Hello everyone
As for not approving of students visiting other teachers in DW, well, I don’t need anyone’s approval, because I am a free man and I can visit whoever I want. There is a difference between visiting and following. If you, at the beginning of your journey, follow different paths and different teachers, you can get really confused. If you are kagyupa, sakyapa, gelugpa at the same time, you may as well start your own sect
I think that one should first master one path and then dabble in other traditions, without the risk of confusion. The Rime movement is a great initiative, but should be applied by more advanced practitioners. I can see nothing wrong in visiting other teachers and learning from them, as long as you stick to the practice of one school. So listen what they have to say, but do it your way. Diamond way
Lama Ole and Hannah wanted to do 3 year retreat, but 16th Karmapa told them that going to the west and spreading dharma would be more beneficial for sentient beings, and assured them that fulfilling his wish would be as good for their personal development and realization as going to retreat. So Lama Ole didn’t get the title in the traditional way because he was busy following instructions given to him by his teacher.
I’ve recently learned an interesting thing about male and female practitioners. Women are not so overtly concerned with titles as men are, and I think it’s a healthy attitude to have
Would you reject a teacher, whose teachings are profound to you, because he has no title?
Difficult people are my teachers, my enemies are my teachers, and none of them possess any kind of Buddhist title. So maybe it’s better to concentrate on peoples good qualities and on the effect their teaching has on our development?
And besides, Karmapa choose Ole for this job, so if Ole is good enough for Karmapa, his good enough for me. Or maybe Karmapa made a mistake? Well, it’s possible, we all know that only the Pope is infallible
It’s been a while since I wrote anything in English and feel a little tired so I will present my views concerning Karmapa controversy and “islamophobia” some other time.
Have a nice Day of the Dead