Is a Guru Necessary?

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Do you need a guru or teacher to make progress along the Buddhist path? We'll look first at how the Buddha suggested his disciples should investigate their teacher with an eye to deciding if it was worth studying under them. Then we'll turn to the question of whether in the Buddha's eyes we need a teacher at all.
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suttacentral.net/dn16/en/sujato
suttacentral.net/sn47.14/en/s...
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Опубликовано:

27 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 85

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Freebie mini-course at the Online Dharma Institute: onlinedharma.org!

@neshimanati 4 года назад

It's important, I believe, to remember that all teachers are humans at the end of the day.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Indeed so Anati, thanks.

@poikkiki 4 года назад

Thank you so much for answering my question! I read a book some time ago by a spanish philosopher by the name of Mónica Cavallé (Advaita vedanta tradition, with much influence from buddhism and daoism). She talks about how many teachers who claim to be awakened have many psychopatic traits and are extremely good at pretending to be awakened to obtain benefit from their followers. I must say Doug, since I started to follow this channel like a year ago, I have been very inspired to follow the Dhamma! This video has been crystal clear and I feel like I do not need any guru to give me "empowerments" or initiations to keep practising. Sometimes it can be very persuasive and attractive to learn some "secret" teachings that promise to be incredible. But I think I will stick with my main mindfulness practice, with your channel and your courses, with my beloved Analayo (he's putting out such great books lately!) and with a good pair of friends that I have that also practice on a daily basis. In the future I will be open to join a Sangha, for the moment I am okay with what I have. Thank you again.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

That's great to hear poikkiki. Indeed, Anālayo's output is amazing and one could do very well just reading his works and practicing on one's own. 🙂

@studentofspacetime 4 года назад

I would contend that the answer is a subtle "yes and no". You have to walk the path alone, and no one can do the internal work for you. That is absolutely clear and undeniable. On the other hand, it pays to have a qualified trusted teacher to give you a reality check every once in a while. One who can make sure that you prioritise the right aspects of the practice at the right time. One who tells you what you need to hear, and not necessarily what you want to hear. For instance: I've seen people go far astray because they became too proud of their intellectual understanding of the Dharma, whilst completely neglecting the emotional part. The antidote to such traps is a teacher who can set you straight before that happens.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Well said Andrés. I think it depends on the person and the context, but in general a competent teacher (or accomplished friend) can be of great benefit.

@kstew2772 Год назад

Thank you. I had tried to study Buddhism on my own for many years, and later I realized that I was misunderstanding the teachings. (Like the Island of the self-totally thought I had to isolate. ) I moved to Florida over 5 years ago and I found a teacher and a sangha. I very much needed their support and they nurtured me through my practice. I am tremendously grateful for my teacher and he checks all the boxes (I don't think he's 'awakened' but he's incredibly skillful.) That was what I needed. I know people who have never had or wanted a teacher who seem to have found great wisdom and serenity. There's just not a lot of teachers in the west, but I am grateful for the Tara Brach's and Sharon Salzbergs of the world who, while did in fact attain fame, have helped those of us who do not have a formal teacher. Your videos have answered a lot of my questions that I haven't been able to ask. Tremendously helpful

@DougsDharma Год назад

Wonderful, so glad to hear it Kim. And I agree, Tara Brach and Sharon Salzberg are pretty amazing! 😊

@alaksoglossian8456 Год назад

Qualified Dhamma teachers are hard to find in rural and remote areas on the US. But thanks to online resources like Doug’s Dharma, Ajahn Brahm’s and Ajahn Sona’s online teachings I’ve been able to experience deeper levels of the Dhamma. 🙏🏽

@DougsDharma Год назад

Happy to help!

@amversions9625 4 года назад

Thank you. I’d never read/heard the sutras where the Buddha laid the qualities of the teacher. My introduction to Buddhism came through a community where one of the main teachers recently got caught up in scandal. In listening to this while reflecting on this teacher’s characteristics, Siddhartha hit the nail on the head. Imagine that 😉

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Yes, it's a wise teaching! You're very welcome AM Versions.

