+vril ya Hi ....... I actually loved the video. There was nothing I essentially disagreed with rather I feel that the video implies that the "Guru" which here equals a "person who guides you in the path" as being only as a person is a little misleading. I specifically cited not my words but the Buddha's own words to place the emphasis on recognizing the essential Buddha Nature not only in some but all people.In my opinion each person has a right to pursue the dharma in accordance with their seeking spirit.I think that I was offering my views, based on my practice, into what the Buddha indicated should be the proper role and potential attitude of the Teacher/Guru and of the student/seeker and that Enlightenment (the Truth about Life as it is) resides in Life itself and not in persons.To believe otherwise is to disregard the dharma door of no independent self and is a sign that dualism is still trapping the mind. I think that then you see the Guru and oneself as separate and even more so Guru and stranger as being separate which can lead to suffering. Your practice then becomes a focus on "My Guru" this or that as opposed to being in a moment to moment relationship with all life. The attitude and understanding of Guru must be seen through the prism and insight of inter-being or emptiness.The fact that many people believe that they have access to an enlightened teacher is wonderful! But the idea that one can "only" practice from a Guru or an enlightened teacher does not conform in my opinion to the vast majority of the Buddha's teachings either Theravada or otherwise which specifically state that Arhats, Bodhisattvas and Great Beings can and will come to the student in various guises to teach and train the seeker concerning the Truth.

thank you this is so helpful to me. I am just beginning my study and practice and this video was discouraging because there are no temples teachers anywhere nearby. Do you believe that reaching out to people online would be helpful as a guide when I feel that I need support?

moviegirl3073 Yes I do!! You can contact the "Mindfulness School" to learn online and they are really quite good and legitimate. I am taking a class from them since I am a teacher and their mission is to teach teachers but I really feel anyone can benefit. They don't practice as I do but that means nothing, I am learning so much from them. Peace :)

Thank you.

How do you know if a place is legitimate?

I love you all so much hahahah

lol same here

You are the one!

Well said!

Buddha himself said to not take his words just because they are spoken, not to base your life on faith. To only follow his way if you believe it works not out of love or veneration for one man.

orion9k I support what you stated. Would like to add another aspect to your argument meditation ultimately had a purpose to improve oneself continually and also alleviate the sufferings of others. That was the ultimate purpose for BUddhism to be in this world . I think the focus is people and their well being, which actually starts from oneself and then goes on to other people.

orion9k m .

Lol what is this God you speak of? The God that I know is in the sky yes aswel as in the wind, the grass snd in the trees, he is inside of oneself, seek and you shall find.

Doesn't life teach you the same lessons? Isn't a teacher more important to make examples of those lessons so they stand out more? Isn't the first step to enlightenment to be able to recognise those lessons oneself? If no, no and no you've essentially told me I'm doomed much like a Christian telling me I'm going to burn in hell. Bummer and I was having such a good day.

Go with your intuition. I would like to defend my point of view, but seeing as I have no direct teacher myself, I have to rely on texts from other realized individuals. And from what I've read, there are 9 qualities in all, that reflect a dharmic person. One of those qualities is to remember the teacher. One treats the teacher as someone who has already accomplished the path. And therefore someone to be emulated, as far as the way they conduct themselves. Not saying to imitate them, be yourself, but emulate their dharmic qualities as something to model your own practice after. and I think that there is also a need for a living sangah, also as an embodiment of a teacher. Otherwise you have no one to correct you. So if you're just alone and believing you're doing all of the teachings properly and thoroughly, without a teacher, how do you know you're not strengthening your ego? The Buddha created the situations in which he taught. They spontaneously transpired, but they also were created because he allowed the space for them to occur. Maybe you don't need a living teacher to surrender to. I on the other hand would. Sorry if I truly did bum you out. And also sounded like a radical Christian. Good luck to you!

Greg Folino Nah man I was kidding. Your whole point is true, though I wouldn't say its essential. Of course I have taken teachers from all around and all eras. I can't be evaluated by them but I'm also seeking my own answers. Self awareness is key as your was right about the ego also. Through my learning, at a certain point, I noticed it's prominence growing. Only recently actually, but I've been looking into methods/philosophies to remain more vigilant of it. It would be a benefit if there were more true teachers around. Hopefully I can make due. I know it should but the next life (as long as there will be a world left to have one) isn't so much the concern. For me its just about how I conduct myself in this life. I used to be a soldier, for a while at least. My interactions with people were often negative. One day I realised my wake was my legacy, the imprint my being here left behind. So I do better when I can and minimalise fall out when I can't.

