What is I-Kuan Tao?
I-Kuan Tao, pronounced Yee Guan Dao, is a religious group that carries, promotes, and transmits the Esoteric Dharma (teaching) granted by God in this eschatological period.
Who is the highest deity of I-Kuan Tao?
God is the highest deity of I-Kuan Tao. Since the spirits of all sentient beings originated from God, the practitioners of I-Kuan Tao also refer to God as Lǎomǔ (老母), meaning venerable mother.
What are the beliefs of I-Kuan Tao?
The beliefs of I-Kuan Tao can be briefly summarized in following few points.
Life consists of physical body and formless spirit (soul). Our bodies are created by our parents and our spirits are created by the ultimate supreme being.
Most people call the ultimate supreme being God. The followers of I-Kuan Tao name this being Míngmíng Shàngdì (明明上帝) or Lǎomǔ (老母), meaning Heavenly Mother.
Our lives are dominated by our minds and our minds are our spirits in function. From this perspective, spirits are the essence of our lives.
Spirit does not die which means that we will continue to live even without the physical bodies. Therefore, we all have past lives, these lives, and future lives. This situation is called reincarnation.
Karma (volition and behavior) shapes our current lives and will continue to shape our future lives. This also means that we shape our destiny. Therefore, we must take full responsibility for our own destiny.
We all have the ability to realize our true nature and attain Buddhahood. The state of life after attaining Buddhahood is eternal peace and beatific joy.
The Earth has reached a stage of imminent destruction, which is known as the eschatological period. All sentient beings on the Earth will suffer unprecedented disasters. God, unwilling to see sentient beings suffer such calamities, commanded Maitreya Buddha to lead celestial deities and Tao-practitioners to carry out the “Eschatological Mission” to save all sentient beings. Tao-practitioners, for their participation in the Eschatological Mission, will be granted to ascend to Maitreya’s pure land upon their deaths.
What is the doctrine of I-Kuan Tao?
The doctrine can be summarized as following.
Venerate the Heaven and the Earth.
Revere divine beings.
Be patriotic and loyal to our responsibility.
Be virtuous and courteous.
Love and honor our parents.
Value the virtue of teaching.
Trust our friends.
Be amiable to our neighbors.
Atone for and rectify our wrongdoing.
Explicate and promote the Five Affiliations and the Eight Virtues.
Propagate the subtle teachings of the Five Religions.
Obey the ancient proprieties of the Four Cardinals, the Three Bonds, and the Five Virtues.
Cleanse our mind and purify our thoughts.
Utilize the illusory in cultivating the truth.
Restore our personal nature to its genuine state.
Develop and perfect our conscience.
Establish ourself as well as others.
Accomplish ourself as well as others.
Bring peace to the world.
Transform human beings to have benevolent minds.
Wish to form a prosperous and harmonious world.
What dharma does I-Kuan Tao carry?
Dharma is the theory and practice that guides and enables a cultivator to attain Buddhahood or sainthood. It can be classified in two types, i.e. exoteric and esoteric. Exoteric dharma is open to the public while esoteric dharma is kept only for the initiated disciples. The dharma I-Kuan Tao carries is the esoteric dharma from God. Esoteric dharma has the power to regenerate spiritual potential. In an extreme situation, some initiates may reach enlightenment at the moment.
One of the most famous instances of esoteric dharma transmission in history is the sermon of Smiling-At-Twirled-Flower[i]. This occurred when Shakyamuni Buddha, while teaching on Vulture Peak, held up an udumbara flower and silently twirled it in his hand. It puzzled all the people on-site, only Mahakasyapa smiled at the Buddha. The Buddha then said, "I have a treasure of true dharma eye, exquisite mind of nirvana, formless true form of mysterious dharma path. It does not rely on written words and is transmitted aside from the teaching. I now pass it to Mahakasyapa.” The Sixth Patriarch’s Platform Sutra[ii] also records instances of esoteric dharma being transmitted. Therefore, the transmission of esoteric dharma is not unique to I-Kuan Tao but has been a tradition since ancient times.
