What are your thoughts on the Buddhist group the New Kadampa Tradition headed by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso?
2007-01-16 07:06:23 · 4 answers · asked by impermenant365 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Didn't the Dalai Lama say to avoid them/their practices?
2007-01-16 07:10:47 · answer #1 · answered by Beverly J 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks of avoiding them. Their teachings do not fit the criteria that defines "Buddhist teachings". I don't pay too much attention to their teachings because I've found my path and anything else is a waste of precious time in this impermanent life.
Analyze it for yourself according to the criteria of what truly defines a Buddhist (or not) and Buddhist teachings or not and what constitutes Buddhism that will get you a "good result" or not. For this you have to dig a little bit deeper into WHY Buddhism holds fast to a certain group of criteria, how we choose teachers and why, and so forth... which takes WAY more time and megabytes than I have time and space for here.
There's also another teacher, named "Geshe" Michael Roach at Diamond Mountain University who is also under harsh scrutiny for his mixing and matching Buddhism with yoga, Christianity, New Age thinking etc., WHILE calling himself a Buddhist monk and still teaching Buddhism via his "ACI" courses. I leave each individual to decide for themselves ONLY after I tell you that before you choose a teacher within Buddhism you MUST follow the plea to examine every teacher for YEARS and analytically (according to the criteria for what makes an effective Buddhist teacher and teaching Buddhism) scrutinize them... a "bad" teacher could get you a "bad" result, worst case, and best case; no result at all. Read Alexander Berzin's "Relating to A Spiritual Teacher" for more info on the topic... which can be downloaded for free in PDF format for free if you don't want to buy.
_()_
2007-01-16 07:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question, I'm still trying to figure them out. There is a center that just opened up across the street from my apartment so I looked into it a bit, though I haven't actually gone in yet. The NKT seems to incorporate a lot of Tibetan gods and demons, though I think they might just be symbols of psychological aspects of ourselves, though I don't know for sure how they view these deities.
The Dalai Lama seems to have a bit of a problem with them, though I don't know why exactly. I think part of it may have to do with the kinds of changes they made to their tradition to be more "Western" friendly. Wikipedia has some good info on them, so check it out!
They seem to be concentrated on helping incorporate Buddha's teachings in the average joe's life, as opposed to a life as a monk. They have broken the steps of enlightenment down to 21 steps to aid in understanding your progress. Honestly, I don't know what I think of them yet. So long as their compassionate in their acts, I suppose that's all that matters :)
2007-01-16 07:14:24 · answer #3 · answered by neuralzen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism is atheistic, no GOD.
Jesus is the truth, the way and the life!
"Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"
(Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad)
2007-01-16 07:10:25 · answer #4 · answered by St. Mike 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