Being Picky is Being Sensible

One of the biggest mistake I have seen Western Buddhists make when it comes to receiving dharma teachings, is feeling that somebody who can explain the teachings well, is a suitable teacher. There is no thought that the teachers themselves need to have the particular view which they are explaining. This attitude comes from a lack of understanding of the dharma.

When it comes to relying on a lama, the most important thing is to consider whether they have the mind of a dharma practitioner or not. This is because our study of dharma is not merely a study of words and theory. The main things we wish for are to tame our mind, and gain the mind of a dharma practitioner. Therefore, dharma teachers must be dharma practitioners themselves.

You should never receive dharma teachings from a person who has a very strong worldly view. This is because the ways of the dharma and the world are opposite. So someone with a strong worldly view is ignorant in dharma. Of course, if you wish to learn a secular topic from them, that’s something else. That may be fine. But a dharma teacher should have a weak worldly outlook, because what they are teaching is that which eradicates worldly views. If they haven’t been able to train their own mind in dharma, how could they help others train theirs?

If we see that the teacher is humble, there’s a possibility that they’re a dharma person. And even if they’re not, humility is still an excellent quality. So somebody who is humble, who has concern for others, and who is unprejudiced, is a good person to receive dharma teachings from. Because it’s more likely, that they themselves have dharma to offer. This is really essential. It’s not a given that someone who seems to know their stuff and can quote lots of Buddhist texts is a good dharma teacher, because what they are explaining may not necessarily be real dharma.

So we need to be very careful what sort of lama we rely on, and know what the qualities of a genuine lama are. Foremost among them is that their mind should be tamed, and they must know the methods for taming the mind. They themselves need to have few mental afflictions. That’s the type of person to rely on.

I’m not a dharma practitioner in any way, shape or form. But I have lived with genuine dharma practitioners, so maybe I have a better idea of what it means to be a dharma practitioner. So do not just rely on any old lama. Do not be looking at whether they have a big title like Rinpoche, Tulku, Khenpo, etc, but look for someone who is humble and caring, who isn‘t a trouble-maker and who seems to have little desire and anger. By relying on such a person, you will take on many good qualities yourselves.