Teaching, leading or guiding?

The Buddha is a powerful symbol in the Buddhist tradition. Any Buddhist tradition will have some embodiment of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The Buddha represents the teacher, the dharma the teachings, and the Sangha the community that revolves around these two. 

The Buddha represents the ideal form that one assumes in this lifetime. It is the form of oneself as a teacher, a leader, or a guide. Each of these roles can have subtle differences and as we associate with a teacher it is important that we discern our own role in relation to the teacher. 

A teacher has knowledge that you don't have. A teacher is someone you turn to for resources, insight or direction. A teacher can connect dots and build bridges where there is confusion or uncertainty. A teacher sees a bigger picture than you see, and as such can open doors or tear down walls. It is important that the teacher has some practical, real world experience. Some teachers might be overly academic or scholarly, but not be grounded in reality. Practical knowledge is almost always better than theoretical knowledge. 

A leader by necessity has a following, even if it is a following of one. A leader heads into the unknown, through the woods and over mountains to pave a new trail. Our world and our situation is constantly changing, so the importance of a leader cannot be overlooked. Leaders are able to connect the tribe, set out a vision, build something new, and give us a heading on our journey. Leaders have authority but also recognize and honor the voices of those below the leader. Be wary of a leader who is reckless, self-centered or doesn't lead by example. 

A guide is someone who has intimate experience with the path that you are traveling and has no other motive than for you to travel the path safely and with minimal hardship. They know the best places to sprint and the times to rest. They are patient and tolerant of the hardship one faces, but also recognize the urgency and initiative needed to traverse the path. The guide knows you are very results orientated, that you want to finish, but they know that once you reach the end you must go back and hopefully they can teach you to enjoy the journey along the way. Be wary of a guide who sells you on the finish, or really wants you to do this thing because they have done it. Find a guide for the journey you want to travel. 

You might not find all of these qualities in one individual. You might have teachers, leaders and guides along the journey. The important part is recognizing your needs and the challenges you are facing on your journey.