How I Found My Guru—and My Inner Guru
By Christel Gesell

Finding your own inner Guru
 At the age of 24 I was lost and had no direction in life, at first I thought I wanted to be a high-school teacher only to realize that I lack the desire to define concepts for which I do not even understand.  My love life has gone sour and I was left hanging on my own, nowhere to go not even my family members understood the inner longing inside of me. I felt dry and I needed support.
I had to be an effective follower first before I decide to transform the lives of others.  My friend recommended Buddhism as way for me to resolve some of my inner conflicts and issues.  He told me that I could make use of a spiritual teacher or guru to help me through the most challenging days, seeing that, at that point in my life, I felt I had few places to turn, and because I was curious I went to the Buddhist temple that was located near the city.
At first I thought I was going to meet a very serious Guru that would teach me regarding the principles of Buddha but I was completely astounded. I was introduced to a quiet, smiling man. At first I didn't understand he was the teacher. He gestured for me to sit. Then, he was silent and did not talk much. All day I was confused and disoriented, almost tempted to leave, but too stressed out to decide. Finally, he made a small joke. I think I smiled.
I spent 2 weeks on and off sitting together with him and other students, in a tiny garden. We never talked, just sat. During the morning we did walking meditation near the forest and then we would just sit near the river banks.
During this time, my stress level came down. If nothing else, I realized the importance of silence. Too many words are said in the west, we attempt to rationalize everything and we forget the wisdom of silence. In those two weeks my new teacher was able to calm my state of mind, even without saying anything he taught me to go back to the basics and enjoy sitting. To enjoy nature. In my recent few years of stress and living, I was too preoccupied with achieving and impressing others that I forgot to take the time and relax and enjoy, living in the present time. That's the main thing my teacher taught me. Live now. In the present moment. The past is already gone, it's not real. The future is an illusion. There is now.
After several weeks of just sitting, I got the courage to ask him about my crazy life.
He just stared at me and laughed. I almost felt offended, I'm sure I blushed. He told me I was too serious and that if you stay in the present you'll be calm and content.
Then, in his typical humorous style, he told me to watch the cartoons Sponge Bob Squarepants. Although this seems like a very silly suggestion, I respected my teacher and followed his suggestion.
A week of watching Sponge Bob,  I met him in the park and he asked me what I learned from the cartoon. I tried to be as serious as I could, at first analyzing the story and telling him facts regarding the producers, and the ratings, and so on. And once again he laughed.
It was just then that I got it. The lesson was about finding my inner child. Children live in the now, in the present. They are wide open to the now. They reach out to everyone with open hearts. Children make life simple.
I went home smiling that day. Life could be easier if I did not over analyze—I was embarrassed I tried to analyze Sponge Bob. I resolved to lake life moment by moment, day by day, in the present, and it changed my life. I still watch Sponge Bob, and have finally learned to laugh again.
I am still learning from my teacher, we still sit together, but what I like about his teaching, is that he helped us reach our own wisdom, our own inner child, our own inner guru.