如何選擇一個靈性老師
指導者的重要性不能被低估。如果你想在生活中迅速、直接、有效的學習任何事物的話，最快的方法就是向你希望掌握的事物的高手尋求幫助。一個一隻手中有字母表，另一隻手中有一本書，但沒有指導者的孩子，可能需要幾年的時間才能正確的解碼，實際成為能讀寫的人。或者，一個初學者第一次遇到一個複雜的儀器，卻沒有明確的指示，可能需要多年的反覆試驗、能量的體驗和努力，較有可能的，但不是肯定的，學會如何操作。淨化，癒合，覺醒與提升的演化之路，你靈魂的了悟，以及與超越的（Beyond）可能的合一，並不是一個很容易解碼的任務。
人類生命一方面看似簡單，但大多數的人不斷面臨挑戰和衝突，在從一個錯誤到另一個錯誤中跌跌撞撞，到沮喪、憤怒、失望和痛苦的地步。人們透過錯誤和痛苦學習，然而，透過覺醒的靈魂和心的智慧來學習是可能的。
演化的道路可能是微妙、難以捉摸的。這需要巨大的內在敏感度和覺知，來開始學習如何正確的航行。自我了悟或開悟的道路是一條偉大的任務，可能是靈魂可以進行的最大任務。擁有靈性指引是寶貴的先見之明;就像為今後的漫長旅程準備一張清晰的地圖。指導者不是帶你去那裡，而是指導者向你展示一個簡單的方法。指導內在層面的明確原則和法則是存在，所以確實不能低估有一個靈性指導者是多麼的重要。
並非所有的指導者都是一樣的。指導者幫助你演化的能力，主要取決於指導者自己的旅程。大多數的指導者都經歷了某種程度的自我了悟，但很難找到完全了悟的指導者。在真正自我了悟的指導者中，很難找到一個指導者，可以為求道者，將他們所知道的，轉換為明晰的教導和清晰的道路。最了悟的人可能並無法和較少了悟的人一樣多的幫助你。這意味著他們可能生活在一個較高的狀態中，但實際上可能並不知道如何引導你到他們所在的地方。很奇怪，但卻是真的，有時候我們並不知道自己是如何到達我們所在的地方的。重要的是，指導者有效的在你的階段幫助你的能力。有大量追隨者的指導者，可能無法為你提供你所需要程度的個人性回饋和親密互動。有較少追隨者的指導者可能可以給予你更多的個人時間，但未必有足夠高的觀點來真正看到你。
如果你能找到一個指導者可以與你有個人性的互動，真正的看到你，在許多自我發展的層面中支持你，這是一顆罕見的寶石。限制自己在一個引導者可以幫助你深入了解他們的教導和所提供的。不限制自己在一個指導者，可以幫助你取得自我發展的許多不同方式。有太多的指導者可能使你沒有深入任何的方向，並最終感到困惑。另一方面，有許多指導者可以幫助你達到客觀，沒有排他性和使你擴展，超越單一方法的獨斷。
一個真正的指導者已經經歷了許多自我淨化的內在的火，並致力於提升他們的存在，穿越許多（如果不是全部的話）稠密和沉重的層次，來體現他們作為真正自我的最高振動。指導者已經進入他們的內在深度，他們已經達到自己黑暗和光的盡頭，他們知道如何對核心保持真實。他們為真理而活，並找到在愛之內實現這個的方法。這個指導者不會玩遊戲或濫用權力。他們不會假裝比他們所是的更覺悟，他們不會承諾帶你進入他們做不到的狀態。他們是謙遜的，但他們可以夠清楚的告訴你，他們可以幫助你什麼，不能幫助你什麼。他們知道何時幫助求道者，何時讓求道者離開，走自己的路。他們小心不要培養求道者的依賴，致力於求道者最終的力量和超脫於對指導者的需求。
更高的存在 – 對師傅皈依的道路
有另一個靈性指導的素質，這有它的位置，但需要在合適的光線中觀察。某些存在聲稱是為了提升人類到一個新的、更高的存在層次的目的而降生。他們在孩提時就是不同尋常的，並自然的表現出崇高的意識狀態。他們可能聲稱自己是彌賽亞、阿凡達、神聖的母親或父親、聖人或先哲、喇嘛、佛陀或菩薩、通靈人、千里眼或具有非凡力量的特殊存在。他們可能提供能量、恩典的傳遞，或點化人們進入更高的狀態或轉化性的過程。只要在他們面前，就可能帶來真正深刻和無法解釋的改變。
通常，偉大老師的力量結合了（1）他們擁有的一些獨特的氣質（2）人們的信念對他們的虛幻投射。越多的人將莊嚴和提昇的思想投射到指導者的身上，指導者就會變得越強。一顆被認為是聖石，被許多人所探視的岩石，就會開始在該領域積聚能量。人們不斷的將岩石投射為「特殊岩石」，創造出了力量的循環。其中，投射到岩石上的力量，返回到了做出投射的求道者身上。求道者接收到很大的經驗，並將它歸因於岩石上，而這是由他們信念的力量所創造出的力量傳遞的外在幻象。
最有趣的現象是，無論是大師和皈依者，還是教師和學生，都會玩這個遊戲一段時間，直到其中一人清醒後離開。學生通常有某些自我價值的枯竭感，無法想像自己的仁慈、整體性和價值，而認為這是更高存在的專屬特質。如果指導者是真正明晰的，出於誠性來教導，並且沒有別有用心的動機，那麼他們就會告知求道者，這個投射是錯誤的，以及一個人的潛能就是所有人的潛能。如果指導者是自我迷惑的，或例如以教導來積聚權力、財富或地位，那他們很可能會盡可能久的保護這種錯覺的泡沫。真正的指導者的內、外在意圖都是乾淨的。他們可能有一個組織，但如果它成為一個障礙，使他們不能夠活在真理中，或幫助求道者了解真理，他們願意讓組織瓦解。
基於對師傅皈依的道路的困難在於，它經常沒有導向獨立和自強。一個人被引導去相信，雖然他們可能不「需要」這個更高的存在，但持續與他們共鳴有助於維持自己的進步。外在的老師持續掩蓋了內在的老師，求道者變得更依賴和無助。當我們無法清楚的看見自己，老師的指導是必不可少的，讓我們可以迅速、直接的穿越我們的盲點。但當我們來到有足夠的內在清晰的點，很重要的是，指導者開始將求道者最初交給他們的力量，交回給求道者。智慧和知曉只屬於指導者的投射需要被打碎。然後到某個階段，求道者必須進入自我負責，並開始使用內在的知曉，以及指導自己的能力。
為了公平和真實，有的存在確實有較高的共振和振動，他們比其他人更覺悟，確實有某種真正的靈性禮物。與他們接觸可以推動你的存在進入更高的了悟狀態，使你深深的記得自己是誰。例如，你的痛苦接觸他們的愛，然後你的痛苦就會開始記起在痛苦核心的愛。只要靠近某些存在可能就會帶來瞬間療癒，淨化或提升。有時，求道者是如此迷失在混亂和黑暗中，沒有接觸更高振動的存在，他們就看不到光或出路。接觸幫助他們恢復信心，這可能對於幫助求道者將自己拉出他的淤塞，或螺旋式下降的流沙，有可能是非常必要的。指導者的角色可能是提供你振動性的共鳴，讓你瞥見你不知道有可能的更高狀態。你與他們的相遇是一份禮物，讓你記得自己，和對更高的道路敞開。
