About Buddhism

Finding a Buddhist Teacher

Finding a formal teacher is very important is Buddhism, especially in Vajrayana Buddhism. Having that living example to teach you and lead the way is a precious gift. Some people meet their main teacher right away, others search for years before finding their teacher.

In this section about finding a teacher, I am not talking about the teachers you meet attending Buddhist teachings, or finding a teacher where you can ask scholarly questions about Buddhism. Rather it is about finding a teacher who inspires you in your spiritual practice, with whom over time you develop a deep and profound spiritual relationship.

There is much written about the teacher-student relationship, and it is worth reading what you can. On one hand having a spiritual teacher is the most amazing gift anyone can receive, with the blessings of the Guru enriching your life and enhancing your practice. However, it is not a type of relationship most of us are used to having, and so it can also be the cause of misunderstanding, suffering, and confusion.

Not long after I became interested in Buddhism, I asked the first and only Tibetan lama I had met if he would be my teacher. He didn't say yes and he didn't say no - he gave me some wonderful advice that I think is applicable to anyone starting on the Buddhist path.

He told me that the teacher/student relationship has strong karma for both for the teacher and for the student, and it is very bad karma to have a student/teacher relationship end badly. He told me to attend many dharma teachings, and meet many teachers. Discover if the teachers were teaching pure dharma? Were they living according to the principles they were teaching? He told me I should check out a teacher for years before asking to be their student. I followed his advice, and a few years later I said to him one day "You're my teacher, aren't you?" and he laughed, said "of course" and gave me a mala.

Over the years, I have heard many stories from people about their quests to find teachers. Sadly, although there are many good teachers, there are also some very charismatic teachers that are not such good teachers, and where the relationship ends unhappily. So take your time before making a commitment.