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Eckhart Tolle: Dhamma Talk?
pegembara
Veteran
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Do you think they are totally not teaching dharma? The dharma has to be taught in it's pure complete form for it to have benefit? Otherwise its worthless?
If you think Buddhist dharma is the only way to the end of suffering then it is. If it matters if its buddhist dharma then it matters, if the end of suffering matters then thats what matters. I see this as a different bow aiming in the same direction. Just like when buddha was alive, the path didn't need a name.
And yes, i do think that authentic Buddhist dharma is he only way to completely end suffering.
The only thing I think Mr. Tolle is bowing toward is $$$.
Do you spend much time questioning your own judgement?
its not judgment, its an opinion from a Buddhist who actually accepts what his tradition teaches.
Glad to see you edit your posts with my questions. It means your reconsidering. I've never listened to nor known anything about eckhart tolle before this, so i could give a toss either way. But sticking to an idea with solidity and pure self confidence that you can't be wrong is not a the greatest place to be.
To refer to your edit. All opinion is judgement.
If this triggers an interest in finding or following the path to the cessation of suffering then its worth is immeasurable. IMO.
and no, its not judgment in this context. we are afterall in a Buddhist forum and all Buddhist schools clearly assert the superiority of the Buddha Dharma. In no way is my stated agreement with this standpoint extreme or inappropriate.
Much metta to you.
"Whatever is well-spoken is the word of the Buddha"
Therefore, Eckhart Tolle is spreading the dharma.
I think Tolle provides a much needed stepping stone toward a different spiritual understanding for those Westerners questioning the creator god religions they were born into.
If Tolle is pointing to reality, than he is indeed teaching dhamma, isn't he?
I guess what is "well-spoken" is a matter of opinion.
Also, If this is actually a quote that is attributed to the Buddha I would be curious to know where it comes from and what the context is.
I was invited to an Eckart Tolle "Meet-up" and found people generally new contemplative practice. There was some confusion, that can't really be blamed on Tolle. They were all trying very hard to surpress their thoughts , and some were successful in forcing a blank-faced state that they called "emptiness". It was unfortunate. They also seemed to think his teachings were novel, and regarded him as a kind of Messiah.
Still, I dont think he is a fraud, and it is good to have someone talking about awareness of body and mind to an audience that would never entertain such a possibility.
Read more: http://science.jrank.org/pages/8064/Sacred-Texts-Asia.html#ixzz0UmV9Q5Z9"
i am not saying that what he is talking about is bad or that it doesnt help people but i dont think that he is providing methods for liberation from samsara.
In sum, I really feel that Eckhart Tolle can help our world, not hinder it.
Tashi..... have we crossed paths before?
It's a stepping stone. As are most things.
"Because not everyone has the same inclinations and interests, Buddha taught various methods to different people. Citing this example, His Holiness the DalaiLamahas said that it is wonderful that so many different religions exist in the world. Just as one food will not appeal to everybody, one religion or one set of beliefs will not satisfy everyone's needs. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial that a variety of different religions is available from which to choose. He welcomes and rejoices at this."
and thats fine. but you still cant call Tolle a dharma teacher because he most certainly is not.
"This term has no sectarian connotations but simply means "Path of Awakening" and thus conforms to a universal understanding of dharma. "Dharma" is sometimes taken to denote the sayings of the Buddha and his early disciples (e.g. the Vinaya and Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon), or more broadly to include the later traditions of interpretation and addition that the various schools of Buddhism have developed to help explain and expand upon the Buddha's teachings. In later tradition, this was seen as the 84,000 different teachings (the Kangyur/bka.'gyur) that the Buddha gave to various types of people based on their needs."
There are many paths to Awakening. What is "teachings of Dharma" for me may not be for you and vice versa. No one said he is a teacher of the Dharma as in, he is teaching "authentic Buddhist scripture" or anything of the like. But teachings of the Dharma are also found outside Buddhism in infinite forms. You may glimpse Enlightenment, observe the Dharma, when sitting on the toilet, quite frankly. The Dharma is the Truth because it is Universal Law and yet the Buddha understood that this Truth could be seen in an infinite number of ways even within Buddhism itself.
he does neither of these and is therefore not a Buddhist and not a teacher of Buddhist dharma.
not to mention that the things he speaks on that are similar to Buddhist teachings are deluded and incomplete.
This person is not a Buddhist.
I agree. It's like someone took a dharma talk, broke it into pieces and then glued it back together with superstitious nonsense and vague, fuzzy blather. It MIGHT lead someone to the truth, but it would be like trying to get somewhere following a map on which only half of the road markings are correct.
The point is that no, he is not a Buddhist. That's kind of the beauty of it. Is it perfect? No. Would Buddhist scriptures and practices necessarily be the perfect way to introduce someone to the Dharma either? No.
In an indirect way, without any Buddhist references, and quite possibly entirely unintentionally, he has INTRODUCED people to the Dharma without them having a clue. Take that for what it is. The Dharma also refers to the Universal Truth, not just via Buddhism. There is more than one use of the word. Take the bits of wisdom wherever you find them and ignore the parts that don't make sense to you.
Again, no one has said that he is a Buddhist teacher teaching Buddhist doctrine.
No one thing will lead a person to the Truth. It is us to each individual to question all teachings and take the gems of wisdoms while leaving the nonsense alone. This is true even within a formal Sangha. Everything is the Dharma through the right perception.
Mr. Tolle seems like he read a book on Dzogchen or Mahamudra, didnt have a teacher so he grossly misinterpreted what he read and thought he had realized something.
Now he is presenting what he misunderstood as though it were his own discovery.
Pegembara even said: "Eckhart Tolle may not be teaching the Buddha Dharma but at least his is pointing in the general direction."
:poke:
I would like to ask those of you who take issue with his teachings to please be so kind as to point us to the specific things that you find troubling. In other words, please point out the contradictions. I think it would make for an interesting discussion. I'm especially curious about whether his teachings clash more with some traditions than with others.
I couldn't disagree more with the characterization of TPON as "classic" Theosophy, as it doesn't contain any metaphysics. It's simply treatise on mindfulness practice.
Of course it's reasonable to make a distinction, but as yet no one here has actually done so. How does Tolle contradict Buddhist teachings?
We'll just have to disagree on the characterization of Tolle as Theosophy or its modern offspring New Age. What makes him Technically not Buddhist is ..that fact that he says he is not a Buddhist. Does he contradict Buddhist teachings? In mant ways no, but in a couple of crucial ways yes. And if you are seriously entering Zen discipline you will figure it out eventually.
He seems like a great guy.
Would you mind terribly articulating the "crucial ways"? Thanks in advance.