July-September 2012

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching, Fourth Meditation Course, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 1973. Photo by Lynda Millspaugh.

In every practitioner’s life, there comes a moment when she knows that she has found her spiritual guide. It can look a lot of different ways. Some people have mystical visions or weep. Others simply find that one day, after many years of observation, they feel comfortable saying, “That person over there? Yes, he’s my teacher.” And although the look of this moment is as varied as there are people, a common emotional experience follows swiftly on its tail: a sense of purpose and inspiration, a feeling of coming home, a certainty of being on the right track.There is no doubt that a qualified spiritual teacher can change a person’s life.

But how do we know when a teacher is capable of guiding us along the path, inspiring us with their discipline, helping us understand the teachings and promoting harmony in our communities? At FPMT, the label “teacher” indicates a person possessing several indispensible qualifications: academic success, solid meditation practice, an attitude of service, ethical behavior and loving kindness. Also FPMT teachers have an appreciation of the organization’s history and unique teaching lineage, which helps build a sense of family and cohesion amongst their students. FPMT’s teacher registration process seeks to ensure as much as possible that teachers at FPMT centers, projects and services meet these criteria….

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