Teaching received from Maitreya

Few esoteric aspirants search through history to get more profound insights on the esoteric path. Many stick to one set of teachings such as Theosophy/AAB, and rarely venture far from what they consider the true source. It is important, I believe, to get a much broader sense of the path than what is today identified as the as the path. There have been many enlightened Ones (siddhas) and bodhisattva whose life and spiritual experiences can be very helpful teaching aids for today’s aspirant to the Divine Mysteries. Reading these stories can lead to deeper insights learning about what they went through, the disciplines, challenges, and initiations that you cannot find in scholarly books, or just books that outline spiritual teachings.

For instance, the life story of the Master Han Shan who lived from 1546-1643, wandering throughout China, meditating in caves, building Buddhist (Ch’an) temples, and helping, inspiring, and teaching many people. He kept a journal, briefly writing about the important events for each year. This was followed up later by some commentaries by his disciples. In some years he only wrote a sentence or two to describe that year, while for others he wrote several paragraphs. Much can be learned; He even wrote down some of his dreams. I’ve copied this dream as it appears in the book, Practical Buddhism by Lu K’uan Yu, 1971.

Another night in a dream, I saw my body rise in the sky until it reached highest space. When it descended there was nothing anywhere but flat land like a crystal mirror shining throughout. Seen from a distance there was only a spacious upper chamber as immense as space itself. Inside the chamber appeared all men, animals, market places and worldly doings without any hindrance in their coming and going. In the center was a high seat of blazing red gold. I thought it was a Diamond Throne. The beaty and majesty of the chamber were beyond compare. With joy I wished to get near it, and I thought that in such an invigorating state there was filthy disorder. As this thought came into my mind, the chamber became more distant. Then, I thought to myself: ‘The clean and unclean are only created by my mind,’ and the chamber came nearer. In a moment I saw that monks were standing in a line before the seat: they were very tall and incomparably grave and dignified. Suddenly a bhiksu, holding a sutra in his hand, came from behind the seat and descended the steps. Giving the sutra to me, he said, ‘the abbot will talk about this sutra and orders me to give it to you.’ I received the sutra and opened it. It was in Sanskrit which I didn’t understand and was written in gold. I put it in the pocket of my sleeve and asked: ‘Who is the abbot?’ He replied: ‘Maitreya’ I was delighted, followed the bhiksu, and ascended the stairs. When I reached the steps of the chamber, I closed my eyes and concentrated on my mind and stood waiting there. Suddenly I heard the sound of a ch’ing (Chinese bell), opened my eyes and saw Maitreya already on the throne. I saluted him reverently, looked up, and saw his bright red gold face which was without compare. After saluting him, I thought that since the talk was to be made especially for me, my nature was qualified for it. Therefore, I prostrated myself before him and took out the sutra which I opened. I heard him say:

‘Discrimination is consciousness and non-discrimination is wisdom. Clinging to consciousness causes defilement and accord with wisdom ensures purity. Defilement cause birth and death whereas purity leads to where there are no Buddhas.’

At that moment my body and mind suddenly became void, but I heard his voice ringing distinctly in the air. When I awoke the speech still rang in my ears. Henceforth, I thoroughly understood the difference between consciousness and wisdom. I realized that the place where I had been was Maitreya Buddha’s Chamber in the Tusita Heaven.

The above teaching experienced by the Master Han Shan is very profound. When an advanced initiate or Master teaches, they are succinct and precise( No: Beloved, Dearest, we are watching you…not religious sentiment) they do not waste words. They are never sentimental, nor do they praise. Their thought is very focused, to teach, to immediately reach the soul, and to help the receiving disciple to make greater progress. The Master’s discerning eye knows exactly what the disciple needs. For the advanced disciple, the Master’s thought will be seen as pregnant, or layered, as there is hidden teaching embedded within the external thought that the Master sent. Added to that, the Master’s thought is vibrant with the Master’s shakti, thus a direct teaching from a Master, or even advanced initiate can cause an immediate change of one’s spiritual state. For an aspiring disciple, being contacted by a Master is an important test.