What are the six perceptions for properly listening to Dharma? (5)

5. Regard the guru or spiritual friend as Buddha or Arya Bodhisattva,  fully appreciate their kindness and have great respect for this person.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What are the six perceptions for proper listening to Dharma? (2)

2. See the teacher of Dharma as a physician.


This means that just as when one sees one's self as someone who is incurably ill, and in order to seek freedom from their illness, would enthusiastically seek the assistance of a physician and follow all of orders and prescriptions without fail, suffering as we do from the incurable illness of samsara, 
we seek the attention of the spiritual friend, and with great enthusiasm, we follow his or her instructions, willing to follow any of their Dharma instructions, because they will make us better.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What are the six perceptions for proper listening to Dharma? (1)

1. Regard one's self as a sick person who seeks treatment - to attend teachings with that kind of attitude.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

How should we regard the one who teaches us Dharma?

When hearing teachings about the freedoms and resources of this precious human existence, one should reflect upon the fact that insofar as one's self has wasted one's freedoms and resources, one is like a sick or ill person. 

One should similarly regard the spiritual friend who teaches one how to make these freedoms and resources meaningful as a physician, and the instruction they provide as medicine. 

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

How do I find a qualified spiritual teacher?

"In many sutras and tantras, with regard to reliance upon spiritual friends, it is very hard to find a spiritual friend or master who is perfect, who possesses every quality and lacks any flaws. 

But it is sufficient to rely on a spiritual friend who has the most qualities and the least flaws."

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Why do we need to rely on spiritual friends?

"We need to rely on a qualified spiritual friend both in our intentions and in our behavior." 



His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje