How to learn from a Teacher of the Dharma <?>

[Wesley1982]

If I can't understand the teacher of the dharma(s) how I will learn it? . .

[Jikan]

Ask questions when possible.

[Malcolm]

Second make sure you avoid the many Buddhist cults out there.

[Paul]

Many questionable groups can be found here: http://viewonbuddhism.org/controversy-c ... nable.html

Of course this isn't an exhaustive list...

[Will]

If I can't understand the teacher of the dharma(s) how I will learn it? . .

This practice will remove obstacles to your learning the Dharma.

Start regularly, every day (more than once if possible) visualizing for at least five minutes, a small, radiant Buddha of golden light sitting (or standing) in space, about 5 or 6 feet in front of you. After one or two minutes of seeing this beautiful Buddha, imagine a brilliant ray of light coming from his heart to your heart and filling you to overflowing with wisdom, so that you become radiant yourself. The ray from the Buddha remains connected to you and pulses slowly, gently & regularly with more surges of wisdom-light.

End the practice by thanking the Buddha and vowing to memorize a few lines of a favorite teaching by Buddha.

[tomamundsen]

If I can't understand the teacher of the dharma(s) how I will learn it? . .

I would recommend reading The Words of My Perfect Teacher - http://www.amazon.com/The-Words-Perfect ... 181&sr=8-1. Although it is geared towards Tibetan Vajrayana, there are a few good sections on how to learn from a teacher that I believe apply to any tradition. Towards the beginning, there is advice on how to listen to a teaching. Then there is a whole large section on "how to follow a spiritual friend."

[Wesley1982]

If I found a teacher I would ask about 'American Zen' and how to 'visualize' the Dharma.

[Wesley1982]

This practice will remove obstacles to your learning the Dharma.

Is it obstacles in the lifestyle and the thinking of the mind? . .

[Will]

This practice will remove obstacles to your learning the Dharma.

Is it obstacles in the lifestyle and the thinking of the mind? . .

Yes - and others - in short, all of them.

But it will not happen instantly and it will help if you add body & speech to this practice. Before visualizing, quiet yourself with some deep breaths, then bow three times, from the waist, while sitting. At the same time say "I take refuge in Amitabha Buddha" three times. Amitabha means Boundless Wisdom, and he has a close connection to humanity, so he is a good one to help you.

Keep an eye out for a real guru, that is the best advice. Hopefully there is one not too far away from you.

[Wesley1982]

I see. Then what is my problem I want to relate and socialize normally with other people but theres not anyone there? . .

[Josef]

If I found a teacher I would ask about 'American Zen' and how to 'visualize' the Dharma.

Why?

[Wesley1982]

Why?

I thought it would be a neat alternative to traditional mainstream Christianity.

[Will]

By the way Wesley, your signature has the Heart Sutra mantra wrong. It should be:

Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.

[Wesley1982]

Thanks.

Whats the Buddhist treatment for the subtle delusion or illusion in the mind? . .

[SooYiMongSeng]

What do you mean by "subtle delusion" or "illusion in the mind?"

Those could be two separate things depending on what you're addressing.

And by treatment, do you mean antidote? or do you mean medicine?

[Wesley1982]

What do you mean by "subtle delusion" or "illusion in the mind?"

a) "Not seeing clearly with the eye of truth"

[Wesley1982]

And by treatment, do you mean antidote? or do you mean medicine?

proper medicine prescribed by a Dr. = treatment of the illness

[SooYiMongSeng]

My understanding is that the subtle delusion you speak of is separate from "illusion" of the mind in that delusion incorporates illusion of the mind and illusion of the mind does not always incorporate delusion.

As for my most direct answer, I believe what you're asking about as far as treatment would be "meditation." To me, meditation serves as this "medication" or "treatment." But I'm aware that there are also things called "proper antidotes" to "poisons"--- I believe the most fundamental being ignorance, attachement and anger.

These three poisons need proper antidotes and with proper application of the antidote, you can purge your being of those three fundamental poisons. I"m sure there are others: such as improper speech, improper thought, improper method.

I am not advanced enough to go into detail beyond those three fundamental components of any delusion.

I think meditation serves as the treatment. There are various forms of meditation of course, one of the useful ones that might help with your delusion would be analytical meditation.

But perhaps breathing meditation would be the best for you at first if you haven't done so already.

I'm sure there are many other individuals here who may provide more insight on this answer to your question.

[Wesley1982]

The 'subtle delusion' I borrowed in this context is actually from the Christian Philokalia which is called 'Prelest" or spiritual delusion.

Its actually a specified condition that faith-based christian believers can suffer.

[SooYiMongSeng]

I know very little about "prelest" but from what it sounds like... a monk once recollected that a woman went to a meditation retreat and was doing well but apparently had been using the wrong method. Every time she meditated she would say, "wisdom, wisdom, wisdom" and it eventually drove her mad.

I wish I had more details on the wisdom that the monk ellaborated on but from what my teacher has relayed to me (I'm sorry I always use this as a reference but none of these are my original ideas):

Everything is generally an illusion of some sort... visualizing, sensations, even emotions you feel even in the context of buddhism. But this is not to be taken in the most literal sense. I'm not really an expert on this but it's more of a "everything comes and goes so what does it really matter?" that incites a sort of detachement from experience as well. It's useful to analyze but it's not useful to internalize to a great extent.

From what I understand, the only truth, and maybe spectrum opposite from delusion/delest/illusion would be the Dharma itself.... but from I understand.. enlightenment, nirvana.. samadhi.. are all "truth" and that is "knowing" ... and "no-self" and "non-existence."

Anyone have any other thoughts on this? I'm afraid I'm not doing the best job here