follower enlightened before the teacher?

[SarathW]

Is it possible for the follower to be enlightened before the teacher?

Buddha had some great teachers before his enlightenment. He excelled in Samatha meditation, under the instructions of Alara Kalama and Uddakarama. However he had to carry out his own hard work before the enlightenment.
Are there any similar stories in Buddhist order? If the flower enlightened before the teacher, what will be the relationship?

Is there a hair achy in Sanga order? What is the situation if the person ordinate (student) genuinely does not agree with the teacher?

[nibbuti]

Hi SarathW

I think hierarchy is not relevant. When the Buddha got enlightened his former teachers were the first he would consider fit to understand what he found (if they would still have been alive). I think this shows in which high regard he held his former teachers as 'spiritual friends' (kalyanamittas).