Etiquette is an intelligent way to live. There are certain ways of living you will learn being around advanced students and mostly your teacher. These are methods that have been handed down for thousands of years.
When we lack etiquette, we trash things. We trash each other. We trash the environment. We lose sight of the value of things. We suffer alienation when our spirit is disconnected from our physical awareness.
In the beginning we define what is spiritual. But as you go on, you see that everybody and everything is an instrument of infinity.
Being a Buddhist monk means never losing one’s optimism in spite of all difficulties. It also means being harder on yourself than any of your teachers ever were.
From a Buddhist perspective, it is incorrect to always assume that we know what is best.
As Buddha points out, you should not rely on the opinions of others for validation of your internal progression.
It’s necessary to respect all other ways and other teachings on the subject because even though they may not make a lot of sense to us, they might to someone else. Who are we to say?
Just because it doesn’t work out for you, doesn’t mean that it’s not wonderful for someone else.
What’s important is to be supportive of all who practice. Anyone on any level, even if they don’t call it self-discovery, who is seeking to awaken to their own potentials and possibilities, to the inner freedom, deserves your respect and support.
If you respect it in others, you respect it in yourself.
Don’t preach about meditation.
Get your emotions under control and your life under control. Work really hard and don’t make a big deal out of yourself. Have humility. Believe in yourself. Don’t get a fanatical fixation on a teacher.
One should never become devoted to a teacher, any more than one should become devoted to a statue of a god. There is only one thing to be devoted to, and that is your mind.
Once in a while, you will see someone really drippy. The person has to stare at the teacher all the time with that devoted and disgusting and sick look. It’s boring, misplaced devotionalism.
The hallmark of a person who is following the pathway to enlightenment is that they bring excellence into everything, no matter how crappy they feel.
This study is not for the amateur. It’s not for the dilettante. It’s not for the cult follower. It’s not for someone who wants everything done for them. It’s not for the one who just wants to stare with that fixed dog-like devotion towards the teacher.
There is no such thing as spiritual achievement; it is simply an awareness intrinsic to all of life.
Do not be selfish and feel new people will take more of the teacher’s attention and you won’t get it. That’s nonsense. With that attitude, you won’t get it. The teacher sees that attitude and will have very little to do with you.
The teacher has nothing to do with people who use their mental powers to block the enlightenment of others. These people lack control. What can you teach someone who lacks control?
How do you become enlightened? Have fun, meditate, don’t take yourself too seriously, brush between incarnations and have a good teacher.