The relationship between a teacher and student can be a most rewarding and life-enhancing experience, yet it can also be fraught with problems and misunderstandings. For Westerners working with Eastern teachers, the difficulties can be compounded by cultural differences, language barriers, and divergent expectations.
Wise Teacher, Wise Student examines the teacher-student relationship as it is understood in the Tibetan Buddhist context. The author surveys a wide spectrum of situations, exploring the causes of potential pitfalls. In illuminating the sources of misunderstandings, he offers methods to heal wounds and encourage healthy relationships.
"Alex Berzin has taken head-on one of the hottest issues of Buddhism in the Westthe teacher-student and guru-disciple relationship. I consider this a seminal work."Lama Surya Das, author of
Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be "This is the most thoughtful and comprehensive book yet written on the teacher-student relationship. Alex Berzin provides readers with both clear-eyed wisdom and extraordinary knowledge of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition."Jack Kornfield, author of
The Wise Heart and
The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace "An informative, thoughtful, and in-depth approach to the mentor-student relationship, this book will benefit both newcomers to the path and more advanced practitioners."Ven. Thubten Chodron, author of
Buddhism for Beginners "A sane and valuable cultural and spiritual bridge, for practitioners and teachers in any tradition."
Sangha Journal Alexander Berzin received a Ph.D. in 1972 from the Departments of Far Eastern Languages and Sanskrit and Indian Studies at Harvard University. He lived in India for twenty-nine years, studying with many Tibetan lamas, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Widely published, Berzin teaches at Buddhist centers throughout the world.
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