"my friends, the enemy..."

..a famous quote by the Dalai Lama, referring to the oppressor of the Tibetan people, the Chinese government. The point at hand, of course, is that our teachers often present themselves in the most unlikely forms. Sometimes it's with a gentle nudge, and then there's the club.


These teachers are everywhere in my life. And true to my nature, I am often quick to recognize the teacher, but impatient because the teachings themselves seem to elude me. There are the small ones present in my daily life that regularly challenge me. And there are the larger ones that have dogged me incessantly, such as patience, for as long as I can remember. I'm happy to say that as a group they have created a far more humble person, but I am often overwhelmed by the mob of them.