| | This is routinely debated, usually in the context of going on a Goenka retreat and using Mahasi methods, and there are numerous previous threads where people gave their opinions on this.
Here's my take on it, which is just one take, and doesn't come to firm conclusions, but presents some of the sides of the thing so you can make up your own mind.
Obviously, from an insight point of view, in theory and in an ideal world, everyone who is promoting insight values the insights themselves more than rites and rituals, more than methods, more than the traditions that support the development of them, and thus, first and foremost should be the results, however obtained just so no one is getting hurt.
However, there can be some different side effects, questions, problems that people run into, etc. by the various techniques, and thus, if you are using different methods and run into the method-specific problems, you may not have people who can help you out.
That said, plenty of people teaching insight practices don't know enough insight practice for themselves to do that well even for their own methods, so sometimes less of an issue.
Those said, many methods do have some logic and sense behind them, and there is the argument that if you go to a place where they are doing somethings specific and you are in theory going there to learn something from them, you could give their methods a shot and see how they perform. I know plenty of people who got enlightened doing all sorts of things that were not Mahasi-style practice, and you can also.
All those said, I personally got stream entry on a retreat with Christopher Titmuss and crew while using Mahasi methods and using their basic teachings, advice, and example to help support those methods, and I am happy that it all worked out, and I assume they are also. The counterpoint is that some people really are into their methods and techniques and particular tradition more than they are into your experimentation and possibly even progress, so don't assume that holds universally.
Helpful?
Daniel |