Dedication to My Great Teacher

In my recent meditation, I used a mug of thyme tea to be my anchor in the moment. 

Any time my mind wandered, I brought it back to the tea and the present moment. Feeling it’s warmth in my hands reminded me of what was right in front of me, what was happening in my world in that instance. 

The guru is also an anchor. 

Whereas the lofty idea of “the present moment” can allude an untrained mind or novice practitioner, the tea is a bridge.

The guru is also a bridge - not only to the present moment, but to the entire universe. 

Scriptures say the entire universe is inside us.

Shiva is consciousness: the underlying essence of Shakti. Shakti is the nature of every physical form (from person to plant to inanimate object). Imagine a quilt: one blanket, made of many threads. Therefore, if all physical beings are ‘cut from the same cloth,’ can we not recognize and live in the awareness of our unity? Should this not ease our suffering and prompt compassionate actions?

The reason we don’t care for each other as we should is because it is hard to see the divine nature of things. It is especially difficult when a life is built up of traumatic experiences, and confounding Karmas. We cannot see the forest for the trees. We are so busy trying to meet needs (that may not actually exist) that we lose sight of our essential nature. 

Enter the guru:

A person who lives each moment in compassion equally for all things. One who never forgets their relationship to the divine, and completely trusts in its flow. 

The guru leads by example and their kindness can shock the pupil. 

At first, they cannot see their divine nature, and lack trust in the universe.

But, the guru relentlessly demonstrates these qualities, and like a rock becomes smooth when washed with water, the pupil becomes more like the guru. 

The guru is willing to put themselves between the pupil and any adversary, because they have lived through many trials, and understand how to operate in the world.

In this way, the guru is like a conduit for divine knowledge, and at their own pace, the pupil receives their charge, becoming illumined. 

They gain faith in the entire universe because they have seen it at play in the life of their guru.

Thank you to my teacher, to all great teachers, thank you to the universe, and thank you to every body in this community.