Corboy, I don't understand a few things about the "indoctrination" methods in Tibetan Buddhism. For example, you mention the instilling of fears of demons, Vajra Hell, and the like. Why would anyone believe this? Why would anyone coming from an atheistic background, or a Christian background that they had rejected, take any of this on? That makes no sense to me.
Then, there's the business of altars. Supposedly, a "good" practitioner is supposed to set up an altar at home, and spend money on various furnishings for it. Again--why would someone do this, other than perhaps a fascination for the exotic, and a fair amount of disposable income to indulge that fascination with? Many students don't, in fact, have money to buy things at their local Tibetan shop, or over the internet, through vendors advertised in Dharma mags. I always found it ironic, that magazines devoted to spreading the Buddha's anti-materialist gospel are full of pages of advertising pushing products.
I've never had an altar, and never believed in any kind of hell or demons. It's hard for me to fathom or to believe that anyone who rejected deities, angels and devils in Christianity would eagerly rush to embrace the same, in TB. Do you have any insights on that?
We need someone to put up a book review of the "Double Mirror" book, if there isn't already one posted, somewhere. That would be informative.
Then, there's the business of altars. Supposedly, a "good" practitioner is supposed to set up an altar at home, and spend money on various furnishings for it. Again--why would someone do this, other than perhaps a fascination for the exotic, and a fair amount of disposable income to indulge that fascination with? Many students don't, in fact, have money to buy things at their local Tibetan shop, or over the internet, through vendors advertised in Dharma mags. I always found it ironic, that magazines devoted to spreading the Buddha's anti-materialist gospel are full of pages of advertising pushing products.
I've never had an altar, and never believed in any kind of hell or demons. It's hard for me to fathom or to believe that anyone who rejected deities, angels and devils in Christianity would eagerly rush to embrace the same, in TB. Do you have any insights on that?
We need someone to put up a book review of the "Double Mirror" book, if there isn't already one posted, somewhere. That would be informative.