Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Wayward teachers, Gurus, cults
"When teachers break the precepts,
behaving in ways that are clearly damaging to themselves and others,
students must face the situation,
even though this can be challenging, criticize openly, that's the only way."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
But not the easy way....
http://viewonbuddhism.org/controversy-controversial-teacher-group-center-questionable.html
Read and enjoy..!!
2
Comments
The list misses out a lot of the new scandals, especially in the USA. Maybe for fear of being sued?
Personally I would place the Buddha in that list, leading good Hindu boys away from their families to a life of poverty, austerity and female free frustration. Christ, Moses and Muhammad would not fair too well either . . .
Oh the humanity.
'Common' sense starts at home?
:eek:
Many of the smears are answered here.
http://www.newkadampatruth.org/
Just don't YOU do that.
Following the links, I only disagree when the attitude is that nobody has the right to set themselves up as teachers of the Dharma unless they have a valid and verified stamp of approval from a recognized authority that can trace their "lineage" back to Buddha. In particular, the Zen sites seem to assume that they have a copyright on the word "Zen" and unless you can show them the transmission document from some established Master, you are infringing on their territory. This is the myth of Dharma Transmission working. That has always served more to protect the interests of the temples than spread the Dharma.
What is certainly wrong is claiming honors and titles and lineage that isn't there. Beyond that, if someone wants to stand on a street corner and preach their version of the Dharma, that's been the Western approach to spirituality once we pried the keys to Heaven away from the Catholic Priests. Yes, we end up with a share of charlatans and some cults.
Sanghas need to become democratic and that means knocking the Teacher off the pedestal. The Teacher, no matter how much we honor him or her, cannot rule the Sangha like before. It should be up to the congregation to decide if the Teacher's credentials or lack of suit the job. A Dharma Transmission should be nothing but a recommendation from another Teacher, no more or less. I wonder if this final divorce of ultimate authority will mark the true transition of East to West Buddhism?
I think the influence the West will lend to Buddhism will be in the realm of accountability, transparency, and a more democratic environment.
From the standpoint of upadesha pointing out instructions I do value a lineage. It goes all the way back to Buddha. A contrast to texts it is a meeting of the minds.
It's like a renaissance painter has a student. Or Socrates had a student. As opposed to someone who studies the painter or philosopher without direct contact. I think it's really quite obvious that a student teacher relationship can contribute towards learning.
It concerns the organisation as a whole and leaves out various teachers who are still a part of TB/Zen/Hinduism whatever...
Most of us in Asia already know of the various cults existence, but there will always be new followers, converts. Scams are never ending because there will always be new generations of 'gullibles' popping up.
@Dakini,
I think the influence the West will lend to Buddhism will be in the realm of accountability, transparency, and a more democratic environment.
I tend to think of the opposite, a vast unmined populace who hasn't a clue. A lot of the problematic higher profile Lamas tend to set up camp in the west for that purpose.
Sangharakshita brought Buddhism within reach of thousands of people in the UK who were crying out for the Dharma, same for Kelsang Gyatso*. Many people who live within easy reach of Dharma centres associated with more mainstream groups like to think of themselves as practicing the true Dharma and sometimes regard the less mainstream as being dangerous or corrupted. This helps no-one. Within a thirty mile radius of my home I have two Dharma centres - guess which two groups they belong to! If the choice has to be accept the limitations of a less-than-perfect teacher who still knows much more than I do or practice alone without a teacher then I know that there is only one choice for me. Eyes open and mindfulness are pre-requisites for studying anything with any teacher, especially so for spirituality.
*whether he is a Geshe now or not it is indisputable that he was at one time and recognised by HHDL.
There are a host of self proclaimed Buddhist teachers. Some of them have there own little set-ups away from the public gaze. Some these spend a good deal of time sniping at better known teachers from their own private gompas and zendos.
Let the buyer beware.
But the Kelsang Gyatso/Shugden business is entirely political, and it takes two parties to make a political dispute.
Traktung Rinpoche has fwiw since that list was published, has been fully recognised by senior Tibetan teachers as a valid teacher.
