Lay Buddhists vs. Jerk Buddhists
I really like these lamas in england. They are of the little known Aroter lineage. Here they are talking about those ‘laypeople’ who benefit from hearing the dharma but do not become “Buddhists”. They describe two types of people. There are the people that go to all the retreats, read all the books, know all the stuff, but do not exhibit any kind of kindness and tolerance. On the other hand are people who show up for teachings but do not engage in solitary retreats or have great devotion to the teachings. Many times the first group is disparaging of the second - but what is wrong with living life as well as you can and using Buddhism on a purely psychological level? Nothing at all! Anything that helps to alleviate any amount of suffering has such a profound benefit.
Tony Romeo said,
04.01.06 at 7:39 am
To look for faults in anothers practice is trully looking into our own. The only problem is the duality. Take the duality out and we see that it’s all as it is.
Dharma is for us to untangle our selves from Samara. it has a myriad of methods, Some for the individual to go on himself, others to take people with you and yet others to guide people ahead of you. Look for the good in all the teachings and leave the searching for faults but for the ones that hold you fast in Samsara.