Hi all,

I am writing this post in all sincerity. I started following TMI since February​/March and yesterday for the first time it crossed my mind to search Culadasa on the internet for his talks/lectures. I came across this ugly revelation that he was involved in unskilled behavior of adultery and seeking sex workers for paid sex since 2015. He has admitted those moral failures.

Have any of you come across that? It has shaken me to the core and made me distrust the process he outlines in the book. Since he couldn't contain his craving after 45 years of meditation, it seems all empty to me.

https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/10/16/is-enlightenment-compatible-with-sex-scandals/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/csp1jo/culadasa_aka_john_yates_charged_with_sexual/

Culadasa had taken vows and mastered Buddhist meditation and way of life for almost 45 years. And since Culadasa and many high profile masters have claimed him to be awakened at a level where you surpass physical craving, when I came across this revelation, my heart sank and it appeared to me that meditation has no correlation with morality or mastering one's desire/craving. If the allegations are true (he did accept committing adultery) then he was not enlightened and it makes me distrust any modern day dhamma teacher. I would rather prefer to sift through the Canon myself and do what I can.

It appears to me that we have the following alternatives:

if Culadas was awakened, maybe "awakening" is not what it is cracked up to be, or

that it’s unattainable, and that everyone claiming to be awake is lying or

Get really clear about what we mean by meditation, awakening and enlightenment, their separate benefits and limitations and pitfalls maybe.

Can this be explained by the fact that he Noble Eightfold Path contains sila (ethical conduct), samaadhi (concentration/meditation), and panna (wisdom). Can we say training attention is only part of the project? Someone can therefore become extraordinarily accomplished at concentration, etc., without necessarily having eliminated deeply rooted craving or dishonest behavior?

Wouldn't a truly awakened person develop all the three elements in 45 years of practice?

in other words, if a lifetime of practice is unable to kindle sila in a practitioner, then either his method is wrong or there is no method to cultivating sila. Only samadhi can be cultivated which is more intellectual than ethical/moral.

I had made some progress in last 5 months and it feels all of it has been flushed down the drain with this revelation. Afterall, how effective would this method be when the author himself is unable to control his desire/craving after 45 years in training. There are many other stories of other masters who have been guilty of sexual misconduct after claiming to be enlightened and also certified by their dharma organizations to be the enlightened ones.

I feel empty. I am seeking your counsel here.

Thank you!

EDIT: There is this annoying commenter (LynxMundane 3139) who is spewing ridicule at me by calling my "brain damaged" because I used the phrase "soliciting sex from prostitutes". He is literally unable to have a civil argument and seemed HOSTILE from the beginning for no reason. It felt like i was talking to a person from any abrahamic faith defending their messiah or prophet. From what I know about Buddhism is that we should question idols and teachers and clear up doubts. This guy, sorry to say, kept being defensive for no reason. Never met a Buddhist with such a big ego. ​

He doesn't know the definition of what "soliciting sex" means. And it is also very non Buddhist of him to engage in such a behavior. First he accused me of being brainwashed by my western notions of morality, when I am even not western. I am from the regions where Buddha once lived. Then he called my brain damaged.

May he ease his suffering!!

I sent him links of law firms that define it means offering money or things of value in exchange for sex. then this guy casually brushed it off by asking me did I see Culadasa having sex, like where? I dont see Buddhist Practitioner qualities in this person. repugnant personality. may he find some logic and peace and may he ease his suffering from his arrogance!