It is true that followers have no right to burden the teacher with their personal problems, that they should learn manfully to shoulder their difficulties and not pass them on to him. Yet human nature is weak, the teacher kindly. What they may do without taxing his strength is to place the problem before him in a prayer, thought, or meditation silently, and not in letter or interview. If they will keep their distresses, troubles, or indecisions to themselves in this way, such reticence will not be to their loss. It is indeed a sign of neuroticism when an aspirant plagues a teacher too frequently or on too trivial matters. Such conduct is quite suited to children but not to adults. It reveals too egocentric a person, one who is unwilling to bring the stage of novice to an end because the dependence on another person is more comforting and much easier than endeavouring to settle his own little problems.
-- Notebooks Category 1: Overview of the Quest > Chapter 6 : Student-Teacher > # 726
