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rrmoderator
valontin:
So what you are saying then is that whatever criticism exists about Ole is invalid and you can't think of anything he does that is wrong or even that questionable. And anyone that leaves his group has no meaningful basis for criticism either, it's just about "the lineage" or something else, which is their problem.
No. I did not say that. I am just showing my point of view.
People who criticize Lama Ole are probably right for themselves. The same way there are people who did not like Dalai Lama and probably every other lama (and criticize them). This kind of people are right for themselves. There were even people who did not like the Buddha and even tried to kill him.
Following the teacher in Buddhism should be a result of careful check. If the teacher say and do the same, if he knows the teachings, if he have the permit to teach from his own teacher and very important - if the teacher has true compassion, if he/she really takes care for others and what are results of his/shes advices in peoples life. The trust in the teacher should be a result of personal check. To have trust in the Lama should not depend on formal statements by anybody, but by one own's test and communication with the teacher. As far as one rely on the approvement of somebody else one finally cannot develop full trust onerself. I have done the tests for myself and I am continuing to check the teacher. That is common sense.
In Buddhism one Lama could be perfect teacher, but it is possible that there is no good student/teacher connection. In such situation the best is to find another teacher. On vajrayana level of Buddhist teachings the teacher is very important, that`s why it is very important to check him/her and to have trust. That`s also apply to the teachings - critical trust, not just blind faith. The Buddha himself said: "You should not believe a single word of my teachings, just because a Buddha said it. Please check everything for yourself. Be your own guiding light"
Actually most of the people who leave the group are not criticizing Lama Ole. Most of them are grateful to him, because he was their first teacher, and made the contact with enlightening teachings for them. Most of the people who leave are practicing in another Buddhist groups - and that is fine.
If Lama Ole do something which is against true compassion, or if he consciously harm anybody - he will lose most of his students (including me).