When the student is ready, the teacher appears
All schools of Buddhism agree that relying upon a Spiritual Guide is very important. To quote Gen Rabten at last year’s International Kadampa Summer Festival:
We are here because we want new ideas. We know that if we always think what we’ve always thought, we will always feel what we’ve always felt. We want different outcomes for ourself, for our family, for our communities. We look at the tarnished history of our world, and the suffering and the injustices, and we want something different. That is going to require different ideas, new ideas, new ways of thinking.
Every day seems to bring difficulties and pains individually and collectively — do you know anyone who is as happy as they’d like to be? Why not? It’s not through lack of trying. Maybe it is because we haven’t yet travelled the path to real happiness and freedom. And one reason we have not yet travelled that path is because we have not yet followed a trustworthy guide.
Without a Spiritual Guide to lead us, we have no idea where we are going, existentially speaking. No Google map can point us the way to mental freedom. No YouTube video can show us how to fix the endless pains of our samsara. No pilgrimage to Mecca or even Bodh Gaya can land us in the invisible destination of universal compassion and omniscient wisdom.
Our Spiritual Guide can be anyone. It doesn’t matter who they are as long as they are able to guide us along the spiritual path because they’ve been there themselves, always showing us an inspiring example of what is possible. That is our Spiritual Guide, that person. We have complete choice over that – everyone in Buddhism always chooses their own Spiritual Guide, that’s how it works.
Many people consider Geshe-la to be their Spiritual Guide because he has provided them with teachings, teachers, books, empowerments, centers, temples, and so on. Based on that faith they feel some connection with him in their hearts, and through that a connection with something very profound and peaceful.
What do you reckon, if a Buddha was to tap you on the shoulder right now, or appear in front of you and say “Hello!”, would you see him or her?
Before you go …
While I am here, can I quickly remind you about the International Spring Festival happening this very weekend! Gen-la Khyenrab will grant the empowerment of Buddha Shakyamuni and give a commentary to the Lord of all Lineages prayer, which covers all the stages of the path to enlightenment! If these teachings are anywhere near as good as his teachings last year (which are still resonating with me a year later), I really hope a lot of Coloradans are able to join in. The Festival sessions will remain up for a while to make it even easier for people.
Let me know if you have any questions about any of this. You can always reach me on rt@meditationincolorado.org.
Lots of love and prayers,
Kadam Lucy
