If a candidate has passed Blue Button Level 3 in the final Holy Test, then that person is eligible for the Gold Button Level 1 test. However, note that there are two ways to take the test for Gold Button. The first is to continue the test in the Samsara Eight-Wind Array for Gold Button Level 1, and the second is to stop the Eight-Wind Array but separately go to the Vajra Array to take the Gold Button Level 1 test. However, anyone starting the test with Vajra Array must note it when registering. If someone chooses to continue the test for Gold Button Level 1 through the Eight-wind Array but cannot pass it, their Blue Button Level 3 status will be retained as usual, and they will be given the certificate and the robe. However, if a person has already passed Gold Button Level 1 through the Eight-wind Array earlier and now takes the test for Gold Button Level 1 again through the Vajra Array but fails it in the Vajra Array, then their status of Gold Button Level 1 attained earlier in the Eight-wind Array does not exist anymore. It means that the person’s Gold Button Level 1 status is in the initial or generation stage and cannot bear the pressure from the Vajra Array. Such a person who has attained Gold Button Level 1 through the Eight-wind Array earlier, without regard to their abilities, trying the test again through the Vajra Array, has committed the black karma of slighting the Yidam of the Eight-wind Array, which the Vajras do not approve! In this case, the candidate will have to wait till the second year before having another opportunity to test the test through either the Eight-wind Array or the Vajra Array.

Additionally, pay special attention to this. When registering for the test, some people write that they are applying to take the Blue Button Level 2 or Blue Button Level 3 test, or they say they want to take the Sun-moon Wheel or Gold Button Level 1 test. They do not note on the registration the specific item of virtue from the Four Major Categories they choose to be tested on. The Vajra and the Dharmapalas will then test the candidate on all four major categories in the final test, which will be much more than all the Sutras, Vinaya, Sastras, and Dharma rituals published in the public announcement 20150109. This kind of candidate will eventually get nothing but zero points and cannot even attain Blue Button Level 1. If the candidate already obtained a holy level certificate from before, they will only get the result of regressing to the ordinary. The reason is that the level they received several years ago was based on a specific subject area and was not determined by the Holy Test. Therefore, it is not definitive!

The United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters

August 30, 2015

(Eric Huang translated this announcement into English. It was last revised on 2024-07-28.)