These days is easy to find another teacher or teaching if the ones you’ve been following suddenly seem lacking. The reasons for changing are myriad but, in my own case, they have often times send to be based on specious reasoning and impulse. There are times, however, when I have taken stock of what I am doing and see that I have made changes for the right reasons. All of which is to say that I have met some amazing teachers in my life who have helped to put me squarely on the path and whom I often think about.
One in particular was my life line to the Teachings of the Thai Forest tradition and I have often found myself thinking of him in passing. For whatever reason we have personalities that don’t easily mesh so poor dynamic has frequently been strained.
So, the other day I was talking with my bhikkhu friend about the difficulties he was having with an anagarika of his, especially as it relates to gratitude and I realized that I had never treated the relationship with the respect it was due. I certainly hadn’t expressed the gratitude that my teacher deserved. So, knowing this, I sent him a message asking him where I could send dana and, when he replied, I did. Maybe it wasn’t much but sending it has been a bright spot and I have found myself reflecting on it often.
May I never forget to be grateful and appreciate my teachers again.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 