“The teacher with infinite qualities complete Is the wisdom and compassion of all Buddhas.
Appearing in human form for beings’ sake, He is the unequalled source of all accomplishments.”
– Words of My Perfect Teacher
In the Buddhist tantric tradition, the Lama or Guru is the most important element for one’s spiritual progress. Without a perfect teacher – one who has traversed the path and who possesses an authentic lineage – it is difficult to attain stable realization. As Patrul Rinpoche writes in his famous text, “The Words of My Perfect Teacher:”
“No sutra, tantra or shastra speaks of any being ever attaining perfect Buddhahood without having followed a spiritual teacher. We can see for ourselves that nobody has ever developed the accomplishments belonging to the stages and paths by means of their own ingenuity and prowess. Indeed, all beings, ourselves included, show particular talent in discovering wrong paths to take – while when it comes to following the path leading to liberation and omniscience we are as confused as a blind person wandering alone in the middle of a deserted plain. A spiritual teacher is our true guide, and we must follow him with respect.”
We are so fortunate to have had such a sublime teacher such as our founder, Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche, who mastered both the Sutras and Tantras; who received the profound instructions and transmissions from the great lineage masters; and who committed himself to selflessly transmitting his wealth of knowledge to fortunate disciples living in the west.
