Questions tagged [teachers]

Questions regarding general relations and interactions between students and teachers. Also questions regarding specific Buddhist teachers. Teachers can be contemporary or historical.

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Selling and use Dhamma as advertising

It's very common in South East Asia today that business people try to socialize with potential customers by appearing or pretending as Dhamma-teacher or Dhamma-friend. Most meetings around the Gems ...
user24159's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
140 views

Can't find much info on Tsem Rinpoche, was he a genuine lama?

Does anyone know anything about Tsem Rinpoche? I watched a few of his talks on Youtube recently, and found him to be incredibly charismatic.
Bill Sax's user avatar
3 votes
7 answers
552 views

Relying upon a Spiritual Guide, who created this idea? Is it actually a necessity for liberation?

I have a friend who is in/with the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) and she states the importance of relying upon a spiritual guide. I know that this meditation practice is a part of the Tibetan Lamrim ...
Remyla's user avatar
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-1 votes
2 answers
146 views

Finding a Meditation Teacher

I am keen on finding a teacher that is experienced in Samatha meditation. I have come to understand meditation as a skill to be practiced and developed over time. This practice is something I plan to ...
Deck's user avatar
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2 votes
5 answers
221 views

Are anagamis/arahants common (1000+) nowadays?

The question is likely inappropriate here, but I'll try anyway. Hopefully nobody will take offense. Are anagamis/arahants common (1000+) nowadays? "Uncommon" would be, for example, that all ...
Sora's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
375 views

What is the actual status of the Dalai Lama in regard of Dhamma-Vinaya?

Since a Tibetan religious leader is often counted in the West and under modern people (yet actually known just in Tibet and as far as western modern media reach, unknown or not regarded in 95% of the ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
198 views

Is it conventional to use third-person speech when conversing with a monk?

In this comment, Samana Johann wrote, worthy to raise a question on it and it's perfect training to use only 3-person and no calling of names, adressing just proper positions The topic is, using &...
ChrisW's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
60 views

Is there any skillful use of using 'we' in addressing certain opinion?

As possible also observed, when teaching, the address of ones position by 'we' is hardly found in the teaching of the Buddha and his disciples. It seems that this often used way of using 'we' in ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
311 views

Finding a Vipassana Teacher in a pandemic

I have been having questions from time to time about my practise. I do the cushion practise once a day in the morning for half an hour and try to follow the five precepts through the day. A lot of ...
Kalpesh Mange's user avatar
3 votes
6 answers
240 views

The Oldest Traditional Buddhist Lineage?

In Hinduism the traditional master-disciple relationship in the transmission is very important, which means that a student can go and learn from a teacher whose initiatory lineage goes back directly ...
Kalapa's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Are there "safe" practices to follow before meeting one's teacher?

I sincerely want to practice Tibetan Buddhism. It is a tradition which places great emphasis on one's relationship with their teacher. This makes a lot of sense to me. I plan to visit a Karma Kagyu ...
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3 votes
3 answers
246 views

Is it a bad heavy karma to criticize or give up your guru?

"However it is said in the Guhyasamaja Root Tantra:" "If sentient beings commit an action As grave as the five heinous crimes He [still] can attain the superior Vajra Vehicle, But who from within ...
Erik's user avatar
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0 votes
5 answers
139 views

If teacher punishing student is also supposed bad karma?

Either school teacher or Buddhist teacher in monastery, if they would punish their students is also supposed bad karma even if it cause of bad behavior of students?
Swapnil's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
157 views

Are there Bad teachers? Is Mara in the Sanga?

I have had an experience with a top teacher, Regional Assistant Teacher, and Center Manager acting in ways very disturbing to the path. Later I saw clearly that they were controlled by Mara or had ...
Crystal Ship's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
90 views

What to do that wise would not disappear again?

My person, just seeing that you are certain gifted to be, possible not so aware, gifted to have another Noble one around here thought it would be good to be asked an importand question: What needs to ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
185 views

Ex-monk reliable Teacher?

While even most teacher today are ex-monks (someone who rejected the refuge and went back to the lower life), isn't it clear that such a person has own problems with his faith? How could one ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
100 views

Can an answer, while sakayaditthi is present, be intentional free of bias?