^ Yes, good, it's all very matter of fact. A guru or your teacher would be pleased with that whole hearted 200% approach. But we're also regarding the teacher/Guru as an accomplished person. Someone who has gone all the way. But you need the initial jolt from somebody else. You need to be given a technique for doing nothing. Then, your are right Kane, everything else is all up to you. The Guru/Teacher can't do it for you.

Surrender to the teacher and be abused. That’s what happens way too many times. Be your own teacher as the answer is within!

+Best Audio I'm a Christian and know very little about Buddhism, so I can't adequately answer your question. I just wanted to say that Siddhartha actually had two teachers of yogic meditation in the beginning :) Also the woman in 12:36 says, that there are many paths to enlightenment, but by correct devotion to spiritual guide you can get enlighted in one lifetime. So I think Siddharta followed a different path, that also lead to enlightenment. Please correct me if I'm wrong. :)

there are already schools of thought/teachings during his time so he must have absorbed some of them. also there were other monks around him. im not an expert ive just learned a bit of siddartha gautama buddha's history.

He was a nobleman, so would have been highly educated with access to all the philosophical works available at that time. After leaving his life of pleasure behind he followed teachers but decided that none of them knew the answer; therefore he went out (using all he had learned plus his own wisdom and introspection) to seek and find enlightenment for himself.

Gautam Buddha found the path of enlightenment through his own efforts this is why he is supreme Buddha . All all those who achieved enlightenment with the help of his teachings are called silent Buddha or simply Buddha and those and those who are is the process of becoming Buddha are called Bodhisattva. Supreme Buddha generally appears when the original teachings are not present for anyone..

who said Buddha didn't attend a spiritual master

I completely agree with you. Meditation is in the eye of the beholder and what one makes of it. Some people chant, some count beads or listen to music, it's all good. For me personally dark quiet silence works the best. I tried chanting, I tried music, I even tried those certain frequency sound tracks. It was all pretty cool, but those external devices caused my mind to have feelings. I started with paying attention to the breathing but now I have do that even less. This form that I have adopted has increased my level of calmness during the day as well. MY meditation is NOT the RIGHT way, it is just one way, again we should all do what works for us. The moment I see a video or read something where the person states "our way is better" like TM where they act like they are comparing breakfast cereals I am suspect.

KaneLongTroy I think many of the TM people are most likely sincere but maybe they get too entrenched in the bottom line of the organization. I have been get caught up in the group think and gained a collectiveness that made me feel safe in numbers. I felt like that 40 years ago when I was involved with Scientology. I imagine that's probably how others involved in any type of organized religion feel, or any group for that matter ,for many of them at least. Of course it was a great thing to be a part of a group, and it gave me a sense of engagement and belonging, but when I allowed the group mind to dominate and override my own self determinism then it just lead me down a path away from the road to awakening. This has definitely applied to individuals for me as well. Where the needs of others regardless of their positive or negative nature cancel out my own sense of value. But this is changing through my practice.

Scot Campbell I think meditation must have a purpose otherwise it's worthless not using it for one's emancipation/improvement and the alleviation of people's suffering. I think that was the reason to meditate in the first place.

rohit chaturvedi I agree with you that was the reason to meditate in the first place and when I started I felt that primarily. But then I let the desire for improvement fade, well at least during the actual sitting. Then I also let go of such thoughts somewhat even during the day. More and more I let go of thoughts about my practice.. I think less about... "If I meditate I will get better" or "if I meditate I will help make the world a better place". I think less about desire, attaining and pleasure, and then it comes to me. Does that make sense? If I think "I care about the world and want to be more compassionate" well, that is a thought, for me that is not the truth. From my experience in sitting, the truth, is the silence, the no-thought state, it is the now, it is I, I am the now, the path, the eternal knower, god. I am not love, hate, compassion, greed, I am no-thing, the essence and power behind all that is. Having said that I am also ego and body, mind and brain. I worry sometimes about my family and life in general but I can say through meditation my fears, anxieties and stress have decreased somewhat. Unlike before my practice began 9 months ago, and although I am not always successful I now avoid craving and seeking pleasure and wanting...and that's when it all comes to me.

eGGzis10nce The Buddha himself and all the enlightened ones had and needed guidance to begin with. After many years of practice their wings were strong enough to fly on their own. So just as in this analogy of the bird, one must have training initially before learning how to fly and practicing until one is skilled to soar on their own . If you have the merit, the karma and the discipline required to be able to recognize on your own without a teacher or guidance then you are beyond what Shakyamuni himself was capable of and that's pretty darned amazing.

