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Some of the more recent posts have included what could be considered insults and attacks to members of the tribe.
Buddhism (Tibetan or otherwise) is not a "follow-the-herd", non-thinking, system. The Buddha himself urged us to question everything, don't just take a teacher's word for it.
Believe me, most teachers appreciate genuine debate regarding the Dharma. They worry when their students simply go along with what they say like herds of cattle.
The tribe discussions here can have this kind of candid dialogue and debate, but only if the participants are respectful to each other and focus on the subject matter.
Several members of the tribe come from very different backgrounds/teachings. This is rich and fertile ground for cross-pollenation and some real growth.
so....Let's not dumb down the Dharma with dualistic habits if we can help it.
(Don't worry ---we are not going to hug or sing Kumbaya now)
Buddhism (Tibetan or otherwise) is not a "follow-the-herd", non-thinking, system. The Buddha himself urged us to question everything, don't just take a teacher's word for it.
Believe me, most teachers appreciate genuine debate regarding the Dharma. They worry when their students simply go along with what they say like herds of cattle.
The tribe discussions here can have this kind of candid dialogue and debate, but only if the participants are respectful to each other and focus on the subject matter.
Several members of the tribe come from very different backgrounds/teachings. This is rich and fertile ground for cross-pollenation and some real growth.
so....Let's not dumb down the Dharma with dualistic habits if we can help it.
(Don't worry ---we are not going to hug or sing Kumbaya now)
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South Carolina
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Re: Questioning the Path, Guru, and teachings
Fri, October 30, 2009 - 8:02 AMLet's not forget that we are human and the teachings are human constructs.
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Re: Questioning the Path, Guru, and teachings
Fri, October 30, 2009 - 9:27 PMLet's not forget that the "I" that questions, the Guru, and all Dharmas, are empty of inherent existence.
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Re: Questioning the Path, Guru, and teachings
Fri, October 30, 2009 - 8:28 PMIf I remember correctly, HH the 14th dalai Lama has spoken about his upbringing and the fact that part of his training as a monk was to have a group who engaged him in debate regularly. Is this a common practice for people in the monastic tradition? Or just for individuals who are "higher up" on the ladder? -
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Re: Questioning the Path, Guru, and teachings
Fri, October 30, 2009 - 8:44 PMDebate is a very regular practice in gelong (monastic) training and starts at an early age....especially within the Gelugpa tradition (like His Holiness). If you ever get the opportunity to watch the debate you will see it is almost an art form and actually the traveling monks of Drepong Loseling include it in their Tibetan Arts shows.
This is a more formalized means of debate than to which I was referring but still reinforces the point to which I was making.
From a western point of view, simply asking "why?" is often enough to get some deeper traction into the teaching (even better yet when paired with serious practice).
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