Dos/Donts of Picking a Spiritual Master

Part of the message is hidden for the guests. Please log in or register to see it.

The role of any good teacher is ultimately to help you learn to trust your own intuitive wisdom, your own inner guru or inner guidance system, which will ultimately be your most reliable source of true direction

isn't that what we do here?.... :lol:

A classic Buddhist teaching on "The Four Reliances" advises the spiritual seeker to:
"First rely on the principle, not on the person. Second, rely on the spirit, not the letter. Third, rely on wisdom, not conditioning. And fourth, rely on complete teaching, not incomplete teaching."

good rules to follow

There are many perils on the path of meditation and spiritual growth. Keep your eyes open and your discerning wisdom keen. There are teachers and traditions that are rare and precious beyond belief. If you are fortunate enough to be able to spend time with them, your life will be truly enriched. And, there are teachers and traditions that quite honestly, we don't send people to. How do you know if you are pursuing an authentic spiritual path, or have met a good teacher?

so very true....

...If you find that you are the type who is easily confused or bewildered by exploring many paths or studying with many teachers, it may be wise to simplify your spiritual pursuits. Research and visit different meditation centers and teachers until you find a path that is spiritually satisfying for you, and then through study, practice, and contemplation, go deeply into the heart of that path.

If you are by nature a weaver and synthesizer, your temperament may better suit you to seek inspiration from study and practice with a diversity of traditions. Seek to find the common heart and core around which they come together, and appreciate how each contributes to deepening your wisdom and love, and to strengthening your faith.

If you are a mature practitioner with a clear sense of your path and tradition, there is little to fear and much to gain through encounters with other traditions. These will likely serve to only clarify and deepen your faith and insight. Keep an open heart, an open mind, and seek for a path that works for you...

Also well said.

This is a really great article, thanks for pointing it out. I've pasted it it into my OneNote so that I can come back to it again any time I I feel perhaps I've forgotten some of its sound advice.

"First rely on the principle, not on the person. Second, rely on the spirit, not the letter. Third, rely on wisdom, not conditioning. And fourth, rely on complete teaching, not incomplete teaching."

This is everything!

i dont think there is such a thing as a spiritual MASTER

if there is i suspect theyre the kind of person who wouldnt want the title

i also belive that pretty much every conversation, every interaction with everyone, has a lesson for each of us

i would go so far as to say that every moment, alone or in company, has its own truth
therefore it has its own lesson
and its a good policy to do ones best at staying alert to what these might be

"what IS the lesson of this moment?" is a good question at most any moment

That's an interesting point of view, Obi.

I think one can only be a master of oneself, at best a guide for others, if and only if the other is open to be guided, if not then one can only inspire by proper example..

OB1Shinobi wrote: i dont think there is such a thing as a spiritual MASTER

if there is i suspect theyre the kind of person who wouldnt want the title

i also belive that pretty much every conversation, every interaction with everyone, has a lesson for each of us

i would go so far as to say that every moment, alone or in company, has its own truth
therefore it has its own lesson
and its a good policy to do ones best at staying alert to what these might be
"what IS the lesson of this moment?" is a good question at most any moment

I think like this, I also think that the best teachers are those that don't seem to be teaching you at all, just walking with you along the path, sharing their experiences and life lessons. I have learnt a lot from many people here and most wouldn't see themselves as any sort of 'spiritual master.'

elizabeth wrote:

OB1Shinobi wrote: i dont think there is such a thing as a spiritual MASTER

if there is i suspect theyre the kind of person who wouldnt want the title

i also belive that pretty much every conversation, every interaction with everyone, has a lesson for each of us

i would go so far as to say that every moment, alone or in company, has its own truth
therefore it has its own lesson
and its a good policy to do ones best at staying alert to what these might be
"what IS the lesson of this moment?" is a good question at most any moment

eth
I think like this, I also think that the best teachers are those that don't seem to be teaching you at all, just walking with you along the path, sharing their experiences and life lessons. I have learnt a lot from many people here and most wouldn't see themselves as any sort of 'spiritual master.'

i have a tendency to get too preachy sometimes
so this post has a lesson specifically for me :blush:
thanks elizabeth