Posted by: Dhammañāṇa
« on: February 24, 2018, 07:58:58 PM »Duties
Many - althought not offical in regard of student-teacher relationship outside the Sangha - proper ways to ask, to serve, to relate, to leave and to ask for forgiviness are found in the Mahavagga, such as:
Many other things are done similar, but of cource with certain proper distance.
It's aside many things around and in these chapers maybe worthy to point out, that the most importand is, that disciples
Also that, if dismissed, there is a certain need (duty) to ask for forgiving. Aside of not dismissing if proper to dismiss, or dismissing if not proper to dismiss, are not to be done by a teacher.
And it's possible understandable that a improper student-teacher relation, we find so often in our days, just look at normal schools, based on compromise, improper compassion or simply doing jobs for a livelihood, has no long time lasting good impact. Having gained skills in a improper way, one will either hurt himself, others, or both with it, not to speak that real teacher, if growing common, will simply disapear.
That has to be seen in regard of the Sangha at large, or the lay 'community' as well. So it's the wiser way to follow certain traditions where such a relation is long time maintained, also where this traditions are unknown or till today as "child-stuff" and "degrading" rejected.
If there is no willingness to jump into the part of a child, degrading oneself for a disciple or if the teacher is not willing or able to act the part as a father, neither a good for the student, nor for the teacher, and the relations impact on others, can be expected.
Next to equal, if even, one may be able to maintain of what has been already gained and one might have a pleasant dwelling, but no prosperity can be expected.
So if meeting "teacher" who are likely to act "cool" in rejecting venerations, proper adressing, proper service, inviting merely to a homi-hood, don't go for that.
One who has no regard of proper behavior toward higher, is either lower or just equal, and what could one learn in this way? So one who does not value your great gifts, does not see them, is not able to receive them, but merely asks and directs you to act like an equal friend, as not to be taken as useful teacher.
Yet of course, many of the infomations out there tell one a different.
If willing to grow toward liberation, to seek and accept authority is most needed. If cutting that of from the beginning, it's not only that one will unlikely find any teacher and unlikely that one would get taimed, defilement uprooted and guided toward unbound.
Many - althought not offical in regard of student-teacher relationship outside the Sangha - proper ways to ask, to serve, to relate, to leave and to ask for forgiviness are found in the Mahavagga, such as:
- Mv I 18: Ācariyavattakathā — The Discussion of Duties Toward a Teacher
- Mv I 20: Paṇāmanā khamāpanā — The Discussion of Dismissal and Asking Forgiveness
Many other things are done similar, but of cource with certain proper distance.
It's aside many things around and in these chapers maybe worthy to point out, that the most importand is, that disciples
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
“A pupil endowed with five qualities should not be dismissed. With regard to his teacher he has strong affection, has strong confidence, has a strong sense of shame, has strong respect, has strong development. A pupil endowed with these five qualities should not be dismissed.
“When a pupil is endowed with five qualities he is fit to be dismissed. With regard to his teacher he does not have strong affection, does not have strong confidence, does not have a strong sense of shame,does not have strong respect, does not have strong development (in the practice). A pupil endowed with these five qualities is fit to be dismissed.
Also that, if dismissed, there is a certain need (duty) to ask for forgiving. Aside of not dismissing if proper to dismiss, or dismissing if not proper to dismiss, are not to be done by a teacher.
And it's possible understandable that a improper student-teacher relation, we find so often in our days, just look at normal schools, based on compromise, improper compassion or simply doing jobs for a livelihood, has no long time lasting good impact. Having gained skills in a improper way, one will either hurt himself, others, or both with it, not to speak that real teacher, if growing common, will simply disapear.
That has to be seen in regard of the Sangha at large, or the lay 'community' as well. So it's the wiser way to follow certain traditions where such a relation is long time maintained, also where this traditions are unknown or till today as "child-stuff" and "degrading" rejected.
If there is no willingness to jump into the part of a child, degrading oneself for a disciple or if the teacher is not willing or able to act the part as a father, neither a good for the student, nor for the teacher, and the relations impact on others, can be expected.
Next to equal, if even, one may be able to maintain of what has been already gained and one might have a pleasant dwelling, but no prosperity can be expected.
So if meeting "teacher" who are likely to act "cool" in rejecting venerations, proper adressing, proper service, inviting merely to a homi-hood, don't go for that.
One who has no regard of proper behavior toward higher, is either lower or just equal, and what could one learn in this way? So one who does not value your great gifts, does not see them, is not able to receive them, but merely asks and directs you to act like an equal friend, as not to be taken as useful teacher.
Yet of course, many of the infomations out there tell one a different.
If willing to grow toward liberation, to seek and accept authority is most needed. If cutting that of from the beginning, it's not only that one will unlikely find any teacher and unlikely that one would get taimed, defilement uprooted and guided toward unbound.