The Importance of Following an Authentic Guru
How should we begin learning about Buddhism? Following a qualified spiritual teacher is the best option, while following a reliable Dharma book is second best. For example, if you want to learn to drive a car you need a driving instructor, similarly if you just depend on your own intelligence and don’t have the guidance of a qualified teacher, that will not lead to the essence of Dharma practice.
It’s best if you can follow a guru who has profound mastery of Buddhist philosophy. Go to him or her and listen to his or her teachings on at least a dozen Buddhist texts, because if you don’t take systematic steps in learning Buddhism then it’s hard to truly understand the Dharma teachings
If you don’t have the opportunity to follow a qualified teacher, it is very important to study some texts by yourself. For example, in Tibetan Buddhism you can study famous texts such as The Words of My Perfect Teacher . Study these texts again and again. In this way, you will dispel doubts like “Am I practicing in the right way?” or “How should I practice?”
Otherwise, merely depending on one’s own intelligence, even if your IQ is very high, will not allow you to understand the essence of practice. It’s just like learning to drive without a driving instructor. However clever you are, even if you try to hold the steering wheel, you might not drive smoothly on the road. So it’s best to rely on a guru. If that’s not possible, then the second best is to settle for reliable Dharma books. Then practice accordingly and repeatedly, as the instructions are very well explained in books of that kind.
