Looking for a teacher

naturelover

Can people help me better understand this center? It's good distance from me and somewhat difficult to get to, but I'm willing to give it a try if people think it's okay.

The Drikung Meditation Center is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation center located in Arlington, Massachusetts (in the metro Boston area) that is dedicated to the practice and study of the Buddha’s teachings as preserved in the Drikung Kagyu lineage. We are a Vajrayana Buddhist center that is a branch of Tibet’s famous Katsel monastery, and are a Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage site featuring an “emanation replica” of the famous Jowo Rinpoche statue in Lhasa, Tibet. U.S. Drikung Jowo Rinpoche is the main feature of this pilgrimage site. For more information on the U.S. Jowo Rinpoche and pilgrimage site, visit Jokhang.org.
We host a variety of great spiritual masters throughout the year and make their teachings available to the greater Boston community. We welcome anyone and everyone to come and join us for the Dharma. We are here to serve the community and to bring the happiness and joy of the Buddhist teachings to everyone who is interested.

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SherabDorje

Where are you more specifically? There may be a center closer.

naturelover

SherabDorje wrote: »

Where are you more specifically? There may be a center closer.

I'm in Mansfield, MA. which might as well be the end of the earth.:eek: Plus I can't drive, vision problems, so it needs to be accessible by public transportation.

SherabDorje

http://www.dharmaweb.org/index.php/Massachusetts

naturelover

Thanks! There's a large group at MIT which would be a little easier to get to. What's Prajnopaya

chanratt

the providence zen center is probably closer. it's not actually in providence...

http://www.providencezen.org/

naturelover

chanratt wrote: »

the providence zen center is probably closer. it's not actually in providence...

http://www.providencezen.org/

Thanks, but it's actually in Cumberland, a long haul from Providence.

ShiftPlusOne

What do the teachers actually do?

RichardH

ShiftPlusOne wrote: »

What do the teachers actually do?

In different Buddhist traditions the teachers have different roles. In Theravada the teachers, usually monastics, are spiritual friends. They give teachings and model awakened behavior. They are also the heart of a community, being the source of legitimacy for most. In Zen the teacher is there to cut through your self serving games, and point at direct awakening. In Vajrayana there is yet a another style of relationship, but someone who practices in that stream could better speak to that. Ideally teachers are well practiced and awake, and teach from there, guiding you on the path, within in a supportive community. The key element when seeking a teacher is his/her conduct. Ethical conduct is the mark of a good teacher. A good teacher wants nothing from you except your commitment to practice, and contributing to the cost of keeping the lights on where you practice together. Any teacher seeking profit or aggrandizement fake, full stop.

ShiftPlusOne

Thanks for explaining Richard. So it's mostly a group thing, but you get personal feedback?

RichardH

ShiftPlusOne wrote: »

Thanks for explaining Richard. So it's mostly a group thing, but you get personal feedback?

The individual relationship with the teacher differs from tradition to tradition. In some it can be intense, spiritually intimate, and even challenging. In others it is more like a respectful friendship with someone who inspires and models.
Some people are in close conact with a teacher, some only see them once in a while just to touch base. The Sangha is a community of people who share the same aspiriation and understanding, so it is supportive in a number of ways. It can also be a very powerful factor in sitting with discipline.

ShiftPlusOne

Thanks again.