Question: Which Buddhist teacher(s) should I learn from?
Answer: Here are top ten qualities to look out for.
[1] Proper Qualifications: There should be verifiable qualifications connected to reputable institutes of Buddhist learning and/or Buddhist teachers, who are in turn connected to reputable institutes of Buddhist learning and/or Buddhist teachers.
[2] Continual Learning: There should be humble acknowledgement of limitations, with commitment to continual learning of the Dharma ahead of students, since unenlightened teachers are still not yet Buddhas, with more to learn, practise and teach.
[3] Actual Practice: There should be actual practice of the Dharma learnt in all aspects of life, in terms of the Threefold Learnings (三学), of observing the precepts (戒), training in concentration (定), and realising of wisdom (慧).
[4] Systematic Teaching: There should be systematic teaching of Śākyamuni Buddha’s teachings for beginners, those intermediate and advanced, in terms of principles and practices.
[5] Special Focus: There should be guiding towards special focus on the Pure Land Dharma Door Of Mindfulness Of Buddha (净土法门之念佛法门) as the Buddha taught it to be the most relevant for liberation (解脱) in this Dharma-Ending Age (末法时期). As taught by the Buddha in the Immeasurable Life Sūtra《无量寿经》:
‘In this world in the future, when sūtras’ paths are destroyed completely, I, with loving-kindness, compassion and sympathy, will specially retain this sūtra, to remain and dwell for one hundred years longer. If there are sentient beings, who encounter this sūtra, accordingly as wished, with that aspired, all can attain deliverance.’ (当来之世，经道灭尽，我以慈悲哀愍，特留此经，止住百岁。其有众生，值斯经者，随意所愿，皆可得度。)
[6] Sound Sources: There should be sound sources of teachings shared, which connect back to the Buddha’s actual teachings in the scriptures (sūtras: 经), as elaborated by universally recognised Patriarchs (祖师) in their commentaries (treatises: 论).
[7] Encourage Asking: There should be encouraging of asking questions on that taught, and even on other issues, with no blind faith expected to accept all taught without contemplating, doubting and clarifying. Good answers should be given readily too.
[8] Open Amenability: There should be openness to be amenable, should there be mistakes and blindspots discovered in that taught and practised, as every good teacher is a good student too, who is able to learn from everyone worth learning from.
[9] Ongoing Accessibility: There should be ongoing lifelong ease of accessibility to students during and after classes, so as to further teach, and clarify any new doubts that might arise later.
[10] Clear Path: Most of all, there should be a clear path taught eventually, that allows students to self-sufficiently progress towards liberation without fail, to even possibly be inspired, to be teachers too, by being an example of a good Buddhist.
相关教理
Related Teachings:
How To Not Be Buddhist Students (In Ten Ways)?
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2026/06/how-to-not-be-buddhist-students
净土教理十大系列
Pure Land Teachings’ Top Ten Series
https://purelanders.com/shida
