- Thứ 4 Tháng 1 20, 2010 8:43 am
translation by Dian. edited by Xiao Bai Yun
Preface to Quintessence of Esoteric Buddhism- 2nd volume.
Early Spring 2009- This is the preface in "Quintessence of Esoteric Buddhism"- 2nd volume that was published in Spring 1984 by the Colorado Friendship Association (1000 copies)
The author of this book had spent 3 continuous years, devoting himself day and night to researching spirituality and looking for higher learning both in Exoteric and Esoteric subjects. During that time he was fortunate to have met with the superior monk Thich Vien Duc and due to a favorable affinity (good karma), had received from the latter the Secret Sacred Seal and the complete esoteric doctrines of the Northern Secret Buddhism sect. He had also received from the elder monk (87 years old) the complete doctrines of the Southern Sect in Cambodian Buddhism; and from Mr. Sau, a priest belonging to the Secret Sect of Thailand, “The Eighteen Lohans,” its complete doctrine of Secret Buddhism (hundreds of Yantra in big format).
The author also had the opportunity to exchange doctrines and mystical experiences with different practitioners of the Esoteric Buddhism from various sects: the Most Venerable Thich Pho Ung at Temple Linh Quang, city of Khanh Hoi; the superior monk Thich Tu Hue, Head of the Mendicant sect in the city of My Tho; the elder disciples of Honorable Master Minh Tri, religious leader of Vietnamese Pure Land Association (this sect has built hundreds of temples in South Vietnam). Also religious esoteric practitioners such as Như Phap, Monk “Cau Hai”; religious Sister Son Ngoc Dieu; the senior disciples of Cậu Hai, this latter was from from Buu Son Ky Huong Buddhist sect at Nha Bang temple in the city of Chau Doc; The Venerable Head of the Cambodian Buddhist monks in Vietnam, and many other esoteric practitioners having occult (psychic) powers powers such as Mr. Ba Nuoc Lanh, Miss Nam Cuu Thien, and Mrs. Nam Cay Ða.
During the same period, the author also extensively researched Secret Buddhist doctrines of Tibet, China and Japan from Vietnamese translations of English, French, Japanese and Chinese articles. Despite the great number of documents, it seems that there has not been anything written about a general overview of the history of Secret Buddhism in the world that is arranged systematically for the convenience of scholars and religious practitioners to research and practice it. Even more difficult is that the books and Sutras on Secret Buddhism only have empty theories, as they were compiled by scholars who had no real personal experience with the subject whatsoever. The theories were presented and analyzed with vast knowledge, but they cannot show the reader any basic method of practice in order to experience a supernatural or metaphysical phenomenon, which is the most important part of secret Buddhism that needs to be researched.
Since coming to the United States, we have listened to the tape of Dr. Thich An Thanh, a Vietnamese monk who has been to Tibet and practiced meditation for 3 years on the icy Himalayan mountain, and achieved the experience of ‘astral traveling’.
We also have visited the premises of one of the two major sects of Secret Buddhism of Tibet: the Vajradatu center founded by Lama Chogyam Trungpa, who was believed to be an incarnate Bodhisatva, situated at 1345 Spruce Street, Boulder Colorado. The assistant to the vice president, Mr. Peter Solz, has taken our disciples to the main Mandala of the latter center, and there our disciples entered into communication with the Divinities and received the Force to form various Mudra while paying homage to the Buddha.
Afterward we asked Mr. Solz whether or not esoteric practitioners at this center were guided by the force to pay homage to Buddha the way we did. He replied that in order to perform like that, his disciples have to cultivate over 3 years and as of now, only five of Chogyam Trungpa’s main disciples are able to do so.
We have combed through the following books of Chogyam Trungpa: Born in Tibet (1966), Meditation in Action (1969), Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism (1973) and The Myth of Freedom (1976) …. but all of them only mentioned views on cosmology, consciousness and human life that are heavily philosophical and completely devoid of any esoteric practice or pragmatic experience.
We also had the opportunity of attending a camping meeting on a hillside presided over by Mr. Trungpa with the presence of several hundred followers (mostly Americans). I noticed that they were wearing sacred red threads (Tibetan talismans) around their necks, as a sign of reverence for and pride in Lama C. Trungpa.
We had read Introduction to the Vajrayana Thoughts of Tibetan Lama Tarthang Tulku, (Bodhisatva incarnate¹ of the traditional Nyingma sect, presently in the United States), written by Mr. Pham Cong Thien in the Vietnamese Buddhist monthly magazine during the 1983 Vulan season. The article mentioned the biography of Tarthang Tulku and that he was proud that he had received private teachings from enlightened masters, those who transmit traditional doctrines both verbally and through the sutra, from sects that have now almost completely vanished.
We had witnessed mysterious and miraculous events from various occult sects, and experienced effectively the transmission of traditional doctrines via sutras, and oral transmission by simple methods of Southern Secret Buddhism. In Vietnam, more than 5000 people of all ages from 5 year old children to the elderly, males and females, from all walks of life, have received the transmission of esoteric doctrines (propagated by the sect of occult practitioner Mr. Pham Cong Trieu) and have been practicing them effectively; so, that teachings which Tibetan Lamas had long considered their own special domain are actually a very small matter for the Vietnamese people in this time.
Could that wonderful phenomenon be taken as a sign of Heaven’s Plan to prove the prophecies that have been circulating for half a century: "Vietnam will be a second Holy Land with the opening of the ²Dragon Flower Festival"?
Scholar Trieu Phuoc, Religious Name: Buu Son, Religious title: Duc Quy.
-----------------------------------------------
¹ Only According to their belief
² According to some esoteric sects, after the doomsday, Amitabha Buddha will manifest on earth to lead the remaining righteous people.
