Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register
Examples: Monday, today, last week, Mar 26, 3/26/04
Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.

Finding a teacher?

CameranCameran
edited April 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Hey guys so i just had a few questions about this,
I really am interested in finding a teacher but there aren't many temples around here and even if there are how do i know which one to go to?
How will i know he's the right person? Will i be able to live at home and visit him when he needs me to? Or will i have to live there.
In a way i'd kinda feel like i'm running away when i feel my family needs me most...
Anways thanks for your support and i hope to hear from you soon :)

Comments

  • LincLinc Site owner Detroit Moderator
    edited September 2009
    Typically finding a teacher does not involve running away :) Visit whatever temples you can and ask many questions! You do not need to choose a teacher before meeting anyone, and no one is timing you. How far you will go to find a teacher is solely up to you.
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited September 2009
    Hi, Cameran. What's going on with your family, that you feel like finding a teacher would be running away from it?

    There's good advice on criteria for finding a teacher in an early chapter of Wake Up To Your Life.
  • DazzleDazzle
    edited September 2009
    Hi Cameran,

    I agree with what Lincoln and Fivebells have already said.

    Take your time and investigate very carefully if you are looking for a teacher. There's no need to leave your family.


    Kind wishes
  • CameranCameran
    edited September 2009
    Thank you Lincon I've began to see it a bit clearer, i guess i've felt like i've just had to jump into it because I haven't really truly understood the concept yet I know its a great thing and I really do want to persue it but I need to develope a stronger sense of paitence.
    Thank you Five Bells, what does your name mean? :) Heh, i'm going to have to grab that audio cd :) heh, as far as my family goes everything is actually pretty ok we just have our ups and downs, my mom is mormon and it's just hard to break it to her that i'd like to find a teacher but I just don't want to feel like i'm abandoning them in a way? I dunno it's kinda strange.
    Thank you Dazzle :) Ha i love the duck...wish there was one like that walking around my neighborhood haha kind wishes to you too :)
    I haven't really been looking just yet, i guess i'm just being precautious.
  • TheFoundTheFound
    edited September 2009
    i'll be your teacher..



    teachings come from infinite sources.
    The dharma to me is everywhere staring me in the face.
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited September 2009
    Cameran wrote: »
    what does your name mean?

    It's from a poem I like.
    i'm going to have to grab that audio cd

    You could do a lot worse. The author has a bunch of free recordings, too, but the book is more of a comprehensive overview of the method. Full disclosure: I regard the author as my teacher.
    heh, as far as my family goes everything is actually pretty ok we just have our ups and downs, my mom is mormon and it's just hard to break it to her that i'd like to find a teacher but I just don't want to feel like i'm abandoning them in a way?

    Ah, yeah, that's hard. Sorry you're going through that.
    I haven't really been looking just yet, i guess i'm just being precautious.

    No harm in that! Take your time.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited September 2009
    Hello Cameran,

    How will you know if they are the right teacher?

    Look at the stories: the right teacher will be the one who doesn't want to teach you and whom you will have to persist (for years perhaps) in pestering.
  • PalzangPalzang Veteran
    edited September 2009
    You can't find a Buddhist teacher in Utah?! Amazing! Who'd a thunk it... :rolleyes:

    Anyway, Cameran, more important than trying to find a teacher is creating the causes for your teacher to appear in your life. How do you do this? By developing the urgent wish in your mind to be of benefit to all sentient beings without discrimination and to make sincere, heartfelt prayers to that effect. When you can truly accomplish that, you'll find a teacher. Or the teacher will find you...

    Palzang
  • mettafoumettafou Veteran
    edited April 2010
    why shouldn't a good teacher want to teach you?
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited April 2010
    Simonthepilgrim wrote: »
    Hello Cameran,

    How will you know if they are the right teacher?

    Look at the stories: the right teacher will be the one who doesn't want to teach you and whom you will have to persist (for years perhaps) in pestering.

    In general, I'd have to disagree, based on the Suttas it seems that the Buddha would often give people the "going forth" who he hardly even knew. I'd agree though in the case of Maha-Pajapati who seemed to have a hard time ordaining. The Buddha would also wander across India giving discourses to bhikkhu's, bhikkhuni's, followers of other sects and lay people alike without discrimination, teaching with an open hand (not keeping back any "secret" teachings).
  • mettafoumettafou Veteran
    edited April 2010
    Look at the stories: the right teacher will be the one who doesn't want to teach you and whom you will have to persist (for years perhaps) in pestering.
    maybe because these we're secret teachings. why else?
    there was an abbot i almost discounted as a teacher because he acted aloof, like he didn't want to teach me; and i thought it is a teacher's responsibility to want to teach, otherwise they probably don't have anything worth teaching. that might be a silly assumption. he might have read me and knew i wasn't ready to ordain, which is what i wanted. too bad this isn't the old days where angulimala could take robes; and all the other crazy disciples.
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited April 2010
    mettafou wrote: »
    he might have read me and knew i wasn't ready to ordain, which is what i wanted...

    Are you sure there weren't any obvious reasons? If there are no debts to pay off, no ill-health, you haven't killed any arahants or anything like that...why wouldn't they let you ordain?
  • mettafoumettafou Veteran
    edited April 2010
    i never asked because i felt he was psychic, read me and knew i wasn't ready. that was my perception. in effect i knew i wasn't ready, or worthy of that place. he incorporated all my unarticulated thoughts into talks, which was incredible and amusing. i knew i would have to go back one day with more pride, and capacity, and worthiness; or since he was so aloof just find another teacher. i think he knew i was interested, but i was too sloppy, and i had to much doubt; i failed my vows so many times and showed too much guilt. so i feel i had to prove myself better...
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited April 2010
    I hope that your training goes well for you whether you become a bhikkhu or stay as a lay man.
    i failed my vows so many times and showed too much guilt.

    One of the great things about Buddhism is there is no "failing", you make a mistake, you dust yourself off and try again. I think there's a Zen saying "fall down 8 times, get up 9"...so you are always prepared to get back up again. When we give ourselves this level of forgiveness and confidence we don't tend to make as many mistakes anymore.

    Whatever happens give it your best, trust in your own abilities and trust in the Dhamma!

    I hope to ordain one day too. May we both realize Nibbana in this very life!
Sign In or Register to comment.