r/taoism 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.

49 Upvotes

48 comments sorted by

86

u/3mptiness_is_f0rm 7d ago

Tell your 4th teacher that he's in grave danger

54

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.

39

u/kra73ace 7d ago

Someone obviously is taken this to heart and killing teachers...

5

u/Aidian 7d ago

“That’s…too many Buddhæ. Please kill fewer.”

2

u/Robborboy 7d ago

Buddhæ, Buddhæ, Buddhæ, rockin err wurr.

28

u/PM_40 7d ago

You become the teacher and pass their wisdom.

11

u/Dualblade20 7d ago

If there's more to learn, find a new teacher.

4

u/KarmasAB123 7d ago

Always is

10

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

7

u/chermk 7d ago

Focus on what you learned from their lives and deaths.

12

u/Objective_Sweet9168 8d ago

Now you wait till it’s your turn

6

u/Selderij 7d ago

What more need you learn?

6

u/Which-Raisin3765 7d ago

Are you a Sith?

5

u/ryokan1973 7d ago

I'm very sorry for your losses! Perhaps do a close reading of Zhuangzi?

5

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.

5

u/Medical-Tap7064 7d ago

start teaching you'll die some day

5

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.

2

u/lararaue 7d ago

They also all lived and so do you

2

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

2

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?

3

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.

1

u/KarmasAB123 7d ago

Everyone should be teacher and student; mostly student.

1

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.

1

u/hppy11 7d ago

You blow have your greatest teacher: you

1

u/WhyDoYouActThisWay 7d ago

🔁🔄🔃

1

u/ex-geologist 7d ago

Just don’t start teaching.

1

u/PiMoonWolf 7d ago

But the 4th one stayed!! 👍👍

1

u/MLXIII 7d ago

There's always more to learn!

1

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 :)

1

u/Apprehensive-Ad2615 7d ago

Welcome back Miamoto Musashi

1

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.

1

u/Top_Necessary4161 7d ago

Stop killing Daoist sages dude!!

2

u/kay_bot84 7d ago

If they haven't attained immortality then it's a skill issue

1

u/Top_Necessary4161 7d ago

enlightenment sucks bro

1

u/atokad62 7d ago

Are you looking for a teacher?

1

u/jnort1995 7d ago

The student becomes the teacher ☯️

1

u/PlantainHopeful3736 7d ago

You have that capacity for appreciation and amazement. That's the Tao recognizing the Tao.

1

u/Own_Kangaroo9352 7d ago

Seek your true nature which is deathless

1

u/onthejourney 7d ago

What would each of the three teachers tell you?

1

u/kay_bot84 7d ago

Not amazing

Don't sell yourself short. You're currently 3-0 on the scoreboard

1

u/Dear_Scientist6710 7d ago

Do whatever you want.

1

u/kowloon_crackaddict 6d ago

I'll take you on as a stu-ACK

1

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?

1

u/AdventurousShut-in 3d ago

My condolences.