Dhamma contact.

A question that I am often asked is, ‘how important is it to have a close contact with the teacher?’

Usually, my answer concerns self-responsibility for practice and discipline to make the effort for ourselves.

However, here I will give a fuller response based upon my own training and relationship with a living Master for twenty two years.

Simply put, I will say that close contact of a personal and often intimate nature with a true Master is absolutely essential to continue to progress along our spiritual path.

If we consider ourselves to be disciples of Dhamma rather than just interested students for a while, we must maintain that relationship. It is our responsibility, not the teachers. They have already made their effort and have arrived in the place of a joyful, moment to moment harmony with life.

Without that contact it is so easy to be side tracked and confused by what others tell us, by own personal views and opinions, or simply by our own boredom with a practice that is not always as dynamic as we would like it to be. When we feel lost or overwhelmed by new age presentations of religion and empty philosophies, it is necessary to have the guiding balance of the someone who has already walked the Path with honesty and integrity and now exists to support and serve others.

Dhamma realisation brings peace, happiness and a depth of understanding that we cannot even begin to imagine before we have it. The reality is simple, when we are happy, we will share that happiness with all beings.

Ultimately the whole world will benefit by you staying on the path of love and awareness. When the heart is open, the face smiles.

So now, it is for you to decide if you truly want to commit to making Dhamma a real priority in your life.

May all beings be happy.