He has not specifically taught Dzogchen no, but he has styled himself a teacher of Vipaysana, IIRC he even has a guided meditation CD out there somehwere.michaelb wrote:No, he's saying to read the teachings about possible hidden faults and examine whether you have these faults rather than use the teachings to point out and discuss the faults of others.TharpaChodron wrote: Is not Patrul Rinpoche saying that by discussing others faults it is an opportunity for you to examine your own?
...so, then let's talk.
I personally see a good reason to examine and check the qualities of prospective teachers. Sharing information about bad teachers on a board like this can help unsuspecting people falling into bad situations. But, as I have said repeatedly, Sam Harris is not a dzogchen teacher and does not pretend to be a dzogchen teacher. Sniping at him serves no function other than to increase the ill-will in the world.
And I actually liked his book and think it could be a useful starting point for people interested in meditation.
As as student of TUR i'm sure he well knows he's not authorized to teach Dzogchen. I think it's silly to claim people are fixating on the faults of others by examining a public figure, and one who is outspoken in his own views no less. It would be one thing if we are essentializing him into a one thing or another, but all I am doing is criticizing his shotty writing and his existence as public intellectual.
This issue with how SH talks about Dzogchen is that he presents it as simply a "technique" that one can acquire..which pretty wrecks the whole project. His fans carry on this incorrect suggestion and seek around for "secular" Dzogchen or Vajrayana practice, which is a nonsensical category. So the way he is presenting these things has a direct bearing on his fans.