As a student of teachers and a teacher myself, I appreciate a lot about this piece, especially the advice about transparency and plain dealing. But I don’t think we get the most out of our teachers and traditions if “can I trust the teacher” is our “vital question.”

In my experience, “is there anything here that can help me?” is a better place to stand. And then the old 12-step adage: “Take what you need and leave the rest.”

It would so so rare as to be nearly an impossibility to find another human being who in all circumstances lives up to each person’s differing criteria for trustworthiness.

In my life as a student of various spiritual teachers, I have found that it’s better for me to learn from teachers with the practial attitude that sometimes they are going to ruffle my feathers. Sometimes they are going to say or do things I don’t like. But if whatever it is does not cross my personal red line, and if there is something there I can use to help myself to grow, I am going to get that something and not cheat myself. Thanks for the thoughtful article, in any case.