Scott,
Someone here has quoted several times a line which is probably true, and which
runs, approximately:
"Even a so-so teacher can awaken a dedicated student, but a wishy-washy student
is hopeless no matter who the teacher is".
Another matter that's likely to be important is the sense of connection that we
feel with a teacher. Of course, such a sense or impression can change and
develop with time, too. I've known people who felt a great connection with a
teacher at first, but drifted away when the connection later came to seem
unsatisfactory. I've known others who felt no connection at all, but who
decided to be a student of that master anyway, and had good results (a
connection developed rather late).
But I think we can help ourselves if we seek a teacher in a setting where there
is a real lineage and hence good quality-control on the formation of new
teachers. Transmission assures that a lot of quality- control effort has been
expended (but nothing is guaranteed!, nor is it guaranteed forever). I'd say,
in any case, commit yourself to the Dharma, not to a teacher; then, you'll be
OK.
I think any of the Chinese successors of Ch'an Master Sheng Yen can be depended
on to be the best quality, thorough masters. The Chan Meditation Center
website will tell you who they are. There are 7-day (or longer) Chan retreats
at the Pine Bush, New York, retreat center, called Dharma Drum Retreat Center.
The American and European successors of Sheng Yen are also fine, but I think
the Chinese successors are even better, because they are monastics, and have
lived a very concentrated life in Chan (Zen). They have a very good track
record with Western students. Sheng Yen was my teacher, and I am/was his 13th
disciple in the United States. He passed away in 2009.
Wishing you well! I admire your sincere will to practice with a true teacher,
and I hope you find just such a situation soon. If possible, talk with the
students of the teacher, too, not just with the teacher, when "shopping
around". I'd say, talk even MORE with the students than with the teacher. See
what kind of folks are attracted to the teacher. Talk with enough of the
students so that you can get pretty good statistics, not just one or two. If
you have to do the selection by Internet, though, then it's harder, or it's a
roll of the dice. But, again, much of the responsibility in practice is the
student's. Good luck!
--Joe
> "Bummy McNeedy" wrote:
>
> I've been meditating for about 5 years, and taking the zen approach for about
> a year, and feel I'm making progress. I'd like to go to a zen monastery, but
> not in a radiated place like Japan or S. Korea. However, all the zen masters
> out there I've run into or found, are not enlightened at all. In fact,
> they've all trivialized zen, and do tired out bullshit like yell KATZ, and
> bang sticks. This was done at one time, as a fresh way to stop one's mind. It
> was never meant to become a stupid tradition. Anyway, I want to find a real
> McCoy, enlightened master. Doesn't matter how far away, just has to be real,
> and not basting in radioactive debris.
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