Responsibilities of a Teacher

Monks, when a cattle worker possesses eleven factors, he is capable of keeping and caring for a herd of cattle.

What eleven?

Here a cattle worker has wisdom of form, he is skilled in characteristics, he removes flies’ eggs, he dresses wounds, he smokes out the sheds, he knows the watering place, he knows what it is to have drunk, he knows the road, he is skilled in pastures, he does not milk dry, and he shows extra veneration to those bulls who are fathers and leaders of the herd.

When a cattle worker possesses these eleven factors, he is capable of keeping and caring for a herd of cattle.

So too, Monks, when a Monk possesses these eleven qualities, he is capable of growth, increase, and maturity in The Teachings and Discipline.

What eleven?

Here a Monk has wisdom of form, he is skilled in characteristics, he removes flies’ eggs, he dresses wounds, he smokes out the sheds, he knows the watering place, he knows what it is to have drunk, he knows the road, he is skilled in pastures, he does not milk dry, and he shows extra veneration to those elder Monks of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of The Community.

And how is a Monk skilled in characteristics?

Here, a Monk understands as it really is thus: ‘An unwise person is characterized by his actions; a wise person is characterized by his actions.’

It is in this way that a Monk is skilled in characteristics.

And how does a Monk smoke out the sheds?

Here, a Monk teaches The Teachings to others in detail as he has heard it and learned it.

It is in this way that a Monk smokes out the sheds.

And how does a Monk know the watering place?

Here, from time to time a Monk approaches those Monks who are learned, heirs to the heritage, experts on The Teachings, experts on the discipline, experts on the outlines, and inquires of them: ‘How is this, Venerable Sir? What is the meaning of this?’ Those Venerable Ones then disclose to him what has not been disclosed, clear up what is obscure, and dispel his perplexity about numerous perplexing points.

It is in this way that a Monk knows the watering place.

And how does a Monk know what it is to have drunk?

Here, when The Teachings and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata are being taught, a Monk gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in The Teachings, gains joy connected with The Teachings.

It is in this way that a Monk knows what it is to have drunk.

And how does a Monk know the road?

Here, a Monk understands The Noble Eight Fold Path as it really is.

It is in this way that a Monk knows the road.

And how is a Monk skilled in pastures?

Here, a Monk understands The Four Foundations of Mindfulness as they really are.

It is in this way that a Monk is skilled in pastures.

And how does a Monk not milk dry?

Here, when dedicated Householder Practitioners invite a Monk to take robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and provisions for the sick, a Monk is moderate in accepting donations.

It is in this way that a Monk does not milk dry.

And how does a Monk show extra veneration to those elder Monks of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of The Community?

Here, a Monk maintains bodily, verbal, and mental acts of loving-kindness both openly and privately toward those elder Monks of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of The Community.

It is in this way that a Monk shows extra veneration to those elder Monks of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of The Community.

Possessing these eleven qualities, a Monk is capable of growth, progress, and fulfillment in these Teachings and discipline.

(Here only eight of the eleven factors are shared as these eight apply to ‘Generosity and Gratitude’. See the included reference for the entire Teaching.)

(Reference: AN 11.17)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares aspects of an Ordained Practitioner’s, or Teacher’s, life practice that needs to be developed to be able to grow, progress, and fulfill their role within these Teachings and discipline.

And how is a Monk skilled in characteristics?

A Practitioner needs to understand what qualities are wholesome and unwholesome so that one can actively apply energy and effort to cultivate the wholesome and eliminate the unwholesome. And, it is not just one’s speech but also one’s actions that determine their character.

Through improving one’s bodily, verbal, and mental conduct through practicing wholesome conduct, one will experience beneficial outcomes in their life.

A Teacher is a role model for their Students, and through practicing wholesome moral conduct, their Students are able to model this conduct within their own practice. Without a Teacher deeply learning The Teachings, they would have no ability to practice these Teachings to cultivate the mind, and their Students would not have a well developed Teacher, who is their leader, to model their life practice.

And how does a Monk smoke out the sheds?

A Teacher should share The Teachings in the way that they were shared with them and led to their Enlightenment. There is no situation or circumstance where a Teacher should change The Teachings of The Buddha. Instead, they should deeply learn with The Words of The Buddha, reflect on The Teachings, and practice The Teachings.

As one observes the condition of the mind and their life gradually improving, they will know the truth and acquire deep wisdom.

To be able to share these Teachings in a way that will produce Enlightenment for countless individuals, these Teachings need to be shared in the way that The Buddha shared them. There should be nothing added or taken away unless that is done by a new Buddha.

By sharing The Teachings in this way, we can ensure that countless generations will be able to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings to progress to Enlightenment. The entire world can attain Enlightenment through being guided by the life affirming wisdom of The Buddhas who awakened to Enlightenment through their own independent journey, dedicated the remaining time of their life to sharing these Teachings guiding countless Practitioners to Enlightenment, and leaving these Teachings in a condition that they could be continually shared, guiding countless more Practitioners to Enlightenment.

It is The Teachings of a Buddha that lead to Enlightenment, not modifications that are made after their death.

And how does a Monk know the watering place?

A Teacher will need to continue their learning and development on The Path to Enlightenment for their entire life. To be a wise and effective Teacher, one needs to first be a highly developed Practitioner. Without a well developed practice of these Teachings that leads to Enlightenment, one would be incapable of guiding others to Enlightenment as a Teacher.

Therefore, one needs to continually seek guidance from their own Teacher to develop their life practice and develop their ability to share these Teachings in beneficial ways that help others attain Enlightenment.

