For those who study and practice Buddhism, there is a question - can self-learning Buddhism lead to enlightenment without a teacher?

Many so-called "Buddhist masters" have warned the world that there are no people who can achieve enlightenment without a teacher when studying and practicing Buddhism. In the eyes of these Buddhist masters, learning and practicing Buddhism must be accompanied by a teacher, which means there must be inheritance. Without inheritance, it is impossible. I, Shengzhong, believe that these so-called Buddhist masters are nothing, in the words of Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, 'nothing is a place'. The reason why they vigorously advocate that learning Buddhism and practicing must be accompanied by apprenticeship in order to achieve enlightenment is simply for the sake of certain specific interests. Imagine if everyone were to self-study Buddhism instead of becoming a teacher, these Buddhist masters would lose their sense of existence and become nothing. So, they would rather go against the true teachings of Buddha than protect their own rights.

In fact, self-learning Buddhism can also lead to enlightenment through the realization of one's nature. This is clearly stated by Master Huineng of the Sixth Patriarch in the "Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch's Altar":

If one realizes oneself, they do not seek outside. If one always insists on seeking good knowledge from others and hopes for liberation, there is no place. Why is this? There is knowledge in one's own heart for self realization.

If one becomes obsessed with evil and overturns their delusions, even if external good knowledge is taught, it cannot be saved. If one truly observes Prajnaparamita, in an instant, all delusions will disappear. If one realizes their own nature, they will reach the Buddha's land as soon as they realize it
Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, is the only one in Chinese Buddhism who has left behind the great knowledge of "sutras". He said that self-learning and self realization are possible, but how can others deny this view?

I, Shengzhong, also highly admire the viewpoint of Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch. Self study and self realization means not seeking outside, but only seeking within oneself. Especially in the current era of the end of the law, true knowledge of the great good, or convenient knowledge of the great good, is unheard of. So, without relying on oneself, who else can we rely on?

In fact, as early as the lifetime of Shakyamuni Buddha, there were practitioners of enlightenment without a teacher, the most typical of whom was Maitreya Bodhisattva. Maitreya Bodhisattva is a great practitioner who self studied Buddhist teachings and became enlightened, known as the "Lone Awakening Buddha". In Buddhist terminology, he is referred to as the "Abhidharma Buddha". It is precisely because Maitreya Bodhisattva relied entirely on his own style of independent perception that Shakyamuni Buddha said he would become a future Buddha, because a person who always thinks about relying on others cannot create a new era.

I, Shengzhong, also greatly admire and worship Maitreya Bodhisattva. I believe that Maitreya Bodhisattva can do it, and so can Shengzhong. Therefore, although I have converted to the Three Treasures, I have never had the idea of becoming a monk. I believe that through continuous practice, I can also achieve "self-awareness".

In a word, don't believe that some Buddhist masters say that you must learn from a teacher to see sexual enlightenment. Just as the saying goes, "The Buddha is not far away from the Lingshan Mountain, and the Lingshan Mountain is only in your mind", there is no place for people who are obsessed with relying on great good knowledge, because there is only one person who can be most reliable in the world - himself, and no one else is reliable, including the legendary great Buddha and Bodhisattva Arhat, because they are always a legend. Who can tell whether they are true or false?