Controversy
about Open Heart
This
letter was composed as a note to Open Heart Sangha members but is
posted in this blog as well.
Dear
Sangha members.
I'd
like to have a public discussion on two matters concerning Open
Heart. The first one is the constant negativity projected on Open
Heart by buddhist traditionalists. The second one is critique
expressed by those who left Open Heart Sangha. I wish to discuss
these matters openly with our practitioners so that when you hear
about these things, you are already aware of these matters. Everyone
is free to form your own opinion and think for yourself.
Talk
I
used to be an active writer on a number of buddhist bulletin boards
(discussion forums) online. These include DharmaOverground,
DharmaWheel, BuddhaDharma.info (Finnish) and Zen Forum International
(no longer exists). As you know, I have often asked questions that
too rarely get asked. Talking of taboos, together with what the
traditionalists see as outrageous claims of my own attainments (they
have missed the crucial point of the difference between opening and
perfecting bhumis), while myself being as they say a
”self-proclaimed” teacher, is why orthodox buddhists on the
mentioned forums as well as on Facebook, have very negative view
about myself and Open Heart.
When
I was still active writing on forums, before 2017, I tried to express
my views while trying to understand those of others. After I had
started to use the buddhist view (theory) in my teachings, along with
being a ”self-proclaimed” teacher ”who claims to communicate
with gurus long dead”, on part of the opponents these discussions
started to end up being about my persona, rather than the topic that
was originally discussed. Many times the opponents could not get over
the fact that I had no lineage to back up my claims. Me not having a
lineage is something that I have always openly and publicly
acknowledged. One of the first questions buddhists ask is whether
someone has a lineage and if they don't that pretty much ends the
fruitful discussion, at least in my case it has. This is especially
the case in tantric buddhism and dzogchen, where one having a guru is
the most important principle.
Some
Tibetan buddhists online, many with decades of practice and some even
lamas or translators of buddhist texts, have simply branded me as a
”fake”, ”charlatan”, ”hoax” or more recklessly as a
”crazy” or as an ”idiot”. On forums such as the DharmaWheel
this seems to be a standard way of treating teachers without
lineages, no matter who they are or what they teach. Without having
the kinds of documents they want to see, they don't want to hear
about it. End of the story.
I
am not into pleasing everyone but I am quite sad that some
traditionalists have taken such negative standpoints. Until some
point I tried my best to discuss and shed light on matters, on my
views and thoughts that have evolved in the guidance of my gurus but
eventually I figured out it was all in vain. I admit that my way of
presenting some of the mostly highly regarded lamas of the present
and past as similar samsaric human beings as the rest of us, without
all the posh and pomp, probably didn't help. On the other I'd say
that, looking at all the sex, power and abuse scandals happening in
all schools of buddhism to some of the most highly authenticated
teachers* together with all the external signs of dharma turned into
deteriorated religion and the unhealthy hierarchical system of monks
and priests, should make people ask questions(!). Anyway, this is why
I stopped writing on forums (except wearedharma.org which is our own
forum).
It
is worthy to mention that as far as I am aware none of the harsh
criticisers out there have really looked into what the Open Heart
teachings are. I have always welcomed educated criticism but these
people have made up their mind and quite foolishly keep up the
bashing. It has become a bit of a phenomena since it keeps continuing
on it's own. Of course, saying harmful things, even among those who
have the fortune of dharma, is nothing new. If there is something
human beings know, it is how to cause harm. But hey, each to his own
as everyone reaps the crops of one's own actions (karma).
I
am pretty sure that as long as I keep teaching and Open Heart exists
this negative talk keeps happening. For this reason, I wanted to tell
you about it myself, before negative rumours enter into our sangha
from outside. I have heard that such rumours circulate in Finland as
well. For example, I was recently denied to rent a certain buddhist
center for a zen-calligraphy exhibition (I own a notable collection
of buddhist art and calligraphy) because "your activities are
not clear and can be confusing to people who seek a valid spiritual
path". They continue that "If one teaches according to
one's own whims and mixes buddhist and hindu teachings it can be
harmful to peoples mental health".
I
always say that it is the inights and experiences what matter because
they give us confidence of our path but even then Open
Heart-practitioners hearing something strongly negative like this can
cause some confusion. It simply happens to be the case that I do not
have any formal recognitions from any buddhist authorities which is
the main reason why this problem goes on. For some time I tried to
reach to some buddhist lamas but the problem is that they dont want
to give much attention, not to even mention authorisation to anyone
they don't know. They are pretty self-sufficient and don't think it's
their problem that I or OH has no traditional validation.
