How To Find Your Perfect Guru.

 

I’m afraid.

I’m afraid if you read this and know who I am you won’t listen. You’ll want to find a teacher who isn’t scared. Someone who’s enlightened.

I’ve had many teachers, gurus, and masters.

There were no perfect teachers. The closer I got to any of them the more I realized they struggled just like me. But even with their imperfection I learned so much. I’m eternally grateful.

But maybe I’m just unlucky. Maybe the perfect teacher is out there somewhere? Maybe there is such a thing as “enlightenment”? I don’t know. 

I think it’s more likely that each teacher has “enlightened moments”. Those are the moments where time stops and you see the magic. Moments of unconditional love.

I’ve had those moments, you’ve had them too. We all do.

Some teacher have more of those moments than others. Maybe there are a few that live that way all the time. So far I haven’t found any.

But if I wait to find a teacher who’s perfect before I work on myself I might wait forever. I might never get rid of the fear.

Instead I choose to read. Books are my best teachers.

Books never get afraid and they never get angry. Good books always live in those magical moments. 

And today I’m less angry and afraid than I was yesterday. My teachers of paper and ink must be helping me.

My Kung Fu Teacher (Sifu Robert Brown) says: “The Guru should always live two villages away from the disciple.”

I think that’s true.

Books always live at a distance. When you find a good one you can feel the enlightenment of the author pouring through the pages. Books are good when they are written from a good place. Paper can preserver the love.

I wrote a book.

I wrote most of it when I was experiencing those “enlightened moments”. It is the best of who I am sometimes but not enough. The me who I am when I let go of fear.

The book I wrote stays on the nightstand. I keep it close so I can read it when I’m angry or afraid. 

I read it when I’ve forgotten how to love.

I’m trying my best to be more like the author.

Joseph Hurtsellers is an Author, Speaker and Professional Martial Arts Teacher. To get more information about Joe and his book “Break The Chain” please visit: http://www.ohiomartialarts.com/sensei-joseph-hurtsellers/