One view of teacher (was Re: For those gentle of heart)( talk.religion.buddhism)
Tang Huyen
dar westlake wrote:
Theravad: <<The teacher is responsible for what is taught but the student is
responsible for what is learned. in what specific ways have these lessons been
faulty? Put up or shut up!>>
Dar: <<Who said faulty. The wind and the footsteps thing is about the uniqueness of
path and karma.
Faulty,,,hum,, what i find faulty is the concept of teacher-student, the inbalance
of respect and relationship. These arnt equals, friends.
Flatly i dont think teacher-student has any place in sangha. I've learnt more from
this equality of usenet, listening to very different people from very different
traditions than i've ever learnt in any 1 tradition or specialized sangha. Dont have
many reflections when there's just one side of the diamond.
To hell with teacher-student, just throw it all in the circle and people can figure
it out faster themselves.>>
This view of Dar may be extreme, but let's remember that the Buddha had no teacher,
at least as far as his awakening was concerned -- and it was his awakening (bodhi)
that made Buddhism Buddhism.
Different strokes for different folks.
Happy New Year, Dar.
Tang Huyen
Tang Huyen
robinandlynne wrote: <<dar's thinking is in line with Lord Buddha's teaching as regards
sangha and teachers. I seem to find myself standing next to Tang and I am seriously
considering my position....
not a bad thing. ;)
Tang's very own, lynne>>
Watch out for guilt by association, Lynne.
There is a Jewish story: once a Jewish man saw Moses ran like mad in the street, and asked
him why. Moses said that a lion had escaped from the zoo and people were after him. The man
asked: But what has that to do with you? Moses answered: How do I tell them that I'm not
him?
Happy New Year, Lynne
Tang Huyen