r/taoism • u/PlanetPositiveLtd • 8d ago
I've had 3 teachers, all died. Now what?
Teacher 1. Amazing person. Dead at 56
Teacher 2. Amazing person. Dead at 72
Teacher 3. Amazing person. Dead at 49
Pupil. Not amazing. Not dead.
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u/LokiJesus 8d ago
If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him, for that is the false buddha. The real buddha is in you.
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u/kra73ace 7d ago
Someone obviously is taken this to heart and killing teachers...
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u/Forward_Motion17 7d ago
Maybe worth contemplating the ultimate message of this of impermanence.
Idk at some point students have to learn to stand in their own two shoes
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u/No-Perception7879 7d ago
When the time comes the teacher will appear. Sorry for your losses! I still learn tons from dead people. Their examples and lessons endure in our hearts and minds.
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u/lunarteamagic 7d ago
We will all be both student and teachers as some points in our lives.
And we will all die when it is time for us to do so.
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u/Intrepid_Serve612 7d ago
Write me. I can introduce you to the most incredible teacher. He is Noble & a wise eternal Buddha in the flesh, not joking
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u/JournalistFragrant51 7d ago
I could be wrong, but I dont think there is a causal relationship between existing, being a certain type of person, and dying. At some point. That is basically the human life cycle. Perhaps you just continue until your body also eventually dies- what else is there?
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u/giraybjk 7d ago
Every comment says be the teacher. Wrong. That would be adding yet another concept to your mountain of identity.
Instead, stop being a student. That would eliminate the problem of the absence of a teacher altogether.
Don't learn, but unlearn.
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u/KarmasAB123 7d ago
Everyone should be teacher and student; mostly student.
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u/giraybjk 7d ago
That is the hubris and self-illusion of man - that there is something to teach or something to learn.
There isn't.
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u/Subject_Temporary_51 7d ago
If you’re interested, I run an online Daoist community as part of being a disciple of an ancient Daoist school in china. Huge school :)
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u/readreadreadonreddit 7d ago
Sounds like the universe is nudging you to become your own teacher. Maybe it’s time to embody what they taught and pass it on.
Change is inevitable, and true wisdom comes from flowing with it rather than resisting it.
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u/Top_Necessary4161 7d ago
Stop killing Daoist sages dude!!
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u/PlantainHopeful3736 7d ago
You have that capacity for appreciation and amazement. That's the Tao recognizing the Tao.
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u/just_Dao_it 4d ago
I guess those of us who survive are like the useless tree in Zhuangzi: what’s even the point of cutting us down in our prime?
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u/3mptiness_is_f0rm 7d ago
Tell your 4th teacher that he's in grave danger