Within Chan Buddhism, the teacher stands as a living embodiment of the Dharma and as a link in an unbroken lineage of awakening. Rather than functioning primarily as a lecturer or doctrinal authority, the teacher represents the continuity of the Buddha’s realization, transmitting this awakened mind-essence directly from person to person. This transmission is not merely conceptual; it is grounded in personal realization and is formally acknowledged when a student’s insight matures sufficiently to carry the lineage forward. In this way, the teacher safeguards the authenticity of the tradition and preserves its integrity across generations.

The teacher’s role is also to point students back to their own original nature, their inherent Buddha-nature, using whatever skillful means are appropriate. This may include paradoxical statements, sudden actions, silence, or other unconventional methods that cut through habitual patterns of thought. Such methods are not arbitrary; they are tailored to the student’s temperament and capacity, designed to dismantle egoic clinging and conceptual fixation. The teacher thus becomes a mirror in which the student’s mind is revealed, exposing self-deception and attachment that might otherwise remain hidden.

Equally important is the teacher’s function as examiner and confirmer of insight. Chan places great emphasis on distinguishing genuine realization from intellectual understanding or subtle forms of self-delusion. Through dialogue, testing, and close observation of the student’s conduct, the teacher evaluates whether an awakening experience is stable, integrated, and aligned with the principles of the tradition. When the student’s realization is verified, the teacher may grant formal authorization to teach, recognizing both depth of awakening and the capacity to guide others.

Finally, the teacher serves as an embodied example of awakened life in ordinary circumstances. Rather than confining realization to meditation halls or special states, the teacher demonstrates how insight is expressed in speech, action, and relationship. This living example shows that enlightenment is not an abstract ideal but a way of being that permeates daily activities. By challenging the student’s ego, supporting practice, and manifesting the Dharma in every aspect of life, the teacher helps the student discover that what is sought has always been present in one’s own mind.