I've been looking for a Vajryana teacher for nearly two years now. Personally, I've been practicing fairly intensively for 10 years. First 3 years was in Zen. Then was in Theravada for about 5 years. A few years back, I felt drawn towards Tantra - the inclusiveness and wildness of it. I've been following it in my own eclectic, confused way for the last 2 years. I've been poking my head around here and there for a teacher, but haven't seemed to find someone right yet. Admittedly, I haven't been in a great hurry. There are a few I feel drawn to - the Arogter teacher, Doc Togden, seems pretty cool and I quite like his style, but I can't comment much more on him because I only have second-hand reports, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Myingyur Rinpoche, and Ken McLeod - I was prospecting one of his students, as Ken's retired now and when I spoke with him he suggested one of his senior students instead, but distanced myself from that teacher after a few months - nothing bad happened, but still didn't feel confident that she was the right teacher for me.
I'll give some of my deluded and flexible preferences (besides the obvious - being an enlightened bad-a**-mother-f$*#er) to help flesh things out:
-I live in Thailand and I'll be living in Thailand for the foreseeable future. Having a teacher who's based nearby, which I'd roughly define as Asia, would be nice. I lived with my last teacher when I was a Theravadan monk. He mostly taught through example and presence, rather than through words. It's something I find valuable, although I know that with many of these rock-star gurus, that's a luxury that very, very few have. And that's one reason why...
-Not a rock-star guru. I prefer to work with teachers who have a small, closely-knit group of disciples who he/she works very closely with, rather than some of these teachers (no insult to them - much respect and love for what they're doing!) who have a hundred centers scattered all-over the globe and twenty-thousand disciples.
-Can speak English.
-More on the wild side - alcohol, firearms, and cigarettes, or all three at the same time, are greatly appreciated.
-Not rigidly traditional/more contemporary approach.
That's it. Much appreciation for your time and replies!
Let the crap-shoot begin!
