Spiritual Teachers

Choosing our spiritual teacher or a root guru, someone whose inspiration serves as a root to anchor and nourish our spiritual growth, requires us to have examined them well and to feel a sense of instinctive connection.

Alan Turner, Serkong Rinpoche’s “Westerner Yogi’s,” recollections of his relation with his teacher.

An overview of the intellectual, emotional, and devotional approaches to Dharma.

Misunderstanding may arise from teachers or translators accidentally saying something incorrect.

Buddhist practice requires a balance of intellectual, emotional and devotional approaches.

An overview of the different aims, expectations, cultural, spiritual and psychological factors that affect the relationship between students and their Dharma teachers.

Confusion arose due to vast cultural differences and the new realities of Dharma centers established by Tibetan teachers for the Western, lay students – a phenomenon that had not existed before in the history of Buddhism.

Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche: Master Debate Partner and Assistant Tutor of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.

Spiritual mentors lead others to behave and to think constructively in order for them to attain enlightenment. Disciples are those who are led to enlightenment by such persons through training in constructive behavior and thought.

Clarification of some of the major misunderstandings about the Buddhist teachings.