There is some truth to the image you are presenting, but not the vinaya nor any other aspects of the dhamma are to blame. People make it what it is, and there are very few who are an inspiration. But those that are make up for the others - at least in my experience. The key is to be patient, resilient and relentless in one's pursuit of the goal. Find the dhamma in your own experience.alan wrote:We no longer walk around India. Rules made for a group of monks 2500 years ago do not necessarily apply to our lives, or work for our betterment. Worshipping rules, and following them mindlessly, is slowly strangling Buddhism, and It will kill it eventually. Why? Because no one who has a creative, independent mind will put up with it. Lose those people, and you lose it all.
We need to take a fresh look at how to go about things, friends. Let's start with getting rid of all the accumulated junk.
What does "Buddhism" even mean these days? That is such a broad concept that if one were to attempt to use it the only image it would conjure up is one of a large group of people that can't even agree on what it means to be a "Buddhist". Like you said - strangling. It is a very dangerous thing to attempt to draw inspiration from that. The beauty is buried deep. Always was and always will be.
Just my opinion.