10
votes
Accepted
What should you do when someone teaches false Dharma?
You can share with them DN 16's Four Great Referrals:
“Here, monks, a monk might speak like this: ‘I have heard this directly from the Gracious One, friends, directly I learned it: “This is the ...
- 9,707
7
votes
What should you do when someone teaches false Dharma?
From Dogen's Shobogenzo:
Some hear of Anuttara-Samyak-Sam-Bodhi from "good friend", and some hear of it from the sutras. What one hears first is, "Not doing wrong action." If one does not hear “not ...
- 58.3k
7
votes
Are there Bad teachers? Is Mara in the Sanga?
There have always been bad men robed as monks. If we have clear moral discernment, we will avoid them.
There are many evil characters and uncontrolled men wearing the saffron robe. These wicked ...
- 40.5k
6
votes
How to deal with people giving reviews to the teaching?
someone might get caught up in the wrong side of the isle after
reading some person's foolish efforts
There will always be reviews coming from writers who are not comfortable with things like ...
- 25.7k
6
votes
Accepted
Why don't teachers just tell us the answers?
Because the question is supposed to "point directly at your mind" like the finger pointing at the moon. The answer could not do better. In fact, you learn more from trying to solve an apparent ...
- 5,206
6
votes
Accepted
How to find the right Dhamma teacher
At this point I venture to say that the school one picks is largely irrelevant. It's much more about the teacher's ability to connect the map of the teaching with the jungle of your immediate living ...
- 58.3k
6
votes
Accepted
The Oldest Traditional Buddhist Lineage?
Every "official" Chan/Zen master (that is, a master recognized and authorized by an older master) keeps a list of his ancestral teachers going back all the way to the Buddha Shakyamuni. I have such ...
- 58.3k
5
votes
How to find the right Dhamma teacher
I would recommend you to pick the tradition closest to the original teachings of the Buddha and try to find a good teacher within that tradition. Trying many traditions would probably lead you to ...
- 25.7k
5
votes
How to find the right Dhamma teacher
The Dhamma of the Buddha is the right dhamma teacher; as stated in the Pali suttas.
I have set forth the Dhamma without making any distinction of esoteric and exoteric doctrine; there is nothing, ...
- 40.5k
5
votes
What does it mean to find a teacher?
When I say, "find a teacher" I just mean, don't rely on your understanding of books alone. Go to an actual resident Buddhist master of any denomination, like a teaching Theravada bhikkhu or a Zen ...
- 58.3k
5
votes
Finding a Vipassana Teacher in a pandemic
Ven. Yuttadhammo, who was formerly a moderator of Buddhism.SE, heads the Sirimangalo International Meditation Centre in Ontario, Canada. He was a student of Ven. Ajaan Tong Sirimangalo.
He teaches ...
- 37.4k
5
votes
What is the actual status of the Dalai Lama in regard of Dhamma-Vinaya?
The 14th Dalai Lama has no standing in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.
However, in the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist tradition and conforming to the Dharma and Vinaya of Tibetan Buddhism (and in ...
- 37.4k
4
votes
How to find the right Dhamma teacher
The Udayi Sutta (AN 5.159) describes the five qualities in one qualified to teach the Dhamma:
"It's not easy to teach the Dhamma to others, Ananda. The Dhamma
should be taught to others only when ...
- 37.4k
4
votes
Is there any forwarding benefit to ask equal?
It depends on the question.
There are people who understand the canon better than I do and who can help me to read and understand it, so it makes sense to ask that sort of question.
Also there are ...
- 46.3k
4
votes
Are anagamis/arahants common (1000+) nowadays?
In Udana 7.2, Ven. Sariputta (the Arahant) tried to teach Ven. Bhaddiya without realizing that he too was an Arahant.
The Buddha saw this and exclaimed the verse, describing Ven. Bhaddiya:
He has cut ...
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3
votes
Are there buddhists who criticize Eckhart Tolle as it is not really a buddhist teach? If so, what is their critique?
There are also Christians who claim he doesn't teach Christianity very well either. Instead, he draws off sources the general public would typically understand. Eckhart Tolle and his teachings are ...
- 171
3
votes
Are there buddhists who criticize Eckhart Tolle as it is not really a buddhist teach? If so, what is their critique?
If you call something Buddhism it will be attributed to the Buddha and should be inline with the doctrinal system the Buddha taught. If something is not what the Buddha said then it is wrong to miss ...
3
votes
Can humiliation be liberation?
Do you think that pointing out ego fixations publicly serves to free students of their egos?
In general, no. To me, it is cultish behaviour.
What do you think are the advantages, and drawbacks of ...
- 40.5k
3
votes
What is the actual status of the Dalai Lama in regard of Dhamma-Vinaya?
This says that the Dalai Lama is ordained according to the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Bestows Ordination Vows
Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a group of monks full ...
- 46.3k
3
votes
Are anagamis/arahants common (1000+) nowadays?
Silly question. If you spent any time with Buddhists you'd realize they have zero agreement on interpretation of most doctrinal points, including the definitions of the stream-entry, non-return, and ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
Relying upon a Spiritual Guide, who created this idea? Is it actually a necessity for liberation?
It's true that DN 16 says rely on yourself but it doesn't mean you don't need a teacher, just as a student in university relies on his own effort to study for exams, do assignments, projects etc. but ...
- 37.4k
2
votes
What should you do when someone teaches false Dharma?
You should see if the interpretations given are in fact:
In line with the Dhamma as per the Suttas.
Even if they seem to be from the Suttas, see if the interpretation can be put in practice and not ...
2
votes
How can I assess the quality of a local Buddhist group?
how do I assess the quality of a local Buddhist group
See if they adhere to the principles of teaching the Dhamma:
(1) One should teach the Dharma to others,
thinking, “I will talk on the ...
2
votes
Are there any strict Soto Zen teachers online that I could listen to?
Rinsen Sensei of the Buddhist Temple of Toledo has transmission in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. His Dharma talks and Teishos are posted online occasionally, all for free. He is a genuine and reliable ...
- 121
2
votes
Are there any strict Soto Zen teachers online that I could listen to?
Soto Zen Dharma talks: http://livestream.com/SFZC
Shunryū Suzuki
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4867F3D9F795268A
- 7,144
2
votes
How to deal with people giving reviews to the teaching?
Any commentary on the Suttas by anyone is a personal opinion. For example, I personally rarely agree with the commentaries of Piya Tan. Similarly, often other people do not agree with my personal ...
- 40.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible