Bhakti Yoga And Social Media
What do they have in common?
Devotion leading to addiction.
Bhakti yoga is devotion to a teacher rather than to the teaching, although the guru uses the teachings to maintain the student/teacher relationship. Guru worship or personality worship is promoted, even in Buddhism.
Both bhakti yoga and social media are like circuses with ring masters, performers and a captive audience in an exotic auditorium.
True devotion is a deep appreciation for absolute truth, rather than for the messengers. This is the reason for this blog, so that you know what you are looking for – that you are what you seek – rather than being part of the parade.
Parade: mid 17th century: from French, literally ‘a showing’.
The Buddha said,
“Do not take my word for the truth … test it for yourself.”
Devotion and social media are both pretty juvenile.
Absolute truth has nothing to do with the way we look.
It is about looking, seeing and dropping
– letting go of appearances which are the residue in the mind.
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 
Hello Tony
Funny you should have brought this topic up today as I have just received this circular newsletter (posted below) from a local Nyingma Buddhist centre; it has a feeling of bhakti yoga in its devotional focus on one particular individual. For me, that goes against the idea that Buddhism is a the idea that Buddhism is an egalitarian and rational philosophy.
Do we want knowledge and wisdom, or merely a feeling of bliss, trust and adoration? And what of those who genuinely cannot gush like this? I spent years caught up in such a system, and can no longer function like that. I could be overly sensitive but I find all this obsequiousness quite aggressive …
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
Kathie
Greetings!
This year has been so very special here at +++… apart from one thing! Our precious Lama +++ has, in the main, been absent from +++ and we have all missed him very much. This year Lama has been undertaking extremely important duties as an attendant monk for +++ +++ Rinpoche during Rinpoche’s extensive teaching travels.
However, Rinpoche has still encouraged Lama to visit us during his breaks and we continue to be optimistic that Lama will be here in September and October!
Don’t waste this precious opportunity! If you have a myriad of Dharma questions, (or you have just missed Lama) why not consider attending over two weekends leaving the weekdays free to attend practice and informal teachings with Lama? It is such a precious opportunity!
Religion is taught.
Consciousness is discovered.
This is all about form and essence. Some people … most people … become stuck on the form and ignore essence.
They may talk and chant about essence … gone , gone gone beyond … but their conduct is threatening.
Tony
Thanks for the reply, Tony. It’s a relief to know there is someone out there who can empathise. I always felt like the bad guy when I couldn’t join in with all the sycophantic behaviour … Kathie
it is interesting how we easily fall into these attitudes.
Tony