Over the years I've studied with a number of gurus. Too many probably. Indian gurus, American gurus, self-proclaimed gurus and gurus who didn't consider themselves gurus at all. I learned from all of them. What I learned is still unfolding years after moving on to other things. I suspect it's supposed to be like that. A good guru winds you up and it takes years to unfold what was wound. There are times I think I got it and then find I did and a lot more I didn't know I got. It only became clear much later. Sometimes decades later. Who knew? I've studied with gurus I never met in the flesh. That one still perplexes me from time to time but the results don't lie. This is a strange journey.
The other day I came across something the Dalai Lama said/wrote: Not only can I not recall my experiences in my previous lives, sometimes I can't even remember what I did yesterday. I love that. Humility, I've come to believe, is one of the true signs of a true teacher. One must be sincere to be truly humble. False humility is ugly. True humility is beautiful, to me. There's a freshness about it. There's a difference between being childlike and childish. True humility is childlike. Open, sincere, fresh all the time. What the Dalai Lama said smacks of true humility. I can't tell you how many people I've met imagined themselves to be spiritual teachers. Seems over the past thirty years they've become a dime a dozen. They claim to know everything. It's strange to me because the longer I live and the further I travel on this path the more aware I become how much I don't know. I mean really don't know. I don't even have a clue. I'm clueless! But I'm satisfied with not knowing because knowing comes from not knowing.
Life is a process not a destination. I commented that somewhere today. I learned that somewhere, from someone. I no longer know from whom or when. I am grateful to all my teachers and gurus. I love them all. I'm pretty sure they're pleased I love them. It is, after all, what one must do when one really gets it.
hmmmm, I've always stayed away from gurus. There are those I listen to, learn from, but I don't think anyone knows how to be me any better... maybe that's arrogant. I shy away from those who think they have all the answers, I have issues with authority I suppose.
Posted by: SealKitty | July 20, 2003 at 11:05 AM
I'm with sealkitty.
you really hate me don't you. ;-)
Posted by: Kelly | July 20, 2003 at 08:26 PM
If there's a single human on the planet who's got his head on straight, it's got to be the Dalai Lama. I love that quote.
Posted by: Beque | July 20, 2003 at 08:40 PM
So... enquiring minds want to know... was something "strange, unexplainable, totally off-center" done to you today??? ROFL! Crazy women!!! You gotta love'em, eh! I know ~I~ do! :-P
Posted by: Lise | July 20, 2003 at 10:14 PM
I have found those that think they have loads to teach don't have as much as those that think they have nothing to teach
Posted by: maheggo | July 20, 2003 at 11:52 PM
No A/C swamp cooler....landlord thinks it is just as good to run and less $ in energy. They don't work over 100 f
Posted by: maheggo | July 20, 2003 at 11:54 PM
aren't the best guru's the reluctant ones? consider what i mean perhaps a spin on the groucho marx quote, "i wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member" self-proclaimed gurus therefore are seeking self-gratification...it's guys like you and steve (rajah) that i get a guru vibe from here in blog land ;)
Posted by: wintermute | July 21, 2003 at 01:44 AM
Sometimes a smile and a nod are enough.. so 'smile,' 'nod.'
Posted by: Karyn | July 21, 2003 at 02:09 AM
I think the dalai was on medication like me because I can't remember shit that I did an hour ago.
Posted by: riott | July 21, 2003 at 03:54 AM
.. I’ve always thought the teachers or Guru’s that have created the wrinkles in my brain knew what they were doing .. I mean .. the destination is predetermined .. the process perhaps a choice of roadmaps ... and every once and while they put up a road sign for me ... I can only assume they were worried I’d get lost and wouldn’t get there in time ... ( lol .. I’ve been too spending much time on the road lately ) ... take care James .. your friend .. tw
Posted by: tw | July 21, 2003 at 06:02 AM
I need a guru :-P
Posted by: cassie | July 21, 2003 at 08:45 AM
I heard about the man who woke up recently after nineteen years in a coma. I have times when I feel like that. A "new" perspective bubbles to the surface, and I know that somehow, my heart knew it all along, and I've only just become conscious to it. It's a different feeling than just recognizing something as true. It's more like carrying something deep within you until the moment when it can truly impact your life and change you forever.
Posted by: chele_d | July 21, 2003 at 08:47 AM
Hi, I am thankful that the kids have a pool and air conditioning.:-)
Posted by: leone | July 21, 2003 at 09:22 AM
I stay away from Gurus who have those "airy fairy" voices...
And hey, it was the Dali Lama who gave the Shih-Tzu to members of the Manchurian Dynasty...he's a-ok in my book!
-M
Posted by: Mandrake | July 21, 2003 at 09:58 AM
"knowing comes from not knowing"...
I'd like to say "I know!" But do I? ;)
Posted by: Jean | July 21, 2003 at 12:30 PM
I agree.. we learn from a variety of people that come our way.. some good some not so good... but we learn non the less... and most of all I believe that we teach by example...
Bright Blessings Chel
Posted by: ChellieF | July 21, 2003 at 02:42 PM
Quick question - looked for donabai, couldn't find a reference anywhere. Any suggestions? Thankyou :)
Yeap, the Zojirushi is what I"m thinking of going with at the moment - still have a bit of homework to do though!
Posted by: Tess | July 21, 2003 at 03:57 PM
I am suspicious of gurus. But then, many I've encountered were the self proclaimed type. The real ones though all the say the same thing--in different ways, but always the same thing. The trick is to hear it.
Posted by: Kathy | July 21, 2003 at 03:58 PM
This came up in conversation yesterday, and I was drawn back here to re read. Essentially, we must all Guru ourselves. It's a metaphysical mind processor. I tried to find a Guru that really spoke to me, and when I did, he was in Venice Beach, and he became my lover.
Imagine my surprise to discover that he was just another man.
Although, heh ... he did show me heaven a few times. ;o)
Posted by: MsMisfit | July 22, 2003 at 10:14 AM
hey james,
good stuff...not that i'm surprised at that...
in the other wolrd - the tech difficulties are on my end, with the new digital camera images - not xanga for a change...i'm getting them sorted out...maybe this afternoon...
Peace...PJ
Posted by: PJ | July 22, 2003 at 10:16 AM
If this posts twice it's because I am keyboard challenged!
Anyway, I had mentioned that I'd like to meet a guru to learn from since I am always surrounded by village idiots!
And you are right about western modern medicine. It's a scary business. I feel like a guinea pig for my local pharmacy. My doc goes to lunch with a company distributor and I get to try all the free meds to see if they work. Ughh. It's tiring.
Hey, have you gone on any bike trips this summer??
Posted by: livia | July 22, 2003 at 12:28 PM
I thought you might be interested in this: https://www.dharmaconference.org - it's the Global Dharma Conference, taking place this coming weekend in Edison, NJ. :-)
Posted by: Preeti | July 22, 2003 at 06:18 PM
Wonderful statement by the Dalai Lama...he is so childlike he makes me smile. :-)
Humility is a wonderful quality. True humility, like you said.
Hugs!!
Posted by: Lisa | July 22, 2003 at 08:04 PM
what did i do yesterday...?
Posted by: blugirl197 | July 23, 2003 at 12:17 AM
hmm. looks kind of cool around here.
Posted by: stuftmj | July 23, 2003 at 11:38 AM