Currently, there are
at least five forms of Buddhism. The first form is the traditional
Buddhism I have just discussed. It is the education of the Buddha’s
teachings. This original form is rarely seen today. The other four forms
are deviations of this one.
The second form is
religious Buddhism. Although originally not a religion, it has become one
in the past few hundred years. Today, it is difficult to deny this.
Why? The external form of Buddhism today is indeed that of a religion.
It is no longer the education found in a traditional way place where
cultivators had up to sixteen hours a day for both lessons and
cultivation. The lessons included listening to lectures and discussions.
The cultivation session included either Buddha name chanting or sitting
meditation. Study and cultivation were used hand in hand to strive for
the right and proper understanding and practice, to purify practitioner's
minds and to eventually attain the state of enlightenment.
Since the monks and
nuns spent sixteen hours a day on study and cultivation, there was little
time for discriminatory or wandering thoughts, and so achievement could be
attained relatively quickly. Unfortunately, this traditional form of
Buddhism is seldom seen nowadays in way places for many of them have
become a place to make offerings, to pray for blessings and to conduct
memorial services. It is little wonder that people regard Buddhism as a
religion.
The third form is
philosophical or academic Buddhism often found as a course in college.
This is inappropriate. Why? Buddhist education is a complete university
in itself, including all branches of learning. But now it is reduced to
merely a philosophical discipline. Regarding it as such, we miss the
importance of the fact that the teachings are a necessity for all sentient
beings. Why? Because these teachings can resolve all problems ranging
from those in our current lives to those in the future, including even
those of birth and death. Buddhism's scope is broad and profound and
regarding it as merely an academic field of study is frankly, another
deviation. These two forms cause no serious harm to society. Religions
try to encourage people to be good. Philosophy strives to pursue truth
and to gain knowledge.
The fourth and most
recent deviation is Buddhism as a show. It consists of a few hours of
music, singing and dancing with a short talk in between. However, the
fifth form is a deviation that has gone too far, that of the distortion of
Buddhism into a cult. This deviated form has appeared in the last thirty
to forty years. The exploitation of Buddhism by evil cults has gone too
far. In the name of Buddhism, they take advantage of the weaknesses of
human nature, creating chaos by cheating and misleading people,
endangering the safety of the public. Some of their propaganda and deeds
can sound extremely enticing and appealing. However, if we join their
activities, which doom us to ruin, by the time we realize our mistake, the
damage will have already been done. It will then be too late to regret.
Therefore, we need to choose wisely which form to practice in order to
receive the true benefits. ( by Master Chin Kung)
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