Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
practicing buddhism without a teacher, is like trying to build a mansion by teaching yourself carpentry. its fine to read books in the beginning to get ageneral understanding of it, and meditate some to develop some saddha. but i went a few years without a teacher, i got a teacher and learned more in a few months than i did spending a few years reading the same old books from Borders. there are so many ways to confuse yourself. i used to worry about being reborn as an animal then my teacher said dont do that. teachers are very wise, even if your not interested in buddhism its good to have a buddhist teacher. hahahaa.
Take care of mindfulness and mindfulness will take care of you.
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
It has been good to read the above comments as I am new to both Theravada and this forum as well as not having a teacher. As a guide does the meaning of taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha mean that a community ( with teacher) is important even for lay practice ?
David Sharp
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
Pali's is itself imperfect and limited--ultimately unreliable.tiltbillings wrote:But since you do not read Pali, you must rely on imperfect translations.... Books have their limitations....
Daniel
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Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
Unreliable? For what? It is the perfect language for the Pali suttas.danieLion wrote:Pali's is itself imperfect and limited--ultimately unreliable.tiltbillings wrote:But since you do not read Pali, you must rely on imperfect translations.... Books have their limitations....
Daniel
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
Did the Buddha mandate a teacher requirement for practice, and if so, in what Canonical document or documents did he do so? If he did not, I do not not see any way to reasonably justify a "yes" response to the OP's question.
I also feel this thread could use a good working definition of "teacher."
DL
I also feel this thread could use a good working definition of "teacher."
DL
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
It's imperfect for the same reason any language is imperfect.tiltbillings wrote:Unreliable? For what? It is the perfect language for the Pali suttas.danieLion wrote:Pali's is itself imperfect and limited--ultimately unreliable.tiltbillings wrote:But since you do not read Pali, you must rely on imperfect translations.... Books have their limitations....
Daniel
DL
- tiltbillings
- Posts: 23046
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
Well, if you want to have the Pali Canon, then you need Pali, which makes it a perfect fit.danieLion wrote:It's imperfect for the same reason any language is imperfect.
DL
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
As I mentioned above:danieLion wrote:Did the Buddha mandate a teacher requirement for practice, and if so, in what Canonical document or documents did he do so? If he did not, I do not not see any way to reasonably justify a "yes" response to the OP's question.
I also feel this thread could use a good working definition of "teacher."
DL
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 40#p153284" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
there are many suttas that describe monks taking instruction from other monks.
Moreover, most suttas seem to be personalized instructions from the Buddha or one of his assistants to a particular person/audience. That seems to be how it worked back then, therefore it seems reasonable to do the same today.
Mike
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
2500 years of experiential processes are the mandate.danieLion wrote:Did the Buddha mandate a teacher requirement for practice, and if so, in what Canonical document or documents did he do so? If he did not, I do not not see any way to reasonably justify a "yes" response to the OP's question.
I also feel this thread could use a good working definition of "teacher."
DL
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
This is not exactly a definition but perhaps is worth thinking about:danieLion wrote:Did the Buddha mandate a teacher requirement for practice, and if so, in what Canonical document or documents did he do so? If he did not, I do not not see any way to reasonably justify a "yes" response to the OP's question.
I also feel this thread could use a good working definition of "teacher."
DL
1. You can see a form and think "teacher".
2. You can hear a sound and think "teacher".
3. You can smell an odor and think "teacher".
4. You can taste a flavor and think "teacher".
5. You can feel a bodily sensation and think "teacher".
6. You can experience a thought and think "teacher".
What else can there be to a teacher?
chownah
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
You can even find one and avail yourself of her/his teachings. There's a radical thought.
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
chownah wrote:
This is not exactly a definition but perhaps is worth thinking about:
1. You can see a form and think "teacher".
2. You can hear a sound and think "teacher".
3. You can smell an odor and think "teacher".
4. You can taste a flavor and think "teacher".
5. You can feel a bodily sensation and think "teacher".
6. You can experience a thought and think "teacher".
What else can there be to a teacher?
chownah
Some of my best teachers are my "enemies," people who annoy me, pain, anger, & the breath....
DL
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
Hi Daniel
You might like to have a read of Ven Analayo's "Satipatthana: the direct path to realization" where he talks about contemplating the hindrances.
kind regards,
Ben
You might like to have a read of Ven Analayo's "Satipatthana: the direct path to realization" where he talks about contemplating the hindrances.
kind regards,
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
I just read that.Ben wrote:Hi Daniel
You might like to have a read of Ven Analayo's "Satipatthana: the direct path to realization" where he talks about contemplating the hindrances.
kind regards,
Ben
Which pages specifically do you have in mind?
Daniel
Edit: p. 190. Turning obstacles into meditation objects. Thanks Ben.
Last edited by danieLion on Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Is a Teacher required to practice meditation?
Hi Daniel,
I don;t have my copy with me currently. I do remember Venerable writing about reviewing the hindrances. It could be in the Investigation of Dhammas section. I'm sorry I can't be more specific.
kind regards,
Ben
I don;t have my copy with me currently. I do remember Venerable writing about reviewing the hindrances. It could be in the Investigation of Dhammas section. I'm sorry I can't be more specific.
kind regards,
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..