How to Find a Teacher

Student's letter

Dear Lama Zopa Rinpoche,
I am from Finland, but I have been living in Dharamsala since last summer. I am writing to you because I would like to have a meeting with you to receive some guidance and advice for my practice. Last November I did the lamrim course at Kopan Monastery, but at that time I did not have an opportunity to meet up with you personally. So, I hope this time it will be possible to meet up with you.

I am quite new to Buddhism. I took refuge about 10 months ago in London, at the Jamyang FPMT center. For about one year I have been practicing daily, mainly focusing on purification practices and meditation. For about six months I did prostrations to the 35 Buddhas, but then, since my Vajrasattva initiation given by you last November, I have changed this to Vajrasattva practice. I also practice daily something called the Five Tibetan Yogas. It is also a purification practice. Then, in addition, I do meditation and other (physical) yoga practice. I like to combine yoga and Buddhism and my wish is to become a yoga teacher in the near future.

I would like some general advice for my daily practice, but I have to say that my main concern at the moment is about how to find a spiritual teacher. I have received guidance and advice from several teachers, but I still don’t have a teacher with whom I could have regular personal meetings and from whom I could ask advice when needed. Until now it has been OK to practice alone without this kind of personal teacher, but now I feel like I really need a teacher to guide me. But I don’t know what to do about this. So my question is: how to look for a teacher?

If you could help me with these queries, I would be very happy. Many thanks.

Yours sincerely,
Jenni

Rinpoche's Response

My very dear Jenni,
Thank you very much for your kind letter.

If you receive oral transmission of a mantra or initiation from someone and from your side you determine that he or she is a teacher for you, you make the determination that you have received a Dharma connection with that person. Then, there is a guru-disciple relationship. Without that determination, he or she doesn’t become a guru. If you say teacher, you could be talking about a school teacher, etc., but I am talking about a guru. Whoever makes your mind become Dharma, that is the Tsaway lama, the root guru. You can choose from those who understand English. The definition I have explained already, so you can judge from that. There may be other people who become your gurus in the future, as well as those in the past. At the moment I cannot tell about that.

What about Lama Lhundrup at Kopan? Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lama Lhundrup came out very beneficial from my observation. Basically, you should decide from your side what you like. Then, if you feel Lama Lhundrup could be your guru, you can check with him about general advice for your daily practice. If you don’t feel you want to check with Lama Lhundrup, then I can advise you.

I am sorry we have not been able to meet. Perhaps after the teachings finish, if there is time, we can meet here or in a restaurant in the village.

Thank you so much for everything.