Let's hear it for BUDDHISM!
I am not a Buddhist, but I salute the VALUES present in
Buddhism that are very benign. Many similar values are present in other religions, sometimes obscured by archaic counter-values, NEVER present in the original Teaching, but introduced by the Priest-class years later.
It's a pretty standard pattern. The original Teacher is a divinely-infused being, who brings a specific Teaching to a specific group at a particular time. Many of the Teachings originally were ORAL, passed on from person to person that way. Some were captured not too long after the death of the original teacher in some "scroll" or "manuscript" form, copied by hand. And human copiers make mistakes! Then the Priests start pontificating about things and introducing new elements into the original teachings, often in styles that make the new look indistinguishable from the original.
Over time, Teachings become more about egoic man than Divinely Inspired Man or the Divine Itself.
Buddhists have fared better than most traditions, by having a strong ongoing religious culture. But even so, differing "schools" have developed. It leaves one with the question: "Which would the Buddha say is right?" or perhaps "Is this a valid extension of what the Buddha had to say?"
My Teacher, Adi Da, insists that from time immemorial there have ALWAYS been great Teachers living in the world. Meher Baba said there were 7 Perfect Masters living in the world at any given time, as I recall.
There are strong arguments for living Teachers for those whose interest goes beyond philosophical or intellectual
exploration.
Namaste!
Jim |
