| Foreword |
xv |
| Editor�s Preface |
xvii |
| |
|
| 1. Why Do We Need a Guru? |
1 |
| The root of the path |
1 |
| Why do we need a guru? |
5 |
| Manjushri�s advice to Lama Tsongkhapa |
11 |
| The four general benefits of guru devotion |
14 |
|
Receiving the blessings of the guru
Guru devotion protects our mind from delusions
Guru devotion protects our merit
Guru devotion protects us from delayed realizations
|
|
14
14
15
15
|
| 2. The Power of the Guru |
19 |
| 3. Checking the Guru |
25 |
4. The Qualities of a Guru
Revealing the complete path to enlightenment
Qualities of a Mahayana guru
Qualities of a vajra master
The essential qualities
The fundamental quality
An additional qualification |
29
29
32
33
37
38
40 |
| 5. The Qualities of a Disciple |
47 |
6. Who to Regard as Guru
Taking teachings
Do we need to formally request someone to be our guru?
Taking initiations
Taking vows
Should we regard our alphabet teacher as our guru?
The importance of visualizing every guru
How many gurus should we have?
Who is the root guru? |
49
49
63
64
66
67
70
73
74 |
7. The Benefits of Correct Devotion to a Guru
The benefits of correctly devoting to a guru |
79
80 |
|
We become closer to enlightenment
|
|
80 |
|
We become closer to enlightenment by practicing the advice given by our guru
We become closer to enlightenment by making offerings to and serving our guru
|
|
81
89
|
|
We please all the buddhas
We are not harmed by maras or evil friends
All our delusions and negative actions naturally cease
All our realizations of the paths and bhumis increase
We will never lack virtuous friends in all our future lives
We will not fall into the lower realms
We will effortlessly accomplish all our temporary
and ultimate wishes
|
|
100
102
105
106
117
120
122 |
8. The Disadvantages of Incorrect Devotion to a Guru
The shortcomings of not devoting to a guru or of devoting incorrectly |
129
129 |
|
If we criticize our guru we criticize all the buddhas
Each moment of anger toward our guru destroys merit for eons equal in
number to the moments of our anger and will cause us to be reborn in
the hells and suffer for the same number of eons
|
|
131
135 |
|
|
138 |
|
Even though we practice tantra, we will not achieve the sublime realization
Even if we practice tantra with much hardship, it will be like attaining hell and the like
We will not generate any fresh knowledge or realizations and our
previous knowledge and realizations will degenerate
We will be afflicted even in this life by illness and other undesirable things
In future lives we will wander endlessly in the lower realms
In all our future lives we will lack virtuous friends
|
|
140
143
145
151
154
158
|
9. The Importance of Devotion
How to devote to a guru with thought |
165
165 |
|
The root, training our mind in devotion to the guru
|
|
165 |
| 10. Why We Should Look at the Guru as a Buddha |
175 |
11. Why We Are Able to See the Guru as a Buddha
The mind can be trained
Focusing on the good qualities of the guru
Using the guru�s faults to develop our devotion |
183
183
186
189 |
12. How to See the Guru as a Buddha
There is nothing to trust in our own view
Even nowadays all the buddhas and bodhisattvas are still working for sentient beings
The guru is the doer of all the buddhas� actions
Vajradhara asserted that the guru is a buddha |
201
203
224
230
241 |
| 13. Debating with the Superstitious Mind |
245 |
14. The Kindness of the Guru
Developing respect by remembering the guru�s kindness |
253
253 |
|
The guru is kinder than all the buddhas
|
|
255 |
|
The guru is kinder than all the buddhas in general
The guru is kinder than Guru Shakyamuni Buddha in particular
|
|
255
258 |
|
The guru�s kindness in teaching Dharma
The guru�s kindness in blessing our mindstream
The guru�s kindness in inspiring us to practice Dharma through material gifts
|
|
263
272
275 |
| The kindness of the guru in Guru Puja |
279 |
15. Devoting to the Guru with Action
How to devote to a guru with action |
283
283 |
|
Carrying out the guru�s advice
Offering respect and service
Making material offerings
|
|
284
284
285 |
| 16. Is Absolute Obedience Required? |
295 |
| 17. How the Past Kagy� Lamas Practiced |
303 |
18. Exceptional Gurus, Exceptional Disciples
Tilopa and Naropa
Marpa and Milarepa |
311
311
320 |
19. What is Guru Yoga?
The real meaning of guru |
327
332 |
| 20. Guru Devotion in Six-Session Guru Yoga |
343 |
| 21. Guru Devotion in Calling the Lama from Afar |
351 |
22. Teaching and Studying Guru Devotion
Teaching guru devotion
Studying guru devotion |
367
367
370 |
| 23. The Realization of Guru Devotion |
375 |
| 24. Dedications |
385 |
| |
|
| Appendixes |
|
|
1. Guru Devotion Outline
2. Abbreviated Calling the Lama from Afar
3. Purifying Mistakes in Guru Devotion
4. Calling the Lama from Afar
5. Guru Devotion in The Essence of Nectar
6. Protecting the Mind
7. Gomchen Khampala�s Advice on Guru Practice
8. Practicing Guru Devotion with the Nine Attitudes
|
|
387
391
393
401
407
415
421
429 |
Glossary
Bibliography
Suggested Further Reading
Index |
433
457
461
465 |
