(Speaking Tree paper, Sun, 08.09.2013)
Ordinary people like us are easily influenced by phenomena around us. We tend to get distracted and at times fall prey to such attractions and distractions which have every possibility in them to lead us to suffering. However, if the purpose of life itself is happiness, then we need to do some kind of course correction in order not to fall prey. This thought leads us to following a spiritual teacher. No sutra, tantra or shastra speaks of any being ever attaining perfect Buddhahood without following a spiritual friend, guru or teacher; much the same way as no one can explore a difficult terrain without the help of an experienced navigator or guide.
In these degenerate times, the question which begs us is: What then are the qualities of a teacher and how should one follow him/her?
The list of qualities can be very long as explained in the Abhidharma covering external (pratimoksha), internal (bodhisattva) and secret (secret mantrayana) vows. It would also include deep insights of the teachings and wisdom of one’s master, knowledge of rituals, actualization of extraordinary achievements by putting into practice the teachings s/he has received, by being generous, teaching according to the individual’s needs, acting in conformity with what s/he teaches and by being of pleasant disposition. This list can really go on and on if we were to list down each and every quality.
During his stay with us earlier this year, when i posed this question to my teacher, Khenpo Sonam, asking him to bring it down to just one single quality, he answered: “That single quality of a worthy teacher would be compassion; which among many other things means that he would never consider exploitation or taking undue or unfair advantage of his student as a possibility.”
This singular aspect comes into sharp focus given the turn of events today. Just as the responsibility is upon the teacher to examine his student, the responsibility also rests with the student to examine the teacher.
Guru Padmasambhava, 8th century CE, says: Not to examine the teacher is like drinking poison; Not to examine the disciple is like leaping from a cliff.
Buddhist teachings are also very clear on the types of teachers one should avoid. They are classified as:
Teachers like a millstone made of wood: These teachers have no trace of qualities arising from study, reflection and meditation but some kind of false belief of belonging to a particular lineage gives them the feeling of being superior to others. Like a millstone made of wood, they are really ineffective in fulfilling their function.
Teachers like the frog that lived in a well: These teachers have no special qualities different from ordinary people. They get to that position by being puffed up by followers who have put him on that pedestal out of blind faith and without examining them. This teacher is himself unaware of the great qualities of a real teacher. Just as the frog came out of the well and saw the ocean, he fainted seeing the sheer expanse of the ocean as compared to his own tiny well.
Mad guides: These teachers have themselves very little knowledge having never followed a teacher themselves nor having learnt the sutras and tantras nor practicing the teachings with diligence. Their strong negative emotions and weak mindfulness make them poor in upholding their samayas (vows)
Blind guides: Teachers who qualities are in no way superior to ours and the one who lacks the vast compassion of bodhichitta (heart of the enlightened mind) will never be able to open other’s eyes to what should and should not be done.
It is therefore said in the teachings that while we must follow a true and accomplished teacher with respect, there are three ways to follow him/her. “In the beginning skilfully examine the teacher; in the middle skilfully follow him and in the end skilfully emulate his actions and realizations. A disciple who does this is on the authentic path.” Dharma teachings further advice us so: “Just as the trunk of an ordinary tree lying on the sandalwood forest floor absorbs the perfume of the sandal; so you come to resemble whomever you follow”.
Tread with great caution, practitioners!
Ordinary people like us are easily influenced by phenomena around us. We tend to get distracted and at times fall prey to such attractions and distractions which have every possibility in them to lead us to suffering. However, if the purpose of life itself is happiness, then we need to do some kind of course correction in order not to fall prey. This thought leads us to following a spiritual teacher. No sutra, tantra or shastra speaks of any being ever attaining perfect Buddhahood without following a spiritual friend, guru or teacher; much the same way as no one can explore a difficult terrain without the help of an experienced navigator or guide.
In these degenerate times, the question which begs us is: What then are the qualities of a teacher and how should one follow him/her?
The list of qualities can be very long as explained in the Abhidharma covering external (pratimoksha), internal (bodhisattva) and secret (secret mantrayana) vows. It would also include deep insights of the teachings and wisdom of one’s master, knowledge of rituals, actualization of extraordinary achievements by putting into practice the teachings s/he has received, by being generous, teaching according to the individual’s needs, acting in conformity with what s/he teaches and by being of pleasant disposition. This list can really go on and on if we were to list down each and every quality.
During his stay with us earlier this year, when i posed this question to my teacher, Khenpo Sonam, asking him to bring it down to just one single quality, he answered: “That single quality of a worthy teacher would be compassion; which among many other things means that he would never consider exploitation or taking undue or unfair advantage of his student as a possibility.”
This singular aspect comes into sharp focus given the turn of events today. Just as the responsibility is upon the teacher to examine his student, the responsibility also rests with the student to examine the teacher.
Guru Padmasambhava, 8th century CE, says: Not to examine the teacher is like drinking poison; Not to examine the disciple is like leaping from a cliff.
Buddhist teachings are also very clear on the types of teachers one should avoid. They are classified as:
Teachers like a millstone made of wood: These teachers have no trace of qualities arising from study, reflection and meditation but some kind of false belief of belonging to a particular lineage gives them the feeling of being superior to others. Like a millstone made of wood, they are really ineffective in fulfilling their function.
Teachers like the frog that lived in a well: These teachers have no special qualities different from ordinary people. They get to that position by being puffed up by followers who have put him on that pedestal out of blind faith and without examining them. This teacher is himself unaware of the great qualities of a real teacher. Just as the frog came out of the well and saw the ocean, he fainted seeing the sheer expanse of the ocean as compared to his own tiny well.
Mad guides: These teachers have themselves very little knowledge having never followed a teacher themselves nor having learnt the sutras and tantras nor practicing the teachings with diligence. Their strong negative emotions and weak mindfulness make them poor in upholding their samayas (vows)
Blind guides: Teachers who qualities are in no way superior to ours and the one who lacks the vast compassion of bodhichitta (heart of the enlightened mind) will never be able to open other’s eyes to what should and should not be done.
It is therefore said in the teachings that while we must follow a true and accomplished teacher with respect, there are three ways to follow him/her. “In the beginning skilfully examine the teacher; in the middle skilfully follow him and in the end skilfully emulate his actions and realizations. A disciple who does this is on the authentic path.” Dharma teachings further advice us so: “Just as the trunk of an ordinary tree lying on the sandalwood forest floor absorbs the perfume of the sandal; so you come to resemble whomever you follow”.
Tread with great caution, practitioners!