基本上，已經深度的走在靈性道路上的指導者具有引導別人的能力。如果你已經找到一個與你的存在真正共振的指導者，那麼即使與他們在一起一輩子也不一定是依賴和依戀的行為。比你與指導者在一起的時間長度更重要的是，從你的內在空間與指導者連結。如果追隨一條道路可以幫助你更集中在自己的內在力量、知曉和權威性，並避免對於指導者的虛幻投射，那麼這可能是你的最高道路。下面是在選擇指導者時，一些要詢問的重要問題。請牢記在心，在人生的不同時期與不同的指導者學習可能是健康的，以及最終，或在人生的不同時間點，放掉所有的外在指導，也可能是健康的。
最後，一個敏感和智慧的靈魂會從每件事物中學習，所有的生命、所有的人、所有的生物、風、太陽、月亮和星星都是他們的老師。將自己限制於任何一個人或幾個人是否有優勢？有較高層次和較低層次的教師。如果你將自己與高振動的覺醒者調準，你就會更迅速、更直接的提昇自己，比起你透過不與壞榜樣學習。有無數集中注意力的方法，但如果你在朝向光前進，那麼最好讓自己置身於燈塔中。他們會自然透過你與他們的共鳴，而將拉你起來。而不斷接觸低的和無意識的人，會在相反的方向滲透你的注意力。擁有覺醒的老師、導師，專注於幫助你提升自己到你下一個最高層次，是療癒和提升非常直接的途徑。沒有指導者，我們可以引導自己，但這就像在沒有星星的夜晚，穿越黑暗的森林，而且選擇不拿手電筒，為了什麼原因，為了證明你靠自己做到了嗎? 如果可以得到幫助的話，這麼做是不需要的，你可以更明智的接受幫助。
這裡有在選擇一個指導者時，要詢問的13個問題:
1.指導者是否經歷了深入的自我修煉過程？
2.指導者是否淨化了他們的人類性格？
3.指導者是否喚醒了他們更高的靈性自我？
4.指導者是否達到了自我實現的整體狀態？
5.如果不是的話，指導者是否對於他們的缺點和實際層次誠實？
6.指導者是否真誠、誠實，從正確的意圖來行動？
7.指導者是否有一個明確的途徑和教導來指導你？
8.還是他們的道路導向生命長期的依賴他們的指導和恩典？
9.指導者是否做出無法兌現的承諾，並創造出虛假的希望？
10.這條道路是否最終導向獨立和自強？
11.他們長期的學生是否已經明確的提升到更高的狀態？
12.指導者是否是你希望達到的一個例子？
13.指導者是否已經將他的靈性整合進平衡的生活中？
~Avalon
How to Choose a Spiritual Guide
The importance of a guide cannot be underestimated. If you want to learn anything in life quickly, directly and effectively, then the fastest way is to seek help from a master of what you wish to master. A child who sits down in front of an alphabet in one hand and a book in another who has no guidance might take years to decode it correctly and actually become literate. Or, a beginner who meets a complex instrument for the first time with no clear instruction may require years of trial and error, energy and effort to possibly but not definitely learn how to play. The evolutionary path of purification, healing, awakening and ascension, the realization of your soul and her potential union with the Beyond is not a task any easier to decode.
Human life appears deceptively simple on one hand, and yet most people are continuously challenged and conflicted by it, stumbling from one mistake to another, to the point of frustration, anger, disappointment and suffering. People are learning through mistakes and pain, however it is possible to learn through the wisdom of an awakened soul and heart instead.
The evolutionary path can be subtle and elusive. It requires immense inner sensitivity and awareness to begin to learn how to navigate it correctly. The path of self–realization or enlightenment is a great undertaking, likely the greatest undertaking a soul can take. To have spiritual guidance is a precious foresight; it is like preparing a clear map for the long journey ahead. The guide does not take you there, but the guide shows you a straightforward way. There are clear principles and laws that guide the inner dimension and it truly cannot be underestimated how important it is to have a spiritual guide.
