A Teacher is a Guide that introduces you to Unconditional Love within...
A Spiritual Teacher and Coaches Responsibility to the Student
There is an aspect of teaching that is profoundly important to me, yet is rarely talked about. It has to do with the responsibility that a teacher has to a student. Students will often put the teacher on a pedestal. They assume that the teacher knows something that they don’t, and then rely on the teacher’s guidance. Whether the teacher realizes it or not, people will make an authority figure out of him or her. By doing so, the student puts their faith, or personal power, in the words of their teacher. This is not necessarily bad. If a person is in a high degree of hell, and they need help to get out of it, they are often better off listening to someone who has moved past those demons, than to the judge and victim in their own mind.
When a student puts their trust in a teacher, the teacher then has a great responsibility to the student. The teacher is in service to the student. But, this does not mean that the teacher is responsible for the student. The student remains always responsible for their own choices, actions, and results of their actions.
In the beginning of my time as a teacher, I did not appreciate the level of responsibility that students put in my hand. In one manner I did, because I was aware of my own process and don Miguel’s guidance. On the other hand, I was naïve of how much faith my students would put in what I said. As I became more aware of people’s willingness to put their faith in me (something that I didn’t really consider the impact of early on) I became more careful of my instructions and guidance.
Through my experience with don Miguel I became aware of how a dedicated Spiritual pursuit will bring change to your life. In the way you view the world, feel emotionally, what career changes might be incurred, relationships, and everything else.
The integration of these changes in ones life can be challenging. They often take time. If rushed, they become sources of drama that interfere with our creation of happiness. When the integration of change becomes more a source of suffering than a source of happiness, we are moving too fast. I often find myself instructing clients to have patience in accepting things the way they are,,, and never to hurry up. The price of too much change too fast, is too high. Yet sometimes they still want to hurry.
Don Miguel’s has often said, “We are not in a hurry, and there is no time to waste.”
As a teacher, these words have a profoundly deeper meaning when I consider my responsibility to my students.
One of the greatest lessons I learned from don Miguel had to do with Power. Through an experience I had with him, I discovered what an extraordinary connection he had with Intent ( Spirit, Power). I was quite impressed. I didn’t understand it very well, but I knew it was big. What I immediately began to wonder was why he didn’t do more with it. Why not do big acts of power all the time? It could have an incredible impact on people to shift the whole dream of their life.
As I journeyed into this question about don Miguel, I saw the amount of refrain he had in the use of Power. What I then saw was behind this motivation of refrain. I saw that don Miguel had no desire to change anyone, or their life. He only loved and accepted people just the way that they are. His love was/is, so unconditional, that he loves people just the way they are. In that unconditional love, there is no desire or need to change anybody.
This is when I saw the real nature of don Miguel. I understood what unconditional love was. It means not needing to change anyone, and that includes yourself. This realization became much more powerful to me than any act of power could have performed. His unconditional love and respect was more powerful than any Ceremony, or act of Power or change could ever be. He loved me just the way that I was. I didn’t have to try to be anything any more. I was lovable. I was good enough just the way that I was. He loved me no matter what I was. And in his reflection, I began to love myself just the way that I was. No conditions.
For me, to love unconditionally became the most powerful act of transformation. It transformed me and my entire personal dream. It completely changed my relationship with myself and forced me to dissolve all the fear based beliefs and judgments in my min.
And the irony is, that it came to me through someone who didn’t have a need to change me. He was teaching by example. It was simple. He was just living it, and wasn’t even doing anything to bring attention to how he loved me.
To me, Unconditional Love is at the heart of what a teacher has a responsibility to impart to those he or she is responsible to. It may be the only thing they have a responsibility to.
If you have a teacher or coach with an agenda to change you or make you “better”, consider how this interferes with self acceptance. They may want the best for you, but their best might come with an agenda that you could or should be different than you are. This will not be a reflection of love and acceptance. It is love that makes you happy and allows you to be yourself.
http://www.toltecspirit.com/four-agreements/spiritual-teacher/
Something About Gary van Warmerdam
http://www.toltecspirit.com/about-gary/
My journey started because I wanted to be happy no matter what. My job had left me burned out and disillusioned. My relationship had left me insecure, hurt, and afraid to trust myself in another one. When I met don Miguel Ruiz I was not looking for a mentor or a Spiritual Guide. I had too much self importance to realize that I needed one. I did have the awareness to notice that I could learn a lot frm him. Because of don Miguel’s humble and normal world appearance it took me a few months to realize the extraordinary way of life he had to offer. I have been studying with don Miguel Ruiz since 1994.
The first years of my journey with don Miguel Ruiz were focused on my own personal transformation. I traveled with him on countless journeys to sacred places in Mexico, the island of Bali and the great pyramids of Egypt. I also completed a powerful initiation of awakening in the desert. Those experiences took me on a journey beyond the illusions of beliefs and into the emotions of great love, and a compassionate understanding of humanity.
Years ago I thanked don Miguel once again for all his gifts and asked him if there was anything I could do for him. By the time I finished the question I knew it was silly. Don Miguel shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He answered with what we both knew. He was completely happy and in love with life. There was nothing more one could want. But then he planted a seed. He said, “If you really have that much gratitude, and you want to give something then go share with other people. Share with them the benefit of what you have learned so they can be happy if they want to.”
My time with don Miguel since then has been focused on studying how he teaches. I wanted to know how he communicated on multiple levels to create understanding and transformational experiences for people. I would study the details of his word choices for the sake of clarity. I sought to understand his perspective in answering a question, the depth of his faith, his handling of power, and most importantly to match the level of his unconditional love.
I have done other things in my life, but they are completely unimportant. A hundred years from now no one will remember them. But perhaps during my brief visit to this world something that I share will help others to be happier in their life. This is the path that has heart for me.
I currently teach the Toltec Wisdom (best translated as common sense and unconditional love) full time throughout the country through seminars and mentoring individual clients. I also lead transformative intensives called Power Journey’s to Mexico. I guide individuals out of the trappings of their fears and limiting beliefs to freedom from judgment and emotional suffering. I have put a six month series of lessons downloadable by MP3 on the internet at my new site about Happiness through Self Awareness.
I bring a background of practical living to blend with the process of transforming ones personal life to live in
happiness and love. I was educated as a Mechanical Engineer, served as a Naval Officer, and worked in corporate management. I understand the challenges of living in a world of chaos, deadlines, and personalities, while at the same time seeking spiritual awakening and emotional integrity. It is not easy. But the alternative of not trying was not acceptable to me.
With awareness we can live in this apparently chaotic world while having peace and harmony within our self.
If I can do it, then you can do it.
Gary van Warmerdam
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Bloglink~ http://peta-de-aztlan.blogspot.com/
Twitter Link~ http://twitter.com/Peta_de_Aztlan
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