Deliberate behavior
deliberate behavior: Unconventional behavior of highly advanced yogins that was often taken to be that of a madman. There were three types: avadhuti (sinful behavior), totally good (nondual behavior), and completely victorious (behavior that makes everyone tremble). These eccentric actions of mad yogins served to enhance their realization, which was also referred to as a state of “sameness” or “equal taste.” Padmasambhava, Virupa, Manjusrimitra, Tsang Nyon Heruka, and Tangtong Gyalpo were all practitioners of deliberate behavior. Their actions, often counter to the precepts of non-tantric Buddhism, required proper motivation and a high level of realization. If they were not performed with pure intent to help living beings by someone lacking in sufficient realization they would result in the practitioner going to the lowest hells. Certain Zen hermit-monks, like the “Tian-tai Trio” and Monk Ji-gong also exhibited similar sorts of eccentric behavior.
See “Emptiness.”
