dharmatalks

Once more, the digital mouthpieces of Western Buddhism – simple-minded and petty bloggers, whose lack of proper formation and training, apparently limited scope of functioning intelligence, and demonstrated lack of capacity for open-mindedness and proper research have led them to waste bandwidth and time decrying “the punk monk”. And once again, they resort to nothing more than lies, baseless innuendo and sophomoric remarks, rather than providing any substance to their claims.

It’s disgusting, really. I mean, we cannot complain about how inaccurate Bill Maher’s comedic portrayal of Buddhism was, or how ill-informed Britt Hume is, when within our own ranks are people whose hatred, intolerance and divisiveness makes Maher and Hume look like successors to a high lama.

Thirty years of service leaves evidence and mountains of documentation. I have no reason to waste my time or that of my readers with further “rehashing” of the lives we’ve touched, the qualifications of my lineage and succession, or the fact that despite the limitations of the ignorant minds to comprehend such things, there are many Catholic clergy who hold ordination in Buddhist traditions as well.

And those who know me know that from the start, I have held the titles of “His Eminence”, “His Grace”, “Holy Exarch” and even “Lama” in disdain, when applied to me. Of course, I accepted the Office of Exarch and did my best to fulfill my obligations to our community in that capacity. And I fully understand that my role as a semi-retired archbishop and abbot of our community ought to be publicly regarded, if only as a courtesy to my students and fellow monastics.

Some clowns have gone so far as to claim that the use of Dharmacharya is incorrect, further demonstrating a lack of formation and proper training.

They fail to recognise that from the moment I was consecrated as a bishop, I have maintained the foundational principles of our Order, which adopted a congregational polity, like all Buddhist and Quaker communities, as well as the form of governance used by the United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ. Therefore, my role is one of spiritual shepherd, but not “boss”. For that reason, I bow to the decisions of the Sangha, and until there was consensus, was not privileged to “change my title” from Dharmacharya or Lama to simple khenpo (abbot).

In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha teaches, “People with small minds want a small Law, because they cannot believe they can become a Buddha.” (Lotus Sutra 2)

This intolerant and divisive behaviour is merely a reflection of the attackers’ pettiness. Franz Metcalf notes that such petty and intolerant people feel they need strict adherence to their narrowly-defined idea of Buddhism because they feel they cannot be trusted to keep peace and behave properly without them. Thus they demean themselves and they demean others.

I also consider such attacks as an opportunity for me to contemplate what unresolved issues lie within my own heart. When someone is calling me a fraud, I believe that is a reflection of some internal issue in which I have doubted my own capacity to become a Buddha/Christ.

When I bristle at being called “His Eminence” or Lama Gurudas, I recognise that beneath my apparent disdain for lofty titles, there may also be an issue of unworthiness lurking about.

I am a servant-leader, and have been for thirty years. I am mindful of the many opportunities I have had and shared with many of you over those thirty years, and I strive to honour those memories as treasured experiences.

And I’ve often said that if it causes discomfort for some of the smaller-minded sectarian teachers or their students, or simple-minded bloggers and their cats, for me to be recognised for my meager contributions to the work of our community and our Order, then what harm would there be in allowing them to believe what they choose?

So I am unworthy to be honoured by my students or recognised as an accomplished Buddhist lama. So what? My students don’t honour me with their words. They honour me by serving others along side of me. I need not be recognised as an accomplished lama or archbishop-exarch. I am simply a Dharma teacher. And those ordained in my succession/lineage know that they have been able to rely on me when it counts. Their ministries are evidence of the teachings I share taking root in meaningful ways.

The petty and narrow-minded are not serious about the Dharma and never have been. And I give them all the rope they need, for in their attacks, they hang no one but themselves. May their suffering and the karma brought about by their insipid hatred ripen upon me, and may they awaken to their true nature, and recognise the folly of their intolerant behaviour before it’s too late.

 I honour those ordained in my succession – Especially those who serve as bishops, archbishops, priests and deacons, who continue our lineage, and validate the message of the Dharma of Compassion. You are evidence which controverts the accusations. And you are my heart.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

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“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa —
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

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Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Khenpo Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.