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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 533
A Reading Group allows for an exchange of information, 5. to non-contentment, not to contentment;
knowledge and ideas among a variety of people. It is 6. to company, not to solitude;
totally different from the traditional class which is only 7. to laziness, not to the arousing of energy;
conducted by a teacher. In addition, it is also a method 8. to being difficult to support, not to being easy to
to train new Buddhist teachers. With this concept, support.
everyone can be a teacher as well as a student. A
Reading group or workshop will play an important role B. This is not Dhamma if it does not lead exclusively
in the process of promoting Buddhist teachings in the 1. to disenchantment,
future. 2. to dispassion,
3. to cessation,
Geshe Dadul: A teacher’s guidance, for much of a 4. to peace,
student’s progress, is indispensable. Having so much 5. to direct knowledge,
information at one’s fingertips can be very helpful. 6. to enlightenment,
However, knowing what information is to be trusted, 7. to nibbāna.
or if trusted, knowing if the student’s understanding
of it is accurate, within the context, depend upon the Min Wei: It is obvious that there is much information,
guidance of a qualified teacher, as described in the texts. programs and courses on Buddhism which can be
This is particularly true in the field of spiritual training studied and learned online. An internet is also a useful
and cultivation, an area that has typically remained platform to spread Buddhism. So, this will be a great
uncharted by most of us. In this regard, one would benefit to the people of the world.
benefit well from learning to balance one’s own capacity However, for beginners who have little knowledge of
for determining when one has doubts that are being Buddhism, the Buddha taught that a real Dharma must
dispelled by one’s personal research and when checking consist of these three main marks of existence, namely
with one’s teacher is more helpful in developing one’s impermanence, suffering and non-self. All Buddhist
own confidence. teachings must be related to these marks. This set of
three characteristics represents the authenticity of the
While false dharma was also present during the Buddha’s teachings.
Buddha’s time, it was probably not as prevalent as it
is today. How would the Buddha advice his disciples They do not function simply to distinguish true or
to differentiate between true Dharma and fake fake Dharma, but they help us to cultivate ‘Right View’.
Dharma in today’s context, especially through the Right View plays an important part in any practice in
internet? Buddhism, and it is considered as the first step to the
Noble Eightfold Path.
Aggacitta: The Buddha’s advice given to Gotamī
Mahāpajāpatī and to Āyasmā Upāli on this matter is still Geshe Dadul: The way we distinguish Dharma from
relevant today. The set of criteria given to the former non-Dharma, in terms of the content conveyed, is
seems to be more general and basic while that given to through the Four Seals of Buddhism: 1. All compounded
the latter, more high-end. The two sets below show the things are impermanent. 2. All contaminated
criteria for what is not Dhamma, the opposite of which phenomena are unsatisfactory in nature. 3. All
is Dhamma. phenomena are empty and selfless. 4. Nirvāṇa is true
peace. If all four of these components can be found
A. This is not Dhamma if it leads within the teaching, it is true Dharma. In terms of
1. to passion, not to dispassion; practical influence upon application, a true Dharma
2. to bondage, not to detachment; should contribute to counteract and mitigate the
3. to building up, not to dismantling; influences of dissonant mental states (Skt: kleshas) in
4. to strong desires, not to few desires; individuals and society. Any practice or message that