Brian Ruhe and Representation

[Brian Ruhe]

I am Brian Ruhe and I just found these posts today, after four months because someone referred to this blog on a comment on my You Tube video, "What is Wrong with Buddhism". MY FIRST RESPONSE TO ALL OF YOU IS: The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about. So thanks for all the attention! Your comments are reasonable. I have taught that lecture for about twelve years. I feel that people have a right to be given a heads up about Buddhist history so that they have some hope of finding out for themselves how and why traditions condradict each other so much. In most of my classes people don't know what I think about this becasue I don't discuss it in a mindfulness meditation course.
Be well, happy and peaceful,
Brian Ruhe
--
Brian Ruhe author of | A Short Walk On An Ancient Path
|and Freeing the Buddha http://www.theravada.ca | [email protected]
youtube.com/user/BrianRuhe c. 778-232-2282 hm. 604-738-8475

[Brian Ruhe]

I have read most of the posts by now, but not all. My response is that people are far more concerned about me, than Buddhism. You are not addressing the central arguements that I make in my "What is Wrong with Buddhism" You Tube video. It is that the very existence of the Buddha's teaching in the future that is being threatened by counterfeit teachings. People can't tell the difference. This issue is far more grave than Brian's Ruhe behavior in the video.

You also misquote Ajahn Sona. He never told me that Mara Made Mahayana. I got that line from a Buddhist Ph.D. student of Professor A. K. Warder at the U of Toronto. And Bandu didn't believe that himself. Ajahn Sona told me, "Many monks believe that." Quite wisely, you notice that he didn't answer the question and he didn't express what he believed. It's obviousluy an important matter but monks DON'T talk about this. I chose to do so for the benefit of others. The Buddha criticized all kinds of people and he certainly criticized wrong view. My suggestion is that you give some thought to truth. What is the truth? It's not enough for you to discuss Brian Ruhe's motivations. What about the true teachigs of the Buddha in the Pali suttas?
May you be well, happy and peaceful,
Brian
--
Brian Ruhe author of | A Short Walk On An Ancient Path
|and Freeing the Buddha http://www.theravada.ca | [email protected]
youtube.com/user/BrianRuhe c. 778-232-2282 hm. 604-738-8475

[fivebells]

It really depends on who you're trying to reach, I guess. From an external perspective, your arguments aren't very convincing. E.g., don't take the Bodhisattva vow because you're vowing to postpone your own enlightenment, and things'll be much better if you achieve that. Better from a traditional Theravadin perspective, maybe, but that's just begging the question.

I mostly agree with your conclusions in the first 20 minutes, though. (I haven't watched beyond that.) I just think your rhetoric is a bit pointless.

[Brian Ruhe]

Hi fivebells, I appreciate that you are the first person on this blog to give me a reply. And I appreciate your post. My intended audience in the classroom is a Theravada Buddhist audience. I made a video of the talk and poasted it on You Tube. That makes it more external, as you say. I can't control who sees it but I feel that history is a message of value for people, to discern differences. Much metta! Brian Ruhe

[Brian Ruhe]

Regarding denigration of Mahayana:

"And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This, monks, is called right speech.

-SN 45.8

Divisive speech is that which aims at provoking disaffection in one person or group towards some other person or group, but only where this proceeds from an unwholesome volition. Therefore not all speech aimed at provoking disaffection is classed as divisive speech, for sometimes it may be prompted by a wholesome volition. An example would be when, out of concern for the listener’s welfare, one warns him about an evil person with whom it would be harmful for him to consort.

Hence the commentarial statement that the near-enemy of non-divisive speech (i.e. the quality easily confused with it) is “lack of concern for another’s welfare” (anatthakāmatā).

And so if Mr. Ruhe and Ven. Soṇa believe the Mahāyāna to have been inspired by Māra, it would be misguided of them to refrain from saying so out of a wish to be non-divisive.

Thank you Venerable Dhammanando!
I agree with what you have stated. Divisive speech is acceptable if one has a wholesome intention, as I did in my video. I feel that people don't care enough to preserve the primacy of the Pali sutras.
Much Metta!
Brian

[Dan74]

I think the trouble with your statements, Brian, are not just that they are divisive, but that they are misinformed.

