Did Buddha ever get bored/tired of teaching Dharma ?

zidangus

Ok, so it is thought that the Buddha taught the Dharma from the age of 35 to 80 years old. So I am wondering if he ever got tired of teaching the same things over and over again for so long. I think he might have, after all he would have been repeating the same things over and over again to different people, so I think its highly likely that he could have at times became tired of doing this. Well that's what I think anyway.


With Metta

Dakini

If he were capable of boredom, he wouldn't be the Buddha, the Enlightened One, would he? I imagine that his strong sense of compassion, his drive to end suffering for humanity, would keep him motivated. And each group, even each individual student, is different in their questions, their needs, their personality, providing the teacher with plenty of variety.

zidangus

Yes, but reading the sutras Buddha did seems to exhibit emotions, so saying he wouldn't be the Buddha the Enlightened One does not really cut it for me. I agree about the strong sense of compassion would keep him motivated tough, but I just think sometimes he would have been tired of teaching and needed a break.


With Metta

Dazzle

Hi zidangus,

I doubt that a fully realised being would find teaching unsatisfactory. Even an ordinary scholteacher has to repeat what they teach year after year and often with more than one class at a time - because that's the nature of the work.

However, my view is what's the point in speculating? We could just as well wonder if the Buddha ever had beans on toast for lunch !

with kind wishes,

D.

Dakini

And we could just as well dismiss half the topics on this board, because there's no use speculating, or they're not relevant to our practice. :rolleyes: This is a Buddhist board, this is what it's for.

I wasn't aware that the Buddha exhibits emotions in his teachings. Reading the suttras in now on my "to do" list.

Talisman

In "Becoming Enlightened" by the Dalai Lama, he talks about how one of the requisites for being a good teacher is having patience in order to repeat yourself to new and returning students the proper instructions necessary for aiding them based upon their skill level, personality, and goals. All teachers, no matter what they teach, have to repeat themselves on a daily basis. It is part being a teacher. The Buddha, being the grandest of all teachers, has perfected the virtue of patience. He has already defeated the hindrances included "restlessness" or boredom.

Dazzle

And we could just as well dismiss half the topics on this board, because there's no use speculating, or they're not relevant to our practice. :rolleyes: This is a Buddhist board, this is what it's for.

Speculating about something we can't possibly have the answer to isn't learning about Buddhism so please don't attempt to bully me, Dakini. You're not in charge of the forum.

genkaku

Zidangus -- Since it is not possible to do the same thing over and over again, I doubt if there were much room for boredom. Each moment is fresh, isn't it? And so, although we may repeat something over and over again, and although it may be called "the same," still, it is new each time.

zidangus

Hi zidangus,

I doubt that a fully realised being would find teaching unsatisfactory. Even an ordinary scholteacher has to repeat what they teach year after year and often with more than one class at a time - because that's the nature of the work.

However, my view is what's the point in speculating? We could just as well wonder if the Buddha ever had beans on toast for lunch !

with kind wishes,

D.

Yes and I am sure most ordinary school teachers sometimes get bored and tired of teaching the same stuff year in and year out.

Your right about speculating, but it is interesting to see if people think that the Buddha could actually experience boredom or become tired, I think he could, but maybe others think that he couldn't since he was enlightened. Ultimately I guess its what each of us think Buddha or any enlightened being is. I see enlightenment as knowledge, understanding, wisdom and a direct connection with the universe something beyond these words, but even tough the Buddha had this knowledge , understanding, wisdom and connection, I still think that he experienced emotions and even boredom sometimes.


With Metta

Dazzle

I'm also entitled to express an opinion just like everyone else here.

.

zidangus

And we could just as well dismiss half the topics on this board, because there's no use speculating, or they're not relevant to our practice. :rolleyes: This is a Buddhist board, this is what it's for.

I wasn't aware that the Buddha exhibits emotions in his teachings. Reading the suttras in now on my "to do" list.

I was reading this talking about Buddha's emotions


http://www.blia.org/english/publications/booklet/pages/08.htm

With Metta

Dakini

The board isn't just for learning about Buddhism. It's for discussing anything Buddhism-related, and for discussing completely unrelated topics as well (Current Events, General Banter). Let's be respectful of people's topic choices.

Dazzle

Hi zidangus,

I doubt that a fully realised being would find teaching unsatisfactory. Even an ordinary scholteacher has to repeat what they teach year after year and often with more than one class at a time - because that's the nature of the work.

However, my view is what's the point in speculating? We could just as well wonder if the Buddha ever had beans on toast for lunch !

with kind wishes,

D.

Yes and I am sure most ordinary school teachers sometimes get bored and tired of teaching the same stuff year in and year out.

Your right about speculating, but it is interesting to see if people think that the Buddha could actually experience boredom or become tired, I think he could, but maybe others think that he couldn't since he was enlightened. Ultimately I guess its what each of us think Buddha or any enlightened being is. I see enlightenment as knowledge, understanding, wisdom and a direct connection with the universe something beyond these words, but even tough the Buddha had this knowledge , understanding, wisdom and connection, I still think that he experienced emotions and even boredom sometimes.


With Metta

Well I'm a schoolteacher myself, and no, its never been boring to teach the same thing to different classes. One can find fresh ways of presenting them to make them more interesting rather than seeing the activity as a chore!

Dazzle

The board isn't just for learning about Buddhism. It's for discussing anything Buddhism-related, and for discussing completely unrelated topics as well (Current Events, General Banter). Let's be respectful of people's topic choices.

