The Teacher (from TNE04: There is No Enemy (retreat) 00:49:44.00 - 01:01:46.00)(download into iTunes)
Now, the usual sources of refuge are the three jewels, buddha, dharma, and sangha and I'll come to those in a minute.
In the Tibetan tradition great emphasis is placed on the teacher. And I've come to feel that's very very important, for a very unfortunate reason.
It doesn't matter what discipline, when you study with somebody, that person represents your aspirations in that discipline--is a symbol for your aspirations.
I worked for a very short time with a concert violinist. And he studied with a teacher who was a brilliant brilliant violinist. And he learned a lot from him. But he learned a few other things too. ...
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He represents your own spiritual aspirations to you. So, our teacher is, like it or not, how we experience awakened mind. ...
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