Relating to a Spiritual Teacher?
A personal exploration by Margo van Greta
July 2022
Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la)
Introduction
Relating to a spiritual teacher seems to be a topic that is taboo in our world. Teachers and gurus are often seen with great suspicion. It took me years to explore this!. Here is a description of my personal journey in relation to a spiritual friend. And this is still unfolding
The Anarchist
As a young adult I stayed away as far as possible from any authority, spirituality or so called "navel gazing". My view was that I was right, the world was wrong, and I was going to do something about it. I had a great time. No one could tell me what to do.
Checking it out. This was followed by interest in inner work, spirituality, where I felt drawn to Buddhism, especially the Tibetan lineage. I checked out various teachers, methods and lineages for 11 years. I learned a lot, found it fascinating, and was able to get a wide range of experiences. After each course or retreat I decided it was enough. The rest I would figure out by myself. After 11 years of this I became dissatisfied: I always felt like a beginner, an outsider.
Deepening
I felt ready to focus my spiritual practice, and go deeper. How to do that? Which lineage to focus on? If I were to connect with a teacher, who would that be? It dawned on me there was one lineage I kept going back to. I had met many teachers, both Tibetan and Westerners, female and male. I had checked them out. And amongst the many teachers there was a teacher that I felt a lot of respect for. Could that be my main teacher? I joined a month-long course in Kopan, Kathmandu, the popular November course. I had done that course before, but now it felt different. I had a powerful dream just before the course. I was ready. During the course I asked the teacher for advice on my practice, which was given. When you ask for advice on practice, you need to follow it up. Yet it also is a good idea to maintain your sense of reality and integrity, being realistic and skilful. For the next nine years I followed it up. The Tibetans have a very creative way to bring consciousness towards removing obstacles, and cultivating positive qualities. I did some practice at home, and some of it during retreats. It was a very satisfying time. I felt I was doing the right thing, and it helped me during the ups and downs of my life. After nine year I completed the practice, reported back to my teacher.
Dalai Lama I had the great privilege to have an interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a small group. I asked him the question: “Do we really need a spiritual teacher? Why can’t we figure it all out by ourselves?” His answer was that part of the way we certainly can explore things in our own way. And there is a part of the journey to Enlightenment that we don’t yet know, and we highly benefit from someone who has gone there before: a spiritual teacher.
Caution “Is this a happy ever after story?” you may ask. It is an ongoing journey, where new challenges come up and need to be dealt with. We all will have heard about misuse of power and privilege, also by religious leaders. I highly value and recommend common sense, caution, and checking up.
Invitation If you are curious about this topic and want to explore it more, check out the teaching weekend with Venerable Robina Courtin on the topic Why we need a Spiritual Teacher, online, 22-24 July.
http://www.togmesangpo.org.uk/ven-robinacourtin2022.html
[email protected]
Relating to a spiritual teacher seems to be a topic that is taboo in our world. Teachers and gurus are often seen with great suspicion. It took me years to explore this!. Here is a description of my personal journey in relation to a spiritual friend. And this is still unfolding
The Anarchist
As a young adult I stayed away as far as possible from any authority, spirituality or so called "navel gazing". My view was that I was right, the world was wrong, and I was going to do something about it. I had a great time. No one could tell me what to do.
Checking it out. This was followed by interest in inner work, spirituality, where I felt drawn to Buddhism, especially the Tibetan lineage. I checked out various teachers, methods and lineages for 11 years. I learned a lot, found it fascinating, and was able to get a wide range of experiences. After each course or retreat I decided it was enough. The rest I would figure out by myself. After 11 years of this I became dissatisfied: I always felt like a beginner, an outsider.
Deepening
I felt ready to focus my spiritual practice, and go deeper. How to do that? Which lineage to focus on? If I were to connect with a teacher, who would that be? It dawned on me there was one lineage I kept going back to. I had met many teachers, both Tibetan and Westerners, female and male. I had checked them out. And amongst the many teachers there was a teacher that I felt a lot of respect for. Could that be my main teacher? I joined a month-long course in Kopan, Kathmandu, the popular November course. I had done that course before, but now it felt different. I had a powerful dream just before the course. I was ready. During the course I asked the teacher for advice on my practice, which was given. When you ask for advice on practice, you need to follow it up. Yet it also is a good idea to maintain your sense of reality and integrity, being realistic and skilful. For the next nine years I followed it up. The Tibetans have a very creative way to bring consciousness towards removing obstacles, and cultivating positive qualities. I did some practice at home, and some of it during retreats. It was a very satisfying time. I felt I was doing the right thing, and it helped me during the ups and downs of my life. After nine year I completed the practice, reported back to my teacher.
Dalai Lama I had the great privilege to have an interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a small group. I asked him the question: “Do we really need a spiritual teacher? Why can’t we figure it all out by ourselves?” His answer was that part of the way we certainly can explore things in our own way. And there is a part of the journey to Enlightenment that we don’t yet know, and we highly benefit from someone who has gone there before: a spiritual teacher.
Caution “Is this a happy ever after story?” you may ask. It is an ongoing journey, where new challenges come up and need to be dealt with. We all will have heard about misuse of power and privilege, also by religious leaders. I highly value and recommend common sense, caution, and checking up.
Invitation If you are curious about this topic and want to explore it more, check out the teaching weekend with Venerable Robina Courtin on the topic Why we need a Spiritual Teacher, online, 22-24 July.
http://www.togmesangpo.org.uk/ven-robinacourtin2022.html
[email protected]