@chriskaplan6109 Год назад

Points well spoken and well taken. Thank you Doug. I think you exemplify the qualities of a good teacher; humble and unpretentious, but wise and knowledgeable. We must do the work ourselves, as you and others below say, but a teacher can be a great boon in guiding us along the path.

@DougsDharma Год назад

My pleasure, Chris. Glad to help!

@fraktaalimuoto 4 года назад

Nice video. I feel lucky that I have found, with all intends and purposes, a awakened Vajrayana teacher. And I have had time to test him. Interestingly he is not popular, because he is somewhat unorthodox. However, I have also been to a Vajrayana ceremony where teacher has been an obvious cult leader. With HUGE following. I actually walked out of that. Important is to relate to one's teacher honestly, get familiar and see if he/she practices what he preaches earnestly. Never go for popularity: some people get title a "tulku" for example due to family relations. Awakened person can be unpopular, because he does not always play the popularity game.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

That’s great fraktaalimuoto. A good teacher can be a great benefit though as your story indicates they are hard to find.

@fairytalejediftj7041 4 года назад

I'm not attached to any of my Rolls Royces. If one gets wrecked, it doesn't disturb my equilibrium. My followers just buy me a new one. 🌹

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

😄 Good for you! 😜

@gra6649 Год назад

I started my practice by reading The Three Pillars of Zen written by Phillip Kapleau roshi. It's a great book, and gives one all the information one would need to start a practice. Years later in the depts of utter despair I found my teacher, or maybe it could be said that he found me. Literally by a river. Kind of like one of those Zen stories we've all read. The saying that goes "When the student is ready the master will appear" comes to mind. Turns out he was a student of Kapleau roshi, and was installed as the head of that centre by Pk roshi. Unfortunately he's gone now, and he is missed.

@DougsDharma Год назад

Interesting! I hope you've found other beneficial companions in your practice.

@gra6649 Год назад

@@DougsDharma Not yet, one does not come along Zen masters everyday.

@naturecure280 Год назад

very important point. famous teachers are deluted.

@DougsDharma Год назад

🙏

@bencharits 2 года назад

This is another great video. Great words and insight. Really without practice especially mindfulness meditation, there would be no good teacher. Thank you for the video!

@DougsDharma 2 года назад

My pleasure! 🙏 😊

@anamoraes6255 4 года назад

Many years ago when I started practicing meditation I reached a point where I couldn’t get further. I wasn’t seeing any progress. And at that time there were no sanghas near me (and internet was just starting) so I stopped practicing. I think that if I had a teacher, I wouldn’t get discouraged. The teacher could have showed me other methods or something else I could stick with. Anyway... many years later I found two teachers. But I didn’t feel I could trust them. Maybe it’s the fact that retreats are so expensive and they always ask for money for the teachings. I know that maybe it is their way of maintaining themselves, but I don’t always have the money to give them. What do you think?

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Yes, I hear you Ana. I don't think there's really going to be a perfect way to proceed, and teachers do need to support themselves. Having a local sangha can make a difference since a larger group can make it easier for accomplished teachers to gain support, but even so as you say retreats can be expensive. In these circumstances it can be better to practice alone, at least sometimes, or if you can find a small group of friends or an informal meditation group that can also help. I have an earlier video on what to do if you can't find such a group: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--rEKVKsV2iU.html

@sheilakirwan9462 3 года назад

In monasteries in Burma and Thailand and also in Therevada Buddhist monasteries in the West, money is never asked for ...donations are given depending on one’s volition and means.

@Luciuslestrange 4 года назад

Thank you so much for making this video! I was really struggling with this matter, specially with the modern traditions that say having a guru is obligatory and you should think they are enlightened.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Yes, the role of a guru is central in some traditions. This isn't *necessarily* a problem, some teachers are very good. But it does introduce dangers.

@akshobiya7501 Год назад

NKT?

@28105wsking Год назад

You will never, ever find this alone. It is so radical that you can't even imagine it. Yes, you need a guru in the lineage to transmit it to you personally in person. Yes, you need to be self-reliant as far as listening, learning, and practice go, but when it comes to realization and different states of high consciousness, you have never been there and need someone who has.

