Illumination = understanding your teacher/guru

[Wesley1982]

Illumination is the enlightenment leading to the knowledge of understanding your teacher's lessons.

[kirtu]

Illumination is the enlightenment leading to the knowledge of understanding your teacher's lessons.

No, the teacher/guru may be unenlightened and not know what s/he is talking about. Nonetheless in the Sravakayana and Mahayana enlightenment or illumination is still possible as long as the "basics" are communicated correctly. As an example there are instances of Zen students becoming enlightened before their teachers. This can also happen in the Vajrayana, btw.

Kirt

[Wesley1982]

I would think that the teacher/guru would know better than the student! . .

[Spirituality]

I would think that the teacher/guru would know better than the student! . .

The way I understand guru yoga at the very least the student should think the teacher has something to teach. The famous example is Atisha who went to Indonesia to learn Bodhicitta from Serlingpa who had a Chittamatrin view, while Atisha was a madhymika. The teacher doesnt have to have more knowledge or higher realizations than the student WILL HAVE, just in at least one direction more realizations or knowledge than the student starts out with. The student has to have character enough to be devoted in the face of th limitations of the teacher, though only taking on board what is valuable, true etc.

From a western perspective it's a tough thing to get right: neither losing independent thinking, nor losing respect.

[Josef]

I would think that the teacher/guru would know better than the student! . .

This should be the case.
It is the students responsibility to check the teacher and make sure they are appropriate for them.

[Wesley1982]

It looks like I'm learning and doing this "Buddhist thing" on my own.