[i] Smiling-At-Twirled-Flower: refer to The Sutra of Dialogue of the Buddha and Mahapitaka Brahmaraja 「拈花微笑」公案，參見《大梵天王問佛決疑經》
[ii] Chapter one of The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Treasure Platform Sutra: “Huìnéng understood the Patriarch’s intention. He went to the Patriarch’s room at midnight. The Patriach covered Huìnéng with a rope to conceal from being seen and interpreted the Diamond Sutra.” 《六祖法寶壇經》行由品第一：「惠能即會祖意，三鼓入室。祖以袈裟遮圍不令人見，為說《金剛經》。」
What is the lineage of I-Kuan Tao?
The lineage of dharma can be traced back to Fúxī (伏羲), an emperor in five thousand years ago in China. The dharma that I-Kuan Tao carries is the one from God and is the same dharma transmitted by ancient sages such as Shakyamuni Buddha and Confucius. I-Kuan Tao is currently the only religious group in the world that carries this authentic esoteric dharma. The lineage of the dharma is divided into three periods. The first period began with Fúxī (伏𦏁) in approximately 2750 BCE; the second period began with Shakyamuni Buddha; and the third period, which is the current period, began in 1877 with Wáng Juéyī (王覺一) who is the founding patriarch of present I-Kuan Tao in human world.
Who is the divine patriarch of I-Kuan Tao?
Maitreya Buddha is the divine patriarch of I-Kuan Tao.
Who is the spiritual master (guru) of Tao-practitioners?
Buddha Jìgōng (濟公) is the spiritual master of all I-Kuan Tao practitioners.
How to get the authentic esoteric dharma?
The word esoteric implies that the dharma is not imparted casually. Anyone seeking to have the esoteric dharma must first be referred by a disciple of I-Kuan Tao and then obtains it through the initiation ritual.
Why shall I be initiated to become a Tao-practitioner?
There are at least following benefits when one is initiated to become a Tao-practitioner.
The initiate will be granted the Three Treasures. The Three Treasures serve both as blessing and as the dharma guiding the cultivators to enter the holy stream or even attain Buddhahood.
With the blessing from buddhas and deities, life tends to be smoother.
It enhances wisdom and improves one’s ability in dealing with various circumstances.
Once initiated, one is allowed to participate the holy mission of Eschatological Mission which can efficiently build up merit to balance one’s negative karma.
The merit gained through participating in the Eschatological Mission can bless one’s ancestors and descendants.
It guarantees the ascension to Maitreya’s pure land, avoiding the agony of reincarnations and allowing the continuation of spiritual cultivation.
What are the Three Treasures?
The Three Treasures are dharma treasures bestowed by Buddha Jìgōng (濟公活佛). They are mystic portal, mantra, and mudra.
The mystic portal is the doorway through which spirit enters or exists a human body. Unlocking the mystic portal regenerates one’s intellectual potential and reveals one’s true-self. Intellect is the awakening capability which allows one to realize the true nature of the world and the life. Revealing true-self enables one to live genuinely and freely. Thus, opening mystic portal has a crucial impact on spiritual cultivation.
The mantra is also called true-word and is an incantation imbued with magic power. In Buddhism, commonly used incantations include mantras, dharanis, and vidyamantras. Mantras are esoteric words or divine spells that can invoke supernatural power and dispel misfortune. Dharanis are concise phrases that encapsulate the essence of the teaching and doctrine. Vidyamantras serve to awaken wisdom and eliminate affliction. In I-Kuan Tao, the mantra functions both as mantra and vidyamantra, possessing the power to dispel misfortune and enhance wisdom.
The mudra, known as hétóng (合同) in Chinese, is also referred to as “Zǐ-hàiSeal” (子亥結) if interpreted with the characters of dìzhī (地支) used in Chinese ancient counting system. When zǐ (子) and hài (亥) are put together, it forms the character hái (孩) which means child. Therefore, besides being used for bowing and worship, the mudra also bears at least three meanings. First, because all sentient beings originate from God, they are therefore children of God. Second, because all sentient beings are children of God, they share a same nature possessing no distinction of nobility or ignobility, superiority or inferiority; they are equal and without difference, and should treat each other with equality. Third, since sentient beings are children of God, they should maintain the purity of a child and shall not have treacherous or malevolent intentions.
How the Three Treasures be put into use?
