HOW TO RECOGNISE YOUR TRUE TEACHER - by Piya Tan
There is a sad joke about having two ear-holes: one hears through one ear, and it goes out through the other (one forgets it)! [The real meaning of this is that one should not remember unwholesome talk.]
Why is it that we may sometimes listen to a wonderful Dharma teaching (or read Dharma writings), but our lives are not changed? And this could go on for years, even many lives. Or, we might even follow a virtuousteacher, but like a spoon, we do not taste the soup? In fact, we mighteven complain: I find it hard to practise Buddhism; or, I simply cannot meditate; or, why do people treat me so badly; and so on?
The answer is simple: we tend to believe what we perceive. If we keep directing our mind to a certain trend of thought, that thought will dominate and control our lives. One negative thought leads to another. We are looking only at the false surface of things.
We need to look deeper within ourselves: and what do we find there if we really look? We will see so much goodness there waiting to express itself.
I WILL DISCOVER THE GOODNESS WITHIN ME.
There is a sad joke about having two ear-holes: one hears through one ear, and it goes out through the other (one forgets it)! [The real meaning of this is that one should not remember unwholesome talk.]
Why is it that we may sometimes listen to a wonderful Dharma teaching (or read Dharma writings), but our lives are not changed? And this could go on for years, even many lives. Or, we might even follow a virtuousteacher, but like a spoon, we do not taste the soup? In fact, we mighteven complain: I find it hard to practise Buddhism; or, I simply cannot meditate; or, why do people treat me so badly; and so on?
The answer is simple: we tend to believe what we perceive. If we keep directing our mind to a certain trend of thought, that thought will dominate and control our lives. One negative thought leads to another. We are looking only at the false surface of things.
We need to look deeper within ourselves: and what do we find there if we really look? We will see so much goodness there waiting to express itself.
I WILL DISCOVER THE GOODNESS WITHIN ME.
I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS IN OTHERS.
I WILL BE ABLE TO CALM MY MIND.
I WILL ATTAIN AWAKENING IN THIS LIFE ITSELF.
This is part of loving kindness meditation.
Of course, this would be easier if we have a teacher: but the true teacher is not a person. It is the teaching that makes the teacher. If the teacher is the teaching, then we only need to be near the teacheror just hear the teacher's voice to awaken. However, after such a teacher dies, we can never awaken.
Even the Buddha puts the Dharma (Teaching) above himself. This means that even after his passing, we can still awaken through the Dharma. And it is through the Dharma, too, that future Buddhas arise.
Of course, this would be easier if we have a teacher: but the true teacher is not a person. It is the teaching that makes the teacher. If the teacher is the teaching, then we only need to be near the teacheror just hear the teacher's voice to awaken. However, after such a teacher dies, we can never awaken.
Even the Buddha puts the Dharma (Teaching) above himself. This means that even after his passing, we can still awaken through the Dharma. And it is through the Dharma, too, that future Buddhas arise.
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