@archiekennedy4741 Год назад

I believe a real teacher is a precious gem but a very rare one. There are many charlatans and for that reason, perhaps it is better to lean into self-reliance. I would say however that if you or me were to find a real teacher, one who knows emptiness, it would be prudent to accept direction and guidance from that person.

@DougsDharma Год назад

Yes, a good teacher is a gem indeed.

@NepaliNed Год назад

Hi Dave, I'm a new subscriber, viewer of your videos recently and I'm really enjoying them. I'm at a stage of my life whereby I'm revisiting my interest in Buddhism. I was given the Tibetan book of the dead when my mother passed many years ago and subsequent to that I've been to Nepal several times to do some serious hiking. The book was confusing, and I didn't really understand how this fitted into what Buddhism was. Your videos have helped me investigate just what form/s of Buddhism or secular maybe right for me and I'm very appreciative. Going back to the early or basics of Buddhism seemed like the best way. By chance and coincidence, I purchased recently "What the Buddha taught" by Walpole Rahula and I'm wondering if there are other books that you may recommend to a lay person? Would your courses be of help as well? Tx

@DougsDharma Год назад

Hi Kent, thanks and welcome! I certainly think the courses could be a help, they are intended to be a pretty thorough introduction to certain key aspects of Buddhist dharma. As for book recommendations, I have a playlist on that: ru-vid.com/group/PL0akoU_OszRjBKHxKj98qtSmcLpBmDWkL

@nsbd90now Год назад

I've had many, many wonderful teachers, who taught me of other wonderful teachers. I don't think I've ever met an actual "arahant" but I sure did get hit by "work out your own salvation with diligence" when I first read it. I do like the idea in Muslim thought of "fitrah" which is like an in-born homing device. Y'know... like salmon returning to their hatching place. "Anybody who is willing to learn the Dharma..."

@DougsDharma Год назад

Yes, traditionally I guess that would be called karmic conditioning ...

@jennysmith7147 4 года назад

Thanks for another great, insightful video, Doug! It's timely and pertinent information for anyone trying to negotiate (what can be) a minefield of "spiritual" teachers - as well as for those of us who have already been somewhat taken in by "teachers" who turned out to be (just possibly!) more greedy, hostile and deluded than many of their congregants! Ewww!

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Yes, that can be really bad, sorry if you had to go through that. 🙏

@photistyx 4 года назад

A good video, as always. Thank you! Have you already done a video on what counts as awakened? I am sure there is no consensus, but are there some recognizable camps?

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

You're very welcome! Actually one of my first videos was on awakening, perhaps I should remake it. 😄 Anyway it goes into what awakening is in the early texts, though we may still wonder how to really tell from the outside. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i9pUWTk95n0.html

@tryftryf1994 4 года назад

In a way, you are our guru sir.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Well yes PP, that's in the background here too. 🙂

@sluxi 4 года назад

Thanks for the video and for the whole channel, I've found it very useful! I wonder what kind of help with meditation an experienced teacher could offer that cannot be received from books and videos? What does meditation "coaching" look like?

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Well an experienced teacher might give you meditation instructions depending on certain problems you were experiencing in your life. If you were having trouble with a particular instruction, they might discuss it with you to find out how you were approaching the meditation. Each case will be different so it's hard to generalize. If you have a good Insight meditation center near you, that would be a place to look for relatively "hands off" coaching. It might give a little of the flavor.

@johnheld8770 Год назад

Doug. Thank you for this. One thing I’ve noticed is the Buddha is mis quoted a lot. I would really appreciate if if you would, as you often do, give the names of the original teachings/scriptures that contained this guidance whether it be from the Buddha or from followers who came after. Sensible advice for certain

@DougsDharma Год назад

Ah, I try to leave links to all referenced suttas in the video description. There are various suttas linked in the description of this video, so if there is some point that doesn't appear there let me know.

