Online teachers

[lucky-2012]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a teacher who accepts students for an online relationship, or is this not a good idea (ie should it be face to face)? I feel I am at a point in my practice where I would like (need?) to have a good teacher. Also how would one go about asking to be a teacher's student? I have had various teacher-student relationships previously, but feel I am looking for something different this time, ie. someone both advanced and with a strong theravadan background.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

With metta

[Cittasanto]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a teacher who accepts students for an online relationship, or is this not a good idea (ie should it be face to face)? I feel I am at a point in my practice where I would like (need?) to have a good teacher. Also how would one go about asking to be a teacher's student? I have had various teacher-student relationships previously, but feel I am looking for something different this time, ie. someone both advanced and with a strong theravadan background.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

With metta

Best to get to know the teacher first!
it is important so you see their keeping of the precepts, and if they act and speak in accordance with eachother, i.e., they walk their talk. and they can get to know you, a online relationship is not the same as a one on one relationship.
If they charge for their time I personally wonder if the teaching isn't just general, something they give to everyone and not specific to the needs of the person!

[lucky-2012]

Thanks Cittasanto

My main motivation for wanting a teacher is that I am finding it more difficult to maintain harmlessness (e.g. wrong speech), and I am wishing for some guidance on finding my life's "mission" (for want of a better word). However I am open to the idea that maybe just meditation is the best way forward. For now that seems like the only option so I will try and develop my patience.

With metta

[Ben]

Greetings,

If you have the time and inclination, a residential meditation retreat maybe very beneficial for you at this time.
kind regards,

Ben

[rowyourboat]

Hi Lucky-2012,

What's stopping you from developing harmless speech?

With metta

[lucky-2012]

Hi Rowyourboat,

To answer your question - just bad habits I think. In particular when online (so maybe that is a sign that an 'online' teacher wouldn't be the way to go). Maybe because I work with computers, I have a tendency to let my fingers take over. This has landed me in 'trouble' on facebook, twitter, online forums, etc etc.

With metta

[lucky-2012]

Greetings,

If you have the time and inclination, a residential meditation retreat maybe very beneficial for you at this time.
kind regards,

Ben

Thank you Ben, I have started looking into this.

[rowyourboat]

Hi Lucky,

As long as you think that handing responsibility over to a teacher is going to get you to nibbana, I don't feel you will get there. What you type is your responsibility - your online or otherwise teacher cannot (and will not) police your thinking for you.

With metta

Matheesha

[Cittasanto]

Thanks Cittasanto

My main motivation for wanting a teacher is that I am finding it more difficult to maintain harmlessness (e.g. wrong speech), and I am wishing for some guidance on finding my life's "mission" (for want of a better word). However I am open to the idea that maybe just meditation is the best way forward. For now that seems like the only option so I will try and develop my patience.

With metta

Hi Lucky,
Have you thought about doing a non-Violent Communication course, or Insight dialogue retreat?
these focus on right speech and have useful tools to use in everyday life.

Although Insight Dialogue is based in Buddhism, NVC isn't, although I believe one would be hard pushed to not see any comparison.

[mirco]

Can anyone recommend a teacher who accepts students for an online relationship, or is this not a good idea (ie should it be face to face)? I feel I am at a point in my practice where I would like (need?) to have a good teacher. Also how would one go about asking to be a teacher's student? I have had various teacher-student relationships previously, but feel I am looking for something different this time, ie. someone both advanced and with a strong theravadan background.
Any advice would be gratefully received.

Bhante Vimalaramsi Mahathera (& Sister Khema) are teaching online via yahoo-group, email and videos since years.
Many lucky students at any level from around the world.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dhammasukha Yahoo-Group
http://www.dhammasukha.org Site

Metta&Smiles,
Mirco

[lucky-2012]

Thank you all for your comments.

With metta

[Jack]

Lucky, there are quite a few very good teachers that use Skype. It has worked for me and I know lots of people who have had success with this method. Try http://alohadharma.wordpress.com/ or http://www.pragmaticdharma.com/forum/. They have both very advanced practitioners and beginners as students.

I have more info it you need it. My email is jackhat1@aol.com.

Jack