“Don’t we need discipline and devotion to practice Buddhism? I thought devotion was so important – surely we can’t just be lazy?!” Devotion is of course important, but I am not sure that students really understand what the texts mean when they say devotion. I don’t think that many students today have truly good devotion. Students today are more analytical. They need more analytical, technical introductions and thorough explanations of meditation practices first and then their devotion develops through practice later over time. In the past people had devotion and trust, and very few doubts. Non-conceptual and non-intellectual teachings worked perfectly, but in the present time they don’t work so well anymore. A lot of students put enormous pressure on themselves to demonstrate or prove their devotion. It is worth remembering though that if you have true unwavering devotion then you’re probably already enlightened! In today’s world we are faced with competing claims all the time. Apple and Samsung both say they offer the best, fastest service. Students today expect to be able to assess and examine which one is faster. They expect to be able to see each product upfront, to investigate each company’s claims first before buying the product. We are all suspicious, discerning consumers, that is today’s world. So I think that is yet another reason why more open discussion about the principles and mechanisms involved in Tantric practice is important.
Chenagtsang, Nida. Karmamudra: The Yoga of Bliss: Sexuality in Tibetan Medicine and Buddhism
What Dr. Nida is saying is broadly consonant with what I wrote last week — that trust and devotion are harder for modern practitioners to cultivate, and some of us thus require a more conceptual and intellectual grounding for our practice. It’s heartening that the practices can work even if devotion is not present at first, even if the practices are not secret anymore. Assuming that their potency is lost just because of our Western mindset is nothing more than a limiting belief.