The Xuanfa Dharmazentrum belongs to a Dharma lineage that goes back directly to Dorje Chang Buddha. The refuge tree of our lineage honors the Adharma Buddha (the formless Dharmakaya), the Sambhogakaya Buddha Dorje Chang, and His two Manifestations in this world: the Venerable Vimalakirti and His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III.
However, His Holiness Himself has always made it clear what this lineage actually stands for:
“There is no Dharma lineage of Dorje Chang Buddha III in this world! There is also no Dharma lineage of any Dharma masters! The only Dharma lineage in this world is called Buddhism. Again, what Dharma lineage is this? It is called Buddhism: The Buddhism of Shakyamuni Buddha, and the Buddhism of all Buddhas in the ten directions. Keep this in mind forever! There is only one Dharma lineage.”
Dorje Chang Buddha
Dorje Chang Buddha, known as Vajradhara in Sanskrit, is the primordial Buddha of Buddhism and the source of all Buddhist teachings. Without Dorje Chang Buddha, there would be no Dharma, no Buddhas, no Bodhisattvas, and no transmission lineages. The major schools of Buddhism trace their transmission lineages back to Dorje Chang Buddha.
In Buddhism, the nature of a Buddha is described in three bodies (Trikaya). The Dharmakaya, also called Adharma Buddha, is the formless original source. It is pure Buddha nature beyond all appearances. But the Dharmakaya rests in perfect silence. It cannot teach. Out of this silence, the Dharmakaya brought forth the Sambhogakaya: Dorje Chang Buddha. Through Him, the Dharma was brought into the world for the first time.
Dorje Chang Buddha manifested twice in human form: as the Venerable Vimalakirti and as H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. In an earlier manifestation, He appeared as Dipankara Buddha, who taught the future Shakyamuni Buddha in a past world age.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III
Recognition
Over 60 Dharma Kings and Rinpoches from various Buddhist sects have issued letters of recognition and congratulation confirming H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as the third incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha. The signers include H.H. Penor Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma school, H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche, H.E. Shamarpa Rinpoche of the Kagyu school, and H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche of the Sakya school. The complete letters of recognition and congratulation can be viewed on the website of the International Buddhism Sangha Association.
An essential cornerstone of this recognition is His unparalleled mastery of the Five Vidyas. Buddhism divides all material and spiritual aspects of the universe into five fields. The Sanskrit term vidya literally means ‘illumination’ or ‘clear knowledge.’ Complete mastery of these aspects is considered a sign of true realization; therefore, it is mandatory for Buddhas and highly realized Bodhisattvas to possess the Five Vidyas in order to comprehensively assist sentient beings on all levels.
The Five Vidyas include:
- Vidya of Causality (hetuvidya): Knowledge of logic and the universal law of cause and effect.
- Vidya of Healing (cikitsavidya): Profound knowledge of medicine, the healing arts, and the fixing of anything damaged or defective.
- Vidya of Sound (sabdavidya): Mastery over language, communication, and sound.
- Vidya of Arts and Crafts (silpakarmasthanavidya): Perfected skill in all areas of art, design, and craftsmanship.
- Vidya of Inner Realization (adhyatmavidya): The direct recognition of absolute truth and the highest personal spiritual mastery.
Dharma Discourses
Over several decades, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III gave more than 2,000 Dharma discourses. His most important transmitted Dharmas include The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation and Expounding the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra. These form the foundation of practice in our lineage.
Art and Worldly Recognition
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was internationally recognized as an artist. He created 16 unique painting styles and invented Yun sculptures, a class of artwork that cannot be reproduced by any known method. His works are permanently exhibited in the International Art Museum of America in San Francisco and the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum in Los Angeles County.
He was a Fellow of the British Royal Academy of Arts. In the over 200-year history of the Academy, He was the first artist to receive this title.
For His commitment to peace and interreligious dialogue, He was awarded the World Peace Prize Top Honor Prize at the US Capitol in 2011. The 112th US Congress honored him with Senate Resolution 614. These are just two of the many worldly honors bestowed upon H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Vows
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III took the vow to take on the suffering of all sentient beings and transfer all his good karma to them. Throughout his life, he never accepted any donations or offerings.
Return to the Sambhogakaya Buddha Land
In January 2022, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III withdrew from public life. His office announced that He and Fomu, the Holy Mother and Great Mahasattva, had returned to the Sambhogakaya Buddha Land.
Shortly before that, He addressed His disciple Tsemeng with the following words:
“Tsemeng, in the Dharma Ending Age, the dark karmic forces of living beings are too heavy. When I said I would bear dark karma for living beings, those were not empty words. To bear dark karma is not to enter dhyana, but rather, truly and continuously practice shifting the mind-consciousness to suffer on behalf of living beings. What Fomu and I said is what we do. At all times, we must think about bringing auspiciousness, serenity, happiness, and peace to living beings and to the world, to the extent of giving our all and even our lives. I have already brought true Buddha Dharma to this world. Everyone who practices in accordance with ‘The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation’ and ‘Expounding the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra’ will surely attain liberation. That’s all. I wish all living beings happiness.”
The recorded Dharma discourses and transmitted texts remain the foundation of practice for His disciples.
Our Connection
Gongjue Tuji Rinpoche, head of the Xuanfa Dharmzentrum, is a disciple of Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche. She was one of the few direct and close Western disciples of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and is the abbess of the Holy Vajrasana Temple, the main temple of the Xuanfa Dharmazentrum. Through this direct connection, the Xuanfa Dharmazentrum belongs to the Dharma lineage of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
