“The purpose of studying buddhism is not to study buddhism but to study ourselves. It is impossible to study ourselves without some teaching… We need some teaching, but just by studying the teaching alone, it is impossible to know what ‘I’ in myself am. Through the teaching we may understand our human nature. But the teaching is not we ourselves; it is some explanation of ourselves. So if you are attached to the teaching, or to the teacher, you should leave the teacher, and you should be independent. YOU NEED A TEACHER so that you can become independent. If you are not attached to him[her], the teacher will show you the way to yourself.
SHUNRYU SUZUKI