Caution with Spiritual Stories
We should approach miraculous stories and legends about Buddhism with caution. Many are products of imagination and present a narrow view of the tradition. Buddhism's depth and breadth are truly vast - even after decades of study, one might feel they've only scratched the surface.
When encountering claims or stories attributed to revered figures that we don't fully understand, it's often best to maintain a respectful distance and refrain from hasty judgments or interpretations. This approach of mindful restraint can be the wisest course of action in navigating the complex landscape of spiritual teachings and anecdotes.
Why Buddhism is Often Misunderstood
I often receive questions about high-ranking monks and respected Buddhist teachers, along with various conflicting accounts about them. I typically don't respond to these queries. Why? Because the reality often differs from the rumors, and even truthful accounts can be one-sided.
Buddhism is incredibly vast and profound. Unfortunately, it's frequently reduced to superstition, blind worship, or mere moral guidelines. People often draw conclusions based on limited perspectives, resulting in oversimplified or incorrect interpretations.
Many of my contacts are Buddhists who share their views on Buddhism in their social circles. They post teachings from revered monks and various Buddhist sayings. While some of these are genuinely insightful, much of it is, frankly, nonsense. It saddens me to see even some of my own students endorsing this misinformation.
This trend is concerning. While it might seem like Buddhism is flourishing, this kind of misrepresentation could potentially harm its essence. However, from another perspective, even misguided discussions about Buddhism are preferable to promoting harmful behaviors or negative emotions.
The problem lies in the lack of accurate and practically meaningful Buddhist teachings amidst this noise. Much of what's shared is a mix of empty talk, misinterpretations, and exaggerations. It oversimplifies and secularizes Buddhism in an extreme manner.
For instance, many online personalities try to explain profound concepts like enlightenment, or"form is emptiness, emptiness is form." While they're not entirely wrong, they're often just reciting without true understanding. If pressed for detailed explanations or practical applications, their lack of depth becomes apparent.
It's easy to copy and paste Buddhist scriptures or quotes from respected teachers. However, combining these out of context can lead to misunderstandings.
Buddhism has a specific structure and is highly nuanced. Buddha's teachings were given with four specific intentions: intention directed towards identity, intention for a particular time, intention for a particular meaning, and intention for a particular person. Without understanding these, many Buddhist teachings may seem contradictory, leading to confusion and disputes.
The Complexities of Understanding Buddhism
I often joke that if I were to play the role of a critic attacking Buddhism, and my students were to defend it, I could easily leave them speechless. This isn't because Buddhism is flawed, but because understanding it requires comprehensive and nuanced knowledge. If you doubt this, gather a group to discuss Buddhism with me, and you'll see how challenging it can be. This isn't about personal greatness; it's about dedication. If you spend two hours a day studying Buddhism while I spend eight, and you've studied for a year while I've studied for decades, naturally, your understanding will be less comprehensive.
I'm explaining this to emphasize caution when consuming Buddhist content online or in social media. Approach everything with a critical and thoughtful eye, whether it's criticism or praise of Buddhism, or admiration for specific individuals. Don't immediately accept or reject; instead, observe, reflect, and then pursue your own study and practice. This is the most appropriate approach.
It's not as if hearing one correct or incorrect statement will lead to immediate enlightenment or damnation. However, carelessly endorsing or sharing information, especially if it's incorrect or anti-Buddhist, can have consequences. Just as there's merit in supporting good deeds, there can be negative effects from supporting misrepresentations of Buddhism.
We should be cautious, but not so fearful that we avoid all information. You can engage with various viewpoints, but avoid rushing to judgment or being easily swayed. For matters that might immediately influence your decisions, it's best to withhold conclusions. Why must we form an opinion on everything we encounter? This often reflects a restless mind. To put it bluntly, it's usually those of lower intellectual caliber who jump to conclusions and are easily influenced by others' opinions.
This is particularly true for Tibetan Buddhism, which is often misrepresented or attacked online. Many criticisms come from a place of complete ignorance. Don't trust these baseless attacks.
I'm not defending Tibetan Buddhism simply because I practice it. I'm also a practitioner of Chinese Buddhism; fundamentally, I'm a Buddhist. I'm open to the truth from any school or tradition. This is the attitude I encourage in all my fellow practitioners. For instance, when we're in Thailand, a Theravada Buddhist country, I show great respect to their monastics.
Previously, at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, I would step aside and bow to even young novice monks out of respect for their ordination. So, don't judge based solely on sect or specific teachings. Even within Tibetan Buddhism, there's sometimes internal criticism, which is deeply inappropriate. Focus on your own practice; why concern yourself with judging others? What if you're mistaken in your judgment?
Excerpted from: Cognition and Expression Part Three
