What qualifies a spiritual teacher?

What Qualifies a Spiritual Teacher?

 

A Brief Discussion by James Swartz

 

Enlightenment, except in extremely rare cases, does not happen on its own.  It is usually the result of many years of self inquiry.   Even individuals in whom the qualities required for enlightenment are in full flower—discrimination, dispassion, clarity of mind, and a burning desire for liberation—rarely attain enlightenment without help.  A seeker needs help because self ignorance is unlike ignorance of objects: it hides itself.  In other words there is a part of the self, often called the ego, that is somehow happy— or at least attached—to its suffering and thwarts every attempt to end it.  Therefore, it is important to develop an objective view of one’s self, a view from the level of the true self, ever-free consciousness. What better way to develop this view than to associate with someone in whom the vision of nonduality is established?  

 

Unfortunately, there are many definitions of enlightenment and the field of spiritual seeking is completely unregulated.  Any individual who has had a minor epiphany can set his or her self up as a spiritual teacher.  To compound the problem, suffering is the prime motivator for seeking, and suffering individuals are rarely discriminating, dispassionate and clear minded, which makes them susceptible to the claims of unscrupulous, misguided, self-deluded, self-appointed teachers, of whom there are many.     

 

Therefore, seekers should view all teachers, gurus, meditation masters and their teachings unsentimentally. Claims of spiritual attainment should be taken with a grain of salt. The more a teacher self-promotes, the longer the beard, the more extravagant the name, the slower the speech, the more grandiose the claims of special powers, the more your suspicions should be aroused. Suspending your critical faculties, though passing for devotion in certain circles, is dangerous. Enlightenment does not need advertisement.

 

When you have assimilated life’s lessons and sincerely long for liberation, the self will manifest a respectable, purified teacher.

 

Click this link for an in depth essay on spiritual teachers