sayingthatthemotheristhechild’sfirstteacher.Andthisisjustthebeginning.Alloflifeisalearn-
ingprocess.EvenanEnlightenedpersonalitycanstilllearnnewtechnicalskillssuchaslearningto
playdrumsoraguitar.Alsoconsiderthatforanyattainmentinlifewhereonewantstoachieveex-
pertise,onemustreceivesometrainingfromsomeoneelsethathasalreadymasteredtheexperiential
knowledgeinthatarea.Sometimesthiscanbethroughanindirectprocessofreadingbooks,etc.,
however,howwouldyoufeelabouthavingsurgeryperformedonyoubyadoctorwhoonlyread
abouttheprocedureinbooks,withnodirecttrainingunderthedirectinstructionandguidanceofan-
otherexperiencedandqualifieddoctor?Wouldyouwantapilotwhoonlyreadaboutflyingfroma
booktoflyaplanethatyouwereon?Evenbasketballplayersundergorigoroustrainingundera
coach’sdirectiontobecomeprofessionals.WhyshouldtheprocessofattainingEnlightenmentbeany
different?Ifanything,itrequiresmoreguidanceandcoaching,asitsattainmentissosubtleandelu-
sive,duetothemanytricksthattheegoisticmindcanplayandtraptheinitiate.Thus,inspirituality,
guidance is also needed.
Considerthefollowingexample.Supposethatyouarevisitingourcenter,anddur-
ingameetingwearehavingonyourlastdayofstay,Iameatingsomethingoutof
mybowl.YouaskmewhatamIeating,andIreplytoyouthatIameatingaspecial
raw(uncooked)vegan(noanimalproducts)icecreamthatIjustmade.Youaskme
whatdoesittastelike.Istruggletofindthewordstogiveyouinsightintothetaste.
Itellyouittastessomewhatlikeacombinationofmangoesandpeaches.Youac-
knowledgethis,knowingwhatmangoesandwhatpeachestastelike,however,you
stilldonotreallyknowwhattheicecreamexactlytasteslike.Youhaveanidea,but
notexactknowledge.Theonlywayyoucanreallyknowistobeabletotasteit
yourself.So,youaskifyoumayhaveataste.Iofferyousome.Youfindthatitis
delicious,surpassingeverythingyouhaveevereaten.However,theproblemisthat
youareleavingandwouldnotbeabletohaveanymoreofthiswonderfuldishthat
youjustexperienced.Youalso,realizinghowuniqueandspecialitis,starttothink
ofyourfamily,andhowtheywouldeasilystopeatingregularicecreamifonlythey
could have a taste of this.
So,youaskmefortherecipe.Igiveyoutherecipe,andyoureturnbackhomeand
trymakingtherecipe.Theresultsyougotwereallright,butitwasnotasgoodas
theoneyougotfromme,soyoucallme.Inourconversation,Iexpresssomeareas
ofnuancesinthepreparationoftherawicecream.Youtrythetechniqueagain,a
fewmoretimes,tryingtoapplywhatyouweretold,andyourresultsimproved,but
stillsomethingismissing.Youliketheicecreamsomuchthatyouhavedecided
thatyouwantittobecomethecenterofyourlivelihood.Youdecidetocomeand
