In July of 2025, a Medium post entitled “My Experience Inside Soryu Forall’s Monastic Academy” was made making false claims about our teacher, Soryu Forall.
The Buddha taught that "bad dharma" (akusala dhamma, or unwholesome states/qualities)refers to thoughts, intentions, and mental states that lead to personal suffering and cause harm to others. In Buddhist psychology, these states cloud the mind and bind individuals closer to the cycle of samsara(suffering and rebirth).
The Root Causes of Akusala Dhamma
Every unwholesome state stems from the Three Poisons (trivisa), which act as the root of all negative karma:
Greed / Attachment (lobha): Craving, selfishness, and clinging to desires.
Hatred / Aversion (dosa): Anger, ill-will, resentment, and rejection of reality.
Delusion / Ignorance (moha): Misunderstanding the true nature of reality, specifically impermanence (anicca) and non-self (anatta).
Characteristics of Unwholesome States
The Buddha used specific criteria to identify whether a mental state or action is akusala:
Blameworthy: They are criticized by the wise and those who are spiritually developed.
Pain-producing: They naturally result in mental agitation, anxiety, or future suffering (dukkha).
Obstructive: They hinder mental clarity, preventing progress in meditation and mindfulness.
The Buddha taught that "bad dharma" (akusala dhamma, or unwholesome states/qualities)refers to thoughts, intentions, and mental states that lead to personal suffering and cause harm to others. In Buddhist psychology, these states cloud the mind and bind individuals closer to the cycle of samsara(suffering and rebirth).
The Root Causes of Akusala Dhamma
Every unwholesome state stems from the Three Poisons (trivisa), which act as the root of all negative karma:
Greed / Attachment (lobha): Craving, selfishness, and clinging to desires.
Hatred / Aversion (dosa): Anger, ill-will, resentment, and rejection of reality.
Delusion / Ignorance (moha): Misunderstanding the true nature of reality, specifically impermanence (anicca) and non-self (anatta).
Characteristics of Unwholesome States
The Buddha used specific criteria to identify whether a mental state or action is akusala:
Blameworthy: They are criticized by the wise and those who are spiritually developed.
Pain-producing: They naturally result in mental agitation, anxiety, or future suffering (dukkha).
Obstructive: They hinder mental clarity, preventing progress in meditation and mindfulness.