<p>Be committed to the path. The solution lies in the quality of consciousness. Just like Metta Sutta says that Metta drives off anger or angry people, you keep investing time and energy in spiritual advancement and you will have no problems with any kind of negative people.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Neither fire, poison, nor weapons can touch one." -- <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an11/an11.016.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Metta
  (Mettanisamsa) Sutta: Good Will</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>I have been living in ashram in India for two years. There have been many deviations from teachers instructions, cheating, politics and hinderances imposed by neophyte students. The best is to be committed to your path so if someone becomes bad or whole Sanga crashes, you will still be on the path making spiritual advancement.     </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T11:56:51.603Z
What's red? It that an acronym?
Marino Klisovich
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T13:28:10.153Z
I think that's @SamanaJohann commenting on (reacting to, disliking) the colour of your avatar.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T13:34:28.123Z
It's orange iwth a letter "U".
Marino Klisovich
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T14:27:54.490Z
I think he complained about "red" previously e.g. as a comment to [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/33965/254) and [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/33901/254).
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T16:02:58.170Z
Doesn't make sense.
Marino Klisovich
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T10:42:06.053Z
2019-09-05T11:57:57.783Z
2019-09-05T11:57:57.783Z
Marino Klisovich
<p>There have always been bad men robed as monks. If we have clear moral discernment, we will avoid them.</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol start="307">
  <li><p>There are many evil characters and uncontrolled men wearing the saffron robe. These wicked men will be born in states of woe because
  of their evil deeds.</p></li>
  <li><p>It would be better to swallow a red-hot iron ball, blazing like fire, than as an immoral and uncontrolled monk to eat the alms of the
  people.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Dhammapada</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-04T21:22:17.780Z
2019-09-04T21:22:17.780Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I have had an experience with a top teacher, Regional Assistant Teacher, and Center Manager acting in ways very disturbing to the path. Later I saw clearly that they were controlled by Mara or had energy in the Mara realm, may be interested in making very difficult Sankhara. How can a serious student navigate these dangers to reach liberation? If the Sangha has lies, killing beings, Traps students and Practitioner s in a the type of life a student of Buddha seeks to be free from? Are these dangers in monks? Can we admit and face what influence we have acting upon us or act out ourselves or will this lead to more ego I am, I am not... Etc. More confusion and controversy.    </p>

<ethics><teachers><sangha><sankhara>
Are there Bad teachers? Is Mara in the Sanga?
# Are there Bad teachers? Is Mara in the Sanga?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-04)

I have had an experience with a top teacher, Regional Assistant Teacher, and Center Manager acting in ways very disturbing to the path. Later I saw clearly that they were controlled by Mara or had energy in the Mara realm, may be interested in making very difficult Sankhara. How can a serious student navigate these dangers to reach liberation? If the Sangha has lies, killing beings, Traps students and Practitioner s in a the type of life a student of Buddha seeks to be free from? Are these dangers in monks? Can we admit and face what influence we have acting upon us or act out ourselves or will this lead to more ego I am, I am not... Etc. More confusion and controversy.

**Tags:** ethics, teachers, sangha, sankhara


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-09-04. Score: 7

There have always been bad men robed as monks. If we have clear moral discernment, we will avoid them.

> 307. There are many evil characters and uncontrolled men wearing the saffron robe. These wicked men will be born in states of woe because
>      of their evil deeds.
> 308. It would be better to swallow a red-hot iron ball, blazing like fire, than as an immoral and uncontrolled monk to eat the alms of the
>      people.
>
> Dhammapada


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### Answer by username_1 on 2019-09-05. Score: 1

Be committed to the path. The solution lies in the quality of consciousness. Just like Metta Sutta says that Metta drives off anger or angry people, you keep investing time and energy in spiritual advancement and you will have no problems with any kind of negative people.

> "Neither fire, poison, nor weapons can touch one." -- [Metta
> (Mettanisamsa) Sutta: Good Will](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an11/an11.016.than.html)

I have been living in ashram in India for two years. There have been many deviations from teachers instructions, cheating, politics and hinderances imposed by neophyte students. The best is to be committed to your path so if someone becomes bad or whole Sanga crashes, you will still be on the path making spiritual advancement.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What's red? It that an acronym?  
> **username_2**: I think that's @SamanaJohann commenting on (reacting to, disliking) the colour of your avatar.  
> **username_1**: It's orange iwth a letter "U".  
> **username_2**: I think he complained about "red" previously e.g. as a comment to [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/33965/254) and [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/33901/254).  
> **username_1**: Doesn't make sense.  

---