Preface to Quintessence of Esoteric Buddhism- 2nd volume.
Early Spring 2009- This is the preface in "Quintessence of Esoteric Buddhism"- 2nd volume that was published in Spring 1984 by the Colorado Friendship Association (1000 copies)
The author of this book had spent 3 continuous years, devoting himself day and night to researching spirituality and looking for higher learning both in Exoteric and Esoteric subjects. During that time he was fortunate to have met with the superior monk Thich Vien Duc and due to a favorable affinity (good karma), had received from the latter the Secret Sacred Seal and the complete esoteric doctrines of the Northern Secret Buddhism sect. He had also received from the elder monk (87 years old) the complete doctrines of the Southern Sect in Cambodian Buddhism; and from Mr. Sau, a priest belonging to the Secret Sect of Thailand, “The Eighteen Lohans,” its complete doctrine of Secret Buddhism (hundreds of Yantra in big format).
The author also had the opportunity to exchange doctrines and mystical experiences with different practitioners of the Esoteric Buddhism from various sects: the Most Venerable Thich Pho Ung at Temple Linh Quang, city of Khanh Hoi; the superior monk Thich Tu Hue, Head of the Mendicant sect in the city of My Tho; the elder disciples of Honorable Master Minh Tri, religious leader of Vietnamese Pure Land Association (this sect has built hundreds of temples in South Vietnam). Also religious esoteric practitioners such as Như Phap, Monk “Cau Hai”; religious Sister Son Ngoc Dieu; the senior disciples of Cậu Hai, this latter was from from Buu Son Ky Huong Buddhist sect at Nha Bang temple in the city of Chau Doc; The Venerable Head of the Cambodian Buddhist monks in Vietnam, and many other esoteric practitioners having occult (psychic) powers powers such as Mr. Ba Nuoc Lanh, Miss Nam Cuu Thien, and Mrs. Nam Cay Ða.
During the same period, the author also extensively researched Secret Buddhist doctrines of Tibet, China and Japan from Vietnamese translations of English, French, Japanese and Chinese articles. Despite the great number of documents, it seems that there has not been anything written about a general overview of the history of Secret Buddhism in the world that is arranged systematically for the convenience of scholars and religious practitioners to research and practice it. Even more difficult is that the books and Sutras on Secret Buddhism only have empty theories, as they were compiled by scholars who had no real personal experience with the subject whatsoever. The theories were presented and analyzed with vast knowledge, but they cannot show the reader any basic method of practice in order to experience a supernatural or metaphysical phenomenon, which is the most important part of secret Buddhism that needs to be researched.
Since coming to the United States, we have listened to the tape of Dr. Thich An Thanh, a Vietnamese monk who has been to Tibet and practiced meditation for 3 years on the icy Himalayan mountain, and achieved the experience of ‘astral traveling’.
We also have visited the premises of one of the two major sects of Secret Buddhism of Tibet: the Vajradatu center founded by Lama Chogyam Trungpa, who was believed to be an incarnate Bodhisatva, situated at 1345 Spruce Street, Boulder Colorado. The assistant to the vice president, Mr. Peter Solz, has taken our disciples to the main Mandala of the latter center, and there our disciples entered into communication with the Divinities and received the Force to form various Mudra while paying homage to the Buddha.
Afterward we asked Mr. Solz whether or not esoteric practitioners at this center were guided by the force to pay homage to Buddha the way we did. He replied that in order to perform like that, his disciples have to cultivate over 3 years and as of now, only five of Chogyam Trungpa’s main disciples are able to do so.
We have combed through the following books of Chogyam Trungpa: Born in Tibet (1966), Meditation in Action (1969), Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism (1973) and The Myth of Freedom (1976) …. but all of them only mentioned views on cosmology, consciousness and human life that are heavily philosophical and completely devoid of any esoteric practice or pragmatic experience.
We also had the opportunity of attending a camping meeting on a hillside presided over by Mr. Trungpa with the presence of several hundred followers (mostly Americans). I noticed that they were wearing sacred red threads (Tibetan talismans) around their necks, as a sign of reverence for and pride in Lama C. Trungpa.
We had read Introduction to the Vajrayana Thoughts of Tibetan Lama Tarthang Tulku, (Bodhisatva incarnate¹ of the traditional Nyingma sect, presently in the United States), written by Mr. Pham Cong Thien in the Vietnamese Buddhist monthly magazine during the 1983 Vulan season. The article mentioned the biography of Tarthang Tulku and that he was proud that he had received private teachings from enlightened masters, those who transmit traditional doctrines both verbally and through the sutra, from sects that have now almost completely vanished.
We had witnessed mysterious and miraculous events from various occult sects, and experienced effectively the transmission of traditional doctrines via sutras, and oral transmission by simple methods of Southern Secret Buddhism. In Vietnam, more than 5000 people of all ages from 5 year old children to the elderly, males and females, from all walks of life, have received the transmission of esoteric doctrines (propagated by the sect of occult practitioner Mr. Pham Cong Trieu) and have been practicing them effectively; so, that teachings which Tibetan Lamas had long considered their own special domain are actually a very small matter for the Vietnamese people in this time.
Could that wonderful phenomenon be taken as a sign of Heaven’s Plan to prove the prophecies that have been circulating for half a century: "Vietnam will be a second Holy Land with the opening of the ²Dragon Flower Festival"?
Scholar Trieu Phuoc, Religious Name: Buu Son, Religious title: Duc Quy.
-----------------------------------------------
¹ Only According to their belief
² According to some esoteric sects, after the doomsday, Amitabha Buddha will manifest on earth to lead the remaining righteous people.