Posted by Zolla (202.84.145.7) on September 27, 2000 at 15:27:28:
In Reply to: Allow me to offer a different view posted by SkySitter on September 26, 2000 at 01:23:48:
Dear Skysitter,
I hope I understand you correctly and appreciate the way you try to be open.
I perhaps didn't make clear enough. The reason why we say that this school is dangerous is not only because its teachings nor the way the "unconventional" ways they use to attract--I agree, many teachers also do things like foretelling, predicting, selling what people want (money, love...)...etc, if it was just these, we probably wouldn't criticize that school so much.
I realize that that "master" is not someone without any lineage, he DOES HAVE lineage...
In places including Hong Kong and Taiwan, many people know that that "master" is involved in some scandalous affairs which I am not sure whether I can disclose or not. Many masters including those from the Chinese Mahayana tradition and the Tibetan Schools have openly criticized him in different occasions. Think about this, usually they wouldn't do that, because there's a vow not to criticize other schools/teachers. Some followers of that "master" say that those masters of other major schools call him a devil because he's so good that they're afraid they he would take all their students away...so?
You probably think that the teaching of such a teacher can at least attract the attention of more people who eventually will become interested in the real Dharma. Well I used to believe that no real Buddhist would take this school seriously anyway, so why bother? It was just recently I met a couple of Western Dharma friends, after a little while I discovered that they all associate with that school and believe that that "master" is a real master.
Again if he was simply a fake master, I wouldn't bother. Judging from what his former disciples reported, I have the impression that such person seems to so powerful that can influence people's mind. There was even someone who thot of leaving but was under his control so he (or she) finally committed suicide...
Think about the Japanese cult (called Amo or something, can't remember extractly), remember what they did in Japan--which was far more than spreading fake Dharma? Let's say there's a particular group which seems a bit in that line (tho' not as extreme), even tho' we can't prove nor disprove it, it is still suspicious enough, so shouldn't we be more cautious at least?
That's why I would like to see more Western people who can make more information available. We don't "bad mouth" them, just seek more information. Also I also like to seek opinion from those who have the authenticity/authority to say anything about this.
Zolla