Any Buddha quote can be understood in multiple ways. Today I want to share my interpretation of the following quote:
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. – Buddha
What does this Buddha quote mean?
This Buddha quote is about learning. The student is you. Constantly learning. The teacher is any problem, challenge, difficulty you are facing right now. Or might face in the future.
So what exactly does Buddha say, when he states, you will face challenges when you are ready? He doesn’t mean, you will only face challenges once you acquired certain skills, ready to tackle them.
In fact, it is rather the opposite. You will face challenges to acquire certain skills. When you have to learn something, you are having a problem.
An example
I am a very impatient person. That makes me see things wasting my time everywhere – the teacher appears on every corner!
He appears in the form of the bus running late, he appears in the form of a colleague chatting instead of providing me the information I so urgently need.
He appears because I am ready to learn patience. Not ready in wanting to learn it, ready in needing to learn it.
When I am relaxed, patient, not struggling to do more faster, nothing looks like a waste of time – no teacher.
The bus running late – more time to enjoy the fresh air and to take in my surroundings. The chatting colleague – a great opportunity to relate to them as a person rather than a means to an end.
Change of perspective
Do you realize how that changes your outlook on life?
Everything you might encounter, anything that might bring you discomfort, challenge your status quo… It is not in your way anymore!
Rather, it is helpful, an important step on your path to peace.
Everything is there to teach you something.
This changes your perspective from being a victim of circumstances to being a precious prodigy – everything around you teaches you. A vast abundance of learning opportunities, wherever you look!
Seeing difficulties like that, it enables you to welcome them. To deal with them constructively and find great ways of dealing, instead of despairing, because you have difficulties in the first place.
And no matter which aspect of your life you are looking at, this gives you skills valued in all of them: Frustration tolerance.
As a result, you will have more openness to challenging situations. Mental stability. Resilience. The ability to work under pressure.
And no, this does not mean you should seek out situations you know are bad for you. When you are ready, the teacher will appear. It happens all by itself.
All you have to do is being open and accepting the learning process. Everything else is taken care of.
How do you understand this Buddha quote? I am looking forward to your thoughts in the comments!
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