Meditation Categories 6. Spiritual Teachers

52. Praising Authentic Teacher’s Qualities III

Longchen Nyingtik Meditation 52

The Beginning

Take refuge and arouse bodhichitta.

The Main Part

Meditate: Supreme spiritual teachers are the embodiment of all the buddhas and bodhisattvas, the glorious protectors of all sentient beings. By merely seeing the gurus’ forms, hearing their voices, recalling, visualizing, or touching the gurus, the seed of attaining liberation and shattering samsara is planted. The gurus are the peers of all the buddhas and carry out the same enlightened activities. Whoever having made a connection with them is most fortunate, and will be led onto the path of liberation.

Whatever mandala is invoked, the guru is the chief deity of that mandala. For example, in the meditation of the Avaloketeshvara, the guru is visualized as Avaloketeshvara; in the Manjusuri practice, the guru is seen as Manjusuri, and so forth. The guru perfects all the activities of empowerment; thus the guru is the Fourth Jewel appearing in the world.

For beings to be tamed, the guru of peerless qualities is suffused with a kindness exceeding that of all the buddhas’. Therefore, entreat: May all beings who tread the profound path of ripening liberation follow authentic gurus in all lifetimes. May the gurus compassionately accept them as disciples and be pleased with them. May the mind of the guru with all superb qualities dissolve in the minds of the fortunate beings with karmic connections, bringing them swift liberation!

The Ending

Dedicate all the merit of your practice to all sentient beings.