Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

vii. Then there is the method of demon-detection given
by Mr. Chen's guru:
When a guru gives one a great wang (initiation), at that
time a special vajra-name is given to the disciple. This
should not be written down or told to anyone, not even
to one's wife, husband, parents, or to fellow yogins or
yoginis. When one has some doubt as to the identity of
any form, ask it, "What is my secret name?" If it can tell
you, it is the yidam; if not, it is a demon.
We see that in the Vajrayana there is a sort of
intermediate treatment of demons. The Hinayana idea is
to push the demons far away and make them appear
wicked, while the Mahayana makes them seem to be
friendly, thus bringing them very close to the meditator.
Neither of these methods regard the demon as he really
is. Therefore, in the Vajrayana, one knows quite exactly
the status of demons.
g. Mahesvara. It is said that all the demons are
controlled by Mahesvara, who has his abode in the sixth
and highest heaven of desire (Paranirmita-vasavartin).
At the time of the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (Great
Passing-Away from This World) at Kusinagar, many
gods came with offerings for the Lord. Mahesvara also
came to give his gifts, but the Buddha would not take
them, saying, "You give my disciples much trouble, so I
shall not accept your gifts unless you give me your
mantra as well so that my disciples may use it."
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