Crucial Critique

The followers of the four main Buddhist philosophical schools* are seemingly very critical of each other’s views. But it is good to keep in mind that all of these views were taught by the Buddha.

The criticisms are not based on personal preference; they are given as a means to improve the other’s view and practice. The biggest obstacle we must overcome on the path is our mistaken views. And it is when our mistaken views are questioned and refuted that we are able to renounce and move beyond them. We become attached to our view and hold it to be supreme. This makes it very difficult to progress. That view must be shown to be mistaken for our practice to develop.

There is one key point that runs right through all of our Dharma study and practice: we must recognise our faults. After recognizing them, we can find the correct path through introspection, and then our wisdom will bloom.

How can we come to recognise our faults? They must be pointed out to us. We need to be critiqued, or to use more everyday language, “scolded”. A direct introduction to our shortcomings is a very effective method to further our practice.

* The Particularists (Vaibashikas), the Discourse Followers (Sutantrikas), the Mind Only (Chittamatrin) and the Middle Way (Madhyamika).

Excerpt from the teachings on the Seven Points of Mind Training at Hwa Yue Foundation, 2015, Taiwan