[MD] an authentic teacher?

[Dallas Van Winkle]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I find that there are so many pitfalls,
that I doubt many teachers, because I have felt at times that I could be a
teacher, but in retrospect I feel that I was wrong. It seems a good teacher
should be obvious if you were to meet them. If I were to seek out a teacher
at this point, i'd probably start with someone like Khenchen Thrangu
Rinpoche, after reading his books.

I have doubts about many popular spiritual icons and gurus. I have doubts
about most people that write books to sell to begin with.

But, in the Buddhist tradition it has been said that the guru is only your
own mind. Still, I think it's wayyy too easy to succumb to ego clinging if
you feel like you don't need anyone's help. I am partially convinced that
the only way to find true enlightenment is to completely give up, go into
solitude, and resolve to meditate until either enlightenment or death. I
think that is the attitude one must have.

Of course, my conviction is only partial, so I am stuck in this sort of
limbo, a kind of karmic prison. Hopefully I will get out of it at some
point.


On 11/4/07, MarshaV <marshalz at charter.net> wrote:
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> I was being serious when I said most often assistance comes in the
> form of a book.  But what I find confusing is that there are
> different views about needing a teacher.  Some state the journey is
> to be taken alone.  Some state when you're ready the teacher will
> appear.  Some state you should seek out an authentic teacher and
> community.  I think I should do this work alone, and sans drugs.  But
> sometimes I do get into a fit of confusion.  I don't find making
> mistakes so terrible, because there's always some lesson that
> accompanies a mistake.  And since I'm alone, there's no one else to
> mess up.  Does anybody have any thoughts on finding a teacher?
>
> Marsha
>
>
>
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