If used for mundane life, the Three Treasures can help avoid disasters and calamities; if used for spiritual life, the Three Treasures are the core of the dharma which can guide the practitioners to attain Buddhahood. To avoid disasters and calamities, one should, in times of crisis, simultaneously focus on the mystic portal, silently recite the mantra, and form the mudra with the hands. It will naturally result in miraculous responses. When used as the core of the dharma, one should diligently cultivate according to the meanings implied by the mantra and the mudra. In addition to self-salvation, one shall also guide and help others in their cultivation, transforming human world into a pure land.
What are the Ten Great Vows?
The Ten Great Vows are the oaths made by Tao-seekers during the initiation ceremony. The contents of the vows are: to sincerely uphold and abide by Tao, to truly repent/cultivate, to not have false intention, to not retreat or reluct to advance, to not deceive or negate the masters and the patriarchs, to not despise the predecessors, to not violet Buddha precepts, to not disclose the heavenly secret, to not conceal Tao, to act in accordance with one’s capability/cultivate with sincerity.
These Ten Great Vows represent the Tao-seekers' promise to the divine beings to start their cultivation journey. Because of this commitment, they, while initiated, are granted the Esoteric Dharma and the assurance of ascending to Maitreya’s pure land. This process of making vows to obtain the assurance of ascending to Maitreya’s pure land is also called gain-first-cultivate-later, meaning that one first gains the assurance of ascending to Maitreya’s pure land and then begins their cultivation. However, if a Tao-seeker does not fulfill these vows, the assurance of ascending to Maitreya’s pure land will not be fulfilled. Therefore, to achieve ascension to Maitreya’s pure land, it is essential to fulfill the Ten Great Vows.
How does it prove that I-Kuan Tao carries the authentic esoteric dharma?
When ordinary people pass away, their bodies stiffen in couple hours and their facial expressions are generally not peaceful. When Tao-practitioners pass away, their bodies do not become rigid due to the loss of body heat but remains soft and peaceful, similar to living people. This supernatural sign is a manifestation granted by God to the disciples of I-Kuan Tao, indirectly proving the truth of the authentic dharma and the fact that the deceased has ascended to Maitreya’s pure land.
What is the Eschatological Mission?
The word “eschatological” implies that the Earth is on the brink of destruction. When the Earth destructs, where will human and other animals go? Can human handle such a disaster? Fortunately, when faced with an insurmountable disaster, we have God’s mercy. The Eschatological Mission is a messianic assignment to save all sentient beings and bring them to Maitreya’s pure land. This mission is a decree from God, led by Maitreya Buddha, assisted by Buddha Nánhǎi (also known as Bodhisattva Guānyīn or Avalokitesvara), with Buddha Jìgōng responsible for transmitting the dharma, and supported by all celestial deities. On the Earth, all disciples of I-Kuan Tao play collaborative part to fulfill this mission. In I-Kuan Tao, Diǎnchuánshī (點傳師), consecrated person, can transmit the dharma. The dharma is transmitted through the initiatory ritual, where Diǎnchuánshī, on behalf of Buddha Jìgōng (濟公活佛), imparts the Dharma of Three Treasures to the Tao-seekers. Those who receive the dharma become the disciples of I-Kuan Tao and the members of the Eschatological Mission team, and they can participate in executing the mission. By participating, Tao-practitioners can quickly build up their merit to offset their negative karma. Those who have abundant merit can transfer the merit to their ancestors and descendants.
How to cultivate Tao?
The term Tao can be interpreted as principle, law, rule, or path. Cultivating Tao involves making changes mentally and physically, ultimately leading to enlightenment and attaining Buddhahood. Since there are countless temptations in our daily life, people who have fundamental understanding about the reality of life and the world will find it significantly beneficial for their spiritual cultivation.
The reality of life can be summarized in following points.
First, without spirit, our body would not have functions of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, or thinking. If the body alone could, then a dead body would also be able to see, smell, or speak.
Second, the spirit is the true life and it lives forever. Human death is merely a transformation from a formed life to a formless life. The fact that life can live forever implies reincarnation is inevitable to most sentient beings.
Third, any being with ability to feel and think has a spirit. The spirit is genuine and unique though the body and its appearance may differ. From the perspective of spirituality, human being and all other animals have no difference.
