A group Conversation : Seeking a Teacher

Eric Otto In seeking a teacher or a Tantra path, how does one proceed? How does one know a "good" teacher? Nora It is said that you don't find the guru.Devi herself sets the meeting of a Guru and Sisya, for the Guru is Devi reincarnate in the physical form. Just like our coming together here in the group is not a mere coincidence. It is perhaps meant to be. Things do not happen just for the hack out of it. But the most important thing that we should have is this desire to be guided, and it must come from within. From this inner desire, listen by DEVI herself and she will choose a suitable "guru" for you. Thereare people who think that they do not need a guru, least they forget that their mother is the first guru. Book knowledge is good, but book will remain a book. Book too is a form of "guru" and is verysacred, but you can never compare bookish knowledge with experience. If I am given a choice between two people: One with all the bookish knowledge and another with an experience, logic tell me that the experience is what I value most and must seek. Swami Rama (the founder of the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy and of the Himalayan Institute Hospital trust and Medical College, India) remarked in one of his lectures: A time will come when the seeker goes through a period of argumentation with herself/himself and cannot decide. At this time a real preceptor is needed. How will you find the right master? No one can search for a preceptor. There is a saying in the Scriptures:" When the disciple is prepared, the master appears." This happens only because of samskaras. Teachers and student samskaras are very ancient and strong.