corboy Wrote:
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>>
> 2) Older disciples hide 'inconvenient truths'
> about a dishonest or greedy
> teacher because they do not want new students and
> prospective recruits to
> be put off from the Dharma. Attracting new people
> to Vajrayana brings merit
> to these older students, so there is an incentive
> to conceal discouraging
> information. These disciples really believe that
> they themselves accumulate
> merit and stand to progress more quickly in their
> own practice (in this life
> and in future lives) by helping new people get
> involved with the Vajrayana via
> their lama and other lamas.
>
Attracting new students to the Dharma may bring merit, but for the teacher, behaving in such a way that students get turned off from the Dharma is considered a "root downfall" that shoots his merit collection down in flames. Making a mockery of the Dharma by using the sangha as a sexual playground does not serve the Dharma, it should be obvious.
Also, luring new students into a risky situation is not meritorious at all. If the student should fall prey to an unethical teacher, then those who invited the new student into that circle while cognizant of the risks involved would sacrifice some of their good merit. It's clear in such a scenario that the seasoned disciples' actions are ego-driven, rather than being driven by compassion, which means they accrue no merit for those actions. Their motive is wrong, therefore no merit is earned.
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>>
> 2) Older disciples hide 'inconvenient truths'
> about a dishonest or greedy
> teacher because they do not want new students and
> prospective recruits to
> be put off from the Dharma. Attracting new people
> to Vajrayana brings merit
> to these older students, so there is an incentive
> to conceal discouraging
> information. These disciples really believe that
> they themselves accumulate
> merit and stand to progress more quickly in their
> own practice (in this life
> and in future lives) by helping new people get
> involved with the Vajrayana via
> their lama and other lamas.
>
Attracting new students to the Dharma may bring merit, but for the teacher, behaving in such a way that students get turned off from the Dharma is considered a "root downfall" that shoots his merit collection down in flames. Making a mockery of the Dharma by using the sangha as a sexual playground does not serve the Dharma, it should be obvious.
Also, luring new students into a risky situation is not meritorious at all. If the student should fall prey to an unethical teacher, then those who invited the new student into that circle while cognizant of the risks involved would sacrifice some of their good merit. It's clear in such a scenario that the seasoned disciples' actions are ego-driven, rather than being driven by compassion, which means they accrue no merit for those actions. Their motive is wrong, therefore no merit is earned.