What are some attributes and qualities of a spiritual teacher?

Of all the attributes of a Spiritual Teacher my friend 2 come to mind that rise above all other attributes.

They are Wisdom & Love.

How can one teach me of such divine attributes if they do not possess them?

From Wisdom & Love, all else will come forth.

Because I feel & see their Wisdom & love I learn to surrender to that Wisdom & Love.

Beautiful Q!

Many Blessings!

Well dear asker a spiritual teacher should keep in my that what he or she is giving instructions to students are meant for him also. The true Guru has defined for an ideal religious scholar.

सो पंडितु जो मनु परबोधै ॥ He is a scholar, who instructs his mind.

राम नामु आतम महि सोधै ॥ He searches for Lord's Name in his heart,

राम नाम सारु रसु पीवै ॥ and drinks the exquisite Nectar of Master's Name.

उसु पंडित कै उपदेसि जगु जीवै ॥ The world lives by the instruction of that pandit, the scholar.

हरि की कथा हिरदै बसावै ॥ Who implants God's gospel in his heart,

सो पंडितु फिरि जोनि न आवै ॥ that pandit enters not in existences, again.

बेद पुरान सिम्रिति बूझै मूल ॥ He understands the essence of the Vedas, Puranas and Simritis,

सूखम महि जानै असथूलु ॥ and recognises the discernible in the undiscernible one,

चहु वरना कउ दे उपदेसु ॥ and instructs all the four castes,

नानक उसु पंडित कउ सदा अदेसु ॥४॥ Nanak, I ever make obeisance unto that pandit.

Otherwise there are so called scholars, who just show they know every thing, but their reality is generally, they know nothing.

He is called a Pandit, a religious scholar, and yet he wanders along many pathways. He is as hard as uncooked beans.

He is filled with attachment, and constantly engrossed in doubt; his body cannot hold still.

False is his coming, and false is his going; he is continually on the lookout for Maya.

If someone speaks the truth, then he is aggravated; he is totally filled with anger.

The evil fool is engrossed in evil-mindedness and false intellectualizations; his mind is attached to emotional attachment.

The deceiver abides with the five deceivers; it is a gathering of like minds.

And when the Jeweler, the True Guru, appraises him, then he is exposed as mere iron.

Mixed and mingled with others, he was passed off as genuine in many places; but now, the veil has been lifted, and he stands naked before all.

One who comes to the Sanctuary of the True Guru, shall be transformed from iron into gold.

The True Guru has no anger or vengeance; He looks upon son and enemy alike. Removing faults and mistakes, He purifies the human body.

O Nanak, one who has such pre-ordained destiny inscribed upon his forehead, is in love with the True Guru. {{{Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Raag Raamkalee 960}}}

What are some attributes and qualities of a spiritual teacher?

Walks around bare naked.

Depends on others for food.

Is celibate.

Bathes when it rains or near a lake or a river.

Poos, hidden from others.

Never shaves.

He would never announce about himself.

He would be hundred per cent un-selfish and non-self-important,

He would never seek a disciple

He would dedicate anything to anybody who asks for it

He would never take initiative to help others.

He would never possess or occupy anything as his only.

A typical spiritual teacher was the Bishop in the story of Les Miserables (Jean Valgean) of Victor Hugo, who accepted the convict as his co-brother and the (stolen) goods were offered to him earlier ( and the convict was not a thief.) with which the convict regained his hope in life and man for the hunger and thirst are the enemies that lead to mischiefs and all evils.

Spiritual teachers are teaching the ways of spiritual life practically instead of theory or explanation

Bhuddist proverb: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"!

Everyone's path is different, so what works for someone else may or may not work for you. Similarly, a Teacher that works for someone else, may not quite cut it for you.

Have you asked yourself what it IS that you want to learn? Perhaps that would help attract the right teacher.

In contrast to some of your other answers, another proverb states (paraphrasing) that "The best way to learn is to teach". Not entirely intuitive perhaps, but valid nonetheless.

A large number of new spiritual writers (of which I am one) are currently taking part in a spiritual writing competition (see http://nexttopauthor.science-of-spirituality.com).... hopefully you will find something there that resonates for you.

Of course, if you would like to vote for me, I would be most grateful :-)

Namaste

Hasten in doing what Islam says to. Practice what one teaches Islam the single most quality/attribute i hope of spiritual teacher/student. "Heard, and abide by" is the theme.

The First Cause of All Causes is the spiritual teacher that is teaching through all of the creation all of the time.

A fool learns from his own mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of fools....

There is a wise man and fool within each of us.

The grace of the guru is like an ocean. If one comes with a cup he will only get a cupful. It is no use complaining of the niggardliness of the ocean. The biffee the vessel the more one will be able to carry. It is entirely up to him. The more you become surrendered to the guru, the more you feel that you have blissful freedom you never had before.. Thats all because of guru.. So in gratitude gurupurnima is celebrated ....who enlighten our paths..

Our minds are always filled with voices of lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion & madness. Yet there is another faint voice talking to us all the time which we are not able to hear because of the other six voices. That voice is the voice of God.

The job of the spiritual teacher is to teach us how to silence the mind so we can hear the voice of God and follow His instructions. A good teacher will never tell you what to do or not to do, but will teach you to tune your mind to the voice of God. And how will you know that the voice that is speaking to you is the voice of God and not that of the other six.

Voice of God will always tell you what is in congruent with the scriptures which is the word of God.

The true teacher is one who demonstrates unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion but above all he will behave appropriately according to the circumstances.

The spiritual teacher is our adaptor, or link to the next, higher level.

By the fact that the guide stands on the next level, and by his willingness to help, and give to the student, he is capable of guiding the student as he/she climbs from one level to the next.

But the work still comes from the student, the teacher can only advise, guide.

I hope it helps, I would recommend the links below for further information.

All the best.