the real student...

People seek teachers and teaching in order to find something that they
do not know already.

In reality, however, teachers and teachings exist
to help people to apply and practise, not to amuse or give experience
that must be new.

Since men in general do not know this, it is not surprising that
they do not know what they have found, and try to find what is of no
use to them.

It is also possible that things which seem "new" to people are the
last things that they need for the purpose of improving them.

You will know the seeker of sensations because he is attracted by
the new or mysterious.

You will know the real student because he seeks
whatever there is to be found.



as collected by Idries Shah