Synopses & Reviews
The relationship between a teacher and student can be a most rewarding and life-enhancing experience, yet it can also be fraught with problems and misunderstandings. For Westerners working with Eastern teachers, the difficulties can be compounded by cultural differences, language barriers, and divergent expectations.Wise Teacher, Wise Student examines the teacher-student relationship as it is understood in the Tibetan Buddhist context. The author surveys a wide spectrum of situations, exploring the causes of potential pitfalls. In illuminating the sources of misunderstandings, he offers methods to heal wounds and encourage healthy relationships.
Synopsis
The relationship between a teacher and student can be the most rewarding and life-enhancing experience. But it can also be fraught with problems and misunderstandings. This book explores these issues and reexamines traditional Tibetan Buddhist teachings revealing methods to heal wounds and develop healthy relationships that can be applied to benefit students in any tradition.
Synopsis
The relationship with a spiritual teacher can be the most rewarding and life-enhancing experience in one's life. However, it also may be fraught with problems. Student reactions to their spiritual teachers may range from extreme deification to deep mistrust, and these responses prevent the benefits of a healthy relationship. This book explores the sources of these misunderstandings and re-examines traditional Tibetan Buddhist teachings revealing methods to heal wounds and develop healthy relationships that can be applied to benefit students in any spiritual tradition.
About the Author
Alexander Berzin received a PhD from Harvard University in 1972 from the Departments of Far Eastern Languages and Sanskrit and Indian Studies. A member of the Translation Bureau of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives since 1972, he is the author of numerous books and articles. He frequently travels to the Americas, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, lecturing on Buddhism and Tibetan culture and helping to establish programs of co-operation between the Tibetan community and academic and religious institutions.