What qualify a layperson to preach the dharma?
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As the topic suggest...
any criteria and signals that we can look at? -
I believe anyone can share the dharma, whether to your non-buddhist friends, or to buddhist friends on the internet or not on the internet, but to be an 'official', 'qualified' Buddhist dharma teacher, you should be 'qualified' to teach by your Buddhist teachers from the respective lineages.Originally posted by Isis:As the topic suggest...
any criteria and signals that we can look at?
Also when we talk about taking someone as our 'official teacher'/'guru'/'spiritual guide', my master say we should look out for 'ming2 shi1' meaning enlightened persons, or someone who has ming2 xin1 jian4 xing4. That means that the person has entered the noble path, has realised the true nature of reality, and therefore is able to guide others towards the noble path as well. Otherwise he can only talk and discuss, but with no first hand experience and intuitive insights, he would not be able to closely guide others along the path to enlightenment.
So definitely if you want to be a dharma teacher then you need to be highly enlightened yourself, and be authenticated by the teachers of the various traditions in Buddhism, and of course received the permission to teach by their teachers.
And other than being highly enlightened, having first hand experience and intuitive insights, of course you must have certain knowledge of the dharma, and be able to teach the dharma in a way that the students can understand and apply them.
There are many more 'criterias' like having strong morality... right motivation (compassion, and the patience and willingness) to teach.. etc etc.
Also some good reads would be: SPIRITUAL GUIDES: Pass or Fail?, Code of Ethics for Spiritual Guides, THE BUDDHA AND THE QUALITIES OF A DHARMA TEACHER -
i could like to share this sutra:
Canki Sutta - on Finidng Reliable Teacher
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.095x.nymo.html -
Lady kshema is the most excellent laywoman who understand emptiness at the time of BuddhaOriginally posted by Isis:As the topic suggest...
any criteria and signals that we can look at?
the most important thing is Buddha never discriminate who is sharing
Example of excellent Lay Buddhist during Buddha's time are
King Ajatashatru ,Lady Kshema , Anathapindika
and so on
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Pureland Buddhist will have recognise Mr Xian Lian
Mr Huang Nianzu and
Mr Li Pingnan
who are advocates in Pureland Buddhism while as a lay person
His Holiness Sakya Trizin is also a realised master as a Householder
We must understand that doesnt mean ordination will qualifies a person to preach
rather its his/her intention in doing so -
Yes agreed... in fact there are many more famous lay teachers than that.Originally posted by bohiruci:Pureland Buddhist will have recognise Mr Xian Lian
Mr Huang Nianzu and
Mr Li Pingnan
who are advocates in Pureland Buddhism while as a lay person
His Holiness Sakya Trizin is also a realised master as a Householder
We must understand that doesnt mean ordination will qualifies a person to preach
rather its his/her intention in doing so
Both my local and Taiwanese teacher are also lay teachers... as a matter of fact my Taiwanese teacher is like my Master's dharma successor. My Master is a monk. -
Thanks.. well saidOriginally posted by Isis:i could like to share this sutra:
Canki Sutta - on Finidng Reliable Teacher
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.095x.nymo.html
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i guess normal propagating the dharma to friends are ok..but if really want to do a proper talk on "stage", the layperson might have to wear "man yi" and would have to have taken the bodhisattva precepts which is equvilent to the ordain precepts.
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Originally posted by sinweiy:
Agreed
i guess normal propagating the dharma to friends are ok..but if really want to do a proper talk on "stage", the layperson might have to wear "man yi" and would have to have taken the [b]bodhisattva precepts which is equvilent to the ordain precepts.
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Even Mr Huang Nian Zu takes the Samaya vows of Vajrayana before he can give talks
The Respect Xia Lian Upasaka also taken the bodhisattva precepts -
Originally posted by bohiruci:
yeah, so does Upasaka Li Bi nan, who was one of MCK's teacher.
Agreed
Even Mr Huang Nian Zu takes the Samaya vows of Vajrayana before he can give talks
The Respect Xia Lian Upasaka also taken the bodhisattva precepts
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