Spiritual Teachers

Lama Tsultrim Allione discusses the practice of feeding your demons, the challenges of being a Buddhist parent, and pilgrimage as a Dharma practice.

Khandro Rinpoche explores her nostalgia for the past, the status of women in Buddhism, and why contemplating impermanence can be so enriching.

His Eminence Dagyab Rinpoche discusses the importance of lifelong learning, why a clear understanding of emptiness is crucial, and how to stop ourselves from impulse buying.

Ajahn Sulak Sivaraksa discusses the importance of socially engaged Buddhism, why we shouldn’t spend all of our time meditating, and how to fight oppression.

Study Buddhism met with Venerable Guo Huei, newly-appointed Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain, to discuss Chan Buddhism, the idea of Pure Lands, and the mechanics of cause and effect.

Charok Lama discusses how to stay calm in a busy world, the Tibetan tulku system, and the importance of understanding the fact that death will certainly come to everyone.

Spiritual mentors lead others to behave and to think constructively in order for them to attain enlightenment. Disciples are those who are led to enlightenment by such persons through training in constructive behavior and thought.

The graded-path presentations nearly always include instructions on appropriate thoughts and actions for disciples in relationship to their mentors, whether on the sutra or the tantra level.

Both the sutras and tantras instruct disciples to regard the qualities and kindness of our mentors as those of a Buddha.

Unhealthy relationships between disciples and mentors can manifest in many ways, including overdependence on the mentor, not maintaining discriminating awareness or transference and regression as known in psychotherapy.