We've been talking a bit about trust. Especially as beginners, how do we know whether a teacher can be trusted?
In the Dhammannu Sutta of the Pali Tipitika (Anguttara Nikaya 7.64), the Buddha described the qualities that make a monk worthy of respect. It struck me that these are qualities to look for in a Buddhist teacher. So let's review.
In Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation, the Buddha said,
"There is the case where a monk is one with a sense of Dhamma, a sense of meaning, a sense of himself, a sense of moderation, a sense of time, a sense of social gatherings, and a sense of distinctions among individuals."
According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu, the first two qualities -- a sense of Dhamma (dharma) and a sense of meaning -- refers to knowing the what the Buddha taught and what the teachings mean. This means having a thorough knowledge of many texts as well as insight into what the words mean.
I agree this is important, but it's not necessarily helpful if you are new. If you aren't familiar with the subject matter, how do you know whether the teacher knows his or her stuff or not? So let's go on.
Having a sense of oneself means knowing one's own strengths and weaknesses. I would say that a teacher who can't laugh at himself now and then, or who can't admit to a shortcoming or mistake, should be followed only with great caution. Be especially wary of teachers who demand adoration and obedience, or who imply that you benefit merely by being in their presence.
Lack of a sense of moderation is an even bigger warning sign, I believe. We've had at least a couple of western Zen teachers (need I name names?) who seemed more interested in money than in teaching. At the very least, a quality teacher will accept a reasonable amount of frugality for the sake of the dharma center's budget. He or she will also be accessible to the poor as well as the well-to-do.
A sense of moderation in personal habits is another big trip-up. But there's also a paradox -- some highly respected teachers have struggled with alcohol and drug addictions. So I can't say that a teacher with an obvious drinking problem is necessarily a bad teacher who must be avoided. I would say that if you choose to work with such a teacher, keep your eyes open.
Same thing for a teacher known to have had extramarital affairs. I'd say a teacher who is a genuine sexual predator, with a pattern of exploiting students, should be avoided. These days a little web surfing can tell you if a teacher has a prior history of bad behavior.
A sense of time may be less important since the invention of wristwatches. But a sense of social gatherings is timeless. This refers to being at graceful ease with people of all classes and walks of life; not fawning to the powerful or patronizing to the weak. These days it would refer to having no trace of sexism or racism also.
A sense of distinctions among individuals basically refers to being a good judge of character. This might be gleaned from noticing whom the teacher admires and with whom he associates.
So that's the Buddha's advice. Can you think of anything else?
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