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Is the Dharma Like Tooth Tablets?
Sile
Veteran
Remember the "disclosing tablets" from childhood dentist visits--they contain a harmless (right...) red dye that sticks to tooth plaque and shows where your teeth need more attention?
Not exactly a perfect analogy, but it occurred to me that maybe the dharma issues that are stickiest, or cause the most uproar, show where we need work (or at least where we need better understanding).
I've seen several threads on attachment, for example, where there's some vigorous defense of attachment--I think part of this is just getting to a good translation of "attachment," but part of it may also be a nice red sign as to where the dharma is uniquely showing our hangups.
As Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche mentioned, Buddhism teaches that all emotions are pain, whereas the Christianity of my childhood, at least, encourages some emotions, or at least doesn't go all the way in explaining that even "good" emotions are the source of much suffering. But when the negative aspects of attachment are pointed out in Buddhist discussions, it seems there's often a hubbub, showing that if nothing else, we are attached to the idea of attachment!
I don't mean to get into another discussion on attachment necessarily (but happy to do so on the other thread); rather am wondering aloud whether the "hotspots" in modern Buddhist discussions sometimes show the red spots on our teeth? I'm not sure--it would just be interesting to examine some of the more hubbubby topics and see if they are providing that particular (d/m)ental service!
Not exactly a perfect analogy, but it occurred to me that maybe the dharma issues that are stickiest, or cause the most uproar, show where we need work (or at least where we need better understanding).
I've seen several threads on attachment, for example, where there's some vigorous defense of attachment--I think part of this is just getting to a good translation of "attachment," but part of it may also be a nice red sign as to where the dharma is uniquely showing our hangups.
As Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche mentioned, Buddhism teaches that all emotions are pain, whereas the Christianity of my childhood, at least, encourages some emotions, or at least doesn't go all the way in explaining that even "good" emotions are the source of much suffering. But when the negative aspects of attachment are pointed out in Buddhist discussions, it seems there's often a hubbub, showing that if nothing else, we are attached to the idea of attachment!
I don't mean to get into another discussion on attachment necessarily (but happy to do so on the other thread); rather am wondering aloud whether the "hotspots" in modern Buddhist discussions sometimes show the red spots on our teeth? I'm not sure--it would just be interesting to examine some of the more hubbubby topics and see if they are providing that particular (d/m)ental service!
1
Comments
......Not exactly a perfect analogy, but it occurred to me that maybe the dharma issues that are stickiest, or cause the most uproar, show where we need work (or at least where we need better understanding).
.....it would just be interesting to examine some of the more hubbubby topics and see if they are providing that particular (d/m)ental service"
I thought your analogy was fantastic!
They still 'offer' that at the dentist, btw.
I agree, bec if most of us are Buddhists here, then the only things
that can cause the uproar between us would be things that we as a group are
trying to gain a better understanding of.