If you are in need of guidance in whatever stage of development you are in, find a good teacher. A good teacher will lead you to the door but will ask you to walk through it. Now what does that mean in practical terms? As a meditation instructor, I can give you the tools for learning to meditate but I cannot tell you what you will experience for I have learned and truly believe that everyone's experience will be different. This is what makes meditation seem like a mystery to most. Most want to know in advance what to expect. Well if you have expectations, you will never truly experience meditation in its fullness. As an instructor, I can help to answer some questions that may arise due to your meditation/self-healing practice, however, keep in mind that many questions concerning meditation cannot truly be answered. There are many things that your conscious mind cannot grasp from the experience of meditation. Many aspects of meditation can only be experienced. The more you meditate, the more you will understand this concept.
Keeping the previous concept in mind, consider these other criteria as well when trying to find a good meditation instructor:
- How many years of experience the person has personally practiced meditation. The best teacher is that of experience. Usually someone who has practiced for many years has experienced many different aspects of meditation. This information can be helpful to a student who is just starting off or even for someone who has also been practicing for awhile. Sometimes it is the little tips and tricks that help take your meditation practice to the next level.
- Find an instructor who you trust. You will know if you trust a person by the way you feel. If your meditation instructor makes you feel good, then they are someone you can trust at that stage of your meditation practice. Keep in mind also, they you may need to find a different meditation instructor as you progress and deepen your meditation practice. You can also, decide to "go at it on your own", which is also a viable option.
- Find an instructor who is open and genuinely willing to assist you.
- Find and instructor who embodies what they teach. Your teacher must "walk the walk" as well as "talk the talk".
- Find an instructor who is able to explain difficult concepts in simple and easy to understand terms.