This website was going to be a historical account of what has happened each year in The New Kadampa Tradition. The previous posts were with extensive links and information.
I have however experienced a sign of the effect of doing this for myself. I am Buddhist and always will be. These teachings of Je Tsongkapha on the effects of attacking someone who is trying to do something good, and in essence very spiritual, were not written by the Dalai Lama or Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. We may try to justify attacking by saying "oh this person doesnt count because they did such and such so they no longer qualify on all points as a pure object - and that in reality they have evil intentions." but this doesnt work.
You may think oh its working for me but what happens is this:
One part of your mind uses logic to try to comfort oneself and the other which is a much deeper level has repressed self doubt and fear. Essentially you develop a dual mind about it.
This is the effect of this action and a mental path where a massive turbulent ocean within the subconscious that is unresolved and placated with various attempts at comforting logic keeps throwing ones whole mental state into turmoil. Unresolved deep subconscious issues dont go away.
What is my issue? It is that we all had a beautiful dream. Geshe Kelsang tried to fulfil that dream for us. He gave us his life and his time. He didnt have to work for our dream. He could have led a normal life. He had something beautiful and he wanted to share it with us. He put up with an immense amount of problems from us students and kept going Its the same with the Dalai Lama. He wanted to protect people and was concerned about something. Maybe it drove him insane at times who knows?
But these are caring good people who have made a special effort and to attack them changes you as a person. This could apply to many others including whoever wrote the yellow book who knows?
When there is something that potentially could be amazing but it seems a few people are blocking that from happening of course many people are gonna start screaming that these are not good people, and maybe even that they are evil. Then if they dont listen we start making our logic immensely extreme to 'snap them out of it'. But the fact is, even if they are so far gone they cant hear anything, they did it all for that dream. That dream of being a superhero. The dream of being able to help people.
Yes we are all being dramatic and very vocal. Because we are very emotional that the dream didnt happen and we are looking for reasons. We want to be that person who jumps up saying hey Ive found the key to happiness!! Wanna know what it is? We feel sad, bitter and confused depending upon what reason we concluded that the future didnt turn out rosey, but instead we saw many things that contradicted our idea of how things should be.
My point is these are all very powerful forces and I have concluded that Je Tsongkaphas teaching is totally true in my experience. If you do negative actions towards Bodhisattavas its immensely harmful to ones own mind. Causing a schism in a sangha community is one of the 5 most negative actions that can be peformed. Im not saying lets all get prostrating and showering these people with gold etc. Im saying its important to be careful with ones own mental wellbeing. Its the same with people like Jesus. So many say because of the stance the Jewish hold on Jesus they are having lots of bad luck. Its not some evil attack or reprisals. Its ones own mind attacking itself. The deep down knowledge of self doubt where one realises one may be harming or destroying something that is very moral or potentially very moral. This is karma. It creates experiences and shapes how you see the world.
Its like if you harm a child. Because your harming someone that is very pure it changes you as a person and you will be tormented with feelings about what you did from then onwards. You might shout out that you were justified or that you dont care but deep down there will be repressed self doubt and torment about it.
The way to avoid all this Ive concluded is to not make people regret their wholesome actions. The downfalls to avoid were not written by modern people either. They are based on centuries of spirituality and bitter experience of not following these guidelines.
The NKT is a valiant attempt to help many people. Regardless of how it turned out that was everyones intention involved throughout the history. Even those who developed the wrong conclusions about Tantra in this and other traditions were studying hard to try to understand what the 'quick path' was and how to get it working. So they could help other people.
Everyone gave it 100%. Ignorance destroys everything. Just that fog. Not even a selfish ignorance just the blank slate where one tries to guess the meanings and creates a model that doesnt work. Generic images and experimentation are all what the NKT is. Because the NKT is not an organisation used by Buddhas. Its an organisation for Buddhists not Buddhas. So ignorance is a huge factor. Everyone who isnt a Buddha is full of it.
We see the same factors in play in non buddhist society. Another community build by non Buddhas. People filled with ignorance who want the dream of happiness. So then they can share it with others. many are campaigning right now against the 'administration team' for harming children, the elderly, the disabled and for running things badly with closed ears. They also campaign against being snooped on, nannied, used for their money etc. Its all there. The only difference is because we all live in seperate houses and have TV we are not so much 'in each others faces'.
Anyway this is my current conclusion. The fact is I still use many of the tools taught to me in Buddhism. I was typing disrespectful thinsg and then when I experienced mood swings due to self doubt, I turned to the Buddhist tools Geshe Kelsang gave me to comfort myself. I realised how ridiculous that is and saw the two polarities in my mind. I cannot develop that mind state as it would be very unhealthy & if you can relate I hope this helps.
If there is a very powerful force for good its not asking to be given special treatment, just dont disrespect it and leave it alone unless you are in a state to create powerful and intense karma for youself.
