[Buddha-l] The way the wind blows

[Franz Metcalf]

Curt et al.,

I have to side with Jack on this one, for several reasons. First, with 
me, as with Richard, a disturbingly high percentage of spiritual 
teachers teach methods that would certainly make me wiser, more 
compassionate, and more comfortable in my own skin. So this method 
would not fail when put into practice in my beginner's life.

But, if I read him correctly, Curt was getting at something more 
serious: the tendency to project onto teachers qualities we desire for 
ourselves, and project them with such intensity that we become blind to 
those teachers' real failings. This is indeed a serious and horribly 
common danger. God knows Zen training falls prey to it all the time. 
But it *can* be avoided. How? By the teacher encouraging the student to 
continually re-examine the teacher and the teaching relationship; by 
the teacher doing the same herself or himself; and by subjecting that 
relationship, the models of behavior, the desired qualities, and all 
actions by both teacher and student to an independent standard. Not 
some vague set of desires we come up with, but something clear, 
carefully constructed, and time tested. What should we choose? Oh, how 
about sila? How about the precepts? How about the paramitas?

This last bit might be the hardest, but it is exactly what the Buddha 
calls for in the infamous Kalama Sutta, and it is *not* impossible. 
What *is* impossible (for most of us, anyway) is "simply start[ing] 
being more like" how we want to be. Doesn't matter how clear we are; we 
need help. I should know, this kind of intellectualized approach to 
Buddhism and personal growth is exactly my prapanca.

Good luck to us all,

Franz Metcalf