Teacher Teacher

Teacher Teacher


In the course of my life, I've come across many people who wants/likes to teach,

Regardless whether they have the innate ability or not.

I remember a yoga 'master', whose classes I used to attend.

On several occasions, he told me,

"XXX is so good because I made them."

He would attribute the success of certain students who are popular and 'good' at yoga, to himself.

However, not once did he talk about those who are not so good.


There was once I had a one-on-one session with him.

Again, he brought up the subject of how teachers are the ones who 'make' the students.

I told him I disagreed.

I told him the students play a part as well,

That it's not wholly the teacher's effort.

As a matter of fact,

Majority of the credit goes to the student's diligence.

He got pretty upset, and kept insisting that it's ALL the teacher's credit.

In order to soothe him down and to maintain harmony,

I smiled and kept quiet.


If you think about it, it's true -

Based on his argument,

If the students are good wholly because of the teacher,

Then doesn't it also follow that the students are bad because of the teacher?

Many people I come across only want praise and to take credit for things.

When it comes to liability or problems or mistakes,

It's always somebody else's fault.

Never theirs.

NONE wants to bear/shoulder it.

It's sad, isn't it?

Like I said in 'I'm Not Good' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/11/im-not-good.html,

"In good, there's bad; In bad there's good".

2 sides of the same coin.

When you have one, you'll have the other.

This is part of the 8 worldly conditions -

Just the way things are.

However, alot of people, in their want to be somebody,

Only paint/see/fantasise the beautiful picture/result of things.

They only want and dream of the good, the pleasant, the gifts they'll receive, the praise, the adoration etc.

They don't want/see/include the 'bad'.

Like I said in 'The Teacher and The Teachings Part 2' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/05/teacher-and-teachings-part-2-teachings.html,

"With power comes responsibility.

But how many can,

And are willing to be responsible,

Not just for the good,

But ALSO for the bad

That comes along with it?"


To me, it's always a principle that,

"Just as I do NOT take credit for how good my students are,

Likewise, I do NOT bear the liability for how bad they are.

I do my best in teaching/guiding them to the best of my ability;

Good or bad depends on how much,

Or how little,

Effort they put in."




"You yourselves should make the effort;

The Tathagatas are only teachers.

Those who enter this Path and who are Meditative,

Are delivered from the bonds of Mara."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 276




'There are three frames of reference that a Noble One cultivates,

Cultivating which he is a teacher fit to instruct a group.'

There is the case where The Teacher —

Out of sympathy, seeking their well-being —

Teaches The Dhamma to his disciples:

'This is for your well-being, this is for your happiness.'

His disciples do NOT listen or lend ear or apply their minds to gnosis.

Turning aside, they stray from The Master's message.

In this case The Tathagata is not satisfied nor is he sensitive to satisfaction,

Yet he remains untroubled, mindful, & alert.

This is the first frame of reference...

Furthermore, there is the case where The Master —

Out of sympathy, seeking their well-being —

Teaches The Dhamma to his disciples:

'This is for your well-being, this is for your happiness.'

Some of his disciples do NOT listen or lend ear or apply their minds to gnosis.

Turning aside, they stray from The Master's message.

But some of his disciples listen, lend ear, & apply their minds to gnosis.

They do NOT turn aside or stray from The Master's message.

In this case The Tathagata is not satisfied nor is he sensitive to satisfaction;

At the same time, he is not dissatisfied nor is he sensitive to dissatisfaction.

Free from both satisfaction & dissatisfaction,

He remains equanimous, mindful, & alert.

This is the second frame of reference...

Furthermore, there is the case where The Master —

Out of sympathy, seeking their well-being —

Teaches The Dhamma to his disciples:

'This is for your well-being, this is for your happiness.'

His disciples listen, lend ear, & apply their minds to gnosis.

They do NOT turn aside or stray from The Master's message.

In this case The Tathagata is satisfied and is sensitive to satisfaction,

Yet he remains untroubled, mindful, & alert.

This is the third frame of reference...

'There are three frames of reference that a Noble One cultivates, cultivating which he is a teacher fit to instruct a group.'

Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

— MN 137

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 137




"As a solid rock is unshaken by the wind,

Even so The Wise are unshaken by praise or blame."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 81




"A person governed by Dhamma is self-sufficient,

And is able to find peace and bliss in ALL circumstances.

There is NOTHING which can disturb and upset the mind

Which has been Absolutely Purified

And which is UNshakeable."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




* * * Read

1) 'Motherhood' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/01/motherhood.html

2) 'The Path' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/03/path.html

3) 'The Buddha - Dead or Alive?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/01/buddha-dead-or-alive.html

4) 'The Buddha, Nibbana' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/06/buddha-nibbana.html