Genpo Roshi & Andrew Cohen on the Teacher Student Relationship

In this excerpt from a two-hour dialogue conducted last week at the EnlightenNext World Center, Andrew Cohen, spiritual teacher and founder of EnlightenNext, and Genpo Roshi, a modern American Zen master, discuss the dynamics of spiritual hierarchy in the teacher-student relationship.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Zen
• Master
• Enlightenment
• Spiritual
• Buddhism
• EnlightenNext
• Genpo Roshi
• Andrew Cohen

[shunyotube]

Does Andrew Cohen have any students that he regards highly? I don't know, but it seems he only speaks of how they fail. Maybe a reason for that. I just ask because he only seems to talk about their shortcomings. I find him interesting, and enjoy his magazine...and various folks seem to give him props, while others have less complimentary attitudes about him. So...does anyone have a reason to think he is an effective guru from experience?

[Beardedyoungman]

Trees which stave off erosion around a spring ensure the spring will not get parched, but they are still just trees, no more important then the plants or the shrubs. Not all seeds will become trees, not all trees will bring life/springs to the surface, in some situations even will dry the surface up too much for other plants.. It's the sky that drops water though.. So seems they're exploring groundedness, and how to teach people not up root the teacher but struggle with conflict of interest.

[thom8406]

levels of englightenment..empowering etc? not resonating here..

[zootsoot2006]

But don't you think it'd be highly ironic, if not perverse, if their whole message is about overcoming the ego that it should be driven by the ego. You might be right but the only person who can know whether there's anything beyond the ego is you and it all depends on whether you're willing to make the sacrifice. Sorry if that sounds preachy. The spiritual traditions would say that the doubts you have are all part of the difficulty of the spiritual path. I know, I have them too.

[zootsoot2006]

Sorry to give you a thumbs down but I honestly believe these guys are in it for more than money. They may make some money along the way, everyone has to eat, but I don't think this is their ultimate concern. Sure this is most people's ultimate concern but there are some genuine people out there. If you've tasted Spirit a few dollars here and there hardly compares.

[BachTantra]

Good video, have learnt much from it. Thankyou for posting.

[aquaterapia123]

Yeah, that's well known problem of multiple relationships recognized in psychoterapy schools - like jungian or psychoanalitycal.

Genpo and Cohen should learn a little bit about it , about transference, regression, power inbalance and also about huge ranks, privileges and the dynamics of such radical intercourse can create and how to handle it.

Because teacher is the responsible one for inhibiting potential abuse of power. Anyway - good to know that they know something at least :)

[matt0218]

Don't worry about it, there's always room for growth. Even post 'enlightenment'. You'll either organically outgrow the teacher, or, more likely (if the teacher has his wits about him) the teacher will always have something to offer from a 'higher' perspective.

[mermadeinheaven]

Insightful interview. Thanks for sharing.

So the question I have is:

How does the relationship between teacher-student change / transform / evolve once the teacher's guidance has served its purpose of facilitating the students reconnection to source? Put differently: once a student becomes self-realized, does the teacher-student structure/ordering evolve to an equality based relationship? And have either you experienced this transition with any of your students?

[ghalgaryth]

Thank you very much for this video!