Not all guides are the same, and the ability of a guide to assist you in your evolution is mostly dependent on the guide’s own journey. Most guides have experienced some degree of self-realization, but it is rare to find a guide that is completely realized. Among truly self-realized guides, it is rare to find a guide who can transfer what they know into a lucid teaching and clear path for the seeker. The most realized being might not be able to help you as much a lesser-realized being. This means they may be living in a higher state, but may not actually know how to guide you to where they are. Strange but true, sometimes we don’t know how we got to where we are. What matters, is the ability of a guide to assist you effectively at the stage you are at. A guide with a huge following may not be able to provide you with the level of personal feedback and interactive closeness that you need. A guide with a smaller following may have more personal time for you, but may not have a high enough perspective to really see you.
If you can find a guide who can interact with you personally, truly see you, and assist you through many levels of self-development, this is a rare gem. Limiting yourself to one guide can help you to dive deep into their teachings and offering. Not limiting yourself to one guide can help you to access many different ways of self-development and self-realization. Having too many guides can cause you to not go deep in any direction and end up confused. On the other hand, having many guides can help you achieve objectivism, non-exclusivity and expand you beyond the dogmatism of a single approach.
A true guide has gone through the many internal fires of self-purification and has worked to raise their being through several, if not all, layers of density and heaviness to manifest their highest vibration as their true self. This guide has gone into their internal depth, they have met the ends of their darkness and their light, and they know how to be authentic to the core. They live for truth and have found a way to deliver that inside love. This guide does not play games or misuse power.
They don’t pretend to be more realized than they are, and they don’t promise to take you into states that they cannot. They are humble, but they are clear enough to show you exactly what they can and cannot help you with. They know when to help a seeker, and when to let the seeker go and make their own way. They are careful not to foster a seeker’s dependence and works towards the seeker’s final empowerment and detachment from need for the guide.
