Do I need a teacher?

naturelover

If I do need a teacher, how do I find one? I live about an hour from Boston, MA.

Thao

Hi, welcome here. I think a teacher is actually very very helpful. First, I would think you need to find out what tradition you are interested in, but you can also visit the Buddhist Centers close to you and find out. And remember to go where you feel comfortable. Google your town or city and also type in buddhist centers. http://www.yelp.com/search?find_loc=Boston%2C+MA&cflt=buddhist_temples Here is a start.

And here is a Tibetan Buddhist Center in Boston: http://drikungboston.org/

But maybe others have better ideas.

Shutoku

I think "needing" a teacher is somewhat tradition dependant.
In some traditions it is considered indispensible. In others it is just strongly recommended.

I think it also depends on what you are looking for. If you just seek hearing wisdom...there are a ton of books and now with the internet you couldn't possible read all the dharma info available. If you are seeking more one on one personal counseling and guidance, that requires some direct contact with a teacher.
There again the internet has changed everything, and it is now possible to interact with teachers on the other side of the world.
Probably nothing beats face to face, but we do have options no generation before did.

My personally feeling about "needing" a teacher is this:
I am a music teacher.
There is no question I can help students learn faster and become better musicians, but not if they don't practice themselves.
If they are keen they certainly can learn without my help as well. It will just go faster and easier with my help than without.

pineblossom

nature lover wrote: »

If I do need a teacher

Yes.

Finding one is another matter. After 10 years of searching I have not found one.

GuyC

As useful as a flesh and blood teacher is (and they are certainly useful) I think the best source is the Suttas. This is the most accurate representation we have of what The Buddha actually taught. I could say something clever sounding like "the Buddha is within, you don't need a teacher" but I think this is only really true for people who are Stream-Enterers, and even to achieve Stream Entry (according to the Suttas) requires that you make friends with wise people and listen to what they have to say. But to find out who the wise ones are, check whether or not what they teach (and practice) is in line with the Suttas.

Also it is worth mentioning that even such people who have attained Stream Entry (even Arahants!) still went to listen to the Buddha's discourses.

So I suppose the short answer is: (In my opinion...) If you want to see the Dhamma, yes, you need a teacher who has himself (or herself) seen the Dhamma.

fivebells

Having a teacher will really accelerate your practice. A teacher can point out the bits you don't want to look at.

RichardH

Having a teacher also means belonging to a practice community that shares your aspirations. That support makes a world of difference. When you practice within a lineage you are walking a well worn, and well lit path. There is far less risk of self deception or losing heart.

BonsaiDoug

GuyC wrote: »

As useful as a flesh and blood teacher is (and they are certainly useful) I think the best source is the Suttas. This is the most accurate representation we have of what The Buddha actually taught.

Most excellent advice. :thumbsup:

RichardH

The three Jewels are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Suttas can't cover Sangha. but ...then Sangha without grounding in Sutta won't do either.

GuyC

You're right Richard, I tried to make the point in my post that both are important:

1) Knowledge of the Suttas (at least the fundamentals, anyway)

2) Living, breathing teachers who live and teach in line with what the Suttas teach

Theoretically if you have no knowledge of the Suttas, but you are fortunate enough to find a good teacher and put your trust in him/her, then that's good enough. But it's a gamble because you could easily put your faith in someone who is not teaching in line with the Dhamma.

This is why I recommend that everyone familiarize themselves with the Suttas, then they know who is a good teacher.

RichardH

I see where you are coming from, and think that people who are practicing in non-Theravadin traditions should also make a point of being grounded in the original Suttas, or at least connect with teachers who are grounded in the suttas.

Palzang

Actually the way to find your teacher is not through studying the sutras or going through directories of Buddhist centers. The way to find a teacher is to make sincere wishing prayers to find a teacher so that you may stop suffering in samsara and achieve enlightenment so that you can liberate all sentient beings from their suffering. If the prayer is sincere, your teacher will appear.

Palzang

GuyC

Perhaps the method you mention, Palzang, may be preferential for Saddhanusari's (Faith followers). The method I mentioned may be preferential for Dhammanusari's (Wisdom followers). But I take the "two types of persons" model as just a rough guide. I don't know if anyone is fully in one boat or the other. Both wisdom and faith are considered to be spiritual faculties, so we should cultivate both.

Jeffrey

Another approach is to start studying with a teacher. Put their teachings into practice. If they bring some degree of liberation from suffering they must be good.

Keep in mind that sutras can be interpreted differently by different people. Definitions of words are different all down the line for instance in the case of the rangtong versus shentong debate.

There could be some bad teachers. Like dead ends. But I think even if you practice 10 years and one path and then switch. Probably you didn't waste that 10 years. You probably developed in some capacity.

But actually it *is* a bit of a gamble. A lot of things like that in life. Choosing a house, school, career, city etc.... Your karma will determine what happens hehe!

RichardH

What Palzang describes seems to be true. There is a sense of great fortune in meeting a true teacher, a sense of destiny. But that also has to do with the aspirant gravitating to those circles. We see what we are looking for, and miss what we are not looking for. Like the saying says... "A thief only sees a saint's pockets" The saint is there anyway.

BonsaiDoug

Richard H wrote: »

The three Jewels are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Suttas can't cover Sangha. but ...then Sangha without grounding in Sutta won't do either.

Totally agree. Irrespective of tradition followed, a connection to the words of The Buddha represent a fundamental base upon which to build one's practice.

Palzang wrote: »

Actually the way to find your teacher is not through studying the sutras or going through directories of Buddhist centers. The way to find a teacher is to make sincere wishing prayers to find a teacher so that you may stop suffering in samsara and achieve enlightenment so that you can liberate all sentient beings from their suffering. If the prayer is sincere, your teacher will appear.

Not certain where I read it, but there is a saying that your teacher will find you. I like your approach.

username_5

nature lover wrote: »

If I do need a teacher, how do I find one? I live about an hour from Boston, MA.

What I have found is that using the internet is one way, but it helps to get to know people who know people too. I was talking with a counselor the other day who knows I have a Buddhist practice. He mentioned a few upcoming retreats he thought I might be interested in (unsolicited) and also mentioned the various sanghas near where he lives (a little under an hour drive for me). What was really nice was that he knew the people involved in each one and knew what their practices were like so he steered me away from one and told me a bit about the teachers and group at the others.

He isn't even Buddhist although he has a meditation practice and is friends with many Buddhists. You just never know what will turn up when people know what you are looking for.

Palzang

Your teacher is only a mirror of your own Buddhanature. Thus if you invoke your Buddhanature, you will create the causes for finding your teacher (your mirror) who will enable you to actually realize that nature.

Palzang

SeaOfTranquility

There is a saying that goes something like -

When the student is ready to learn, a teacher will appear.

We are very fortunate to live in a time when information is so readily available both via the Internet and wonderful books written by very wise teachers.

There is a lesson that speaks of the finger pointing. The finger pointing is not the the object being pointed at. Which to me, in part, means that although proper instruction is important, each of us must do the actual work of awakening ourselves.

I occasionally attend a Buddhist meditation group (Theravada.) Good teacher and it helps my motivation to get together with other like minded people.

Best Wishes on your journey.