Yoga Philosophy > Gurus
Like Yogananda, I seek a teacher who won't transform me physically, but challenge me mentally, to be at my best and to explore further.
I want to be that type of teacher. I want to support and guide my students so that when they come into the class, they can look into their own eyes and smile and what they see. I don't want their expectations to be that I can perform miracles and 'whip them into shape'. There are 'teachers' who have DVDs for that...
KristinaS
Thoughtful post...I have had stern Gurus and soft Gurus and each has been exactly what I needed at the time. I want to be a teacher who meets the student where they are. A Buddhist lama told me: "the kind of teachers we get are a mirror of who we are ourselves. We need teachers until we are able to see the Gurus within ourselves." She told me that all kinds of teachers are necessary as there are so many different kinds of students... and to treat all teachers with respect as that says everything about what you are making of yourself.
Rhonda Uretzky
Interesting point about the mirror. This week I had a lot of difficulty in memorizing my script and I began to have doubts about my teaching abilities. This probably wasn't helped much by the chapters that Yogananda spends on finding a guru! His quest for a guru seemed minor in light of my experiences in trying to become a teacher!
I know that both students and teachers are on journeys, but they are very different. And as I experience more of the teacher journey, I'm finding challenges that I haven't faced as a student.
KristinaS
I would assert that that the journey of the teacher and student has many interesting intersections; as you become both, you also see that everyone in your life is both your teacher and your student - as you are for them. Yogananda was both a devoted student and a Great teacher. Your quest is no less than Yogananda's. Keep steady in the direction of Phoenix, as Abraham says; the journey from where you are to where you want to be is no more enigmatic than a trip from San Diego to Phoenix. Focus on what you want and know that arriving is possible, then keep going. A word of caution: never let your journey start to feel bad to you; if you decide you Cant do it and you bemoan the "failures", you will come to dread your own goals. Counter the teacher-worry with your student-joy: ENJOY your hot yoga classes fully as the Student, not memorizing the script or "watching the teacher." The challenges are, frankly, the most interesting parts of the journey...in teacher training and in life.
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I work with a girl who is incredibly critical of herself. Because she is so she is incredibly critical and often harsh towards others. Ironically, my work friend is also preparing to become a yoga teacher. I love this quote by Yogananada “Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.” Our critical thoughts as teachers come from within us no? I would think that they complicate our minds into something they are not. As is with all other things that come from within. I have been critical of myself so I can see such good within others who do so that they become my teachers. I am very lucky.
AlexandriaS
Rhonda, what's the story you told us last t.t. about looking at difficult people as buddhas? I love that one and it really changed how I look at things.
AlexandriaS
Alex, Abraham says this about that self-reproach: whenever you feel badly about yourself, you are only feeling the misalignment between the way your Source, or constant inner well-being, sees you, and how you are seeing yourself in this moment. The bad feeling is not your conscience, your morality, your logic, etc; it is just you, not seeing yourself the way you truly are. This is also true whenever you are being critical of anyone else: you are not seeing them the way your inner Source sees them, and thus, the disconnect feels bad. There's nothing wrong with them; there's nothing wrong with you. Everyone truly IS your teacher, showing you what you are focusing on and thus attracting at that moment, and giving you a chance to clarify your thoughts into what you DO want.
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
Alex, here's that story: imagine you are the very last person slouching towards enlightenment: everyone else is already a Buddha who wants you to reach enlightenment (that's how Buddhas operate). Whatever is holding you back - your anger, impatience, etc - Buddhas mirror those qualities so you can see them clearly enough to root them out. Thus, people who irritate you most may just be doing you the greatest service of your life: helping you to become enlightened. Thank everyone - practice seeing them all as Buddhas, and know that you can't see a quality in anyone else that you don't also have yourself. Abraham would say that you attracted these people into your life so why be upset with them? Buddhists say, if you're being hit with a stick you don't get angry at the stick! Thank everyone and yourself, too. Teachers and students are everywhere especially inside of you.
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
Combining what you've both said: simple enjoyment. Teachers and students are indeed everywhere, and simply enjoying the encounters that we have with both, as both.
I like that point about Buddhas and that knowing you can't see a quality that you don't already have yourself. In terms of teachers and students, it's like a case of knowing what you have when you see it. This is true for the challenges we face, the successes we have, and the journeys along the way - we know that we have them when we see them in others.
KristinaS
I love that. Once upon a time in a reproachful locally owned health food eatery I had the distinct pleasure of remaking a woman's juice because I did not put positive energy into... At first I thought she was kidding. I mean I used the word "won't" while pressing her celery. As in the the juicer "won't" behave. She explained that she was on a raw food/love diet and that everything she ate needed to have LOVE. Okay then, This woman would go to checkout her groceries and put things back if she believed that they were tainted. Her name was Bella. I tell this story to people because I describe Bella as an enlightened really funny being. She is on the same playing field as the lady who cut me off in traffic and the man who held off a line of people to order 50 ounces of wheatgrass....
AlexandriaS
I honestly see myself or people I love in really difficult people too. They inspire me. I mean, even though some people are f*cking nuts.
AlexandriaS
Bella gives New Age a bad name! Let me find that really funny video, "Shit Yogis Say,"....
Rhonda Uretzky
The opposite is also true Kristina: sometimes you can't see the good in yourself so you project these qualities outward onto the Guru. So if you know that everything is you seeing yourself, then you are your own Guru teaching yourself. My lama told me she once dreamed of an incredibly beautiful rug hanging on her neighbor's wall; she admired and coveted that rug, wondering how she could get one. When she awoke she had a realization: if this was her dream, why did she choose to place the rug on her neighbors wall? Why do we idolize others and deny ourselves?
