DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - What significance does the concept of Pure Abodes and Heavens have for you?

**AntonioMQ** · 08-30-2010, 09:48 PM

What does that say about the opportunity to meet accomplished masters in the flesh who certainly embody Buddha-like qualities? WOW

I think we should never discredit the fact that we can have 'teachers' who further our progress and give us spiritual aid in sometimes the least expected places and circumstances.

In today's Buddhist (and non-buddhist )world we get told about many (mostly men) people who are accomplished masters. Good persuasive PR work in some instances, especially if one is gullible and told beforehand that this person is "an enlightened Buddha" !

It's also worth remembering that the truly enlightened might not necessarily promote themselves through a Buddhist organisation, do TV shows, or have adoring fans who talk of little else others than their gurus and their perceived accomplishments.

I don't deny that there's benefit from contact with genuine teachers - but maybe we also have to throw away the crutches, let go of the prop at some point ...and just walk by ourselves.

Blind faith and excessive devotion to other 'guru' human beings can sometimes lead to fanaticism and unbeneficial fuzzy devotional feel-good states, which can actually hinder spiritual progess rather than help it. Hard to see when one is in the middle of it, of course.

So yes, as I mentioned before in an earlier post, for me it all harks back to different mental states rather than exterior 'realms' out there somewhere. One's own mental state can be a 'pure realm'.

Also relevant too is the old saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

08-30-2010, 09:48 PM	#22
AntonioMQ Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 545 Senior Member	What does that say about the opportunity to meet accomplished masters in the flesh who certainly embody Buddha-like qualities? WOW I think we should never discredit the fact that we can have 'teachers' who further our progress and give us spiritual aid in sometimes the least expected places and circumstances. In today's Buddhist (and non-buddhist )world we get told about many (mostly men) people who are accomplished masters. Good persuasive PR work in some instances, especially if one is gullible and told beforehand that this person is "an enlightened Buddha" ! It's also worth remembering that the truly enlightened might not necessarily promote themselves through a Buddhist organisation, do TV shows, or have adoring fans who talk of little else others than their gurus and their perceived accomplishments. I don't deny that there's benefit from contact with genuine teachers - but maybe we also have to throw away the crutches, let go of the prop at some point ...and just walk by ourselves. Blind faith and excessive devotion to other 'guru' human beings can sometimes lead to fanaticism and unbeneficial fuzzy devotional feel-good states, which can actually hinder spiritual progess rather than help it. Hard to see when one is in the middle of it, of course. So yes, as I mentioned before in an earlier post, for me it all harks back to different mental states rather than exterior 'realms' out there somewhere. One's own mental state can be a 'pure realm'. Also relevant too is the old saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
	Quote