टीचर्स ऎंड Students

Teachers - Master teachers are like orchestra conductors blending their own music and the students to fulfill expectations of their life's music. They should be an example of the tradition of the practice they represent. They should also know enough of a range of teachings to fit the variety of students that come to them. Communicating openly and clearly the material, the expectations of learning, prompting the student to question and examine everything. They do this by helping one experience the freedom that honesty brings when allowing your old habits and fears to rise and to die or heal in an atmosphere that conveys love and is free of judgement. Sometimes they're passive, influencing and nudging the student's curiosity. It's done out of respect for the learning that is taking place. They know that to force learning is to betray the trust given by the recipient and also themselves. They understand that each student learns in a different way, uniquely, over a period of time. They pass on knowledge gained from experience without telling them what to think. They teach how to find wisdom, through use of the practice creating a sacred space awakening devotion and wisdom that permits consciousness to expand beyond it current state of awareness.

Natural or true teachers have an instinctive open and honest capacity to create a safe haven for the student's heart and spirit to open as it has longed to for probably lifetimes. Within these inherent gifts to create a special space for learning, they transmit a sense of love and friendship. They act with compassion yet are strong enough to not interfere with the natural progression, allowing the old parts of us to die and help the new ones give birth. Their greatest and simplest power is recognizing the atmosphere of their own joy being the eyes of example, without judging, only assisting with the student's unfolding and learning. They have a gift of bringing a student back to balance when the student feels that some of the learning is contradictory. They help one discover the joys of being a student and of discovering how to create by calling forth the student's own wisdom and strength. They assist the student to recognize what it's like to taste their own potential and true worth through developing the ability to reason.

Really gifted teachers make two or more ideas grow where only one grew before. They light fires within their students, stimulating them to discover the truth about themselves. They know intuitively that their students are often a source of learning and though they teach they must remain open to a life of learning as well. In the final analysis, teachers do not enlighten us. They can't mature for us, nor let go for us, because their job is to point out, inspire, touch and provide a sense of what is true. In the end the true purpose of a teacher is guide us to discover within ourselves the inherent freedom our real Self, that is free, independent and finds joy in all of life. They are mentors guiding our own freedom and under their instruction we have an example of what is possible. They possess the skill to teach us how to use this spiritual discipline and foster the patience within us so we can master it as well.

Students - As a student I've often wondered if sometimes the best way to figure out who you are is to get to that place where you don't have to be anything else. That said, as a student one must possess an unquenchable desire for self-discovery. Students learn over time, that this is the quest of their soul, to experience, create and understand. Through embracing the gift and capacity to think they come to know that this alone is responsible for growth as one evolves through the application of reason. In understanding that thought is cause they learn to create their world and experiences versus reacting to their environment. They must realize that as they make mistakes it is through this learning that they understand the process of creation. The student alone must light the spark of commitment in their lives that will last a lifetime. The teacher helps the student find the best fuel to feed that fire of commitment with expectation. Like a lit candle, they know a life full of learning out shines the base that it sits on. Combining sincere commitment to practice under a teacher's skillful guidance we use the peaks and valleys we encounter to assist us on our path. As a student we feel open enough to ask any question and see what unfolds over time with sincere practice.

A student must be excited at the prospects of learning new things, of new beginnings and closure of the old as understandings are attained and added to the self. They must embrace each new opportunity to learn and experience as a gift to grow, expand and evolve. They do this by tapping into the motivation to know the truth about themselves, about who they are, what they want and why they want it. It's through this process of learning, remembering and repeating the cycle of creation over and over that they evolve to become teachers. It's through the commitment, experience of years, and repeated learning that they can aspire to be a master teacher. Finally, where true learning occurs and wisdom follows from knowledge, both teacher and
student have entered into the act of creating together as they give to each other and themselves. They know and understand intuitively what it is to share and give for mutual benefit.


Namaste