Standing on the Shoulders of Our Teachers

The principle of practice in art is true for anything. One first studies, receives teachings and the more one practiced them, lives them, breathes them, one begins to be these teachings, to have a specific set of spices for his own recipe. This is only possible due to standing on the shoulders of our teachers, and the ones that came before them.

“An artist’s early works are nearly always five-finger exercises that teach him the principles of the style of an older generation of artists, until he himself is mature enough to formulate a style of his own.”

Giorgio Morandi

“ Practice and all is coming”, claims Patabhi Jois. It is not by talking about Yoga that one becomes a Yogi. Indeed, reading and discussing are important. However, it is the practice in every day life that helps the embodiment and manifestation of an artist, a teacher or a master. It is practice in every moment of life and sharing with others.

“Standing on the shoulders of our teachers” writes Ganga White. What does that mean to you?

Study History to Know the Future

An artist, a Yoga teacher, a musician or even a philosopher all start with studying masters of the past. Practicing yoga, and studying with great masters is of great value. At a certain point, after substantial practice and time, one might start having this knowledge ingrained within themselves. Once this knowledge is there, the student learns to explore what works for them. Truly we are our own masters. We have all the answers; just don’t always see them clearly. The tradition the teachers of past and present are guides, are shepherds presenting the grass. Once we can see the grass, we can try and eat it, we can see what it taste like. Maybe we need another field another shepherd, and eventually either we find a grass that is delicious for us, we make our own special blend of grasses or we find a new field altogether.

The Teachers that I respect the most are those that empowered me, not controlled me, those that were sharing all they had without holding back, that were willing to show me all there is, and accept me for who I am.

My joy, my Zen, my understandings cannot be taken away from me, as they are my own experiences, not my teachers or masters. I have learned a great deal from my teachers and masters, but it is through my own practice, my own experience and my own realizations that I have come to be what I am.

I am grateful for the past, for teachers and traditions, and I am grateful for life offering me direct experiences to know what is truly right for me, for my body for being a joyful human in service.

Stand and Share

Do you agree with this article? Leave us a comment and let us know about your greatest teachers and how they helped you. Share this article with a friend and start a discussion!

Come and receive teachings here at the Doron Yoga & Zen Center, on one of our retreats or teacher training courses.

For a world of information on teaching methods and techniques, check out the Doron Yoga Manual, a comprehensive guide to passing on knowledge of yoga.

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