Discipline

The first stage on the path of studentship is acquiring enough discipline to practice (work) daily. Once the student learns this then teaching of the art can begin in earnest. What the teacher wants is a student who will go away and work so thoroughly and sincerely that they come back with something that surprises, delights and inspires the teacher to give more teaching. Without a passion for the bitter taste of solitary practice, the teaching, despite talent, intelligence and protestations of devotion from the student, will go nowhere. The most important single phrase my teacher has ever uttered in my presence is “You are truly blessed to know you have no choice.” The work – your work – has to be as vital and necessary to you as the food you eat, if not the air you breathe. If you miss a session, for whatever reason, you should feel rotten – hungry for work – not because it makes you feel good (to the contrary), but because you know it has to be done, and if you don't do it who will? With the work a tiny part of humanity – you – is becoming gradually more relaxed, softer and more in tune with energy – closer to the truth. What bigger commitment to improving the world can you make? Like my teacher says, do it for those you love because it will be they who benefit most from the work you do.