Guru Yoga

“Guru yoga,” or union with the nature of the teacher, is an essential practice of Tibetan Buddhism, which is based on deep devotion to the spiritual master.

We should understand that the depth and dimension of this devotion transcends any notion of “blind faith.”

The devotion discussed here arises from the recognition of the immeasurable qualities of enlightenment of which an authentic spiritual teacher is the living example.

The practice consists of mixing our mind with the teacher’s mind through meditation, which enables us to break the limits of our confused and limited vision.

Our narrow inner sphere mingles with the immense space of the teacher’s enlightenment.

From the ultimate point of view, it is simply rediscovering the true nature of our mind, its luminous emptiness and original freedom.

But this process can rarely occur without the catalyst which is the practice of guru yoga.

Through the outer teacher we can recognize the inner teacher.

We read in many tantras and commentaries that, of all the practices of Buddhism, guru yoga is the most essential and the most effective for removing obstacles and progressing swiftly and surely on the path.

For this reason, it is crucial to rely on an authentic spiritual master who has all the qualities of wisdom and compassion described in the teachings.

Source: Ricard, Matthieu. On the Path to Enlightenment: Heart Advice from the Great Tibetan Masters. Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2013.