@johnheld8770 Год назад

@@DougsDharma very helpful. I watch these on my phone and missed that. Thanks for the reply! And for the videos

@devushkim4014 4 года назад

I thought you'd mention Khaggavisana Sutta. Nice video. Namo Buddhaya.

@devushkim4014 4 года назад

If you don't gain a mature companion, a fellow traveler, right-living & wise, wander alone like a king renouncing his kingdom, like the elephant in the Matanga wilds, his herd. :)

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Yes that is definitely another great sutta to have mentioned, it's one of my favorites actually. Good suggestion! 😀

@blackhunk2265 2 года назад

Informative topoc In which text this explaination by buddha , described ?

@DougsDharma 2 года назад

Thanks BH. I have links to all the suttas mentioned in the information box below the video.

@bobg.7976 4 года назад

In Soto Zen, I’ve heard it said enlightenment comes in twos -- the student and the teacher. But are there really enlightened teachers - arahants - in this age? I think we have accomplished teachers Analayo being one. But enlightened teachers the way they are described in the Canon? Who? Where?

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Good question Bob! There are also differences between the Mahāyāna ideal of the bodhisattva and the earlier awakened arahant, so it's not even clear that many Buddhist practitioners are looking to attain arahantship anyhow.

@sheilakirwan9462 3 года назад

Yes there are enlightened teachers ..in Burma and Thailand......although numbers are few! Sayadaw U Sandima of Theinngu32 in Burma is an enlightened teacher. I am currently editing the translation of his book into English, ‘ The journey to Eternal Peace’. He also says many teachers are not enlightened and this is a problem for the students.

@poikkiki 4 года назад

Hi there again Doug. I have a question regarding practice. From my understanding, one generally starts with breathing meditation (or some other form of one pointed concentration) and then opens up their attention to include other objects, transitioning into insight practice. In Analayo's latest book, he suggests that we should first build a solid foundation in satipatthana and then start the practice of breathing with the anapanasati sutta. Isn't this somewhat contradictory to my previous statement? Thank you!

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Interesting question poikkiki. Honestly I think there are many ways to progress in Buddhist practice. I'll have to read Anālayo's reasoning here but satipaṭṭhāna begins with breathing meditation (it's the first part of mindfulness of the body) so there isn't a clear distinction between them.

@poikkiki 4 года назад

Doug's Secular Dharma Yes, but in his sattipathana book he goes through contemplations that can be hard on emotions, such as death contemplation, without having put much emphasis on the breath. I think that developing a solid foundation of mindfulness of breathing would be preferable before delving into those practices. I guess its different for every person, but I might send him an email just to ask.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Maybe so, if you do contact him and get a response I'd be interested to hear! 🙂

@larskobbe5042 4 года назад

poikkiki - Are you referring to his "Practice Guide"? It's what I'm reading currently. He mentions on page 30, "One practice not included concerns the four steps of mindfulness of breathing that in the whole scheme of sixteen steps in the A.-sutta correspond to contemplation of the body. ..." He then mentions this to be an "implicit inclusion" in other contemplations just like "contemplation of bodily postures and clearly knowing bodily activities". I hope this helps

@poikkiki 4 года назад

Lars Kobbe Thank you Lars :) It does help!!

@dusanbosnjakovic6588 4 года назад

It seems that we should look to teachers to the degree that they are awakened. Meaning that we probably shouldn't put our faith in any person entirely because this is indeed a high bar, for a reason. However, we should to look to a lot of people with some wisdom for some level of guidance. My take is also that even if somebody is awakened, they may not be able to show us how we can become awakened necessarily. There are many paths to happiness for a reason.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

This is true too Dusan. An awakened person may not be a great teacher. As I see it though, there are a lot of stages prior to awakening, and there is also knowledge of the texts and scholarship. Just as you say there are many paths to happiness, there are many ways we can help one another by using our relative strengths.

@auspicious113 2 года назад

Hi is there a problem with interpreting what the original intent of the buddhas teaching rather than the modern understanding of certain ambiguous text thanks from michael

@DougsDharma 2 года назад

How do you mean, Michael? There are always multiple possible interpretations of texts, and one person may find one interpretation congenial while someone else may find a different one congenial.

