Four Important Points of Tantric Cultivation His Holiness Living Buddha Lian-sheng discussed in detail the 'Four Important

Points of Tantric Cultivation', during His exposition of the 'Great Rainbow Brilliance Accomplishment' at the True Buddha Tantric Quarters on April 25th. The Grand Master said, "The first important point to note is 'pragmatism'. In Tantric cultivation, one should progress gradually in accordance with, and should not attempt to override the proper sequence of practice. This is because Tantrism emphasizes on practical accomplishment. For instances, when performing the Great Prostration, you must be able to see Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest before you; when making the Great Mandala Offering, you must be able to see the offered objects emanate lights; when reciting the Fourfold Refuge mantra, you must be able to see the Origin Master and other Lineal Ancestry Masters empower you with brilliance from the Emptiness; when practising the Vajrasattva-method, you must be able to see the Chief Deity bestow empowerment unto you, either by stroking your crown or through emitting radiance. (His Holiness was using the 'Four Preliminary Practices' to illustrate the above) "Secondly, the generation of 'spiritual response'. The term 'yoga' in Tantrism means 'spiritual response'. Spiritual response occurs when the Chief Deity of the particular Tantric-method appears before the practising Dharma-cultivator. Once ascertained as a spiritual response, the cultivator can then be promoted to other practices. "Thirdly, 'spiritual capacity' of the individual cultivator. A Dharmacultivator must know how much chi and strength he has. He must know whether his chi is sufficient, whether his Center Channel is opened, whether his Five Chakras have vibrated! After his Center Channel is opened as a result of successive practises, the Dharma-cultivator can then attain the Eternal Bliss and be extricated from all worries. Subsequently, his Five Chakras will be eased. His whole body shall then emit pure brilliance, allowing for the experience of spiritual joy and serenity day and night.

"Last but not least, the achievement of 'enlightenment'. When the Dharma-cultivator gains enlightenment, his Mind shall be in harmony and peace. His body will emit light. All his energy channels and Chakras are opened up. By then, the cultivator will possess limpid perception into the true nature of all things. This marks the revelation of his own Empty-nature. Next, he should utilise the most supreme Empty-nature and Buddha-nature, which he has just attained, to observe and salvage all sentient beings accordingly. The illuminating spirituality of the cultivator hence surfaced. Enlightened spirituality as such can reach all Dharma realms of the ten directions and of the three periods, while enabling the Mind to be merged completely with the universe." The aforementioned is a brief narrative of the valuable experience which His Holiness has accumulated through years of studying the Dharma. The Grand Master hoped that all disciples will regard these points as the guiding principles for their own spiritual cultivation, so that they can grasp the essence of spiritual practise, and accomplish spiritually within a fixed period of time.