Buddhahood Lineage
World Humanity Vehicle Buddhism
(Jen Chen Buddhism)
In his lifetime, Śākyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism taught a total of five vehicles of teachings:
1. Humanity Vehicle (pronounced Jen Chen 人乘 in Mandarin)
2. Deva Vehicle
3. Śrāvaka Vehicle
4. Pratyekabuddha Vehicle
5. Bodhisattva Vehicle
‘Vehicle’ is used as an analogy to a mode of transport – like a car, ship or airplane which delivers people from one place to another. Humanity Vehicle Buddhism (Jen Chen Buddhism) is the teachings of wisdom that Śākyamuni Buddha preached to humanity.
The word ‘Buddha’ means ‘pristine awareness, fully awakened, fully enlightened’. The Lotus Sutra states, “In the Buddha lands of the ten directions, there is only one vehicle of teaching. There is no second or third, unless you are speaking of the expedient teachings of the Buddha.” Śākyamuni Buddha expounded five vehicles of teachings to cater for sentient beings’ different causal conditions and levels of understanding. Ultimately, there is only one vehicle – the vehicle that leads to supreme enlightenment: Buddhahood Vehicle.
As such, the Buddhahood Lineage was established in hopes that we may emulate the Buddha in his cultivation, enhance our self-awareness, attain our innate Buddhanature and practise Humanity Vehicle Buddhism. By observing the Five Precepts* and performing the Ten Virtuous Deeds**, we lay foundations which ensure our rebirth in human form lifetime after lifetime, so that we may continually practise the Bodhisattva Way and eventually attain Buddhahood. Thus, Buddhahood Lineage World Humanity Vehicle Buddhism (Jen Chen Buddhism) promotes the original teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha. We pay homage to Śākyamuni Buddha and practise the Way of Bodhisattvas.
The objective of Buddhahood Lineage is to promote Humanity Vehicle Buddhism, purify the human mind, unfold the wisdom of humanity, and establish a farreaching culture of bliss that transforms our impure world into a blissful pure land.
*Five Precepts: Refrain from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct and consumption of intoxicants.
**Ten Virtuous Deeds: Refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, salacious talk, divisive speech, mean or abusive speech, greed, anger and hatred, and foolishness and ignorance.