Many spiritual seekers are not yet ready to become the disciples of
spiritual mentors. Their present levels of commitment may suit working only
with Buddhism professors, Dharma instructors, or meditation or ritual
trainers. Even if they are ready to commit themselves to the Buddhist path
and to spiritual mentors, they may not yet have found properly qualified
mentors. Alternatively, the spiritual teachers available to them may be
properly qualified and may even have shown them great kindness. Yet, none
seem right to be their mentors. They feel they can relate to them only as
their Buddhism professors. Nevertheless, the Kadam style of guru-meditation
may still help such seekers to gain inspiration from these teachers at the
present stages of their spiritual paths.
Unless our spiritual teachers are total charlatans or complete scoundrels,
all of them have at least some good qualities and exhibit at least some level
of kindness. Our Buddhism professors, Dharma instructors, or meditation or
ritual trainers may lack the qualities of great spiritual mentors. Still,
they have some knowledge of the Dharma, some insight from applying the Dharma
to life, or some technical expertise in the practice. Our teachers are kind
to instruct us, even if their motivations contain the wish to earn a living.
If we correctly discern and acknowledge whatever qualities and levels of
kindness that our professors, instructors, or trainers in fact possess, we may
derive inspiration, through guru-meditation, by focusing on them with
conviction and appreciation.
-- Dr. Alexander Berzin, "Wise Teacher, Wise Student: Tibetan Approaches to
a Healthy Relationship", published by Snow Lion Publications
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