The following is from a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo:
Buddhism doesn’t need you, you need Buddhism. Lama doesn’t need you, you need Lama. There are many more students than teachers.
To climb Mt. Everest one needs a Sherpa (guide) to show the way. A map or book is useless. You can only trust a guide who has gone before.
If you have a dental cavity, you need a professional dentist: trained, credentials from school, with many patients and experience, not a mechanic with pliers.
If you are hungry and don’t know how to cook a book helps. But an educated cook will show you how to use it. It will be edible!
OK, so you have a blown tire, and all the tools. Jack, lug wrench, etc- but no one has ever taught you how. You still aren’t going anywhere.
Is your TV broke? Don’t leave it to a plumber to fix. The plumber may electrocute himself and your TV will look like shit.
If a child needs to blow his nose it won’t be the tissue that teaches. It will be the parent.
How many ways can I say this?
If you are getting fit, walking works. But the real deal is weights, resistance, warm up cool down, flexibility and you need to train with an accomplished trainer. (Clue – check their bodies). A couch potato simply won’t do.
Whatever your goal, make sure you don’t choose a slacker with an ego. Choose a teacher with a track record and credentials.
Spiritually, choose a Lineage and stay strong. Don’t dabble. Or quibble. For truth don’t choose a liar or cheat. Learn from their past and from your own mistakes. Gather merit, love yourself enough to do this right!
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. All rights reserved
Great advice. Thank you, Jetsunma, you’re awesome.
Yes, Jetsunma, and you are the real thing! You have already been there.