Thank you for your recommendations, I’m older and this is new…

+Graeme Castle Thank you for your interest in our series. Many of the talks have been recorded specifically for this series and are not part of a larger teaching. Maybe we can provide you with some links to specific teachers if you let us know which teachings you are specifically interested in.

+FPMT Venerable Connie Miller seems very easy to understand, as is Venerable Sarah Thresher. Venerable Robina Curtin is also very easy to listen to learn from. If you know of any of their teachings which are online that would be really helpful :)

+Graeme Castle Thank you for your help!

+Graeme Castle Also Venerable Thubten Dhondrub. The talks by these teachers are very interesting.

+Graeme Castle Ven. Robina is an FPMT touring teacher and regularly teaches in Institute Vajrayogini, France. institutvajrayogini.fr/AVrobina_6fr.php. Ven. Dondrup and Ven. Sarah are not commonly recorded. If you are strongly interested in Buddhism, we recommend the Kopan Monastery November course, which is often led by Ven. Dondrup. kopanmonastery.com. The source of all these courses is Lama Zopa Rinpoche, our precious teacher, who has been the inspiration for all these great teachers. You can find most of his teachings here: fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/

+Ashley Boyd Thank you for your email and for your interest in Tibetan Buddhism. To find your closest FPMT center or study group, please have a look at our directory. You might also find it helpful to see which centers have resident teachers, as maybe you can connect with a course or retreat at one of those centers from time to time. If no current centers or study groups are geographically close to you, then you may like to follow one of our excellent online study programs. You may also find our Buddhism FAQs helpful. I hope the above is helpful, and wish you all the best in your continued Dharma practice.

Ashley I am in the same situation.

u have to come india .if u I have known many teachers .

u have to come india .if u I have known many teachers .

Hi..FRIEND!!😊.please..no needed to be confused..l am BUDDISHT..58 seasons passed..VEGAN..ASIAN GUY..hard-in-deepth educated with BUDDHA"S TEACHING(COMING FROM HIS MOUTH..ONLY)..I am the TE-RA-VADT follower..FIRSTLY..l know your confusion.. please realizing..BUDDHA"S UNIQUE CHARACTERS..HE is so utmost cooled person..if you respected him..try your best to be "LIKE HIM"..be cooled and be calmed(dare telling you..I practiced this numerous times when facing with the bad guys..can clearing out of nearly all bad situations)...SEAMINGLY.. you may be a new enthusiastic person..that is not a big issue..l would like suggesting you to hold the "FIVE PRECETS" continuously..please trust me..THAT..THESE FIVE PRECEPTS..are the only way for any newcomer to entering the DOOR OF HAPPINESS..ON BASIC FUNDAMENTAL OF BUDDHA"S TEACHING..!!..SI MULTANOUSLY with MEDITATION SOMETIMES ARE ALL RIGHT TO YOU..MAM..💡💡👌😊.. BYE!! .

A morning show 'This morning' had a week or 2 of past life claims with a team of historians and archaeologist trying to find the life of the person in the past. Some were obscure meagre people living unimportant lives but most were traced. I'm sure if you look it up you'll find some credible cases.

dhanbahadur ghising Dear Dhanbahadur, teachings are always free of charge. And there are many retreats that are on donation basis only. Please do some research. And you might want to be careful to judge a highly renowned spiritual teacher who has thousands of devoted students just because you read a report in the internet, written by someone you do not know and whose intention you do not know.

Harald Weichhart ä

That wouldn’t work unfortunately.🙂

Shri Krama Lei And the outer appearance by no means can alter the inner message.

you try to make yourself sound learnt, but not. do you even know the word priest and what its used for? learn a little more about stuff.

No way, why introduce a fantasy to this beautiful reality?