Are there living enlightened buddhist teachers ?

[Miss Hepburn]

Why not settle for a very happy, experienced and wise Buddhist teacher!
I'd get recommendations, but that's me.

Originally Posted by smilingsun

Do you know any living enlightenened buddhist teacher, who gives public teachings or talks ?

The smile on the face of such a teacher, like the Dalai Lama and others, is very important to me. Don't want to know anything as a teaching from those who look sad or to serious, only a little part of them as awakened.

[BigJohn]

.............. besides, they are not perfect even though some claim they are

Originally Posted by BigJohn

.............. besides, they are not perfect even though some claim they are

I guess it depends how people define the word "enlightenment." To me, it just means some degree of self awareness and knowledge so that can vary from a little to a lot and also vary from somebody fully committed to "it" and others who just dabble in it.

Originally Posted by smilingsun

Do you know any living enlightenened buddhist teacher, who gives public teachings or talks ?

It is my understanding that every Theravadan teacher has at least attained 2nd or 3d path before starting to really teach on a regular basis. This means that they at least know the territory one may find him or herself in when following the steps as the buddha explained them in the pali canon.


Depending on where you are on this earth there may be a few meditation center's or even monasteries that you could check out. As always some discernment is needed if you want to study with a teacher.
Different teachers utilize very different methods, even after enlightenment it seems.

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by Eelco

It is my understanding that every Theravadan teacher has at least attained 2nd or 3d path before starting to really teach on a regular basis.

I remember way back on another forum someone posting a reference to a meditation course that guaranteed "stream entry" after just two weeks.

I asked at the time if this meant Buddhism was a sausage factory, which got me in a bit of hot water!

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

I remember way back on another forum someone posting a reference to a meditation course that guaranteed "stream entry" after just two weeks.

I asked at the time if this meant Buddhism was a sausage factory, which got me in a bit of hot water!

I can imagine, and a guaranteed two-week course on stream-entry seems a bit much. That said though. The last few years have been eye-opening for me where it comes to the attainability of stream-entry and beyond. I have had to shed quite some ingrained beliefs about the unattainability of enlightenment in a lifetime. Reading some accounts on dharmaoverground, the MCTB book by daniel Ingram and renewed open-minded look at the Theravadan tradition has me believe that stream-entry is not only attainable, but that quite a few monks reached that stage.


Part of that has to do with abandoning my own views on what stream-entry should look like. Here again, the Pali canon gives some guidance.

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Part of that has to do with abandoning my own views on what stream-entry should look like. Here again, the Pali canon gives some guidance.

Pre-conceived notions are an on-going threat to any realisation.
Thanks

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 43 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

Pre-conceived notions are an on-going threat to any realisation.

Excellent point!
What have you personally found most effective in freeing one's self from "pre-conceived notions"?

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by smilingsun

Do you know any living enlightenened buddhist teacher, who gives public teachings or talks ?

A wise sage was once asked if there were any enlightened beings. His response was: "There is One".