Selling credibility, deceiving oneself and others...

Can we trust those who say they're teachers?

How do I say this without offending some of my new friends... I probably can't.. So...

Deepak Chopra was once credible, now he has become a profiteer, selling certifications in things he has no right doing, has no qualifications to teach and certify, especially in four to seven days...

He has sent out hundreds of so-called Chopra Certified instructors... I'm sorry, I know a few of them, they can't keep their minds still for a moment, they are not qualified, and will not/cannot lead you to mindfulness and for sure not to enlightenment...

http://www.chopra.com/ytt

He's selling $$$ them a piece of paper and his name, that's it; for he cannot take people with no background and teach them anything in such a short time. Then he takes photos with them for their web sites, to help offer them credibility and bring in "customers".  Shame on him... I feel sorry for the "instructors” for they believe they've learned something worthwhile and real, and the worse for the poor students of these "instructors" who will pay them for their help. This is not real and is a rip off.  If you love this man I hope you don't feel attacked, this is not my purpose.

This is happening all over... The "Science Qigong” people do the same nonsense... The master I trained with will not teach you to stand correctly in a weekend... It just can't be done...

Meanwhile people with no skills at all become experts in days.... Scary, sad, should be illegal. It is a scam...

I was a martial artist, began at 15 yo, so years ago when I moved to Fla I looked to see what was going on, in doing so I walked into a local school to find 12 year olds with black belts, these kids could not punch or kick, yet they were awarded "black belts.”  When I came up we could not even take the exam until we were 16, and even then few were awarded one...

This is why the Asians protected their practices, why for centuries they would not permit them to be taught to non-Asians. They knew what we now see, that this is what would happen, that the capitalists would sell their lineage for a dollar, worse yet, the students never get what they pay for, for their impatience has made it impossible; the teachers saw this and began giving these things away for a price in a fraction of the time required. This I know for I have been bold enough to ask, almost getting physically attacked for my queries, but a few did answered honestly saying “these people will not wait four years to become a Black Belt, if we do not offer them belts and tips on belts regularly they will leave.”  I say "let them go...."  This practice is destroying lineages, old long lines of teachings/disciplines. Too Sad.

gabriel

http://www.subtlethings.com

Time Well Spent

Let's trust ourselves... Be brave.

Hello my friends...  I'm a practicing Buddhist. One who is open to hearing from many sources. While practicing I've been exposed to practitioners of all sorts, seeking knowledge they studying the dharma, meditate and consult with their teachers and "space". The are those who study little, instead perpetually dive off the springboard of the foundational truth “space is information” believing there is no need to learn what others know, that it is best to learn for oneself though communicating with "space" on ones pillow (in meditation).

Now it is said, all is empty, everything composite is illusion and that we live and swim in an impermanent soup of perception composed of a composite of all things manifest, a soup which has no reality in itself demostrated by the fact it does not last, falls away the instant it has manifest, and as such is unreal. Also unreliable in the next moment. 

This is all good, but to what end is this information to be used, and how much of it is needed in order to live this life well and to do the work of a Buddha; an awake compassionate human being?

To think too much about something which has no fundamental reality (if you believe it is so) is a waste of our precious lives, time better spent living the life of a bodhisattva (a compassionate being whose intentions and actions are aimed at relieving suffering, that of their own and others) for to know and not do has little worth, and to do without knowledge will bring little positive results. We need to find balance.

So who can answer this question of balance? Well certainly not me for you, instead we all have this responsibility to find balance between compassion and wisdom, doing and knowing, and the time spent in these activities, for our lives are short, our time precious, and the needs to be met great.

I encourage all who are “on their way” to use their minds, to not be like lemmings who jump to their death following what’s in front of their nose whether it be true or not because of their fear of not knowing, or possibly “doing it wrong.” My friends once you have found your way to the silence found in communing with space trust in what arises before you, be fearless in your actions, and do good.

This way of living will never betray you, for all gurus, lamas and roshis know they have received from the source of all knowledge and would point you there. Run from any who would point to themselves. Go there today and harvest your bounty. Eat it and give it away in a loving hug to all sentient beings...

Warm smiles...gi

http://www.subtlethings.com/