Neither of those teachers by the way has ever been accused of any wrongful behaviour...just of not belonging to the Dalai Lama's approved list.
Jetsumna was appointed by the previous head of the Nyingmapa..and he at no time withdrew his recognition of her.
However she wears make-up and dyes her hair so is a source of hostility to some who prefer their female teachers to be oriental and/or to be nuns..
Tibetan Buddhism is, and has always been a hotbed of political intrigue and conspiracy.
Sadly that goes with the territory.
But as one of the great teachers said, the fake exists only because the real exists.
The Ganges Mahamudra teachings were already ancient when Shakyamuni learned them.
" Our" Buddha did not simply appear in a vacuum.
We in west have short memories, but in India they have a different perspective on time.
There are temples in South India which house Vedic teachings which predate Shakyamuni Buddha by a thousand years. But which are still chanted by monks on a daily basis..
Reading the book, Buddha From Brooklyn, would be a good start. It provides some insight into Penor Rinpoche's motives in appointing her, as well as his and other Nyingma lamas' m.o.'s in doing business in general.
Just remember your authentic recognition that a teacher is also reflected in the company they keep. Sorry about the broken heart. :bawl:
Some individuals will continue to support for decades the uncontrolled, charismatic, abusive and even worse, themselves, before admitting they are as deluded as an uncontrolled over ripe avocado . . .
What are we like?
guacamole rulez? :wave:
And wears make-up.
She was appointed by a Lama who himself was recognised for a duration as the head of the Nyingmapa. Those are facts easily verified.
The relationship between Vajrayana teachers and students are for better or worse a closed circle.
Anyone thinking of approaching the Vajrayana needs to know that and if that is unacceptable either go elsewhere or find a teacher without human flaws. And they dont exist.
I guess the bottom line is if you are not willing to surrender to a flawed human being because you do not see the benefits outweighing the risks then the Vajrayana is not for you.
Which is an important realisation.
Tens of thousands of western Buddhists consider the risk worth betting on.
There is always the alternative of " giving back " one's Refuge in the Guru.
Very very few people do.
Within that of course we may well find ourselves attracted to particular teachers for a host of reasons. And we should before embarking on the Vajra path check to see that any given teacher is a legitimate part of a recognised lineage..and has permission to teach from their teacher.
Its pretty simple really.
Good companions are priceless.
Good teachers are reflected in their fruits. Bad, false and abusive teachers may provide hard lessons . . . not recommended. Find the easy way . . . as if . . .
Why are we attracted to charismatics, cult leaders and Micky Mouse Dharma? Might it just be that we have not yet become authentic and like calls to like?
Now that I am almost wise and absurdly humble, I can distinguish my failings as if belonging to a charlatan . . . which of course some of us always are . . .
In a sense we judge externals, others . . . if that discernment is applied to ourselves . . . oh the humanity . . .
:wave:
That innate separation from existence that fostered our own creation is often assuaged by the teacher or Sangha who fills some of that sense of lacking.
To walk away from a loved teacher or Sangha is to re open ancient wounds that your practise with them probably seemed to have healed.
I think, few things are tougher to do. I know some folks who are still haunted, 30 years later by such decisions. Those who truly move on, are those who use that experience to explore what the cause of their discomfort really is, rather than focusing on the endless blaming of others. Those who successfully move on simply find a deeper truth that shines free of the conditions that their former teacher & Sangha represented.
Sometimes exploring other sites, dedicated to those going through such trials, can be revealing.
PM me if you want to try such a site.
Bringing Dharma to the West may seem good, but if you bring water to thirsty people and they later discover it is laced with a slow poison, you have done them no favours. I left such an organisation - but I also admire those who stay and try to salvage what is good.
I heard of one dangerous cult, you have to give away all your possessions, obey loads of petty rules, they make you dress and look the same. The leaders don't work but rely on hardworking followers . . . wait a minute . . . I just described the sangha . . .
:hair:
~Groucho Marx
:mullet:
I actually bought two tickets to that movie but I didn't know anybody to go. My mom was with my gramma. And it was my dad's anniversary.