Of the three vehicles of Buddhism – Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana – only the latter vehicle contains techniques for practitioners to do what Buddha did and become a buddha whilst alive. The practitioners of the Hinayana and Mahayana vehicles can only attain enlightenment upon death, after being separated from the shackles of the physical body. 

Since Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism aims to transform oneself into a buddha whilst alive, it should be no surprise that each lineage of it should be headed by a living buddha. In the Tibetan sects, these are often called Tulku, although Rinpoche can also mean the same. In Mongolian Buddhism, Khutuktu is the equivalent of Tulku. In Chinese Buddhism, Huo Fo (活佛), which literally translates as “Living Buddha”, is the equivalent honorific title.

Some well-known living buddhas include His Holiness the Karmapa (head of the Kagyu lineage), His Holiness the Sakya Trizin (head of the Sakya lineage), His Holiness the Ganden Tripa (head of the Gelug lineage), and His Holiness the Dalai Lama (the next most influential Gelug master after the Ganden Tripa).

Within Vajrayana, the attainment of the Rainbow Body Accomplishment is the supreme perfect enlightenment (attaining buddhahood in this lifetime). His Holiness Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu, attained this after 13 years of rigorous training on 28th June 1983 (coinciding with his birthday of the 18th day, fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar).

Following this unsurpassed accomplishment, the True Buddha Sutra arose as a spontaneous revelation from Living Buddha Lian-sheng’s heart.