Buddhism FAQ
- Dorje Chang Buddha Lineage Refugee Tree
- What was it like when the universe was originated?
- What is the true essence of the universe?
- What is dharmakaya (dharma body) Buddha?
- What is dharmadhatu- tathata?
- What is sambhogakaya Buddha?
- Understanding the Buddhist Lineage Refuge Tree
- What does Buddha mean?
- Schools of Buddhism | Buddhist sects | Buddhist lineages
- Where do all schools of Buddhism receive their lineage from?
- What is Dharmakaya 法身 (Samantabhadra Tathagata 普賢王如來, Adharma Buddha 阿達而瑪佛)?
- What is Buddhao-nature 佛性 ?
- What is Perfect Stillness 心性寂滅?
- What are the three primordial Buddhas 原始佛? Who are they related to one another?
- Who taught dharma to Sakyamuni Buddha 釋迦摩尼佛?
- Dorje Chang Buddha was Sambhogakaya Buddha. What is Sambhogakaya Buddha 報身佛體?
- Dorje Chang Buddha II – the holy and venerable Vimalakirti . Who is Vimalakirti 維摩詰聖尊?
- Dorje Chang Buddha III – H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu 雲高益西諾布 (formerly known as Master Wan Ko Yee, or Yi Yungao)
- Who transformed into the ancient Buddha Dipankara 燃燈古佛 and nirmanakaya Vajrasattva 化身佛金剛薩埵?
- Who is the original leader of all the sects within all of Buddhism?
- Why does Buddhism have so many schools, sects and lineages?
Seeking After Teaching of Buddha
Like many people, I had been quite puzzled by some fundamental questions about Buddhism, such as – what was the universe like when it originated, what is Buddha-nauture, what is perfect stillness, how did Buddhism get started, who was the first Buddha, did Buddha Shakyamuni (Gautama Buddha) have teachers, how many Buddhas are in the world, is there a real Buddha on the planet in our time, why are there so many different sects of Buddhism, etc. The list went on and on….
For instance, it appears that so many Buddhist scholars and cultivators have not come to a clear understanding of the origins and true meanings of Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya. I had been flipping through Buddhist books and searching online and noticed that information I found was going around the circle by using ambiguous, theoretical language and terms to explain these questions and make them sound more confusing. I found similar definitions across various sources, but none of them makes perfect sense, neither does any of the source I found explain how these three Primordial Buddhas were originated, related to one another, and why exactly did they appear in that particular form. The more I read about the search results, the more confused I got until one day I found the answers from a Dharma discourse imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
I also found some very helpful contents in the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma complied or co-authored by International Buddhism Sangha Association and others. I by no means will be able to expound these common questions on Buddhism as accurately and comprehensively as H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III or the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma can. Therefore, in this article I quoted the original contents relevant to the Buddhism history and origin that cover frequently asked questions on Buddhism from the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. I genuinely recommend this treasure book for it contains precious knowledge and documentations of the true realization power of true Buddha Dharma that the real and the highest Buddha in the world has achieved.
Dorje Chang Buddha Lineage Refugee Tree
With respect to all of Buddhism in the dharma realm, Dorje Chang Buddha is the true primordial ancestor with form. Without Dorje Chang Buddha, there would be no Buddhism, no Buddha-dharma, no Buddhist studies, no Buddhas, no Bodhisattvas, no dharma kings, no rinpoches, no dharma teachers, and no Buddhists. There would only be the concept of the absolute truth of the universe that is not born and does not perish. This is the formless dharmakaya Buddha known as Samantabhadra Tathagata or Adharma Buddha. The dharmakaya has no form. It has no sound and does not speak. This dhamakaya is called Buddha-nature, which is not Buddhism. It abides in perfect stillness. With the dharmakaya, there is no subject who can expound the dharma.
When the universe originated, it was boundless and everything was silent. There was no such thing as length of time or size of space. There was no shape and form, no interior and exterior, no birth and death. This is the dharmakaya (dharma body) Buddha. The true meaning of the dharmakaya Buddha is the concept of a universe that does not perish. This concept of a universe that does not perish is also called “dharmadhatu- tathata (dharma realm true-suchness),” which is Samantabhadra Tathagata (Adharma Buddha).
However, the dharmakaya Buddha only expresses the concept of the true essence of the universe; that is, not being born and not dying, not coming and not going. The dharmakaya Buddha has no form and does not speak. It has no way to communicate any meaning, such as meaning through images or meaning through language. Because of such karmic conditions, the formless dharmakaya Buddha generated the first sambhogakaya Buddha with form. This sambhogakaya Buddha with form transformed into Vajrasattva and other nirmanakayas.
In order to make a distinction between those three, the dharmakaya Buddha was named Adharma Buddha, the sambhogakaya Buddha was named Dorje Chang Buddha, and the nirmanakaya was named Vajrasattva. Actually, Samantabhadra Tathagata is Adharma Buddha and also is Dorje Chang Buddha. In truth, there are not two Buddhas. These distinctions resulted from there being a dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya.
