Dear Heartspoon,
You must have your reason and motivation to recycle old posts made by yourself.
Your posts in here mirrors your posts back in April 2008, under a thread titled: "Special Pride".
I think even poster named, "A Friend" also asked what you are alluding to at that time - if I am not mistaken.
Now, it is 2010 and you are still using the same words, or so to express what, I am not sure as well.
I am afraid I am neither learned or that enlightened to be of any meaningful assistance.
I come into this space to learn and understand more as well.
However I have noticed that other kind posters be it the most recent ones such as Thai Monk, TK, Beggar, DS Friend, Wisdom Being and even those posters back in 2008 have all done their best to help answer your 'questions' or "point the defects' as you put it.
Whether you choose to acknowledge or accept remains your right, but at least, I am able to recognise some people have been so kind to answer you.
Many a times, I do find myself not just questioning other posters’ intention when they write in this Forum, but also my own.
Over time, there have been posts which seemed to be written purely for the own author’s pleasure or points of views with no regard to benefit anyyone. Hence, sometimes it is hard to tell why we are writing the things we write, or thinking the thoughts we hold. This is why Beggar’s comments resonate with me.
BEGGAR: I think this last point is important to consider, especially in determining whether words are useful or not. At our level, it is quite easy for our minds to trick themselves into thinking that the words we use, or our actions are useful or to benefit someone, when actually they arise out of a personal or selfish place.
Over time, as well, I have discovered that there are many high level practitioners here. And I do not mean those who just recite from scriptures and texts. I mean, those who have actually gone through extensive training and retreats such as TK.
Hence, this space has given me a lot of education, information and I do appreciate that very much.
For example, I find Thai Monk’s composition below most profound. If one takes the time to explore each line, so much can be learnt. I, for one, cannot compose something like this for sure. It takes years of study and understanding of the essence of the teachings, I would imagine.
FROM THAI MONK:
you surpass all the teachers,
your wisdom is greater than theirs,
you have no klesas to overcome,
hence your view is supreme
Your view of those who possess reason or not
is unbiased since you have no karmas that bind,
therefore you need no teacher, as you hear
what you deem as reason and all others are not,
You need no guru, as only those that speak with your
reason you hold.
Hence the tantras become difficult as devotion is not necessary,
all the great masters who hold their gurus supreme, must rewrite the texts.
Ashvagosha, Atisha, Tsongkapa, Shantideva all would follow not a guru
to enlightenment and their devotions are wrong.
Woe to the student who need no guru, such is a time as predicted
in the kaliyuga.
Suffice to say, I do sincerely believe that the Guru holds the key to one’s ultimate realization.
I do not fear for the Dalai Lama’s disciples. In fact, I am relieved that they all have His Holiness to guide them and help them. Otherwise, they would be lost.
That does not mean that I agree with the ban though.
I think everyone who is practicing Dharma sincerely would be lost if they did not have a Guru who would guide and help them.
Lay people have not invested the time and effort in learning and acquiring those skills in spiritual practice. The Gurus have.
Lay people do not have the access to secret teachings that have been passed down from one guru to another through precious oral transmissions. The Gurus have.
So, thank goodness, for the Gurus – otherwise, we would be surely lost and left to fend for ourselves.
At the very highest level, Dorje Shugden is Wisdom personified and HH Dalai Lama is Compassion personified.
We need both method and wisdom to achieve Enlightenment.
Our lay perception will choose what it wants to believe, as it always had. That’s the nature of samsara.
But if we do heed the advice and guidance of our Gurus, then at least, we have a chance to be rid of this “samsaric curse”.
How we will fare in our attainments will depend on how well we keep our vows, practice and samayas. Our own actions will speak for us because our results will show itself from there.
Nagarjuna expounded the Buddha’s teaching through the logic of the India of his time. Through the process of reductio ad absurdum he negated all truths without affirming any truth.
By affirming that all things are empty, he was able to negate both existence and non-existence without contradiction. The great Sun-lun master, Chi-tsang wrote,
“Originally there was nothing to affirm and there is not now anything to negate.”
Wish you well in your practice and a very good day.
