Quote
The mark of a good teacher is when we walk out, we dont so much remember the teacher's own personality, we remember what was taught and are deeply curious about where it applies to us and how we perceive and behave with others.
If a teacher's stories, charisma or powerful personality persist as vivid after images, thats when mere charmisma is lingering in us as an intoxicant and the Bodhisattva vows warn us to beware of intoxicants.
Fame and charisma and mob mentality, force of personality become intoxicants when these linger in mind more than the Dharma teaching the famous person was supposed to be there to teach.
The best teachers, like members of a choir, vanish into the singing and what remains is the teaching or the music, not the personality of any one singer.
That is very true and very well put. It is one of the best guidelines when looking for a teacher. A good teacher points beyond himself to the lineage and to the authentic Dharma transmission. There is no ego trip involved. True humility, honesty and simplicity are the hallmarks of all genuine teachers.
Incidentally, there is a very good piece about the qualifications of a genuine teacher, posted on Shamar Rinpoche's own website. There is even a clear allusion about Mr. Nydahl inside...
[
www.shamarpa.org]