Question Do we need to have contact with the teacher? Answer Although everything that needs to be done we have to do for ourselves, contact with someone who has walked the path before us is very important – someone with clear understanding and absolute integrity, who will support our practice and, equally as important, keep us facing in the right direction. When I was teaching in India one time, a student asked me how she could know a good teacher. I could only answer: “Watch them when they are not teaching!” We have to take care with those who proclaim spirituality, Dhamma and truth. The simple rule is: do they practice what they present and do they ask anything from you. Anyone can dress in a special style and offer themselves as a guru, smiling in a secret way, speaking in a hushed voice and creating the idea that they are different from you, but the true master lives with humility and integrity and sees their life only as service to the student. Distraction and diversions are everywhere and, without a firm and secure foundation of practice, it is easy to become lost and wander off the path. The true master or teacher is our firm foundation. The Tao Te Ching, the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, reminds us that: ‘The path is straight, but people love to be sidetracked.’ It is true that often we can feel alone and isolated in our practice, although now, with the advent of modern technology, there is no real need to feel this way. Internet, CDs, DVDs and internet downloads, as well as email and Skype contact, can bring the Dhamma into our home whenever we need a reminder. Also, as teachers travel so much these days it is not too difficult to find a course, seminar or retreat close enough to you. It is no longer necessary to travel to India to find true meditation! So, practice is everything and when our attitude is correct we can expect good results, but contact with an honest and reliable teacher is an enormous part of that. May all beings be happy.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 13:31:28 +0000
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