A teaching on devotion and on how to relate to the teacher was given at The Wisdom Seat in Swarthmore, Philadelphia (US).

Devotion is explained in three stages: inspiration, aspiration, and certainty. It’s a practice; the more you understand the teachings, the stronger your devotion comes.

The relationship between the teacher and the student is the teaching. Practicing the teachings – developing the experience of that teaching within yourself – is the act of devotion, and nothing else.

If we knew how to become free from suffering and attain the highest kind of happiness, we would have done so already. But we don’t know. We need to have a genuine teacher, who actually knows how to do that and can guide us. A wrong teacher could misguide us, and that is the worst thing that can happen. This is why examining the teacher becomes extremely important. It is also important to be aware of the obstacles that can be met in the path.

Devotion and compassion are  the two states of mind that are very good for meditation, and are a cure for the obstacles. This is why we do the Guru Yoga.

For more information, visit: https://thewisdomseat.org/ringu-tulku-rinpoche-2/