[cefunonge]

Originally Posted by Glow I hadn't realized the mundane teachings you were referring to were couched in terms of being reborn into a better life

Well mundane teachings generally reflect around rebirth and kamma to encourage people into morality don't you think. I think even the Buddha did that according to the suttas. There are people who are not interested in going forth thus they have been taught according to their beliefs and the lengths they are willing to go.

My point is that, teachers generally should reflect both teachings in their talks so that practitioners are aware what is what and choose to select what works for them rather than be deluded into something. My impression from the suttas was that the Buddha was careful to emphasize the benefits that conduct brings about in the here and now, as in the Samannaphala Sutta. Most of my own teachers have emphasized this as well, but this may simply be due to the fact that I avoid teachers who talk a lot about literal rebirth as I find it inscrutable. My first teacher simply taught sila as "fertilizing the ground" in which to cultivate wholesome qualities of mind established through a meditation practice; e.g., if you behave in skillful ways, your mind will be at peace and thus more conducive to insight. No mention of rebirth except maybe the small-scale "rebirth into a more skillful mind-state." But I agree with your main point.