There is a small panel of senior teachers
who make decisions on invitations to the
Insight Teacher Network, taking into account
the following considerations. The decisions
are made on a consensus basis. The
considerations are not seen as tick-box
items but more fields to look at.
1. Wisdom
and insight. These qualities can’t
be fully specified. They can become apparent
in how a person responds in difficult
situations or to difficult questions. They
may show themselves in what is not said as
much as what is said. It is the sense of the
person rather than the person’s conceptual
understanding that is being considered here.
The qualities are different from
skills in running groups or retreats, or
having had some perceptions of emptiness or
non-duality.
2. Embodied ethics. Care with
speech, actions and lifestyle with a focus
on minimising dukkha/suffering. This
includes actions that are likely to
contribute to suffering in the future. It
includes a focus on carbon footprints, and
on current and future suffering of non-human
beings.
3. Minimal conceit. Not being
full of oneself, and not clinging tightly to
the role of teacher.
4. Knowledge of Buddhist
frameworks. A clear understanding of
Buddhist thought and frameworks referenced
in the Insight Meditation community and a
recognition of how these differ from
perspectives from other traditions, such as
the non-duality views in Advaita Vedanta,
and the views in Dzogchen.
5. Long-term dedication to
practice, including a background in long
retreats, of sufficient duration for
non-conceptual insight to both emerge and
mature. Dedication to practice can include
support for Insight Meditation events and
the Insight Meditation community.
6. Care for others. This could
manifest as genuine warmth, or through
activism in relation to local or other
communities in the world, or in relation to
the well-being of non-humans.
7. Skills in leading retreats.
This includes giving talks, running small
groups and in one-to-one interviews.
8. Dana. A willingness to teach
on a dana basis, unless it’s basic short
mindfulness and/or compassion courses,
academic teaching or courses just for
professional development. For full-time
Insight Meditation teachers with many
retreats and events each year,
considerations on having a reasonable income
should also be taken into account.
