99.99% ineffective

I’m not much interested in nondual teachings anymore. I don’t believe they’re effective for 99% of people. Out of the 1% of that 99 who are interested in nondual teachings, I’d say 1% can truly benefit from them. The other 99% become even more deluded.

All traditions have warnings about these teachings. In Buddhism, it is said that one becomes stuck in emptiness, which is the most dangerous place to be. Pure Land Buddhism and Zen contain warnings. Traditionally in Tibetan Buddhism one wouldn’t be introduced into such teachings until after years and years of diligent practice and insight.

While all that is very interesting, as for myself, I simply need more structure. I need practice, motivation, goals, devotion, and improvement. I need community, a teacher, and the teaching (buddha, dharma, and sangha). FWIW, the Buddha didn’t teach what we call nondual teachings. His teachings were always grounded first in sila, ethics, and there was always something to “do” — namely, be mindful of some object. One has to develop concentration to a high level in order to see the three aspects of existence.

It’s funny: in Pure Land Buddhism teachers maintain that we live in a dark age, full of foolish beings, who don’t have enough merit and diligence to attain liberation. Thus, calling to Amitabha Buddha is their prescription for us. However, in our arrogant and DIY society, we believe we’re superior to our ancestors; they were a bunch of knuckleheads, but our “consciousness is blooming” as Eckhart Tolle likes to say. Everyone has access to nondual teachings. They’re appealing because they require no belief, committment, teacher, community — all of aspects of traditional religion that we moderns dislike.

 

 

 

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