Aside of the trap of self-overestimating, theoretical (abhidhamma in action): When one is asked a question and brings his person, his estimate, into play, is it possible to give an answer which is ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
-2 votes
4 answers
99 views

Is there any forwarding benefit to ask equal?

Or is it just to maintain ones home, dwelling, without any fruits toward liberation? Given one is in debt, is it wise to seek advices by those in debts or wouln't it be smarter to ask those having ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
97 views

Who said 'if you haven't started on the Buddhist path then don't start at all'?

I recall a story that goes something like this A Buddhist monk was giving a lecture on Buddhism. At the start he said 'Who hasn't yet started on the Buddhist path?' Half the audience stands. He ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
133 views

Looking for a teacher in Australia

If you live in Australia and can be my teacher please get in touch. I feel I'm at a stage where I need one. Or perhaps you can recommend someone for me?
Arturia's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
287 views

Is finding a teacher necessary to practise dhamma?

Many times I hear people say it's neccessary to have a teacher. I'm a bit lost as how one finds one. I've been to sanghas, talks, retreats but haven't met anyone who ive felt I could approach and ask ...
Arturia's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
284 views

Finding a dharma teacher

I am examining ways of going further on my dharma road. At this point i am entirely self taught, for better and worse. I strongly believe that from here, some form of guidance from a more experienced ...
user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
189 views

Who was Ming Peu?

This print was my father’s. He wrote on the back ‘Ming-Peu 13th century priest’. Who was Ming Peu? I don’t think ‘Peu’ is either pinyin or Wade-Giles. He appears to be wearing Japanese dress. The ...
Johanna's user avatar
  • 31
0 votes
3 answers
184 views

How can I find a teacher who is a stream entrant?

How can I find a teacher who is a stream entrant? Any suggestions? Recommendations?
Angus's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
143 views

What does it mean to find a teacher?

I have seen people beeing adviced to find a teacher countless time. I am interessed in the practicalities of finding a teacher, since I live in France and I have never met any buddhist in my entire ...
abernard's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
2k views

Meditation, sleep paralysis, spinal vibration

I have meditated off and on since childhood, before I knew what it was, and since my 30s I have been interested in the spiritual concepts of Buddhism. I had an experience in 2010 wherein I awoke from ...
V Beth's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
1 answer
245 views

Why did Tsongkhapa list guru devotion first in his Lamrim while Atisha did not?

Lama Atisha famously brought the teachings of Nalanda back to Tibet and authored his famous, A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment upon which the new translation schools were founded. This seminal text ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
333 views

Can humiliation be liberation?

Do you think that pointing out ego fixations publically serves to free students of their egos? What do you think are the advantages, and drawbacks of this teaching method? Why do you think it works or ...
Laura Karlinsey's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
191 views

Would Siddhartha Gautama have agreed with modern forms of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Gautama accepted as its close disciples some secular. They had the same chance to gain enlightenment, without practicing rituals, and without believing in everything he said or did. ...
dh4rm4's user avatar
  • 31
1 vote
4 answers
145 views

How comes that praising oneself and blame others is unskillful but the teacher of it does?

Coming from a closed, probably ill-intended and insulting question, or not, but anyway it's root is actually good to investigate: How comes that praising oneself is unskillful but the teacher of it ...
user avatar
4 votes
8 answers
180 views

Would a wise and compassionate person advice one to figue things out by oneself?

If actually knowing the way to liberation, would one with ability to teach or knowing where to get taught, send another out to find out for one self? If someone is doing so, send you into the dessert,...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
73 views

Sutta on the two kinds of (debt) giver, people of guṇā?

Thinking about the two kinds of goodness in giving, and about debt when we receive a gift (guṇā), my person just thought to ask if there is a Sutta which points the different kinds of debt to those ...
user avatar
9 votes
7 answers
718 views

How to find the right Dhamma teacher

The practice of Buddhism, as with any other spiritual development, largely relies on the guidance of a good master. With the large variety of traditions and practices out there, how should one go ...
Sati's user avatar
  • 337
1 vote
1 answer
131 views

my meditation practice question

Would like to ask if my method of meditation(Mahasi method rising-falling) is correct. When some feeling arise in me, most of the time, i can noting the feeling was somewhere in the body( example: ...
user11602's user avatar
3 votes
8 answers
401 views

Why don't teachers just tell us the answers?