Dakini, as I said before, I'm entitled to express my opinion. Expressing a viewpoint doesn't mean I'm disrespecting anyone OK ?

zidangus

Hi zidangus,

I doubt that a fully realised being would find teaching unsatisfactory. Even an ordinary scholteacher has to repeat what they teach year after year and often with more than one class at a time - because that's the nature of the work.

However, my view is what's the point in speculating? We could just as well wonder if the Buddha ever had beans on toast for lunch !

with kind wishes,

D.

Yes and I am sure most ordinary school teachers sometimes get bored and tired of teaching the same stuff year in and year out.

Your right about speculating, but it is interesting to see if people think that the Buddha could actually experience boredom or become tired, I think he could, but maybe others think that he couldn't since he was enlightened. Ultimately I guess its what each of us think Buddha or any enlightened being is. I see enlightenment as knowledge, understanding, wisdom and a direct connection with the universe something beyond these words, but even tough the Buddha had this knowledge , understanding, wisdom and connection, I still think that he experienced emotions and even boredom sometimes.


With Metta

Well I'm a schoolteacher myself, and no, its never been boring to teach the same thing to different classes. One can find fresh ways of presenting them to make them more interesting rather than seeing the activity as a chore!

Well hats of to you I would have liked to have been a student in your class, as my teachers were not like this at all.


With Metta

Dazzle

Thank you for your kind words, zindangus.

with kind thoughts,

D.

fivebells

A properly educated person doesn't get bored, and it would be puerile to make decisions on the basis of such an emotional reaction.

zidangus

A properly educated person doesn't get bored, and it would be puerile to make decisions on the basis of such an emotional reaction.

Yes only uneducated people get bored, emm hold on that does not sound logical to me, I guess its because I'm uneducated :thumbsup:



:coffee:

fivebells

Keep sitting and you'lll see.

SherabDorje

I notice this is in Buddhism for Beginners rather than General Banter or Members-Only.

Just saying.

fivebells

I take it you disapprove, but I'm afraid I don't see the problem yet. Could you elaborate, please?

NOTaGangsta

No, you don't reach Buddhahood by being bored.

Dakini

I take it you disapprove, but I'm afraid I don't see the problem yet. Could you elaborate, please?

Ditto, but I got a message from a mod once, that hypothetical situations like this ("speculative" topics) are supposed to go under Gen'l Banter.

Tikal2012

No the Buddha did not get tired of teaching the Dhamma. At first he was reluctant to teach it because he felt that no body would understand it, but after being persuaded by a deva to teach he accepted and went out to find the first five dsciples of which included Sariputta. There at deer park he gave the first discourse which was the expounding of the four noble truths. After that it pretty much went from there. I'm sure he enjoyed himself.

person

No the Buddha did not get tired of teaching the Dhamma. At first he was reluctant to teach it because he felt that no body would understand it, but after being persuaded by a deva to teach he accepted and went out to find the first five dsciples of which included Sariputta. There at deer park he gave the first discourse which was the expounding of the four noble truths. After that it pretty much went from there. I'm sure he enjoyed himself.

I'm pretty sure Sariputra wasn't one of the first 5 disciples. They were Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji.

Here's a short bio of Sariputra's early life when he met Assaji:

As mentioned earlier, Sariputra was born into a noble Brahman family in Magadha (southern India). He was a very bright and intelligent child, being able to fathom and memorize all the books he had read. During a banquet, he impressed a king so much that the king awarded a village to eight-year-old Sariputra.

At the age of 20, Sariputra left his home in search of the Truth of Life. He studied under a scholar and became best friends with Mogallana (known also as Maudgalyayana in Sanskrit). Both were extremely smart and knowledgeable and after a while, they left their teacher for they felt that there was nothing more he could teach them.

One day while walking on the street, Sariputra met Assaji. Assaji was one of Gautama Buddha’s first 5 disciples. Sariputra, who was very much impressed by Assaji’s calm and dignified demeanor approached the venerable and respectfully inquired his name and the name of his teacher.

Assaji told Sariputra his name and that of his teacher, Gautama Buddha. He also describe a little of the Buddha’s Teaching, which filled Sariputra with delight. He went home excitedly and told Mogallana the incident. Mogallana was so happy to know that they have found a worthy teacher at last that he shed tears of joy. The following day they gathered all their students (about 200 of them) and went to the Venuvana (bamboo) grove, where they became Buddha’s disciples.

BuckyG

"Even the Buddha was subject to physical suffering; at times he declined to give a Dharma talk because of pain in his back" (Gil Fronsdal, "The Issue At Hand, Ch. 1, The Four Noble Truths: http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/the-issue-at-hand/en/2/)

aMatt

Boredom is a mental affliction, dissatisfaction. There was nothing present in his mind that would underpin such a response. I'm sure his body and mind got tired, that is physiological.

federica

Keep bickering off threads, and if necessary, PM a Mod., or if the problem is severe, flag the comment.
Dakini, if you're referring to me sending you a PM, you may recall that I was in that specific case, referring to "Buddhism and World religions", not this thread.
The Buddha did point out the topics which were vexatious and would lead to madness.
Anything else, I guess comes under whiling away the time with no particular aim....
Whether the discussion becomes fruitful or not is for you to decide.
But I agree this comes under "general banter".
For my part, I don't believe he could have got bored with it, ever.