A Teacher should never share anything that they do not know is 100% the truth through development of their own practice and independent verification of the truth. This may include the need to share with a Student that you do not know the answer to their question and will get back with them after you consult with your own Teacher. If there is no conceit in the mind or one is practicing towards the elimination of conceit, “I do not know” is a valid answer.

Sharing untruthful and unverified Teachings would only cause harm to your own mind and the mind of those who choose to learn without reflection and practice to independently verify the truth to acquire wisdom. A Teacher will need to ensure they are not causing harm within their life practice to include, not harming their Students by the Teacher taking the time, effort, energy, and resources to independently verify any and all Teachings they choose to share. Sharing unverified Teachings would cause harm to Students and the Teacher. A Teacher should consult with their own Teacher anytime they do not know the answer to a question to ensure that they continue to develop their own practice, they are not lying, and that they are not causing harm to their Students.

A Teacher will need the support of their own Teachers, therefore, maintaining healthy relationships with one’s Teachers will be required to fully develop one’s own life practice to attain Enlightenment and to be able to develop one’s abilities to share these Teachings as a Teacher.

And how does a Monk know what it is to have drunk?

A Teacher should be inspired, motivated, enthusiastic, and joyful towards The Teachings of The Buddha. If one is experiencing Enlightenment, this is very easy to do.

The results of the Enlightened mind are beyond anything that one has experienced at any time during their life. The mind is so peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy, it is steady and unshakable. It is a mental state that is completely unknown to an unEnlightened being and as one experiences increased qualities of Enlightenment, then inspiration, motivation, enthusiasm, and joy are qualities that fill the mind.

Through practicing inspiration, motivation, enthusiasm, and joy, those around a Teacher will learn to cultivate the qualities of inspiration, motivation, enthusiasm, and joy.

And how does a Monk know the road?

A Teacher will need to deeply understand The Eight Fold Path. An Enlightened being will know The Eight Fold Path inside, outside, backwards, and forwards. They would be able to easily discuss The Eight Fold Path (i.e. The Path to Enlightenment) with anyone who seeks guidance to learn and practice these Teachings.

A wise Teacher will know that it is The Eight Fold Path that guides humans and heavenly beings to Enlightenment.

Without a deep understanding and practice of The Eight Fold Path, a Teacher would be unable to attain Enlightenment or guide Students to Enlightenment. The Eight Fold Path is the central and core Teaching of The Buddha and all Teachers will need to know this Teaching inside, outside, backwards, and forwards. The Teachings on The Path to Enlightenment interconnect with The Eight Fold Path in one way or another.

The Eight Fold Path is the map, the guidance, the way leading to the complete end of discontentedness.

Detailed explanation of The Eight Fold Path is available in this same book series found in Chapter 5 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

And how is a Monk skilled in pastures?

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness is part of The Eight Fold Path and is a required Teaching to attain Enlightenment. Without a well developed understanding and practice of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, a Teacher would be unable to attain Enlightenment or guide Students to Enlightenment.

It is through observation of the mind and developing awareness of the bodily sensations, feelings, condition of the mind, and mental objects that a Practitioner is able to uproot the unwholesome and arise the wholesome to eliminate discontentedness and attain Enlightenment.

Detailed explanation of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness is available in this same book series found in Chapter 5 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

And how does a Monk not milk dry?

Students will need to support Teachers through offerings and gifts. A Teacher will need to accept offerings and gifts from their Students. But, in doing so, a wise Teacher needs to understand how to ensure they are accepting donations without allowing their Students to exhaust their resources.

Students should be taught the practice of generosity and creating merit, as they would be unable to attain Enlightenment without these practices. But the practice of generosity and creating merit needs to be taught and practiced as part of “the middle way”.

If a Student was to not provide offerings to their Teacher, the mind would retain its selfishness and would not experience Enlightenment. If a Student was to provide excessive offerings to their Teachers beyond their abilities, this would not allow them to conduct their life in a way that provides the needed necessities to sustain their life.

A Teacher needs to understand this approach and provide guidance to Students while also exercising discernment (i.e. wise decisions making) in accepting donations without allowing their Students to exhaust their resources.

A Teacher will oftentimes have well developed knowledge of their Student’s life and lifestyle. One should use this wisdom to guide their Students in how to practice generosity and creating merit ensuring a Student finds “the middle way”.

And how does a Monk show extra veneration to those elder Monks of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of The Community?

Politeness, kindness, friendliness, and respect are core and central qualities of mind that need to be cultivated by every Practitioner who chooses to progress towards Enlightenment. Practitioners will need to develop the ability to practice these qualities of mind with every individual they come into contact with. An Enlightened being will be polite, kind, friendly, and respectful to everyone at all times. There is no situation or circumstances where an Enlightened being would be impolite, unkind, unfriendly, or disrespectful.

This is possible when a Practitioner eliminates all pollution of mind and one will need to gradually work in this direction.

A Teacher would find it extremely difficult to share these Teachings and benefit others if their mind was polluted with craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) to include The Ten Fetters. Therefore, a wise Teacher would focus on their own practice ensuring they eradicate all fetters/taints/pollutions of mind through eliminating the defilements.

This includes practicing loving-kindness openly and in private towards all individuals including senior Ordained Practitioners and senior Household Practitioners. These are the elders of The Community and will help a Teacher to develop their Community of Practitioners through informal mentorship of newer members to one’s Community.

Through a Teacher practicing politeness, kindness, friendliness, respect, and loving-kindness towards all senior members of The Community, these qualities of mind will be developed within The Community among all their Students.

If we treat our elders politely, kindly, friendly, and respectfully, this “supreme wisdom” continues to be developed and cultivated within humanity and we can all experience Enlightenment.

We “win” when we all “win”. We do not “win” until everyone attains Enlightenment.

(These are not the only responsibilities of a Teacher but is a good starting point.)