'Those who speak don't know, those who know don't speak.' (Zen aphorism) Lots of posts on SE Buddhism seem to hover around the question 'what is your original face', or 'what is Buddha' etc. It ...
user avatar
0 votes
5 answers
2k views

Have any notable Buddhists commented on Krishnamurti's teachings? [closed]

Have any important Buddhists made any claim/s about Krishnamurti's teachings? Especially (caveat I know nothing about this) his claim that "Tell them there is nothing to understand" Bold emphasis ...
user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
54 views

In Buddhism can all we percieve / experience b used as teachers?

...I have been working on this one question for a while so can everything we experience in life internally and externally be used as our teachers from a Buddhist point of view?examples.. Anger = ...
user avatar
3 votes
9 answers
1k views

Ajahn Brahm versus others

I am practicing samadhi meditation using the breath as an object. Most teachers say to watch the breath at the tip of the nose. However, Ajahn Brahm says not to locate the breath anywhere. I find ...
Wolfie's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
5 answers
4k views

Are there buddhists who criticize Eckhart Tolle as it is not really a buddhist teach? If so, what is their critique?

Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual teacher who is influenced by Christianity and Buddhism etc. Now he says that there are Buddhists who claim that his teachings are not really Buddhist. But in what way are ...
Marijn 's user avatar
  • 803
6 votes
2 answers
251 views

Are there any strict Soto Zen teachers online that I could listen to?

Recently, I have become interested in Soto Zen. I would like to go to a Soto Zen center, but I live to far away from one. This leaves me with the option for listening to online talks. Are there any ...
Soto's user avatar
  • 61
1 vote
7 answers
184 views

How to deal with people giving reviews to the teaching?

I recently asked a question here and like always some good friends helped me, Their references were right on point and they referred the correct Sutras and i'm forever thankful for that. But when i ...
Theravada's user avatar
  • 3,953
3 votes
2 answers
109 views

In Depth Study of today's Dharma Teachers teachings

Does anyone know of any site on the internet (or elsewhere) that studies profoundly and carefully, the works of Dharma teachers? Like Mahasi Sayadaw,or Ajahn Chah, or any Dharma teacher for that ...
Lowbrow's user avatar
  • 7,133
6 votes
8 answers
890 views

What should you do when someone teaches false Dharma?

I was part of a religious group that claimed to be everything that the Buddha teaches. But, when you listen to their teachings, you can tell discrepancies between their teachings and Buddhist ...
Reid 's user avatar
  • 321
6 votes
1 answer
93 views

Which traditions have gurus?

On the site I often read posts referencing gurus. My Buddhist group (Triratna) doesn't really have a concept of gurus - certainly no-one uses the term. Which traditions have gurus? I most associate it ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
197 views

Did the Buddha work with teachers from other spiritual traditions?

Within the Pali canon the Buddha often vigorously debates with Brahmin priests. However in the Buddha's time there were a lot of other spiritual traditions too. Did the Buddha have more cordial ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
  • 21.1k
5 votes
2 answers
451 views

Any advice for beginners about Vipassana traditions?

There are many Theravada Vipassana traditions according to this wikipedia page and more according to this answer. My questions are: Are any, or all, of these traditions suited to beginners? And why? ...
4 votes
2 answers
181 views

How do buddhist monks who are teachers have time for their own practice?

For a while now i have been wondering about how buddhist monks have time for their own practice. When i see buddhist monks like Ven. Yuttadhammo, Ajahn Brahm and Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi who contribute so ...
user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
576 views

What is the appropriate use for the term bhante?

I've noticed on the site that quite a few people address Yuttadhammo as bhante. I'm aware that this means teacher. However in my sangha (Triratna Buddhist Community) the term is used differently. ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
5k views

What are Bhavanga and Javana?

Will someone explain Bhavanga and Javana in simple way? At times, they seem non-comprehensible.
NEERU's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
639 views

Did the Buddha ever 'thunder' during a Fire Sermon?

If I recall correctly, I once read (in a book which I no longer have) that: The Fire Sermon happened (soon) after the Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion The Buddha spoke it to a believer/theorist/...
ChrisW's user avatar
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