@bernadettemalavarca8564 3 года назад

Thank you for validating all the red flags I’ve seen. Sometimes the austere nonattachment seems like aversion, and it never adds up to me when teachers of these beautiful concepts of compassion, etc., are haughty. It’s like...your practice is moot, buddy. You missed the point. I’m very skeptical about the idea of a guru. Many teachers? Yes. Don’t go it alone, but to devote to another human, I have to question why another human being would even want such devotees and be comfortable with that. Or why we would need to cling to a single guru as a devotee. Seems like a trap. Not liberated at all, actually.

@DougsDharma 3 года назад

Yes indeed Bernadette. While there are good teachers out there, and having a good teacher is a great boon, we have to keep our eyes open and be aware of the pitfalls.

@fuglsnef 4 года назад

There seems to be a taboo in buddhism around talking about one's attainments. Do you think this is accurate, and if so, do you have any thoughts on why this is?

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Yes, this goes back to the monastic rules, and I think it's a great rule to have. Otherwise monastics might basically brag about stuff in order to gain followers, which is unseemly and promotes spiritual materialism. There also may be disagreement within a monastic sangha about what certain monks may or may not have achieved.

@aliciamontero7061 4 года назад

@@DougsDharma According to Ajahn Tanissaro, the reason why monastics are not allowed to talk about their realizations or spiritual attainements is this would make that the lay people support mainly those monks and would neglect the basic needs of regular monks. So, the goal would be to make the monastic institution the object of offerings and not individual monks or nuns. I am not sure if this the real cause, although it could play a role.

@aliciamontero7061 4 года назад

According to tradition, Abhidhamma was only taught to devas and Shariputta, although of course this is not considered factual by Western scholars. During many years anatta was not taught to lay people, even great benefactors or patrons. Anatapindika was the first lay exception, laying sick and being visited by Ven Sariputta and Ven.Ananda. so, there was some kind of secrecy.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Thanks for that Alicia. There is also a sutta where Sāriputta teaches a doctrine of non-self to the layperson Nakula's father. It wasn't really a secret, it was more like you wouldn't teach advanced mathematics to someone who didn't understand elementary math. It's the same with the Four Noble Truths, which were rarely taught to laypeople though not secret.

@aliciamontero7061 4 года назад

@@DougsDharma yeah, agree about advanced science, but the reason Sariputta gives to Anatapindika when he asked how he, being a loyal and generous patron of Budhha for so many years, have never heard those teachings before, it was just, if I recall it well, that it was a teaching that was only given to monastics. The alleged motif was not experience in practice. Anyways, thanks for another great video. Although I dont always agree fully with you, I really appreciate your take on Dhamma.

@dusanbosnjakovic6588 4 года назад

Do you think the saying, "if you ever met the Buddha you should kill him" applies here?

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Well ... it could apply. I think it's important to keep the dharma in mind while we practice, at least it is for my approach. So to that extent it helps to "meet the Buddha". And of course kindness is better than aggression, though that isn't really the point of the Kōan. 🙂

@dusanbosnjakovic6588 4 года назад

@@DougsDharma that's right 😁 no aggression. I see it in two ways, 1) ultimately don't look for a Buddha beyond yourself and 2) use Buddhism as a raft to cross the river.

@DougsDharma 4 года назад

Right Dusan. Understood in that way it's good practice.

@Erdogan-zi1ci 4 года назад

Today Buddha’s dharma using by ultranationalist authoritarian politicians and ultranationalist extremist monks for their political agendas most good example is Sri Lanka dictator mahinda rajapaksha. He use Buddhism for election campaigns his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksha used Buddhism and Buddhist fundamentalism against minorities in Sri Lanka for last presidential election campaign and he won by Buddhist majority vote. Now ultranationalist Buddhism rising in Sri Lanka this is not good for Buddhism because last decade Sri Lanka civil war and attacks against Muslims in Sri Lanka Directly linked with ultranationalist Buddhism. Therefore buddhism faced lot of criticisms