The Buddha placed great emphasis on personal experience and understanding. But we’re inclined to forget this and try to obtain understanding second-hand, from someone else. In other words we abdicate our responsibilities. We may fall into the trap of going to teachers/gurus — not to learn from them, but to lean on them. Wisdom, compassion and realization, of course, cannot be found this way. Naturally, unless we’re very foolish, we shall learn from others. But there is a very fine line between learning and leaning.
From the August 1989 Buddhism Now.
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I understand. I’m learning with a Ripoche in Va., I see occasionally and a Buddhist friend for questions. This works for me. I have no one to lean on.
It is a profound insight- learning from personal experience , not by leaning on others. Simple yet profound.
It is the reality, the truth, we are like wanderers. just go from pillar to post and at the end came back to the same old place, where we were.
Love this… so simple an clear
wonderful! thank you