[Ceakicknunk]

Ok, my question would be:
Why do buddhists hide behind a plethora of terminology and ritual when it comes to ordinary people's problems, like dealing with negativity?

I have observed three types of practitioners:
The religious = love rituals.
The philosophers = love dictionaries.
The experiencials = love moments....(there aren't many of those.)

At retreats none of these three types can talk to one another - we nod, smile and move on.
If I talk about a problem in the world, most buddhists say, “I do my practice, and I'm alright” or “all is as it is” or words to that effect. In other words, ignore someone else's problem!

Sometimes it feels like the medicine has become the disease.

This actually brings us to the different attitudes or vehicles to deal with the so-called negative emotions. For those that do not know the allegory, there is a bush with poison berries on it, this represents the negative emotions.

Hinayana, will not go near it. They cut any association with it, but it will always return.
Mahayana, will put a fence around it. They antidotes, but this is still a temporary fix.
Vajrayana, will see it as medicine. They will see poisons as wisdom.
Dzogchen/Mahamudra, will know that the poison never existed in the first place.

Here is the twist – Some who think themselves Dzogchen/Mahamudra practitioner are actually Hinayana. Like wise some Hinayana have a Dzogchen/Mahamudra attitude.

It does not matter what people say, it is how they react that reveals all. All I'm saying is do not let anyone pull the wool over your eyes, don't forget to be a decent compassionate human being.

I apologise for the use of any terminology that might confuse, no Dharma practitioner was hurt in this presentation!


Tony