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Lay Teachers vs Monastic Teachers
BhikkhuJayasara
Bhikkhu Veteran
So I wanted to bring up a topic because of my own qualms about it. That is the difference between a lay dhamma teacher and a monastic as a dhamma teacher. Coming from Theravada there are very very few lay dhamma teachers where as in the Mahayana and Tibetan there seems to be many and lay people seem to be more "accepted" as dhamma teachers.
I personally see this feeling in myself of " oh he is a lay person " so I kind of judge this person and don't put forth much effort to listen to a lay person as opposed to a monastic. I have very high respect for monastics in this way.
The irony of the situation is that I technically AM a theravadan lay teacher.. which I think is why I very much minimize the small role I do have and I always make sure to tell people "I'm not a monk or a master or a guru". The teaching thing just sort of happened and I had thoughts about the validity and the "rightness" of it until i was set straight by both a theravadan monk(Ven Yuttadhammo) and a zen lay reverend whom I brought my concerns to. They taught me that all people, even monastics, can learn dhamma from everyone of every age.
I still have that bias though.. and I'm trying to work on it.. even the buddha says that a robe and a shaved head do not make a bhikkhu. I even read a book recently " The Buddha goes into a bar" by a lay Lodro. It's a process..
so what is everyones feelings and thoughts regarding learning from monks and lay teachers.
I personally see this feeling in myself of " oh he is a lay person " so I kind of judge this person and don't put forth much effort to listen to a lay person as opposed to a monastic. I have very high respect for monastics in this way.
The irony of the situation is that I technically AM a theravadan lay teacher.. which I think is why I very much minimize the small role I do have and I always make sure to tell people "I'm not a monk or a master or a guru". The teaching thing just sort of happened and I had thoughts about the validity and the "rightness" of it until i was set straight by both a theravadan monk(Ven Yuttadhammo) and a zen lay reverend whom I brought my concerns to. They taught me that all people, even monastics, can learn dhamma from everyone of every age.
I still have that bias though.. and I'm trying to work on it.. even the buddha says that a robe and a shaved head do not make a bhikkhu. I even read a book recently " The Buddha goes into a bar" by a lay Lodro. It's a process..
so what is everyones feelings and thoughts regarding learning from monks and lay teachers.
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Comments
So ... OK. When a guy or gal in robes is what bangs your chimes, use that. When a guy or gal in blue jeans bangs your chimes, use that.
My own sense is that a continued practice will automatically whittle away the energy it takes to distinguish teachers and whoever it is who is not a teacher. And this is not some airy-fairy, goody-two-shoes, egalitarian pipe dream ... it just takes too much energy for too little result... it just doesn't square up with the facts.
Just keep up a good and determined practice and see what happens.
I tend to talk to a variety of practitioners and ask their advice. Anyone teaching and not enlightened is in need of 'Mr Cushion' . . . the only teacher needed . . . :wave:
a bonafied/official teacher...well then...
I guess it's called fellowshipping.
Isn't that for learning purposes as well?
Good for you for seeing your own judgements.
What are you doing to work on the bias?
1. Pay homage and respect to all of the Buddhas.
2. Praise all of the Buddhas.
http://cubuddhism.pbworks.com/w/page/24940115/Samantabhadra
Samantabdhadra Mantra
adaṇḍe daṇḍapati daṇḍa-āvartani daṇḍa-kuśale daṇḍa-sudhāri
sudhārapati buddhapaśyane sarvadhāraṇi
āvartani saṁvartani saṅgha-parīkṣite saṅgha-nirghātani
dharma-parīkṣite sarva-sattva ruta kauśalya-anugate
siṁha-vikrīḍite anuvarte vartani vartāli svāhā
lol.. Catholic Priests give marriage counseling :P
Brahm always says that and then he always gives great advice about how to deal with the problems :P. Ajahn Brahm knows a lot about human interactions and relationships because he sees deeply how the mind works.
Of course he would answer anyways, he was asked, after all. And I'm not saying that his advice isn't good (or advice from any monk, for that matter), I just appreciate that he acknowledges his shortcomings. If you've ever read "Anger" by TNH, he speaks at length about relationships and loving and respecting each other, but to me personally, it did fall somehow flat. It comes across as one of those things that sounds so much easier than it really is. Sometimes people need a more in depth explanation and experience might be needed to back them.
For me personally, I, of course, respect all teachers regardless. All I'm saying is that I don't foresee myself becoming a monk and sometimes there can be a little extra wisdom from a person living the lay life that I want for myself. If you're talking about Buddhism in general, the teachers are theoretically equal, but if you're talking about how to fit Buddhism into a lay lifestyle, I would think that the teacher with personal experience might be more helpful (although I'm sure there are exceptions).
There are some monks who know nothing but monastic life from age 12 and those like perhaps me in the near future who has seen more experiences in his 34 years then most. So lay life experience is important but I'm not so sure a lay life is really all THAT much different at its core then any other human life experience.
but heres a question - how do you even find guidance from a monk or nun in north america? i feel like you'd have to travel to asia for that experience...
check out the world buddhist directory for the closest to you - http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/