Above is the inquiry letter from a Buddhist regarding the matter of a master testing his disciples. In fact, testing disciples is a thing that should not happen at all! What should happen is observing whether the disciple’s speech and conduct are in line with good behaviors.
If you simply take the 128 Evil and Erroneous Views to examine the master, you can clearly see it at a glance and tell whether he is true or fake and whether he is authentic or evil. Why would you need any other answers? If you are still not sure about it, you can directly see, from the robe that the master is wearing, which level he is, and how many buttons he has. No one can fake it. As for whether the master has retrograded, the robe he is wearing can tell you the answer, and no explanation is needed. Whether someone is holy or ordinary, one cannot pretend it.
Wangzha Shangzun, who is Gold Button Level 3, said: “A regular Holy Guru, no matter who they are, has no qualification to transmit Dharma on behalf of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. They can only transmit Dharma by themselves. A Gold Button Level 5 Tremendously Holy Guru can transmit the supreme great dharma of State-practice Initiation on behalf of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Other than that, a Gold Button Level 4 Tremendously Holy Guru can perform holy inner-tantric initiations or transmit great esoteric or exoteric Dharma on behalf of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. A Great Holy Guru of Gold Button Level 3 can only perform inner-tantric initiation and transmit corresponding Dharma of esoteric and exoteric sects on behalf of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
False Buddha dharmas have deceived many Buddhist disciples who devote themselves piously and sincerely. There are too many fake holy people with grandiose titles in the world of Buddhism nowadays. A lot of notable rinpoches, great dharma kings, and dharma masters all claim that they are great holy beings and can fly away as a bird or pass in rainbow light. Still, the fact is not what they say at all…
The Buddhist Dharma attire of levels clearly shows the holiness level on the clothes worn by the holy gurus. Blue buttons indicate the Sumeru Wheel, and gold buttons indicate the Sun-moon Wheel. One button indicates one level. The levels are star wheels. For example, one blue button means Blue Button Level 1, which equals the One-Star Sumeru Wheel. Two blue buttons are Blue Button Level 2, which equals the Two-Star Sumeru Wheel. Three blue buttons are Blue Button Level 3, which equals the Three-Star Sumeru Wheel…
…We at the Headquarters have decided, after discussion, to make Buddhist dharma attires bearing the holiness levels for the holy gurus to wear. This action is to protect the Buddhist cultivators’ benefit, to prevent ordinary liars and evil masters from cheating, to prevent Buddhists from being harmed by regressed masters and fake holy gurus, and to prevent many liars from forging holiness level certificates and pretending to be holy. That is, we will put the star-wheel dharma attires that indicate the holiness levels on the monastic cassocks and rinpoche’s robes…