Jetsunma
Tenzin Palmo and a couple of other lamas who I am friends with have
encouraged me to continue what I do and let those who want to talk,
talk how they wish. On the other hand I wouldn't want people to take
up Open Heart-practices just because I had a formal recognition from
any buddhist authority. I hope, like I always have, that people come
to Open Heart because it makes sense and gives them insights and
experiences. That is the most healthy way to start on the path of
dharma.
Those
who left
As
in all sanghas, also in Open Heart there have been those who have
left the sangha. Some have left in good terms, while some have left
with what seemed to me a bitter taste in their mouth. Even if the
criticism of those who left hasn't seemed lucid thinking to me I have
wished well to all who left.
I
would like to bring up a couple of things that those who left said.
”I
am not buying into the Open Heart Bhumi Model”.
”Opening
bhumis seems like a competition among practitioners”.
”Opening
bhumis is too goal oriented for me. I just want clarity of mind and
compassion”.
”The
teacher rewards those who are successful in their practice, like in
cults”.
A
small number of people (4) who left during 2016-2017 all told me the
first three points. Common to all these people was that for sometime
before they left and expressed their criticism, they didn't regularly
practice Open Heart-teachings anymore. Not practicing, OH-techniques
or something else, of course leads into the mind becoming clouded
with self-based emotions. The same wold happen to me if I stopped
practicing now. In each case I have adressed their concerns through
email correspondence because if I hadn't it might be taken as
self-ingulgence on my part, and yet adressing criticism that as far
as I see it is mainly caused by them not practicing, has felt sheer
waste of my time. One of the reasons I wish to speak about this here,
among sangha members is because when someone in the future wants to
leave and say these same points to me, they already have my answer
and I don't need to go through the whole thing again.
Until
today I have seen perhaps a couple of hundred bhumi openings in
OH-practitioners. Some students have opened few of them, some have
opened all of them. I have also verified over 100 awakenings (opening
of the 1st bhumi) and not once, have I heard that any of
these people had zero positive effect of any of their bhumi openings.
This includes those who eventually left. There has been a small
number of openings (1st or otherwise) that didn't have
that much difference but it always had some change, brought some*
increased clarity of mind. Those who have kept practicing know
perfectly well how great is the difference from having no bhumis open
at all compared to having them all open. So, if someone is not
practicing while ”not buying” into the OHBM, its not really
something anyone can credibly critisize about.
As
I have often said OHBM is a map of insight. Maps of insight are
abound in buddhism. All schools from hinayana to mahayana to
vajrayana have them. OHBM is ours. As said, having first and
following awakenings (bhumi openings) makes us actually shift from
the deluded state to the liberated state, bit by bit. It is a pity if
some see this as a competition between practitioners but that is just
their own projection. I always felt that openings of others are an
encouragement and motivates my own practice. But if I don't practice
while others go through the map of insight and I develop an issue
about it, it's a problem in my mind, not in the minds of others. In
that situation it is faulty to blame the method or the teacher for
it.
Awakenings
(whether first or consecutive) are known in most schools of buddhism
by different names such as kensho, shinjin, semngo tropa and
sotapanna or stream entry. In OH we speak of ”bhumi openings”.
Its all the same, same kind of openings, same kinds of gradual
clarification of the mind. Getting these openings will automatically
make one's mind clear and compassionate because we are tapping into
the natural state, buddhanature, more and more. If you don't practice
and in consequence don't get insights, how will you ever come to know
this?
It
has been the custom in some zen buddhist sanghas for the teacher to
publicly name and congratulate those who have had kensho on a
retreat. I have done the same at our Facebook sangha, naming the
person and congratulating on a bhumi opening in question. I have done
this from 1st to 13th bhumi openings *equally
to all* who have had bhumi openings (unless I have forgotten which I
apologise). It has brought much joy and liveliness into our online
sangha since many people like to congratulate others on their
succesful practice. Having seen this positive effect on many in the
group is the reason why have kept doing it.
I
have always encouraged open discussion on anything. Everyone is also
free to come and go as they please. No one is in any way tied to me
or the group. Everyone is welcome to disagree with me and have their
own opinions. I have also repeatedly discouraged all not to merely
believe what I say but to do your own practice to find out these
things for yourself. For these reasons mentioning ”cults” has no
actual basis whatsoever.
OH
sangha members, as always, please feel free to speak your mind
openly.
Have
a nice day.
Kim
