attachment is firmly rooted

• bohiruci

  20 Aug 07, 12:54

  When one says one view is aligned with one Buddhist association or temple ,
  I tends to think that person have no reflection aspect of Buddhism in practice
  
  How can one be wholesaling accept the Buddhist association without doing real reflection.
  
  I would feel that guy is brainwashed
  
  
• An Eternal Now

  20 Aug 07, 13:10

  Originally posted by bohiruci:

  When one says one view is aligned with one Buddhist association or temple ,
  I tends to think that person have no reflection aspect of Buddhism in practice
  
  How can one be wholesaling accept the Buddhist association without doing real reflection.
  
  I would feel that guy is brainwashed
  
  

  This applies not only to Buddhist associations but to Buddhism in general, and in fact not only to Buddhism, but to all religions in the world, and also to non-religious teachings -- as the Kalama Sutra is universal.
  
  But I think any sensible Buddhists out there should know how to discern whether the teachings and practices are wholesome and beneficial before engaging in them.
  
  So of course one should discern whether the teachings and practices are good in the first place, if they are then align one's view to the Buddhist teacher/master and work from there, as in accordance to the Kalama Sutra -- But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
  
  So anyway to conclude, one should align one's views with the Buddha as well as your Buddhist master's/associations/monastery's teachings, but it must not be due to blind faith but upon introspection, it is found that the teachings are wholesome and beneficial (See Kalama Sutra). Then that is Rational Faith (see TheGoodEarth's topic on faith), not blind faith.
• An Eternal Now

  20 Aug 07, 13:49

  Originally posted by bohiruci:

  When one says one view is aligned with one Buddhist association or temple ,
  I tends to think that person have no reflection aspect of Buddhism in practice

  I wouldn't say so though, there is nothing wrong with aligning one's view with a Buddhist associations, as long as it is not a blind faith but a rational, right faith. Faith is important but the basis of the faith is also important, so like you said before choosing a path one should do some reflections first.