Rhonda Uretzky
Interesting question, Rhonda. That really seems to be the crux of post-post-modern existence. We tell ourselves that we are having a blast, yet there is massive amounts of competition and coveting what others have. My sister is 4 years younger than me and her blog consists of the very same battle - everyone has what she wants. And although her consumer purchases allow her to get closer to her ideals/idols, I believe she still feels lacking and unworthy. Perhaps it is easier to frame yourself as the one-without. Like the rug, if you're the one-without, you plot more, you scheme more, you 'feel' more. However, if you're the one-with, you can enjoy more and focus more. Throughout this training course, I'm focusing on becoming one-with - celebrating what I have and what I can do during the practice.
KristinaS
Kristina, I think people confuse desire with longing. Your sister, in begrudging others their stuff, is in the snarky wanting-place. Desire is a feeling of happy anticipation - like waking up Christmas morning knowing for sure your presents are under the tree. Longing is its opposite: that wistful, achy feeling that you won't get what you want. Desire is a great Guru- it teaches you what you think of yourself, what your life can be about, how much you are willing to trust in joy. Nothing needs to earned - it's a birthright to be happy. If you ask, you can be sure the Universe has created a way for you to have it. Ask away - for rugs, lovers, all of it. And settle in for Christmas is coming. Your idea of celebrating all that you have is a great way practicing "the feeling place" of your desires.
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I like Rhonda's post about how there are overlaps between student and guru. I totally believe that teaching something requires a whole new depth of mastery - so in essence you're learning it deeper by sharing it with others.
You have to bridge the gap between you and the other person. That bridge is built on tools designed to penetrate the other person's inner world and make them 'see' or 'understand'. Sharpening those tools is a sharpening of one's own abilities.
I love this quote:
“If you want to learn something, read about it. If you want to understand something, write about it. If you want to master something, teach it.”
- Yogi Bhajan
Melina
In the medical field we say 'see one, do one, teach one.' You learn in all three ways. Seeing and doing are wonderful experiences, but teaching, as you mentioned, Melina, takes it to a whole new level. There is just no comparison! Learning how to teach yoga is learning about myself in ways I did not anticipate!
Marguerite
So true about teaching, Marguerite; that old saying, Tthose who can't do, teach" was NOT said by a teacher! From the yogi/Law of Attraction point of view there is a very clear reason why teaching makes you so more expert: the more you embody the teacher and Act As If you are The Teacher, the more you project into the mirror of life what you "pretend" to be. Since your mind knows no difference between pretend and "real," when you are teaching you are what you teach. And pretending - whether by imagining, doing or feeling - with all your heart, always preceeds manifestation. When you are teaching yoga, you will find things come into your mind and out your mouth that you didnt even know you knew....simply because you are The Teacher. Does this mean you always have to know, always have to pretend you have answers to your students questions? Of course not. A good teacher always finds out -and always can.
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
We encounter various teachers. Each of them bring something very valuable with them. It is interesting to approach every experience with an open mind and see how each teacher can enrich my life experience. Life is the biggest Teacher ever - keep your eyes open and listen to you heart because this is your life and you walk you path only! Take the best from each Teacher, say Thank you, and keep moving forward.
What kind of Teacher do I want to be? The one that brings the best in a student, the one that finds her way to each student's heart, and encourages to go for the biggest dreams ever! The one who loves and respects her student. The one that does no harm and makes a difference! Namaste.
Alfia
I think it is important to keep in mind that everyone needs a different type of guru in various stages of his or her life. Perhaps it could be one guru, if he or she is aware of the student's needs given specific situations. For example, I know I am a tough high school teacher; but I am aware of my students' needs. I know when they need to be pushed and when they need to take a minute to themselves.
As a teacher I want to establish a presence where I know I will be able to push students to challenge themselves and seek the opportunity to be the best they can be on any given day. Sometimes they may need an assist or push from me, and sometimes I know backing off will be the assist they need.
Brittany Yard
Great thoughts Brittany but here's another" if Law of Attraction is real, can you become the teacher for the student, or can you be yourself and the students who resonate will just show up?
If you enjoy being a "tough teacher aware of my students' needs," thats being who YOU are which is completely appropriate - then who shows up is up to LOA...yes?
Doesnt it just let you off the hook knowing you dont need to elicit any reactions, approvals or validations of who you are from anyone else, not even your students. and let you go free to be yourself?
And - isnt that why you came here?
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I think this is great point. As a horseback riding instructor, students have come and gone throughout the years. It was always hard for me not to take it personally, but I think it is important to stand by beliefs. Some will like what you bring to the table, and some will need to seek other teachers that help them to feel validated and complete. This is something I struggle with because I am a people pleaser. I need to be true to myself, and hopefully like-minded people will be around me.
Brittany Yard
I agree Brittany. I love remembering that 99.999% of what people think or say about you is really not about you, it's about them: and 100% of it is none of your business,
And there's no hopefully about it: you are always surrounded by the people you attract. It's Law.
And isn't it just exhausting being a people-pleaser: people change and want different things all the time so you are always playing catch-up, and you never get to please the only person you're meant to please: yourself.
So...please do.
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
Yogananda recalls his search for a guru. He talks about the perfume saint, the tiger swami...and he writes, "A guru too literally 'marvelous' as not to my liking."
Often we have 'marvelous' teachers - but Yogananda is looking for someone with something special.
As we embark on the path to teacher training, what kind of teacher do you want to be?