49. The Exceptional Characteristics of Authentic Teachers

The Beginning

Take refuge and arouse bodhichitta.

The Main Part

Analyze the exceptional qualities of authentic teachers:

To facilitate one’s wish of garnering wealth and worldly glories, powerful and benevolent rulers, such as Chakravati, are usually invoked for support. Likewise, to facilitate one’s wish of attaining perfect buddhahood or other superior qualities in one’s lifetime, an impeccable master, one’s vajra guru, must be relied upon. Such a master must have received ripening empowerments and kept pure samayas. He has also mastered tantric pith instruction, and has attained all the signs of success in the approach and accomplishment phases of the practice, such as seeing visions of the yidam. Immaculate in view, intent, and conduct, he is completely devoted to benefiting sentient beings.

Therefore, resolve: If I have not met a guru endowed with these qualities, may I meet one as soon as possible. If I have already met one, may I never be separated from my guru. Based on the infallible law of dependent arising, by the power of my devotion and prayer, may all the excellent qualities of my guru melt into my heart completely, just like the contents of a vase are poured into another vase. In all my lives, may my guru always be pleased with me and forever hold me with compassion.

The Ending

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

Reminder

This should be an easy meditation; the point is whether you are willing to put an effort into it or not. If you meditate regularly, even down to merely once, you’ll invoke the inconceivable power of dependent arising and blessings. Hence, always pray: “May my guru’s peerless wisdom quickly dissolve in my mind!” So long as you feel the warmth of your guru’s blessing, any task or any practice you undertake will be easy. You won’t be consumed by strong afflictive emotions; even if some episodes arise adventitiously, they tend to be feeble and will vanish in no time.