More On Teachers … 2 comments
Studying art, or dance, or any creative subject is very similar to studying a philosophy or, if you must, a religion. As a matter of fact it isn’t any different at all. They are all very disciplined subjects, yet without creative freeflow thinking they soon become stagnant. That may be heresy to some, but it is the truth.
Studying one of these subjects gives the student insight into them all – it only takes finding the commonalities, the ideas and concepts that crossover from one to the other, kind of like thumbing through a cosmic relational database. All of these subjects require observation skills, debating skills, analytical skills, and communication skills. How these skills manifest in a person is molded and brought to life by a teacher.
Everyone needs a teacher. There is no way for me to grow beyond my boundaries without a surrogate parent to show me the way. But how the teacher manifests into someone’s life, what they do there, and how long they stay is different for everyone. Just as the practice of painting, photography, modern dance, and buddhism is different for everyone who chooses to take on the challenge.
Finding a teacher can be purposeful or seemingly come from out of the blue. It is necessary to go with my gut or my instinct when a teacher presents him/herself. Not every teacher is right for every student. There is matchmaking involved, but I, and you, will know when it is right. I have to be ready to hear what they have to tell me. I have to at least have the ability to listen and mull over what they say. A good teacher will challenge me, push me, motivate me and not necessarily tell me that everything is wonderful.
Outgrowing a teacher is a natural thing that sometimes happens. Actually it happens quite often. What was true for me a few years ago is not true for me now. I have grown. I have moved on. The teacher has grown, or maybe they have moved on. It’s as it should be. Whether I choose to find another teacher is up to me.
But, when it comes down to it, if I have learned well, and have developed all of my skills, the one most important thing I have learned, is how to see everything in this world as a teacher, so that I am never without one.
2 Responses to 'More On Teachers …'
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Yes, I didn’t want anyone to assume I was being flip with my last post about not having a teacher, so I wanted to explain it a little further. I actually thought about your experiences that you’ve written about as well as my own, and a few others, when I wrote that post.
I think if you’ve found a good teacher, their goal will be for you to become independent of them and see the teachings in the things that are around you every moment of every day.
Great post. As you probably know, I’ve been struggling with leaving one teacher and trying to find another. You’re dead on about feeling like you’ve outgrown one teacher, and also about how life itself is the greatest teacher.