How to do Guru Yoga: A Guided Practice

A root guru is whosoever, for the first time, shows you the nature of your mind in such a way that you actually get it.

At the beginning of each session, the basis of this is Guru Yoga. So I want you all to visualize your root guru above the crown of your head. If you don’t have a root guru yet – and root guru is whosoever, for the first time, shows you the nature of your mind in such a way that you actually get it.

If that hasn’t happened yet and you don’t have a root guru, that’s okay. You can use either Guru Rinpoche (who is the archetype of root guru-ness) or you can use Kuntuzangpo in union with Kuntuzangmo, which is the archetype of all Buddha’s of the four times. Or you can use the individual who you consider to be your root guru. Living or dead, doesn’t matter.

You’re only a virgin once. There was somebody who showed it to you in such a way that you got it. Remember, the first person you had sex with where you actually came in the process? They remain in your heart, don’t they? Root gurus are the same thing. Don’t mind my Western analogies. Actually, though, I think that analogy was Tibetan. One of the few that translates culturally.

Above your head is your root guru. They are surrounded, out to infinity, above their head, by the teachers of their lineage. And surrounding that, all the other teachers of lineages from which they have received teachings and surrounding them, all the other teachers from which you have received teachings, held in honor, whether you’re still with them or not. And surrounding that, all the yidams, all the archetypes, all the Buddhas.

To the sides of you are all the sentient beings inhabiting the full world. Below you are all those in future times who you will bring forth to enlightenment, your future students. These are all and everywhere, extending to infinity.

They absorb – all of them – into the lineage. The lineage absorbs into your root guru. Your root guru descends through the crown of your head, down to take up residence in your heart.

So do this visualization while I sing the lineage prayer. To begin each session, you may sing the lineage prayer yourselves. Or, you may sing ‘Calling the Lama From Afar’ or The Seven-Line Guru Rinpoche prayer or any other symbolic Guru Yoga.

Rest with your attitude in complete open awareness of bodhicitta while you do this visualization.

Traditionally, dharma teachings are offered free of charge and students offer a donation (dana) as they are able to.

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