[Vznvtthq]

I agree with most of what you say, Deshy. But I think that it is unfair to put all teachers in one basket in terms of how and what they teach. Then again I suppose it depends on who one is receiving their teachings from.

I think there are still many monks, and teachers that do talk about the core aspects, and the view that is necessary for us to have to be a true Dharma practitioner. I think that is a big part of one deciding weather or not that particular teacher is right for them or not. I'm sure all these other things have their positive benefits, but we are not trying to just make our "samsara" a little better or more comfortable are we? I personally prefer a teacher who can cut through these things and get right to the core of why we are practicing and help me to really develop renunciation and motivation to not get lost in all these other aspects. On the other hand, everyone has their own conditions and a skillful teacher will recognize this and teach accordingly.

To get back to the original post, I think this is also one of the fundamental differences between proper Buddhist view and those today who take "a little of this and a bit of that" and blend it all together under the name of "something new and unique", and proceed to put out best sellers and have many public talks and things like that. I'm sure it does help some people, but it is certainly not aligned with a proper view. As one great teacher put it, in Buddhism when one meditates without a proper view and a proper motivation then it is really just a kind of "relaxing". I think so many people get lost in all the rest of it and I still think that there are still many good Buddhist teachers who continue to remind us of this crucial point.

Mani