How do we find a good teacher who can teach us the true teachings of the Buddha? Are there any good teachers in the US? As Buddhists, the Buddha is the our Supreme Teacher. However, I feel that I need to seek a mentor that can guide me on the path and teach me the teachings of the Buddha, our Supreme Teacher. Recently, I’ve been thinking how good it would be to have a Master-Apprentice relationship. A master can teach an apprentice the Suttas, Vinaya, Abhidhamma, and also how to meditate. Preferably, it would be to good to have a monk as my mentor, but even a lay mentor would be great if they can teach not just learning aspects of the Dhamma but also the practice.
Aṅgasutta
“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, sotāpattiyaṅgāni.
Katamāni cattāri?
Sappurisasaṁsevo,
saddhammassavanaṁ,
yonisomanasikāro,
dhammānudhammappaṭipatti—
imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri sotāpattiyaṅgānī.”
“Monks, there are these four factors of stream-entry.
What four?
Association with the true person,
listening to the true Dhamma,
wise attention,
practice in accordance with the Dhamma.
These, monks, are the four factors of stream-entry.”
I can add a little. Listening to the right person and discussing with them can indeed be very helpful and necessary. But we also need to see for ourselves that what is said in the texts is just as things really are.
In the end we see there is no one at all , there is only nama and rupa arising and passing. And the more we see this the more we rely on the Dhamma as laid down by the Buddha and become our own teacher.
Remember also that vipassana and samatha are different ways. And a good teacher will understand the difference.
The objects in vipassana are the present moment elements/ayatanas/khandhas and the way is to understand the moments as they are, not to change them or turn away at all.
For samatha bhavana there must be the development of kusala citta for longer periods until access concentration and eventually jhana citta.
Both ways need detachment and wisdom and patience- a lot. Usually we want results but this is simply desire and that cannot achieve vipassana or samatha- the wise teacher helps the students to see that.
Question: and if I am impatient? I really want to get results.
A: and this is the nature that is arising and showing itself. There needs to be patience with that impatience. Understanding can come in and see the actual nature of desire, that it is the wrong path.
While it is perfectly understandable and natural that desire for results arises and thus its conditioned nature needs to be seen as and when it is there.
In life we are searching for Dhammic gold It is rare. We need a way to recognize it. The suttas you can read the four noble truths etc and that is a way to recognize the valuable parts in anyones teaching. Ultimately you can find useful things in anyones teaching if you use a Dhammic gold standard. Refine what they are saying. So all the Buddhists are your teacher. You just have to pan for the golden Dhamma in your experience with them. As your own wisdom grows through practising generosity, virtue, and meditation you will meet better and better friends in Dhamma. Quite miraculously in hindsight. “You yourself must make the effort, Buddhas only show the way.” Overtime and with effort your understanding will get deeper, the Dhamma gets deeper and it leads you onwards to more and more depth. Don’t forget the basics of generosity and virtue they will protect you on this important path.
Finding an arahant teacher who can guide you step by step of the way seems ideal, but probably hard to find.
At the start it’s hard to even distinguish who’s a good teacher or not because you don’t know what you’re looking for.
From my own experience and talking to others it seems like the standard route is to use existing retreat centers (ie Mahasi, Goenka) until you can see the limitations of the format.
From there you can go directly to the suttas for reference and/or ask questions from a knowledgeable monk who can nudge you in the appropriate direction.
To an extent it becomes intuition at a certain point IMO.
For those who were looking into Pa-Auk Pyin Oo Lwin, they are now open to international visitors again. This is the best place to practice with the best odds of being successful. Besides, Venerable Sayadawgyi, Venerable Sayadaw Kumarabhivamsa is unequaled in how many people has he taught “The Course”. Is it the place, environment or teacher? I don’t know. I do know what I have seen in the interviews. If only you could hear 2 or 3 of the thousands of interviews I have heard from both great teachers combined over the years. (we usually wait our turn to talk, and hear 5-10+ interviews of others per interview day).
Thank you for sharing this, Venerable Sir. Now I have no doubts that is the best place for me. I want to ordain there one day and practice the Dhamma. In the meantime, I can only be patient and do go deeds while waiting for my parents to grant me permission to ordain.