Except, of course, when the distances involved make traveling
there and back entirely impractical. Then they are obliged to
struggle as best they can, relying on the strength of their own
mindfulness and wisdom, even if this does mean slower results.
“Being omniscient, the Lord Buddha could help solve peo-
ple’s problems and resolve their doubts much more clearly and
quickly than they could expect to do on their own. Consequently,
disciples of his, who experienced problems or had doubts, felt
obliged to seek his advice in order to resolve them as quickly and
decisively as possible. If the Lord Buddha were alive today and I
was in a position to visit him, I too would go to ask him questions
that I have never been able to resolve to my satisfaction. In that
way I could avoid having to trudge along laboriously, wasting pre-
cious time as I’ve done in the past.
“Still, reaching definite conclusions on our own, while prac-
ticing alone, is a laborious task that we must all undertake, for,
as I’ve mentioned, we must ultimately depend on ourselves. But
having a teacher who elucidates the correct way of practice and
then recommends the right methods to follow helps us see prac-
tical results quickly and easily. This contrasts sharply with results
we achieve from guesswork when we are practicing alone. I have
seen the disadvantages of such uncertainty in my own practice,
but it was an unavoidable situation as I did not have a teacher to
instruct me in those days. I had to make my way tentatively, stum-
bling and picking myself up, making numerous mistakes along the
way. The crucial factor was my resolve, which remained single-
minded and unyielding. Because it never lapsed, never waned, I
was able to smooth out the rough patches in my practice, little by
little, until I gradually achieved a true sense of satisfaction. That
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1