Читать книгу The Buddha Book: Buddhas, blessings, prayers, and rituals to grant you love, wisdom, and healing - Lillian Too - Страница 26

The Buddha sends the guru to us when we are ready. The guru is the emanation of Buddha’s omniscient mind and, as we get closer to such emanations (be they humble monks, holy yogis, or recognized reincarnations of highly realized lamas of some past era), we become less obscured. We start to see the clear light that opens windows on the real nature of existence. We shed our ignorance and take on the wisdom that understands this true nature.

The guru is the most vital part of our spiritual journey, for without a guide we may get lost or lose sight of the essence of compassion and wisdom. The spiritual journey promises blissful enlightenment at the end, but it is not without its perils. At each step it is easy to fall into a lower-realm rebirth, unless you have the guiding hand of a truly compassionate teacher whose love and motivation are completely pure. There is no way of telling how long a time we each have; the only certain thing is that one day we will all die. Death can strike at any time, anywhere.

Much has been written about finding a guru, and the adage that “when you are ready, a guru will materialize” has proven true for many students and disciples with whom I have had the good fortune to converse. I discovered that each had his or her own extraordinary story of the moment when they made the connection and knew they had met their spiritual teacher. It is very special when you connect with a guru with whom you have complete affinity. When this happens, it becomes natural to develop a clear faith in your guru, and eventually to see his teachings and advice as that of the Buddha himself. It is this latter realization that creates a powerful reverence for him deep inside you and enables your guru to lead you along the path from one level to the next, until you reach enlightenment.

But seeking a guru (or what Tibetan Buddhists refer to as a lama) is not to be taken lightly. When you find one and take refuge with him, your whole life will change. Your value systems and attitude will undergo a major shift of emphasis. You will not be unaffected, whomever you follow, so it is vital to follow someone who will be exceptionally good for your spiritual progress. You must never compromise on the perfect quality of the one who will be guiding you and once the connection has been made, you must honor it with integrity.

Rinpoche explained to me that we often refer to the historical Buddha as Guru Shakyamuni Buddha. The word “guru” here describes Buddha’s omniscient holy mind, which works for us, guiding us from suffering. We get close to his holy mind by taking “refuge” in perfectly qualified gurus.