Spiritual Teachers
While looking through my computer files recently, I came upon a very powerful perspective on spiritual teachers which I resonate with completely. I hesitated to post it here because when I copied it into a file I neglected to cite the author (a rare lapse for me).
Anyway, it is worth sharing, so I will risk posting it without citation. If I had to guess, I would say the author might be Jed McKenna, the author of three brutally honest books on enlightenment. Or I may have copied it from one of the thousands of websites I’ve visited in the past few years. Regardless, perhaps someone will recognize it and set the record straight.
In the meantime, I pass on these words of wisdom…may they bring clarity to your journey and return your trust where it belongs: back to yourself.
There is nothing glamorous about the process of awakening. People who awaken do not become famous spiritual teachers. They do not build fancy organizations. They live for the most part unnoticed by all by a few students who recognize their freedom and authority.
Teachers who are valued by the world tend to teach at a very superficial level. For the world rewards tangible outcomes and effects, and spiritual accomplishments tend to be intangible.
One who masters the mind is not valued by society. He may be the most powerful being alive, but you will not find him in a position of power. In truth, even if such a position were offered to him, he would not take it. Such a person is not concerned with the manipulation of outer events.
A teacher cannot tell you want to do or what not to do, for the responsibility for both doing and undoing belongs to you. All the teacher can do is encourage you to take that responsibility here and now.
Teachers who tell you what to do or what not to do are betraying their spiritual immaturity. A wise teacher asks good questions, but she gives very little advice.
It is very true that some of the wisest teachers are also the least well-known. Someone who is not controlled by their ego is not interested in fame. For someone who is only interested in making conscious contact with spirit, how they are perceived by the world does not matter. Very interesting words!
February 8th, 2009 at 1:21 pm