<p><sup><em>(Disclaimer: Bear in mind that this answer is structured for the purpose of providing references. This structure is entirely my own way of putting the answer together. I'd emphasize taking the references on their -own terms- without giving too much importance to this structure.)</em></sup></p>

<p>To find a skillful teacher, one could approach the matter prudently by investigating the teacher for the following points:  </p>

<ul>
<li>Doesn't accept money, especially for teaching.<sup>1</sup>  </li>
<li>Doesn't show traces of greed, hatred or delusion in their behavior.<sup>2</sup>  </li>
<li>Meditates frequently and for lengthy periods.<sup>3</sup>  </li>
<li>Eats once a day before noon.<sup>4</sup>  </li>
<li>Is content with very little.<sup>5</sup>  </li>
<li>Is bent on solitude &amp; seclusion.<sup>6</sup>  </li>
</ul>

<p><em>Note that these points are just <strong>good guidelines</strong> and should be taken as a supplement to one's own discernment. A skillful teacher doesn't need to fulfill <strong>all</strong> of the points, but if he does, great, stick with him.</em>  </p>

<p>For further references, the following discourses might be of great aid:  </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.12.0.than.html#sorts3" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>DN 12</em></a>: Teachers that are worthy &amp; unworthy of criticism.  </li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.008.nypo.html#mire" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>MN 8</em></a>: The whole discourse is worth reading but I linked to the specific section about instruction called "Quenching".  </li>
<li><a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Middle_Length_Discourses(Majjhima_Nikaya),Nanamoli,Bodhi,1995.pdf#page=417" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>MN 47</em></a>: This discourse addresses the issue head-on. <sup><em>(Recommended)</em></sup>  </li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.073.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 4.73</em></a>: Qualities of a person of integrity. <sup><em>(Recommended)</em></sup>  </li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.192.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 4.192</em></a>: Shows how one finds a person's virtue, purity, endurance &amp; wisdom. <sup><em>(Recommended)</em></sup>  </li>
<li><a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=725" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 5.100</em></a>: Teachers being covered up by their pupils.  </li>
<li><a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=773" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 5.159</em></a>: Five qualities a teacher should set up. <sup><em>(Recommended)</em></sup>  </li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.12.than.html#dhp-158" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Dhp 158-159</em></a>: Two verses about teachers.  </li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p><sup>1. <a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=773" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 5.159</em></a> has five qualities a teacher should set up. The fourth one is that he will not teach for the purpose of material reward.<br>
2. <a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Middle_Length_Discourses(Majjhima_Nikaya),Nanamoli,Bodhi,1995.pdf#page=1142" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>MN 150</em></a> mentions that recluses without greed, hatred &amp; delusion are those that should be respected, venerated &amp; honored.<br>
3. <a href="https://archive.org/stream/DialoguesOfTheBuddha-Part3/DialoguesOfTheBuddha#page/n129/mode/2up" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>DN 29</em></a> mentions that buddhist recluses live addicted to the pleasure of meditation.<br>
4. <a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Middle_Length_Discourses(Majjhima_Nikaya),Nanamoli,Bodhi,1995.pdf#page=544" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>MN 65</em></a> is a good reference about the <em>Buddha</em>'s thoughts concerning this issue.<br>
5. <a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=414" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 4.27</em></a> is a good reminder about contentment with the bare minimum but I wouldn't advocate it as a <em>necessary</em> guideline.<br>
6. <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.053.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 8.53</em></a> has the qualities that make-up the <em>Buddha</em>'s teaching and one of them is solitude\seclusion.</sup></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-03T13:01:13.373Z
2017-02-08T20:59:50.563Z
2017-02-08T20:59:50.563Z
Unrul3r
<p>There is a <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1440/vajrayana-buddhism-relies-on-a-teacher-pupil-relationship-what-in-tradition-or">similar question</a> from the <em>Vajrayāna</em> stand-point in which I gave an answer that was partially off-topic since it wasn't from that tradition's texts. So I thought it could be useful for newcomers to know what the early texts say on this matter.</p>

