.
Included below is the main practice of the Five-colored Acalanathas, taken from the ceremony procedure.
Form the Acala Sword Mudra.
For male practitioners, bite the upper lip with your lower lip [just like Acala]. For female practitioners, bite the lower lip with the upper lip.
Squint your eyes, look sideways, and appear angry.
Visualize:
- First, empty your mind by visualizing emptiness. Recite the mantra.
- Visualize a blue moon-disc appearing in the sky, with a “han” seed syllable at its center, radiating a great fiery light.
- The light of fire transforms into five different colored “han” seed syllables: yellow, white, black, green, and red. Yellow represents earth at the center, white metal in the west, black water in the north, green wood in the east, and red fire in the south. The five color seed syllables transform into five-colored Acalanatha Vidyaraja Herukas.
- The five-colored Acalas each appear extremely wrathful. Their left eye askance, looking down sideways with disapproval; their right eye angry; their lips tightly shut, their upper left fang protruding downward and lower right fang protruding upward. On top of their heads, there is a lotus throne, representing the Great Sun Buddha Vairocana. Their braid falls on the left shoulder to represent compassion. Their right hand holds a Kurikara Naga King sword. Thus, the sword is a dragon, and the dragon is a sword. Their left hand holds a vajra lasso with the great seal of both Garbhadathu and Vajradhatu, to represent that they wield and promote the decree of the Great Sun Tathagata, Daiichi Nyorai.
- The Acalas sit on a rock bed amid ocean spray, surrounded by fiery and fierce blazes blown about by the wind. This vajra samaya fire can subdue all of the practitioner’s greed, anger, delusion, doubt, and pride, as well as the four maras. It can destroy all disasters, vexing evil spirits, spells, and curses, and also all hindrances and obstructions.
- Then visualize the five-colored Acalas empowering us with white, red, and blue lights to transform all dark karma from beginningless time into black smoke and expelling them from your skin pores.
- Instantly, the practitioner transforms into the yellow Acala at the center, surrounded by the other four Acalas at the four directions. The practitioner is in union with the Acalas, and they are completely identical and indistinguishable.
Recite the praise:
The Immovable one in five colors
With boundless mighty power
East, West, North, South,
And at the center the dragon king.
They are best at
Defeating maras and removing hindrances
Protecting buddhadharma
And salvaging the three realms.
Mantra: namo samanto motonan warila lanhan
Praise upon exit from samadhi:
By seeing Acala’s body, may I generate bodhicitta.
By hearing Acala’s name, may I stop all evils and practice goodness.
By listening to Acala speak, may I gain great wisdom.
And by knowing Acala’s mind, may I attain buddhahood right here and now!
Full webcast of 2023.1.1 Five Colored Acalas Ceremony (Taiwan) and dharma discourse with English interpretation: https://youtu.be/mPw3Y7ysI_s
More photos at https://en.tbsn.org/news/detail/1687/
