Over the years I have met and or learned from a number of teachers in the Theravada,Vajrayana, and Zen traditions.
Unfortunately Peter, I, as I am sure most, have not been as fortunate as you to have had access to a such a wide diversity of meditation teachers. Choosing between this many teachers is a problem I wish I had. Mpst do not have this luxury.
Now, should Buddhist teachers show more uniformity of style ? Should we avoid the ones that we dont find sympatico ? Or should we gravitate towards them as they may be what we need ?.
I would disregard there personality and teaching styles and focus on there teaching instead. Does it conform with the true Dhamma the Buddha taught?
Or should we stay at home and read about them online?
For most practitioners in the west with a family, mouths to feed and bills to pay this might be the only option. Outside of a small local vipasanna meditation group and a teacher i can go to for guidance with my practice,I restrict my practice and studies to the Buddhas own word and the words of the great meditation masters of our time whose words i can only read. My teacher has never told me i must follow him and his teachings alone but to use what works for me. When i run into problems then he is there to advise me but not babysit me.
I often keep in mind Ajahn Chahs words which is what my teacher has also told me:
Q: What about other methods of practice? These days there seem to be so many teachers and so many different systems of meditation that it is confusing.
Answer: It is like going into town. One can approach from the north,from the southeast, from many roads. Often these systems just differ outwardly. Whether you walk one way or another, fast or slow, if you are mindful, it is all the same. There is one essential point that all good practice must eventually come to--not clinging. In the end, all meditation systems must be let go of. Neither can one cling to the teacher. If a system leads to relinquishment, to not clinging, then it is correct practice. You may wish to travel, to visit other teachers and try other systems.Some of you have already done so. This is a natural desire. You will find out that a thousand questions asked and knowledge of many systems will not bring you to the truth. Eventually you will get bored. You will see that only by stopping and examining your own mind can you find our what the Buddha talked about. No need to go searching outside yourself. Eventually you must return to face your own true nature. Here is where you can understand the Dhamma.
Also to add, the Buddha advises we should find a teacher with insight into the process of Dependent Origination:
At Sāvatthi. " Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is
aging-and-death [maraṇa], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
" Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is birth [jāti], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
"Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is existence [habitual tendencies]- [bhava], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
" Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is clinging-[upādāna], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
" Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is craving-[taṇhā], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
" Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is feeling-[vedanā], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
" Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is contact-[phassa], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
" Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is six sense bases-[saḷāyathana], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
" Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is name-and-form [mentality-materiality]-[nāma-rūpa], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
"Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is consciousness-[viñnāṇa], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is.
. " Bhikkhus, one who does not know and see as it really is volitional formations-[sankhāra], its origin, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, should search for a teacher in order to know this as it really is."
Does my teacher possess this insight? I don't know but he is all that I have and am grateful for that.