HIGHER BEINGS – PATH OF DEVOTION TO THE GURU
There is another calibre of spiritual guidance that has its place but needs to be seen in the right light. Certain beings claim to have incarnated for the purpose of raising humanity to a new and higher level of being. They are unusual as children and exhibit a naturally exalted state of consciousness. They may claim to be a messiah, avatar, divine mother or father, saint or sage, lama, Buddha or bodhisattva, channel, clairvoyant or a special being with extraordinary powers. They may offer transmissions of energy, grace or initiations into higher states or transformative processes. Just to be in their presence, may bring about truly profound and inexplicable changes.
Normally the power of a great teacher is a combination of (1) some unique qualities they hold and (2) the illusive projection of people’s belief unto them. The more people that project thoughts of grandeur and exaltation onto the guide, the stronger the guide becomes. A rock that is said to be a sacred rock, and receives visitation by many people, starts to amass energy in its field. People’s constant projection onto that rock as a ‘special rock’, then creates a cycle of power in which, the power that is projected onto the rock is then returned to the projecting seeker. The seeker receives a big experience and attributes it to the rock, whereas it was the power of their belief that created this external illusion of power transference.
The most interesting phenomena is that both the guru and the devotee, or teacher and student will play this game for some time until one of them wakes up and steps out. The student normally has some depleted sense of self worth and cannot conceive of their own goodness, wholeness and worth, and instead see that as an exclusive quality of a higher being. If the guide is truly lucid, teaching out of integrity, and has no ulterior motives, then they will inform the seeker that this projection is false, and that the potential of one human is the potential of all. If the guide is self-deluded, or teaching to amass power, wealth or status for example, then they will likely protect the bubble of this illusion for as long as possible. The true guide is clean in their intention inside and out. They may have an organization, but they are willing to let the organization fall apart it becomes an obstacle to their ability to live in truth, or to their ability to help seekers realize the truth.
The difficulty with a devotional guru based path is that it does not often lead to independence and self-empowerment. One is led into believing that though they may not “need” this higher being, that continued resonance with them will help them to sustain their progress. The external teacher continues to overshadow the internal teacher, and the seeker grows more into dependency and helplessness. When we cannot see our self clearly, the guidance of a teacher is essential so we can quickly and directly work through our blind spots. When we come to a point of enough inner clarity, it is important for the guide to then begin return the power back to the seeker that was initially lent to them. The projection of wisdom and knowingness as only belonging to the guide needs to be shattered. The seeker must then step into self-responsibility and begin to access the knowing within, and the ability to guide oneself.
To be fair and true, some beings do actually hold a higher resonance and vibration, they are more realized than others and do hold certain real spiritual gifts. Contact with them can propel your being into a higher state of realization causing you to deeply remember who you are. For example, your pain touches their love and then you pain begins to remember love inside the core of pain. Just to be near some beings can cause instant healing, cleansing or ascension. Sometimes a seeker is so lost in confusion and darkness that without contact with a higher vibratory being, they cannot see light or a way out. Contact helps them renew faith and this may be very necessary in helping the seeker pull himself out of his stagnation or the quicksand of his downward spiral. This guide’s role may be to offer you a vibrational resonance so that you glimpse a higher state that you didn’t know was possible. Your meeting with them is a gift in self-remembrance and an opening to higher path.
Basically, a guide who has walked the path in depth has the capacity to guide others. If you have found a guide who is truly resonant with your being, then even spending a lifetime with them is not necessarily an act of dependence and attachment. What matters more than the length of time you spend with a guide, is the inner space from which you are relating to the guide. If following a path helps you to center more in your own inner power, knowing and authority, and refrain from illusive projections onto a guide, then it may be your highest path. Here are some essential questions to ask when choosing a guide, keeping in mind, it may be healthy to engage different guides at different times in life, and it may be healthy to release yourself from all external guidance finally or at various points in life.
13 Questions to Ask when choosing a Guide
1. Has the guide gone through an in-depth process of self-cultivation?
2. Has the guide purified their human character?
3. Has the guide awakened their higher spiritual self?
4. Has the guide reached a holistic state of self-realization?
5. If not, is the guide honest about their shortcomings and actual level?
6. Is the guide sincere, honest and coming from the right intent?
7. Does the guide have a clear pathway and teaching to guide you?
8. Or does their path lead to life long dependence on their guidance and grace?
9. Does the guide make undeliverable promises and create false hope?
10. Does this path eventually lead to independence and self-empowerment?
11. Have their long-term students been clearly raised into a higher state?
12. Is the guide an example of what you wish to achieve?
13. Has the guide integrated their spirituality into a balanced life?
~Avalon