Prem Shola

a non-teaching teacher

In this episode of the Received Wisdom series, I'm going to say a few words about Prem Shola.

I met Shola in India, round about 2007 I think it was. Sholo is a meditator. She can sit still. Sounds easy, doesn't it, until you try it. Then we discover that the body really wants to fidget the whole time. And the body, of course, is a reflection of the mind. Our mind is always fidgety, jumping here and there, never at rest. And that's why most people have trouble sitting still. So it was beautiful to see Shola sitting, simply sitting, for an hour or more without any trouble whatsoever, as far as one could tell.

But what I really want to talk about with Sholo is the fact that she is a non-teaching teacher. She understands it all. She's seen the root of the matter. But she also understands how absurd it is to teach. What we teachers are trying to teach cannot be put into words. It has to be discovered by each person for himself or herself. That direct experience is all that matters on the spiritual path.

And how can a teacher impart an experience? When we are teaching, we use words, we're using concepts. We're stuck in the world of the mind and mind objects – thoughts and concepts. And these are exactly what we need to get beyond, if we are to realise our true nature. The spiritual way is about being in the world directly, without the need of words. Of course, we might still use words in our day-to-day life, but the lived experience is something wordless.

Prem Shola understands this, so she doesn't set herself up as a teacher. However, of course, she attracts people who want to know her secret. So she's often to be seen talking one-to-one with people. But if you ask if she is a teacher, she will say no. There is no teaching. It's not possible to teach what is important.

And she questions the motives of all teachers, spiritual teachers, the enlightened masters. She feels that if someone sets themselves up as a teacher, that must be coming from their ego. So these are tough teachings from the non-teaching Shola. But they're well worth looking into, especially if you're going to a teacher. You can't afford to just take that teacher's word for things. You have to inquire into yourself. You have to live, and watch your life. You have to see for yourself what is really going on.

Now, I don't agree fully with Shola's hard line on this. But it was certainly useful for me to question everything because of her stance. So I thank Shola for the part she has played in the deepening of my spiritual being, and for reminding me not to become complacent and always to question my own motives.