gone back

[clayton]

This may be pretty esoteric, but i had had enough of the Hare Krsnas for a number of reasons, their Master, their philosophy, and their organization, which is failing fast. So I decided to get back to the Buddha, and studying the sutras, which is forbidden for HKs to do. I acquired a copy of the Dharma Flower Sutra, and there was the Buddha with a great assembly of bodhisattvas and arhats, dragons, gods, satyrs, and so on, and there was Shariputra, and Subhuti, and Maha-Kasyapa, and all my friends, just as I remembered them. Ah, the emptiness of all things! It is said, to preach this sutra, one should enter the room of the Buddha, put on the robe of the Buddha, and take the seat of the Buddha. The room of the Buddha is compassion for all beings. The robe of the Buddha is gentleness and patience. And the seat of the Buddha is the contemplation o f the emptiness of all things. The Krsnas are very scared of that idea. The Buddha defeated them with it centuries ago, then Shakaracarya came with a similar idea and defeated them again.

[Cathy]

It's a good point, Clayton, I can understand the idea behind things being empty - as a society we can be far too materialistic and greedy. However, I believe certain objects can be very important, like the jewellery my aunt gave me before she died, my Bass which brings me and others happiness through music, my computer which helps me connect to people and learn new things, etc etc.

[nordicnicki]

i like the ideals of budhism but feel you have to be a strong willed enough person to be able to live your life this way and in our society it is a hard thing to do.
good for you though clayton

[Cathy]

Definitely agree with Nicki.

[clayton]

I thought so too, and that started my association with the Krsnas, who present themselves as a "shortcut"--an easier way to do the same thing. But we know about shortcuts! The big trouble with the Krsna thing is that in order for it work, you have to fall utterly and completely in love with Krsna, and nobody ever does. That's always in the future. The Buddha defeated that philosophy because it doesnt work, and Shakaracarya came later and defeated it again. It made a comeback with Chaitanya, but whenever his disciples gte close to Shankarcarya they run away because they know they'll just be defeatsd again!