[Sokehi]

I'm wondering what that fascination for that massmurder Adolf Hitler and anti-jewish propaganda is all about you are showing up there on youtube:

Brian Ruhe

This stirring speech is also on The Greatest Story Never Told, segment 17 at minute 12:43 . Looking back on the Fuehrer's powerful riveting speech, it is prophetic as he really nailed it. He states exactly what our problem is in the world today and he gave direction for a real future which brought the benefit to the people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ7udm9 ... ILBHo4rkXA

Seriously Mr. Ruhe, being raised in germany in a family that has suffered tremendously under the fascist regime you've lost all credibility in my eyes to utter another single word about buddhism. If you think the "Führers" speech is prophetic, you might better rethink where you take refuge in. Out.

[Mkoll]

I'm wondering what that fascination for that massmurder Adolf Hitler and anti-jewish propaganda is all about you are showing up there on youtube:

Brian Ruhe

This stirring speech is also on The Greatest Story Never Told, segment 17 at minute 12:43 . Looking back on the Fuehrer's powerful riveting speech, it is prophetic as he really nailed it. He states exactly what our problem is in the world today and he gave direction for a real future which brought the benefit to the people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ7udm9 ... ILBHo4rkXA

Seriously Mr. Ruhe, being raised in germany in a family that has suffered tremendously under the fascist regime you've lost all credibility in my eyes to utter another single word about buddhism. If you think the "Führers" speech is prophetic, you might better rethink where you take refuge in. Out.

That video is horrifying. I don't understand how anyone who loves harmlessness could like that kind of stuff.

Mr Ruhe,

Do you seriously hold Hitler in high regard? If not, why would you make such a comment?

[Sea Turtle]

I'm wondering if someone is using Mr. Ruhe's YouTube account details to post comments in his name without his knowledge (i.e., impersonation)?

It seems a plausible explanation. I don't know Mr. Ruhe, nor am I familiar with his work, but it seems fair to offer the benefit of the doubt until he is able to respond.

Kind wishes,
Helena


[Edited to add the word "comments" in the first sentence for clarity.]

[DNS]

Where is this video by Brian Ruhe? I clicked that link and there was a video by Sebastian Klimek of only 2 minutes long, nothing about Brian Ruhe.

[Sea Turtle]

It's not Brian Ruhe's video, but he has (supposedly) posted comments about the video below it.

Kind wishes,
Helena

[Aloka]

It also appears to be on his YouTube video playlist:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BrianRuhe



.

[Sokehi]

Where is this video by Brian Ruhe? I clicked that link and there was a video by Sebastian Klimek of only 2 minutes long, nothing about Brian Ruhe.

I became aware of him liking that video and posting this praise or whatever of it underneath it:

Brian Ruhe
vor 1 Tag

This stirring speech is also on The Greatest Story Never Told, segment 17 at minute 12:43 . Looking back on the Fuehrer's powerful riveting speech, it is prophetic as he really nailed it. He states exactly what our problem is in the world today and he gave direction for a real future which brought the benefit to the people.

it's the first comment. Besides that many "Hitler" videos in his like list (which is weired but one could think about it as interest in history, but that obvious praise of a "prophetic Adolf Hitler" is really something insightful), as well as some of David Irving, a if not THE most notorious revisionist who denies that something like the holocaust ever happened

But I'm out of here, it seems very odd to say the least but everyone might see for himself/herself.

[Sea Turtle]

Aloka, I see it cataloged in the playlist now. And another comment by Mr. Ruhe appears under his first:

"It did take many hours of reflection and insight after studying the evidence for years. The truth, the revisionist history which is now easily found on the web has been the biggest surprise for me in recent years. The big insight is that Hitler was not the person we have been told about for the past 70 years. The research work is there for you to do and it is worth it. The rewards of truth are deep and truth is the sweetest reward of all."

At first it was difficult for my mind to compute how this could come from a "Buddhist teacher," but there it is.

[Dan74]

It's very simple folks. The Establishment (controlled by the Bankers) has been taking us all for a ride. Mr Hitler tried to save us from the Bankers, but he lost and history got rewritten by the winners, as always.

Or something along these lines.

These memes are so pernicious precisely because they are simple and appealing, especially to people with certain emotional makeups. Dhamma is unfortunately not going to lead one to liberation from delusion, if delusion is more dear.