A message shared with a friend: Usually, it’s my habit to play safe, to recommend Dharma classes and talks personally only when I have heard the speakers teach before. Unfortunately, I had come across some popular speakers who misrepresent the Dharma quite seriously. I had to spend more...

K: Hi Laoshi, I think it is the first time I saw so ‘emotional’, and very rightly so. It is a blessing for us to have you as our teacher guiding us on this difficult path. Many thanks. Amituofo S: Oh dear, looks like I became too agitated… One of my weaknesses is that I get...

Advice to a Dharma student: If you don’t stick to a proper practice group with continual learning and guidance, these problems (which you just faced) of encountering deviated teachings via your random exploration are likely to recur. This is a reason why the Buddha clearly taught that...

When the teacher gives up on a student, the student usually gives up on the teacher, and possibly the teaching (learning) itself. This is why teachers should never give up on their students, or even give the impression that they are beyond hope, or that they are not welcomed as...

The below are common questions that some Dharma students might have, based on hypothetical scenarios: Q: What if a family member dislikes me attending a Dharma class? A: You should do your best to share with them on the value of learning the Dharma. Q: What if the person still does not...

Note: In case any reader is in the category of (1) and/or (2) below, please note that this article does not apply to any one person, even if it seems applicable to your good self in part or whole. It is but a general observation based on limited perception, and not an accurate analysis of...

Heard of a Dharma student thinking of giving up attending one of his teachers’ classes due to embarrassment over some miscommunication on his own side. He even thought of forgetting whatever worthy Dharma learnt from her. This is what happens, unfortunately, when even the pure Dharma...

As am currently teaching the Dharma 5 evenings a week, and 6 for this one, I end up training myself to have less and less differentiation between modes of learning and resting, teaching and not teaching, and I think it’s a good thing, this getting in sync. Feeling more and more aligned...

It is sad, but true, that some teachers (monastics or laity), having gathered some fame and status, become less active in participating in Dharma retreats, talks and classes, especially those conducted by others (monastics or laity) with less fame and status than them, even if the Dharma they...

The best teachers must eventually teach ultimate Compassion and Wisdom. To encourage perfect Compassion, they must eventually advocate veganism, which is not just a way of consumption, but a way of life, of being helpful and harmless. To encourage perfect Wisdom, they must eventually advocate...

Q: Is there a need to find an enlightened teacher? A: No, but it makes sense to find teachers who are more enlightened than us. Q: Why not just find an enlightened teacher? A: It’s not easy to discern who is enlightened as we are not enlightened ourselves. Q: How do we find teachers who...

P: Teachers are actually leaders. Some people say that ‘those who can’t do, teach’. Well, mentoring and coaching is a way of ‘doing’, yes? S: The best teachers, like the Buddhas, don’t just teach; they ‘do’ too, and did it. They attained...

A good student is always learning. A good teacher is always learning too, more in fact, to keep ahead of good students, so that one can offer more to one’s students. A master is one who has mastered both learning and...

Question: Someone claims to be a student of a certain teacher. This student claims to have some great attainment. What do you think? Answer: If you are doubtful, you can ask that student to verify with that teacher his attainment. Question: That person refuses to do so. Answer: If the teacher...

S: Sometimes, the most agreeable teacher is the worst [or least appropriate] – because you learn nothing new from him or her, that challenges your delusions, that spurs growth in your compassion and wisdom. (If everybody thinks alike, many might not be thinking enough. Groupthink!) C: I...

Question: How do I cultivate loving-kindness for someone I dislike? Answer: It helps to remember that just as you suffer from disliking the person, the person might suffer from being disliked, not just by you, but by many others too. Since no one wants to dislike or be disliked, both you and...

Unfortunately, due to unskilfulness in reconciling or separating the two, increase in worldly proximity between Dharma friends, including teachers and students, sometimes leads to spiritual distancing. Sometimes, there is disappointment, that someone is less inspiring or more unenlightened...

A reply given when invited to teach Dharma classes for Sunday School: Hmmm… on and off, I’ve been thinking of helping to teach in Sunday School, but am more comfortable teaching young adults, because teenage trends change very rapidly, which makes teens harder to relate to skilfully! As...

Why do we sometimes encounter poor Dharma teachers who seem to teach inadequately and incoherently? We get who we karmically deserve. Even if the Buddha manifests before you, how ‘poorly’ he appears is a reflection of your negative karma and imperfect perception. This is not to...

A Tit for a Tat (197) Tit: I wonder if I should teach more teachers or more students. Tat: Why? Tit: Because teachers can be harder to teach than students! Tat: But these teachers can better teach more students! Tit: Only if these teachers are good students! Next...