Find my spiritual teacher

calls me strongly. I feel it every time I study with him. Yesterday, I spoke to him about his training. Today, a yogini who studied with him strongly encouraged me.

I feel called to do this. Saul embodies love and teaches peace and bliss and joy. I am deeply inspired by him.

When I first took a class with him, I was profoundly affected. I think this was the moment when yoga became the central focus of my life. This man is love embodied. I deeply admire his compassion. His yoga is congruent with my practice. When I’m in the room with him I feel like my faults are understood and forgiven, my struggles are recognized, my potential is seen clearly. I feel like anything is possible.

I’m totally intimidated by the idea of studying closely with him. I’ve never spoken with him.

He does run teacher training programs. At one point I was thinking of doing the Santa Barbara Yoga Center training, and then doing a Thai yoga massage training with Saul. Now that I’m thinking of doing my yoga training all at once rather than spreading it out over weekends and vacation time, I’m thinking about doing Saul’s training at Exhale.

I have to get more information about the training. I will try to screw up the courage to speak with him at the Ojai Yoga Crib next month. There’s a module 2 coming up, but I don’t know if module 1 has to be done first, or when it might be scheduled?

because I made an appointment to speak to a Buddhist nun next week about how to go about finding a teacher and how to choose which type of Buddhism is right for me.

I’ve been looking into the groups that are in my city and ended up feeling quite disillusioned as several of them are affiliated with controversial teachers. Still, it’s better I find out these things before getting involved; I feel it’s wise to tread carefully.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to having a chat with this nun and hearing her advice. I’m not sure her school of Buddhism is right for me but I have confidence in her integrity.

that everyone has something to teach me if I’m willing to learn. When I posted this goal originally I meant that I’d like to find someone to be my Buddhist teacher and I’ll continue to search for that.

But in the meantime I’ll try to learn what I can from everyone I meet. Sometimes it will be to follow someone’s example. Or use a difficult encounter with an angry person to learn develop compassion.