- Are there ‘true’ Buddhist teachings?
Yes, most basic and reliable is the 4 Noble truths. Most Buddhist cults might not have emphasis or even teaches this that’s one way to judge. Also, read the suttas to get more.
- If No.1 exists, will there ever be situations where the deviation is acceptable?
In situations where the current prominent teachers might still be debating about certain interpretations of the suttas. Eg. Is deep Jhanas required for arahanthood or stream winning, or dry insight is enough? Basics like if some people claim that rebirth is not literal at all is not acceptable.
- Are different interpretations regarded as deviations?
Highly context dependent.
- Is cultural assimilation a form of deviation? E.g., mixing Buddhism with Taoism and practising the product of the mixture.
Depends, say Buddhism is the core, and they just have lots of decorations of the yin-yang symbol or some of the members believe in feng shui it’s still sort of ok. But if the main core teachings of that organisation is basically seeking for happiness in this life and the next, with no teachings on how to attain to Nibbana, or to emphasize on how to live until super old instead of exiting samsara. Or to deal with gods, ghosts and the like without emphasising on the morality which leads to good rebirth, or meditation which leads to Brahma realms beyond these, then no, they are using Buddhism as decoration, but their core is not Buddhism.
- Is there transmigration on the effects of karma? E.g. effect of the ancestors’ killing spree on his/her descendants.
Kamma is personal.
- Can a teacher’s behaviour/attitude be judged in the absence of scrutinising his teachings? Would this be an ‘ad hominem’ fallacy? E.g., not wanting to explore the teacher’s teachings based on his arrogant behaviour.
Depends. It’s easy enough to speak on the Dhamma which is correct, but not that easy to behave in accordance to the Dhamma. Which is more inspiring? A person who can only speak good Dhamma or a person who can speak good Dhamma and behave in an inspiring manner, in accordance to the Dhamma? No need to speak about those who’s teachings are not in accordance to the Dhamma.
- Are there Buddhist masters who are able to see the unseen? E.g., a person’s past, present & future, reading minds, spirits, etc.
Yes, it’s part of the 10 mundane right views. Not just Buddhists masters. "There are no mother and father?" "There is nothing given?" A suggestion - #4 by NgXinZhao
- Are all claims of being a manifestation/reincarnation of any Bodhisattva/Budha bogus?
Bodhisattva is more acceptable theoretically, Buddhas cannot be reborn anymore. Anyway, those who are daring enough to make such claims might have hidden agendas of greed for followers, money etc, it’s not easy to discern. Better to follow a humble teacher. If a teacher really wishes to practise Bodhisattva path, can just make aspiration to become a Buddha in the future. To hop onto the fame of existing Mahayana great Bodhisattvas seems like hogging their fame for one’s own (selfish) benefit. Also need to see if the claim is made by them or imposed on them by others. Like Dalai Lama’s case is imposed on him.
- Is it possible to divert one’s merits to another?
No. Dedication of merit is the term. It’s to invite others to rejoice, and in rejoicing that is the merit itself. It’s a mudita practice. Only able to be effective towards the hungry ghost realms.
- Will the deliberate act of doing good deeds rid one of one’s illnesses? (A pretty popular piece of advice by Mahayana practitioners in my country whenever one faces any illness or hardship is to generate more merit by doing good deeds).
MN135 speaks of past kamma:
Take some woman or man who habitually hurts living creatures with a fist, stone, rod, or sword. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they’re reborn in a place of loss … or if they return to the human realm, they’re sickly …
But take some woman or man who does not habitually hurt living creatures with a fist, stone, rod, or sword. Because of undertaking such deeds, after death they’re reborn in a heavenly realm … or if they return to the human realm, they’re healthy …
SN36.21
Some feelings stem from phlegm disorders … wind disorders … their conjunction … change in weather … not taking care of yourself … overexertion … Some feelings are the result of past deeds
Not all illness is due to kamma, seek medical advice, don’t be superstitious, dogmatic. The exact workings of kamma is not conceivable.
- Can we be certain that any hardship/illness that befalls us is due to bad karma?
AN4.77
“Mendicants, these four things are unthinkable. They should not be thought about, and anyone who tries to think about them will go mad or get frustrated. What four?
The results of deeds …
As mentioned above, exact working out of kamma is unthinkable.
- Does chanting mantras generate merit if one doesn’t know the meaning of the mantra and if one knows?
Best is to know what one chants. Or else I feel it’s like meaningless. Chant of metta generates loving kindness, chant of triple gem gives confidence, joy, serenity. It’s part of reflection when chanting. To chant blindly, not knowing the meaning, believing that it results in merits is akin to being superstitious.
- If someone does good deeds because he wants to reap good results, does it make him insincere and thus would not garner merits?
Better to do good out of selfish reasons first, then gradually purify even the motivations, intentions to become for the sake of Nibbana. Rather than trying to wait until intentions are purified before doing merits, then no merit might be done. Merits are still there even with expectations of rewards. Just suffering comes with expectations as well.
- Is the constant self-reminder to do good deeds a form of attachment?
Good attachment. Don’t abandon the raft before crossing over the flood of samsara.
- Are there specific situations when mantras are not to be chanted? (That founder-master says that certain mantras cannot be chanted at specific hours and weather conditions).
Superstitious nonsense, that teaching of him there about this is one of the very obvious clue to most educated Buddhist that that Master L is a cult leader. Ok, fine, don’t chant mantra in library, where one is supposed to be silent, or in a silent meditation retreat outside of the group chanting period.
- Is there an easy way to verify Buddhist claims made by Buddhists from various schools without having to pore through voluminous suttas, lectures and/or books on a specific topic that might be hard to find? Is there a (comprehensive) list of FAQs?
https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/qanda.htm
Suttas are a bit high level for beginners, you can start from the website above, go though the basic Buddhism, self study guide and so on. BuddhaNet's Buddhist Studies: E-Learning Buddhism
Took me many years to be able to be very comfortable with reading the suttas, mostly due to the desire to wish to see the original after so many years of second or third hand information.
Also feel free to search the forum, not just this forum, but also r/Buddhism, etc. Ask in the forums as well.
And there’s lots of good Buddhist societies in Malaysia. Which state are you in? Just google the state name plus buddhist society to get one. Buddhist Gem Fellowship, Fo Guang Shan Malaysia are two of the ones I would recommend off the top of my mind. Go join those Buddhist societies and learn orthodox Buddhism.