An interesting post on Dhammawheel.
Fundamental problems amongst the Buddhist community
Post by Karaniyametta » Wed Mar 09, 2022 11:51 pm
Hi there
Just a bit of background - I’m an Australian currently in Bodh Gaya. I was previously a Burmese Theravada Buddhist Nun in Bodh Gaya. I no longer identify as a Buddhist but I still respect Buddhism and have a great appreciation for the incredible transformative energy here. I’ve completed 30+ Vipassana courses in the Goenka tradition including 3 30 day long courses, I’ve also meditated extensively at Pa Auk Forest Monastery and Uruvela Meditation centre. Meditation and Theravada Buddhist practice has been a major part of my life since 2013.
I’d like to bring some light to some unhelpful viewpoints that I’ve seen amongst the Buddhist community which lead to harmful behaviour and schools of thought. This isn’t to bash Buddhism, but rather to open a discussion and share my personal findings. I think there needs to be rehabilitation for some monks and nuns and renunciants where they can relearn to live and address their desires in a healthy way.
I think the root of Buddhism, that life is suffering and samsara, and we need to get out of samsara and come out of all the defilements, can have some seriously harmful connotations.
For those “casually” involved, I don’t think this is so relevant as they have their own life, but those who have really surrendered to Theravada, I have seen many face similar issues.
The view that life is suffering and we need to get out of suffering and leave samsara has Theravada Buddhism praising monks and nuns or renunciantes for renunciating. Not just monks and nuns, but anybody who gives up stuff is praised and materialism and the world life is at best, inferior, at worst, frowned and shamed.
Many of these people renunciating, in my opinion, are really not ready to ready to renunciate and have all sorts of attachments. The fact that they’re praised so highly for taking robes makes some of them want to take robes, and because Buddhism tells us that we’re not falling prey to evil Mara, we may truly believe we’re doing something noble by giving up our desires for things in the world and not getting caught in samsara.
So many give up all kinds of energy vehicles like a job, their family, education etc as a way to renunciate and develop their “nekhemma” renunciation parmi and they are put on a pedestal for not being part of the world. If this has made one become a monk or a nun, this makes it incredibly difficult to disrobe as they often are hugely shamed. Of course, there are so many more obstacles coming back into the worldly life.
How does this manifest?
This repression of their desires and feelings often leads to despair, unfulfilled desires, boredom, alcoholism, drugs, prostitutes, food addiction (food is their only sense pleasure and monks and nuns are shamed for exercising which leads to overweight and obese monks) etc. in the Theravada Buddhist community.
Because desiring stuff is so frowned upon, their desires which would otherwise be normal, healthy desires lead to repression and compulsive behaviour and that turning into behaviours as aforementioned.
How many gurus and “masters” have identified with celibacy and made great offerings to the world in terms of spirituality and then had secret private lives. This is not isolated to hinduism and Mahayana buddhism. This is very much in the Theravada Buddhist community aswell. Monks considered great and who have a lot of power are also very much involved with this. These monks do a lot of positive work too but because of their status as a Monk, their behaviours cannot be exposed so they must do them secretly.
Many of these people “renunciating”, in my opinion, would be much better off if they kept their energy vehicles (their jobs, their families, whatever it is they have in “samsara”) and fulfilling their duties.
I thinks it’s important to distinguish which desires are positive and which are a hinderance. A desire that is positive is motivating to let go of many other desires. For example, the desire to become a doctor or for a particular job may help us to not watch tv every night or waste time. At the same time, we may be developing viriya, sati, uppekah, through this desire. The desire to procreate might help us develop nekhemma, giving up the sense of self for something other than ourself, dana, constantly serving.
Throwing away helpful desires that help us develop the paramis can lead to destructive behaviour.
The view that life is suffering and that we must come out of suffering and this world is samsara can sometimes be trying to go to level 20, when we are potentially at a lower level. In my opinion, it’s better to master whatever we’re doing rather than focussing too much on getting out of this world of suffering.
Particularly in the Goenka tradition which I’ve spent a lot of my life at, I’ve seen a lot of very miserable serious meditators. Again, they’re praised for being miserable, they have the fire of desire to come out of the worldly life… well done. They’ve fought mara. I’ve seen this lead to very very unhelpful tendencies also and a wasted life.