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Dristi Guru<br />
The Path of f the Studen<br />
udent<br />
Paul Dallaghan<br />
Iam a student and always will be.<br />
Though I have had the good fortune to<br />
teach others, it is only because I am a<br />
student. To continue being a student and<br />
thus continue growing is essential. This<br />
article explores the student’s path.<br />
There are many doors to enter yoga that excite and encourage. Many feel certain changes<br />
happen just from a few yoga classes a week. Without one even realising or planning for it,<br />
there comes a point where the next step to growth is unavoidable. It is at this point that<br />
one becomes a “student” and the impact of yoga will begin. This impact can not be<br />
thought of or imagined, it can only be experienced. Its effect is subtle yet powerfully<br />
transformational, where the personality of the student refines and grows. The signs are<br />
noticed in your behaviour, thoughts and actions.<br />
Where is this point of impact? And when does one really don the student’s shoes? From<br />
something within, one bows down to the teacher and teachings. Physically and mentally,<br />
one becomes ready to embark on the learning, unconditionally and studentship commence.<br />
Dedication and humility open our door, allowing what the teacher is giving to enter and<br />
have an impact. It is this that makes it an inner or spiritual process. At this point one<br />
becomes a student as opposed to a recreational practitioner. This is how the great sage<br />
Patanjali opens the science and study of yoga in the Yoga Sutras. “Atha Yoganushasanam”<br />
Dedication and humility open our door, allowing<br />
what the teacher is giving to enter<br />
(Yoga Sutra I.1) very powerfully states that now, having finished with one’s musings and<br />
frivolities, one is ready to embark on the complete practice and study of yoga.<br />
Paul Brunton’s A Search in Secret India is a beautiful account of his own search in the 1930s<br />
and the different spiritual (or not) characters he met. He clearly states that a certain<br />
discrimination was needed to weed through the self-styled masters, who are more a<br />
product of slick ego, self-delusion and group hysteria than real spirituality. He spent time<br />
looking at the different teachings with an open yet critical mind and heart. There were some<br />
real ones, and one stood out as his teacher.<br />
Paul’s cleverness, intelligent questioning and cynicism subsided and a strong desire to bow<br />
down and ready himself for experience became apparent. For it is only through practice<br />
under an experienced and authentic teacher that the impact of yoga can be experienced.<br />
How do we discern a teacher? Use your intelligence and learn how to read your heart. So,<br />
yes there will be feelings, accompanied by grounding or steadiness. One should ask what is<br />
this person’s background? How long have they studied, with who and what? What is the<br />
tradition behind it? How do they behave and live? Through this is revealed experience,<br />
knowledge, humility and reverence to their own teacher. Another indication is that they<br />
mention a main teacher as opposed to a string of the latest and greatest names. They<br />
themselves should be a student under an able teacher. Their attention and energy focused<br />
on practicing their teacher’s teachings, rather than running from one to the next. The<br />
journey inward is so subtle that at the key stages this teacher is needed. But it must be met<br />
with the readiness of the student.<br />
Shraddha is the Sanskrit word for a student embarking on the path. Consider it a full and<br />
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