Fourth, besides human, there are countless other kinds of animals living on the Earth. Unless one achieves enlightenment through spiritual cultivation, no spirit can choose what kind of life they will be born into.
Fifth, the deeds of an individual being determine the form of life for that individual. God does not force any individual to be born as a specific animal. It is driven by the karma of that individual being. Hence, avoiding the creation of negative karma is the key to ensure a joyful life. As to how to avoid creating negative karma, diligent spiritual cultivation is the only answer.
Sixth, in this world, aside from spirit, everything else is a phenomenon arising from dependent origination. Phenomena arising from dependent origination have three characteristics – they arise depending on others, they arise and cease simultaneously, and they never stop ceasing.
“Arise depending on others” means that nothing happens independently; the occurrence of an event must depend on the occurrences of other related events. “Arise and cease simultaneously” means that the process of any thing coming into existence is the same of its ceasing to exist. For example, our growth is essentially our aging; growing and aging are actually one phenomenon. “Never stop ceasing” means that once something happens, it continuously moves toward cessation, and this process never pauses.
Because of the characteristics of dependent origination, the Buddha said that this world is illusory and that we should not cling to the pursuing the illusion. Clinging to such pursuit will bring suffering.
Seventh, the occurrence of any event has its cause and effect; what you sow is what you reap. For example, planting melons yields melons, exhaustion leads to illness, heavy rain causes floods, and human behaviour alters the Earth’s ecosystem. These phenomena are all examples of cause and effect. The principle of cause and effect also explains the characteristic of “dependent arising” in the phenomena of dependent origination.
Cultivation is a process of developing wisdom. This process is usually long, so perseverance is very important for the practitioners. Here are three key perseverance in cultivation of Tao.
Staying with Tao temples: Tao temples provide good circumstances for cultivation. Besides having virtuous and knowledgeable people who can guide us for the cultivation, the temples also offer opportunities to preform benefactions and fulfill vows, thereby eliminating the negative karma.
Staying with those who are virtuous and knowledgeable: As the saying goes, “Proximity to vermilion makes one red; proximity to ink makes one black.” Always staying with the cultivators who are virtuous and knowledgeable will definitely make us excellent cultivators.
Staying with the scriptures: Scriptures, containing the teachings and thoughts of buddhas and sages, represent the crystallization of wisdom. Studying the scriptures is the most effective way to enhance wisdom.
Does I-Kuan Tao promote vegetarianism?
I-Kuan Tao strongly encourages its followers to adopt a vegetarian diet because being a vegetarian is the fundamental practice of spiritual cultivation. Most sentient beings remain trapped in reincarnations due to negative karma. Carnivorous eating indirectly involves killing which constitutes a grave negative karma. Since eating is a daily necessity, can you imagine how bad it would be that we are unknowingly committing killing every time we eat? With unresolved karma and continuously accumulating new negative karma, how can we achieve Buddhahood? Moreover, vegetarianism brings numerous benefits, such as preserving ecology and the environment, promoting health, nurturing compassion, alleviating the suffering of animals, and so on. Considering all the benefits it brings and a relatively straightforward adoption it is, cultivators should prioritize becoming a vegetarian.
Throughout history, many notable people have advocated vegetarianism. For instance, the German scientist Albert Einstein remarked, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." India's national leader Mahatma Gandhi stated, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being." American writer Mark Twain observed, "Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it." German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer asserted, "Since the compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, it may be confidently asserted that whoever is cruel to animals cannot be a good man." From the statements by these renowned people, it is fair to say that vegetarianism is a goal for that human should strive. The promotion of vegetarianism by I-Kuan Tao is not only as a requirement for spiritual cultivation but also as a commitment to creating fortune for human.
What is the Arrival/Departure Etiquette?
The Mǔ Hall (母堂) is dedicated to the worship of God. Whenever one arrives at or departs from the temple, one must bow to Lǎomǔ and the deities. Additionally, the Diǎnchuánshī (Tao Transmitting Master) holds the divine mandate to carry the mission, and represents the divine master in managing the operation of local temple. Therefore, after paying respects to the deities, one should bow to the Diǎnchuánshī to honor the divine mandate they bear. This form of salutation is called the Arrival/Departure Etiquette.