A Brief History of The (Hanmi) Chinese Esoteric School of Buddhism

The Chinese Esoteric Buddhist lineage (Hanmi) had its beginning when three great Buddhist masters Vajrabodhi, Subhakarasimha, and Amoghavajra brought Esoteric Buddhism from India to golden age Tang Dynasty China. The Masters founded the Esoteric School in 720 AD with the support of Tang Dynasty Emperor Tang Xuanzong. “They brought to the Chinese a mysterious, dynamic, and magical teaching, which included mantra formula and detailed rituals to protect a person or an empire, to affect a person’s fate after death, and, particularly popular, to bring rain in times of drought.” -Wikipedia  The Esoteric School rapidly flourished and their teachings quickly spread across China. The Emperors Xuanzong and Suzong were among those in the royal court who received initiations into the Esoteric School.

The Chinese Esoteric School (Hanmi) incorporated the knowledge of the Open school and the Mystery school with time-tested methods that trace back through the lineage of Buddhism. The masters taught ways to attain Buddhahood with this body, in other words, “How to attain enlightenment in this lifetime.” The Esoteric School assimilated the essence of Taoism and Confucianism as practitioners known as Acharin Walkers traveled throughout the various regions of China performing their mystic cultivation among the diverse peoples. Thus the Chinese Esoteric Buddhist School evolved. “By the time of emperor Tang Daizong (r. 762-779) its influence among the upper classes outstripped that of Daoism. However, relations between Amoghavajra and Daizong were especially good.” – Wikipedia

Around 845 AD, the Esoteric School of China (and much of Buddhism in China at the time) was nearly wiped out by the Tang Emperor Wuzong who “was said to hate the sight of Buddhist monks, whom he thought of as tax-evaders. In 845, he ordered the closing/destruction of 4,600 Buddhist monasteries and 40,000 temples and shrines. More than 260,000 Buddhist monks and nuns then became peasants who were now liable to the Two Taxes (grain and cloth). Wuzong cited that Buddhism was an Alien religion. Ancient Chinese Buddhism never fully recovered from this persecution.” – Wikipedia

The teachings of the Esoteric School were driven underground in 845 AD with all the teachings, empowerments, and knowledge being passed on from one enlightened master to another in secrecy. In 1990 AD, Master Yu Tianjian (Dechan Jueren) became the 49th Living Buddha of the lineage when he received full empowerment from Living Buddha Master Huiling (the 48th lineage holder). Master Huiling informed Master Yu that the time had finally arrived, after over 1,100 years of secrecy, to reveal the teachings of the Esoteric School, and that his mission was to transmit its teachings and knowledge to the world.

Master Yu Tianjian (Dechan Jueren Mahavairocana Golden Crown Dharma King) first came to the U.S. in 1998 to receive The Golden Award from the International Association of Integrated Medicine at U.S.C. in Los Angeles for his thesis on improving calcium absorption through meditation. That year the Dari Rulai Temple was founded. The Dari Rulai Temple is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable and religious organization in Long Beach, CA. The Dari Rulai Temple was founded to disseminate the teachings of Living Buddha Dechan Jueren and Hanmi Esoteric Buddhism.

On August 15th 2008, Dechan Jueren also became the 47th lineage holder of the Linji Chan (Zen) School (where the Rinzai Zen School came from). The 105 year old abbot of Yingtian Temple in Chengdu Sichuan, 46th lineage holder Chan Master Fozhi, (an old friend of 48th Esoteric School lineage holder Huiling), passed on the Dharma Lineage to Dechan Jueren.