Openness and Receptivity: What it Takes to Be a Student of a Teacher

In this full-length talk, Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche emphasizes the importance of remaining open and receptive while relating to a spiritual teacher. Studying the Buddhist teachings is not like reading a manual -- your spiritual teacher serves as a link to the teachings. Remaining open to the blessings of that connection is an important part of the process.

Rinpoche also explains that the basis on which we seek guidance from a spiritual teacher should be our interest to reduce the ego. We have habituated ourselves to protect our ego, and this brings us immense suffering. There has to be some interest to challenge oneself to go beyond the ego, and with this as the ground we follow a spiritual friend.

With a clear intention and openness to the teacher, we may not make all the progress we like in the first year, but over time we can count on gradual progress. "Like a boulder rolling downhill, even though you think it is going to stop, it rolls all the way to the bottom. Like that, with the blessings of the guru, you think 'There's no way I could be liberated!' But in the end you are purified and gain self realization." - Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche

This talk was given as an introduction to the chapter "How to Relate to a Spiritual Friend" from Patrul Rinpoche's "The Words of My Perfect Teacher." This is Talk 6 from the teaching program.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Kongtrul
• Kontrul
• Mangala
• Shri
• Bhuti
• MangalaShriBhuti

[alexrcha]

Thank you so much for posting this very inspiring and to- the- heart -of -the matter teaching on Guru Yoga. I was very moved by it. Thanks.

[cgrubner1]

Thank you! So wonderful to hear!

[shariwa]

Fantastic inspiration of pure dharma. Thank you.

[lydatoy]

thank you for this teaching. The first sounds of my day your words and compassion a gift and blessing.