The Importance of Authentic Lineage in Buddhism

[Matibhadra]

When taking the definitive meaning into experience, do not rely upon the ordinary dualistic mind that chases after words and concepts, but rely upon non-dual wisdom itself.

The experience of the definitive meaning is non-dual wisdom itself.

Mipham's puerile concept of “relying on non-dual wisdom in order to experience non-dual wisdom itself” is therefore just a tautological, circular proliferation.

The root of this misguided conceptualization, prevalent among Nyingmapas such as Mipham, is the belief in an imagined “naturally existent awakened state”, or what he describes in the same text as a “naturally occurring wisdom that illuminates itself”.

This illogical belief lacks any Buddhist lineage. It contradicts the authentic Buddhist teaching of the stages of the path (lamrim), according to which the awakened state is the result of an accumulation of merit and wisdom.

It is also self-contradictory, as it absurdly implies in a dormant awakened state, or a curious “awakened state” that needs to be awaken. It is thus just a thoughtless, conceptual fabrication, and the source of the above examined circular proliferation.

It is funny that such a text, which is both illogical and lacks any authentic Buddhist lineage, has landed precisely in this thread about the importance of authentic Buddhist lineage!

This is the ridiculous “teaching” that the fanatical witch-hunter, the evil dalai, wants to force down the throats of Gelugpa geshes, against the most elementary principles of reason and freedom, just like the witch-hunting Catholic church wanted Galileo to swallow the Judeo-Christian concept that the Earth is immovable.

[maricisun]

To follow the Authentic Lineage in Buddhism is very important as we must know what we are practicing and if the lineage is still alive till now. And we must continue to preserve the lineage for all our generations to come.
The lineage is not only about Buddha's teachings but which can guide us to our Enlightenment in one's lifetime too especially in Tibetan Buddhism.

[yontenjamyang]

I do not see that Mipham's view as contradictory because the Buddha taught 84000 paths to Enlightenment. All Gurus and lineage are taught for the receiver and others without the same affinity may think that the teachings is not suitable but it doesn't mean it is wrong. It is just another path.
To say the awakened state is the result of an accumulation of merit and wisdom is not wrong by the same logic above but I must emphasis that the awakened stated is not "attained" as it says in the Heart Sutra but rather realized. Hence, the "awakened state" denotes a state that is inherent in beings. Hence, the 2 accumulations itself is mandatory but not enough by itself to achieve the awakened state. One still need meditative practices and if possible tantric methods to achieve this state.

[Matibhadra]

I do not see that Mipham's view as contradictory because the Buddha taught 84000 paths to Enlightenment.

Since the 84,000 paths to enlightenment taught by the Buddha are never contradictory, it follows that Mipham's views are not included among them.

It is not enough for a view to label itself “Buddhist” in order to qualify as Buddhist; it is necessary that is does not contradict direct perception and reason.

All Gurus and lineage are taught for the receiver and others without the same affinity may think that the teachings is not suitable but it doesn't mean it is wrong.

This applies only to Buddha's teachings, which are free of contradiction, not to Mipham's views, which have already been shown to be self-contradictory.

It is just another path.

Sure. Your non-Buddhist path.

To say the awakened state is the result of an accumulation of merit and wisdom is not wrong by the same logic above

The so-called “logic above” shows nothing, because naively to say that any path is “valid” just because it labels itself “Buddhist” is no logic at all.

but I must emphasis that the awakened stated is not "attained" as  it says in the Heart Sutra but rather realized.

Which is tantamount to confess that your views, just like Mipham's, are contradictory with sutras of definitive meaning, such as the Heart Sutra.

Hence, the "awakened state" denotes a state that is inherent in beings.

This puerile statement is fraught with many contradictions which have already been exposed in my last post, and which you left unresponded.

Hence, the 2 accumulations itself is mandatory but not enough by itself to achieve the awakened state.

If so, then it absurdly follows that the dharmakaya and the rupakaya are mandatory, but not enough to the achieved awakened state.

One still need meditative practices and if possible tantric methods to achieve this state.

Since both meditative practices and tantric methods are included within the two accumulations, you have just proved how deeply affected you are by misconceptions.