Based on this dharma, Samantabhadra Tathagata did not directly incarnate. Even the ancient Buddha Dipankara and Vajrasattva were the nirmanakayas of Dorje Chang Buddha. Sakyamuni Buddha was a disciple of Dipankara Buddha. However, many sects list Samantabhadra Tathagata as the first Buddha who began all the lineages in the dharmadhatu. This way of thinking is actually not erroneous. That is because although Samantabhadra Tathagata is a dharmakaya without form and has no way of speaking, the origin lies with this dharmakaya from which the sambhogakaya Dorje Chang Buddha manifested. This sambhogakaya Buddha was the first one to spread the Buddha-dharma and save living beings in the three spheres of existence so that they would become holy beings.
Dorje Chang Buddha is also called Buddha Vajradhara or Ruler of the Vajra Beings. In the entire universe, Dorje Chang Buddha is the first Buddha with form and is the highest Buddha. That is, the highest leader of Buddhism in the entire universe came into being in the form of Dorje Chang Buddha. It was Dorje Chang Buddha who began transmitting dharma and saving living beings in the dharmadhatu. As a result, Buddhism was born and the Buddha-dharma began spreading.
The teachings of Dorje Chang Buddha led to many disciples becoming Buddhas. The five most famous among such disciples are Aksobhya Buddha of the east, Ratnasambhava Buddha of the south, Amitabha Buddha of the west, Amoghasiddhi Buddha of the north, and Vairocana Buddha of the center. There are also many other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas among the original disciples of Dorje Chang Buddha. Dorje Chang Buddha was the one who initially propagated the Buddha-dharma in the dharmadhatu. Dorje Chang Buddha is the supreme leader of all of Buddhism in the dharmadhatu.
The incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha is different from the incarnation of any other Buddha. Such an incarnation is a primordial manifestation of the existence of Buddha-dharma. In each world of living beings, there can be at any one time only one incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, who manifests or expresses the existence of the true dharma. There will not be a second incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha in the same age or era. Only after the first incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha leaves the world can the second incarnation be born based on karmic conditions relating to the good fortune of living beings. For example, the holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who was the second Dorje Chang Buddha, took birth in this earthly realm in the past. The third Dorje Chang Buddha, H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, took birth in this earthly realm more than two thousand years after Vimalakirti left it and only when karmic conditions relating to the good fortune of living beings had matured. Furthermore, according to the formal pronouncement of H.H. Mahavairocana Tathagata Dharma King Zunsheng, the fourth Dorje Chang Buddha will descend into this world five thousand years from now.
H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata is the only Dorje Chang Buddha III in the history of Buddhism. This has been recognized by greatly accomplished beings of the highest order in the world as well as famous dharma kings and rinpoches from various sects who have issued written recognition documents in accordance with the dharma!
International Buddhism Sangha Association
Brief Buddhist Lineage Refuge Tree
Schools of Buddhism | Buddhist Sects & Lineages
In our world, Buddhism can be divided into Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana based upon the differing aspirations behind cultivation as well as the magnitude and speed of accomplishment in the dharma. Further divisions can be made based upon sects or schools. Tibetan esoteric Buddhism can be divided into twelve sects, such as Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Geluk, and Jonang sects. There are also many branch sects. Within Buddhism there is also esoteric Buddhism taught by Sakyamuni Buddha contained in the Tripitaka, the Shingon sect, and exoteric Buddhism, which includes Zen Buddhism, the Pure Land school, and the Vinaya school, and many other schools.
- Where do all schools of Buddhism receive their lineage from?
- What is Dharmakaya 法身 (Samantabhadra Tathagata 普賢王如來, Adharma Buddha 阿達而瑪佛)?
- What is Buddhao-nature 佛性 ?
- What is Perfect Stillness 心性寂滅?
However, whether it is Hinayana 小乘佛教, Mahayana 大乘佛教, Vajrayana 金剛乘, or any of the aforementioned sects or schools, they have all received their lineage from Dorje Chang Buddha 多杰羌佛. With respect to all of Buddhism in the dharma realm, Dorje Chang Buddha is the true primordial ancestor with form. Without Dorje Chang Buddha, there would be no Buddhism, no Buddha-dharma, no Buddhist studies, no Buddhas, no Bodhisattvas, no dharma kings, no rinpoches, no dharma teachers, and no Buddhists. There would only be the concept of the absolute truth of the universe that is not born and does not perish. This is the formless dharmakaya Buddha 法身佛 known as Samantabhadra Tathagata 普賢王如來 or Adharma Buddha 阿達爾瑪佛. The dharmakaya has no form. It has no sound and does not speak. This dhamakaya is called Buddha-nature 佛性, which is not Buddhism. It abides in perfect stillness 心性寂滅. With the dharmakaya, there is no subject who can expound the dharma.
