Before we take on a practice or accept some one as a teacher there is a bit of research we must do.
Lineage of a tradition is important.
Some
of the lineages can be traced back. As an example in Zen, when one is
initiated, they prepare a lineage chart. this chart traces ones lineage
all the way back to Buddha. The problem with not having a lineage is
that a teacher you are working with could have teachings that are not
genuine. In most for a student to be given permission to teach, thier
teacher verify that they are ready. Otherwise we can read book, take
little from here, little from there and start teaching.
We should also do a bit of research about the teacher, see how they treat their students.
"It
takes a teacher to show you that you dont need a teacher". In many
traditions as Zen and Kunlun, teachers encourage you to not treat them
as a Guru/Seifu. One does not have to/should not give ones power to
another being. Its so easy to get aweeeed by someones presence and
unconsiously gives one energy, give control to a teacher. We must
always be in control, we must question every practice we are given and
not follow anything blindly.
We should never make any one our
Guru and give them all our powers. The real power is within you. A
teacher can only show you, and you still have to do the work.
In Zen they have a concept of 3 pillars. Three pillars of zen: Belief, Doubt, Determination
Belief: First one must believe that the system works, even perhaps works looking/reading/seeing it.
Doubt: then once must doubt as to how/why it works. Doubt fuels your practice
Determination: One must have the determination to do the practice.
Choosing
a teacher: I have read and heard that "ones teacher is allready there,
its a matter of finding them or the student being ready and the teacher
appears".
________________________________________
Having
said all above, I somehow ended up to Max's seminar, and upon
experiencing rare energy for myself decided to take the weekend course.
For me Max, was able to show me things that I have only read in books.
He
would say again and again that we dont call him a teacher or sefu or
guru. He was just giving it out, showing the practices to those that
wanted it.
To me it seems - as Max has said that he has learned from many traditions: Bonpo. tao, Shaman, Tibetan...
He is a unique teacher and has a unique style of teaching.
I
am sure that practices he is teaching, exist but in esoteric fashion. I
dont think they have been widely given out. You would have to learn for
years in India, China, Tibet to get some of similar practices. And then
to you would never be allowed to show or teach them in public.
Even
Max encourages everyone to not blindly learn a practice or follow any
one, He says to go out and research the lineage, check out the teacher,
talk to past students.
________________________
Buddha
was once visiting a village and teaching, to the villagers said, we
have a problem that some teacher comes and says to do this way another
one comes and says to do it another way, our tradition says one thing,
another tradition says another, What do we do ? Who do we follow ?
In reply to villagers in he said in (Kalama Sutta)
Dont follow anything because:
- a teacher says so
- a tradition says so
-your family culture says so
-your religion says so
.......
"Rely not on the teacher/person, but on the teaching.
Rely not on the words of the teaching, but on the spirit of the words.
Rely not on theory, but on experience.
Do not believe in anything simply because you
have heard it.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
Do not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything because it is written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is
conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
- the Buddha
Teachers are always there, its a matter of student to be ready
Ultimately if your heart agrees, then practice is for you and teachers is yours.