<p><em>Note: Since one is <a href="http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2011/07/its-ok-to-ask-and-answer-your-own-questions/">explicitly encouraged</a> to answer his own questions for the sake of sharing his knowledge, I've also answered the question below.</em></p>

<pali-canon><texts><teachers><chinese-canon>
Which early canonical references help one find a skillful teacher?
# Which early canonical references help one find a skillful teacher?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-03)

There is a [similar question](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1440/vajrayana-buddhism-relies-on-a-teacher-pupil-relationship-what-in-tradition-or) from the *Vajrayāna* stand-point in which I gave an answer that was partially off-topic since it wasn't from that tradition's texts. So I thought it could be useful for newcomers to know what the early texts say on this matter.

*Note: Since one is [explicitly encouraged](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2011/07/its-ok-to-ask-and-answer-your-own-questions/) to answer his own questions for the sake of sharing his knowledge, I've also answered the question below.*

**Tags:** pali-canon, texts, teachers, chinese-canon


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2014-07-03. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

*(Disclaimer: Bear in mind that this answer is structured for the purpose of providing references. This structure is entirely my own way of putting the answer together. I'd emphasize taking the references on their -own terms- without giving too much importance to this structure.)*

To find a skillful teacher, one could approach the matter prudently by investigating the teacher for the following points:

* Doesn't accept money, especially for teaching.1
* Doesn't show traces of greed, hatred or delusion in their behavior.2
* Meditates frequently and for lengthy periods.3
* Eats once a day before noon.4
* Is content with very little.5
* Is bent on solitude & seclusion.6

*Note that these points are just **good guidelines** and should be taken as a supplement to one's own discernment. A skillful teacher doesn't need to fulfill **all** of the points, but if he does, great, stick with him.*

For further references, the following discourses might be of great aid:

* [*DN 12*](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.12.0.than.html#sorts3): Teachers that are worthy & unworthy of criticism.
* [*MN 8*](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.008.nypo.html#mire): The whole discourse is worth reading but I linked to the specific section about instruction called "Quenching".
* [*MN 47*](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Middle_Length_Discourses(Majjhima_Nikaya),Nanamoli,Bodhi,1995.pdf#page=417): This discourse addresses the issue head-on. *(Recommended)*
* [*AN 4.73*](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.073.than.html): Qualities of a person of integrity. *(Recommended)*
* [*AN 4.192*](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.192.than.html): Shows how one finds a person's virtue, purity, endurance & wisdom. *(Recommended)*
* [*AN 5.100*](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=725): Teachers being covered up by their pupils.
* [*AN 5.159*](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=773): Five qualities a teacher should set up. *(Recommended)*
* [*Dhp 158-159*](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.12.than.html#dhp-158): Two verses about teachers.

---

1. [*AN 5.159*](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=773) has five qualities a teacher should set up. The fourth one is that he will not teach for the purpose of material reward.  
2. [*MN 150*](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Middle_Length_Discourses(Majjhima_Nikaya),Nanamoli,Bodhi,1995.pdf#page=1142) mentions that recluses without greed, hatred & delusion are those that should be respected, venerated & honored.  
3. [*DN 29*](https://archive.org/stream/DialoguesOfTheBuddha-Part3/DialoguesOfTheBuddha#page/n129/mode/2up) mentions that buddhist recluses live addicted to the pleasure of meditation.  
4. [*MN 65*](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Middle_Length_Discourses(Majjhima_Nikaya),Nanamoli,Bodhi,1995.pdf#page=544) is a good reference about the *Buddha*'s thoughts concerning this issue.  
5. [*AN 4.27*](http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=414) is a good reminder about contentment with the bare minimum but I wouldn't advocate it as a *necessary* guideline.  
6. [*AN 8.53*](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.053.than.html) has the qualities that make-up the *Buddha*'s teaching and one of them is solitude\seclusion.


---

