What does it mean for student to be devoted?

The devotion from the side of the students has two meanings – one is longing, another is true respect. The devotion from he students has these two meanings. When you have a qualified teacher, he has to be inspiring. This teacher has certain qualities, better qualities than yourself, which can inspire you. You see it and it steals your heart, so that you fervently wish to follow that. Those qualities are not about physical qualities – he’s beautiful, charismatic – not those kind of qualities, but inner qualities, like kindness, compassion, things like that.

Because you are inspired by those qualities, you want to aspire to possess or develop those qualities in yourself. With that kind of understanding, a natural strong respect or devotion arises in you. 

It is not just saying good things, or just showing outside respect.

It is not about outer things. It is about recognizing the great qualities that the teacher has, those positive qualities that the student really fervently wishes to develop in themselves. 

How much one can absorb those qualities in one’s self – that is a sign of how much devotion one has, how much devotion is understood.

HH, 17^th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

From Kamashila
Short-Ngon-dro teaching
Germany, 2014