Can you confidently trust a teacher because many online comments praise their abilities?

You cannot confidently trust someone solely on online comments. Others saying a teacher is impressive and your own understanding of that person's identity, methods, and abilities are still separate matters.

Miao Nian shared that before knowing Sheng Zhen Men, she searched online for someone to help with her father. Seeing comments saying a person was highly capable and could help, she asked a friend to accompany her there. She recalled that the people seemed to be a married couple. After meeting them, however, she suddenly lost some control of herself and could not clearly remember what she did afterward. She said it felt 'very much like possession,' but did not understand why it happened.

Later, the accompanying friend sought help from another teacher they knew. Miao Nian said she suddenly regained clarity around noon one day and only afterward heard from her friend about seeking help. This is her recollection of events, which happened before she knew Sheng Zhen Men.

Hearing her account reinforced my view that spiritual practice requires gradually accumulating knowledge and learning judgment through experience. Taking one class or seeing a few words of praise does not make us understand everything. Listening clearly to the principles and being willing to investigate for ourselves is the process through which discernment gradually develops.