Here is my latest hot topic...someone asked me recently who my teacher is. I responded that I would not mention publicly about that information nor would I reveal even privately to that person unless I found a reason to do so. My reason for such a response are for a couple reasons. One, is that the Bible says do not cast peals before swine.... meaning that something as precious as ones personal relationship with a teacher is too precious and meaningful to share, unless the reason was relevant. Relevant reasons for me include an inkling of some record of respect or well intention from the other person and some similarity in views or what have you. In any case, I consider that information and just about anything else to be by the discretion of the person who is asked. Another reason is that some persons have specifically told me that they cannot reveal the name of their teacher. This was in the case of some kind of special tantric master they have that it would break samaya to reveal the name unless with a vajra brother or sister. Again, I think the asked person has the discretion but usually they are not so comfortable unless perhaps they want to bring that person to their teacher or that person is a senior practioner or what have you. Now in a separate case, a practioner has also previously chastised me for not having a root lama. They asked me who my root lama was and I responded that should not say so easily and then later I admitted that I am still searching and that I thought it was okay. They criticized me. I have even heard that one cannot simply choose the root master but the root master should also accept the student. So these two issues, I would like some feedback on and I will consider what people have to say.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:48:09 +0000