[Michael John Smith]

Now what's going on:

http://www.buddhistc...index.php?id=70,8222,0,0,1,0

Reading this about Lama Tenzin Osel Rinpoche provides food for thought. What is the reaction of the community?

[tibi]

few more views on and facts about the matter

[caveman]

There are places of learning called monasteries. Some monasteries have walls and some monasteries have no walls.

Osel Rinpoche is now in a monastery with no walls. I hope his studies go well, I hope we all do wish him this.

[Wangmo]

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Osel Rinpoche is now in a monastery with no walls. I hope his studies go well, I hope we all do wish him this.

We can also think why we have such fixed ideas about how Lamas are supposed to behave.
In fact, if we follow our own belief, then a Rinpoche is wise and has a sort of insight we normally don't have, so we can't really estimate his actions. Thus we shouldn't entertain any predefined ideas about what he is (not) supposed to do.

Here are a few words about this:
The Perfect Teachers

[draftsman]

Good afternoon,

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Here are a few words about this:
The Perfect Teachers

Thank you for a great upload .

Although in a way I am now more confused. I understand that we (disciples) are in no position to judge the Teachers or Their ways. But isn't it written also in some sutras (I don't remember which exactly) that it is better (i.e. better karma) to see the Teacher with the "traditional" qualities and outer signs? Or maybe I mixed up.

If I understood correctly, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche seems to be saying that it is all about concepts - in the East they want to see the Teacher in robes, in the West more "human". So, it wouldn't be right to say that young tulkus in the West are "different" also due to the fact that their Western disciples degenerated in their practice or would it ? I.e. the Teachers surely help the best way they can, but are limited in Their actions by the karma of the disciples, right? At the end Tsem Tulku Rinpoche says something like "You can joke about bottom Teachers like me, but not about my Teachers" (I don't remember exactly the words and I cannot replay the video right now), as if implying that He has a specific role as a Teacher and that in general "the traditional way" is supreme.

What do you think?

Best regards,
Draftsman

[Wangmo]

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Although in a way I am now more confused. I understand that we (disciples) are in no position to judge the Teachers or Their ways. But isn't it written also in some sutras (I don't remember which exactly) that it is better (i.e. better karma) to see the Teacher with the "traditional" qualities and outer signs? Or maybe I mixed up.

I am not a specialist, so really can't say what is written. But ... among the nine qualities, it isn't stated how long the hair must be, neither robes/not robes etc.
Have a look: http://www.dharmalin...iritual-teacher

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If I understood correctly, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche seems to be saying that it is all about concepts - in the East they want to see the Teacher in robes, in the West more "human". So, it wouldn't be right to say that young tulkus in the West are "different" also due to the fact that their Western disciples degenerated in their practice or would it ?

If we presume they know what they are doing, then probably they act in the best possible way to help sentient beings. To know why they pick this way, you must have their insight. And it doesn't seem they are acting this way only in the West, as Osel Rinpoche was in Nepal, if I am not mistaken.
Besides, history shows many examples of teachers acting in unconventional ways - it isn't a privilege of the West and of the current time. The difference is maybe that those are "stories" and this is "reality".

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At the end Tsem Tulku Rinpoche says something like "You can joke about bottom Teachers like me, but not about my Teachers" (I don't remember exactly the words and I cannot replay the video right now), as if implying that He has a specific role as a Teacher and that in general "the traditional way" is supreme.

I think he expresses his respect for his own teachers, who in his eyes are much greater than himself. He explains in one video, maybe this one or not, how those old high Lamas, his teachers, have clairvoyance, so for example they know when he is wearing lay clothes, so it makes no sense to hide it from them ... in case people presume he is sometimes wearing lay clothes secretly and his own teachers don't know about it.