The Value of a Teacher

When choosing a teacher in Ayurveda (or anything else!) make sure they have the following qualities:
– they live what they teach
– they know the subject from their own experience of it
– they have a clinical practice (if the subject is medical)
– they can explain difficult questions
– they do not get angry with questions
– they do not feel threatened by other teachers

These are SOME of the qualities a good teacher should have. A teacher who is confident in their own knowledge is not critical of other teachers or threatened by them.

IF YOU find a good teacher, try out some of these points:
– don’t abuse them
– don’t exploit them
– don’t treat them as an equal (where did you learn from?)
– yes, and this is hard, give them a little respect....

I am lucky to have had several really good teachers. I have learned a lot from a few ’very bad teachers’ - I learned what not to do, how not to behave. But all in all it is better to find a good teacher than to have to figure out what NOT to do rather than what to do!

Good luck on finding a worthy teacher!

– Ayurvedic Medicine for Westerners

Application of Ayurvedic Treatments Throughout Life (Volume 5)

Dravyaguna for Westerners (Volume 4)

Clinical Protocols and Treatments in Ayurveda (Volume 3)

Pathology & Diagnosis in Ayurveda (Volume 2)

Anatomy and Physiology in Ayurveda (Volume 1)