On correct view...

[icarus]

Sometimes the simplest concepts in Buddhism are blown out of proportion. Correct View is one of them.

It's practical. It makes sense.

Yet so many think it's about a pretense, pretending to see your teacher as perfect, pretending to be aware of something special... making up 'specialness' all around you.

It isn't.

Correct View is simply that. Correct.

Let's give an example. In the Middle Ages, healers did blood-letting, with the best of intentions, when people were ill. They often made the condition worse, or even killed their patient. But they believed they were helping. They just held an Incorrect Belief, or... Incorrect View, on which they based their actions.

So Incorrect View is quite dangerous. As dangerous as it is... innocent in a sense.

Incorrect View can be pretty easy to spot by the results: usually, people suffer.

Racism is an example of Incorrect View - see? It's not all high-falutin' spiritual. So is taking ones religion to bolster your ego, Sectarianism.

This is why I've stood up to those in the Buddhist community who teach Incorrect View, who distort Dharma for their own ends. It's not only that they pillage their students. They also self-servingly teach their students a belief system that will cause them nothing but harm.

I don't apologize for being a whistle-blower. I've presented the evidence of the damage, in what they've done. But I believe the greater harm is what they teach. That's the 'gift' that keeps on 'giving.'

~Icarus

This has been a public service announcement on behalf of the Buddhist Community at large.

Comments

Re: Women in Buddhism

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yep. Every religion is like that. They have conservative and not-so-conservative interpretations. There's one (Vajrayana Buddhism) where women are considered to have a superior natural capacity.

Heh. For me on the subject, that was brevity. I didn't drag in any quotes or textual references (read: show off).

*blushes*
~Icarus

Re: Women in Buddhism

[tboy.livejournal.com]

Heh. At least you can remember what to quote! My memory's shot, and it's been about 13-14 years since I last studied Judaism in any detail. I typically become quite expert in any given subject while it interests me, then fail to retain more than impressions when I move onto something else *g*. It's an odd way to learn.

Showing off *g*, I was something of a brilliant student in certain areas, many, many years ago. Don't ask me about those subjects now though. If I reread old essays and such, I amaze myself with what I knew.

I'm quite sorry I seem to have lost my musicological skills. I used to be able to hold my own quite competently; now can barely recall names of composers let alone pieces, styles and history!

I think this is my middle age crisis looming. DUCK! *g*

Re: Women in Buddhism

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*ducks* Tell me about it. It took me 15 minutes to remember the name 'Fidel Castro' the other day. "It was... it was... Cuba, leader, you know, beard... darn it, Cuban Missle Crisis.. cripes. The guy who said about GW 'I hope he's not as stupid as he seems.' Darn it! Whathisname -!"

~Icaru