- What are the three primordial Buddhas?
- Who taught dharma to Sakyamuni Buddha 釋迦摩尼佛?
- What is Sambhogakaya Dorje Chang Buddha 報身佛體
- Dorje Chang Buddha II – the holy and venerable Vimalakirti 維摩詰聖尊
- Dorje Chang Buddha II – H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu 雲高益西諾布
- Who transformed into the ancient Buddha Dipankara 燃燈古佛 and nirmanakaya Vajrasattva 化身佛金剛薩埵?
- Who is the original leader of all the sects within all of Buddhism?
The dharmakaya of Samantabhadra Tathagata 普賢王如來 generated the sambhogakaya Dorje Chang Buddha with form 報身佛體. Dorje Chang Buddha originated Buddhism in the dharmadhatu 法界 and began to spread the teachings of Buddhism in the three spheres of existence 三界. Dorje Chang Buddha has come to this world twice. The first time was in the form of the holy and venerable Vimalakirti 維摩詰聖尊, who was Dorje Chang Buddha II. The second time was in the form of H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu 雲高益西諾布, who is Dorje Chang Buddha III. The original leader of all of the sects within all of Buddhism, whether esoteric or exoteric, is Dorje Chang Buddha. No matter what Buddha-dharma it may be, it was originally transmitted by Dorje Chang Buddha because Dorje Chang Buddha is the only primordial ancestor of Buddhism.
Dorje Chang Buddha transformed into the ancient Buddha Dipankara 燃燈古佛, Vajrasattva 金剛薩埵, and others. The ancient Buddha Dipankara taught dharma to Sakyamuni Buddha 釋迦摩尼佛. Sakyamuni Buddha was the first to teach the dharma in the earthly realm 娑婆世界. However, the source of all Buddha-dharma is the original ancestor of Buddhism, Dorje Chang Buddha. If you cross-reference the names and numbers on the list with the numbers on the lineage refuge tree, you will have a rough understanding of this. Thus, the three primordial Buddhas in the dharmadhatu are called dharmakaya-Buddha Samantabhadra Tathagata 法身佛普賢王如來 ( Adi Buddha aka Adharma Buddha 阿達爾瑪佛) , sambhogakaya-Buddha Dorje Chang Buddha 報身佛多杰羌佛 (Buddha Vajradhara 金剛總持或持金剛), and the nirmanakaya Vajrasattva 化身佛金剛薩埵.
The dharmakaya of Samantabhadra Tathagata 法身佛普賢王如來 generated the sambhogakaya Dorje Chang Buddha with form 報身佛體多杰羌佛. Dorje Chang Buddha originated Buddhism in the dharmadhatu 法界 and began to spread the teachings of Buddhism in the three spheres of existence 三界. Dorje Chang Buddha has come to this world twice. The first time was in the form of the holy and venerable Vimalakirti 維摩詰聖尊, who was Dorje Chang Buddha II. The second time was in the form of H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, who is Dorje Chang Buddha III.
The original leader of all of the sects within all of Buddhism, whether esoteric or exoteric, is Dorje Chang Buddha. No matter what Buddha-dharma it may be, it was originally transmitted by Dorje Chang Buddha because Dorje Chang Buddha is the only primordial ancestor of Buddhism. Dorje Chang Buddha transformed into the ancient Buddha Dipankara 燃燈古佛, Vajrasattva 金剛薩埵, and others. The ancient Buddha Dipankara 燃燈古佛 taught dharma to Sakyamuni Buddha 釋迦摩尼佛. Sakyamuni Buddha was the first to teach the dharma in the earthly realm 娑婆. However, the source of all Buddha-dharma is the original ancestor of Buddhism, Dorje Chang Buddha. If you cross-reference the names and numbers on the list with the numbers on the lineage refuge tree, you will have a rough understanding of this. Thus, the three primordial Buddhas 原始佛三尊 in the dharmadhatu are called dharmakaya-Buddha Samantabhadra Tathagata 法身佛普賢王如來 ( Adi Buddha aka Adharma Buddha 阿達爾瑪佛), sambhogakaya-Buddha Dorje Chang Buddha 報身佛多杰羌佛 (Buddha Vajradhara), and the nirmanakaya Vajrasattva.
Why does Buddhism have so many lineages?
For more than two thousand years, different Buddhist sects have mixed together and have originated from one another. Patriarchs have taught dharma to one another and have learned from one another during these more than two thousand years. This has caused the network of lineages within all of Buddhism to become extremely large and complex. Such a lineage refuge tree surely cannot be clearly depicted in just a few pages. Because of space limitations, it was not possible to include in this lineage refuge tree all of the Buddhist sects, all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and all of the great patriarchs. Thus, this lineage refuge tree only includes a few percent of them in a representative capacity. Nonetheless, everything stated above regarding lineages is accurate and unbiased.
International Buddhism Sangha Association
Original source H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III – A Treasury of True Buddha-dharma