A wise Buddhist master once told me, “When you are considering someone to be your guru or teacher, first go for a ride with him in his car. That will tell you much about whether or not he is the right teacher for you.”

I think of his insightful instruction many times when I am on the road:

• Am I patient and calm when driving?
• Am I generous in letting other drivers go ahead of me?
• How do I behave when I’m stuck in gridlock?
• Is my driving sensible and safe, or am I reckless behind the wheel?
• Am I mindful in each moment, paying full attention to the traffic and my driving?
• Above all, am I grateful … for my car which carries me without complaint, for the highways that enable me to travel quickly, for the road maintenance crews who keep my journey smooth and safe, and for the other drivers who are my fellow travelers on Life’s journey?

I ask myself, Would anyone choose me to be his or her teacher, based on how I conduct myself behind the wheel?

British writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft wrote that, “Nothing, I am sure, calls forth the faculties so much as being obliged to struggle with the world.” Just as physical muscles are developed by lifting heavy weights and doing resistance training, so, too, are intelligence, personality, and character developed by engaging with the world – especially with problems, difficulties, and challenges.

We need look no further than our streets, roads, highways and freeways to encounter myriad problems, difficulties, and challenges – in the form of other drivers!

What is the prayer in your driving?

Do you send a prayer of resentment, impatience, and anger? Is your physical, emotional, and spiritual energy vibrating with road rage? How does your prayer manifest in your day-to-day driving experiences?

Or do you send a prayer of patience, compassion, and understanding? Do you accept other drivers as imperfect human beings doing the best they can in each and every situation? How does your prayer manifest in your day-to-day driving experiences?

Would anyone choose you to be his or her teacher, based on your driving?