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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 35

We must distinguish of a relationship of stable trust and adhere to a code of conduct and
teachers who are devotion, they are also a last resort. the laws of the land, then spiritual
There are said to be four kinds organizations should be role models
eccentric or provocative— of enlightened activity: peaceful, of ethical behavior. And teachers
but ultimately magnetizing, enriching, and even more so. Throughout history,

compassionate and wrathful. Wrathful activity is only one of the most important roles of
used for those who are not receptive Buddhist teachers and the Buddhist
skillful—from those who to more subtle approaches. So sangha was exactly this. They
are actually harming again, this style is not a norm, but modeled ethical behavior to the
students and causing something that is only employed in communities that they served.
certain circumstances.
trauma. Vajrayana Buddhism is thought of as

Thus we must distinguish teachers a precious treasure by Tibetans. It
In other words, the results of who are eccentric or provocative— is our spiritual heritage and our gift
genuine “crazy wisdom” are always but ultimately compassionate to the world. Now that the teachings
positive and visible. When a teacher and skillful—from those who are and practices of this tradition are
uses an extreme approach that is actually harming students and spreading across the globe, it is
rooted in compassion, the result causing trauma. These are two very important that we understand the
is spiritual growth, not trauma. different things, and it is important tradition and how to work with its
Trauma is a sure sign that the that we do not lump them together. powerful teachings.
“crazy wisdom” behavior was There are plenty of teachers who
missing the wisdom to see what push and provoke students to help As I’ve said, the core of the Vajrayana
would truly benefit the student, the them learn about their minds, but tradition is that we strive to embody
compassion that puts the student’s that is not abuse. Physical, sexual, pure perception. We view our
interest first, or both. and psychological abuse are not thoughts and emotions—even the
teaching tools. difficult ones—as manifestations of
It is also worth noting that these timeless awareness. We see every
Vajrayana in the Modern
extreme teaching styles we see in person as a buddha, and we treat
World
Vajrayana history took place in the them as such. We view the world
context of a very mature spiritual Now that the world is so that we live in as a pure realm,
bond between teacher and student. interconnected, ethics are more enlightened just as it is.
They were not all that common. important than ever. In a sense,
Marpa didn’t make all of his we Buddhist practitioners are This tradition of treating everything
students build stone towers. In fact, all representing the Buddha’s and everyone as though we are
he treated his other students very teachings to the world. Anyone meeting the Buddha face-to-face is
differently from how he treated can learn about this teacher or our main practice in the Vajrayana.
Milarepa. But he saw Milarepa’s that sangha with a few mouse It is the life blood of our tradition
potential and the approach that clicks and a quick Google search. and the very highest ethical
would benefit him most. The This is a good thing, because it standard we could aspire to. In this
rest is history. Milarepa became makes the entire tradition more day and age, with confusion and
enlightened and one of Tibet’s transparent. Ethical behavior—and conflict all around us, the world
greatest adepts. ethical violations—are more visible needs this more than ever. EH
than they were in previous times.
Not only are these extreme teaching It should go without saying that Source: Lion’s Roar www.lionsroar.
methods used only with very when schools, businesses, and other com, October 18, 2017
mature students and in the context public institutions are expected to