In Vajrayana, guru yoga (Tib: bla ma'i rnal 'byor) is a tantric devotional practice in which the practitioner unites their mindstream with the mindstream of the body, speech, and mind of their guru.[1] Guru yoga is akin to deity yoga since the guru (who can be a Buddha, a historical figure like Padmasambhava, or a living person) is visualized in the same manner as with a meditational deity. The process of guru yoga may entail visualization of a refuge tree as an invocation of the lineage, with the 'root guru' channeling the blessings of the entire lineage to the practitioner. The guru may be visualized as above the meditator, in front of them, or in their heart. Guru yoga may also include a liturgy, prayer, or mantra, such as the "Seven Line Prayer" of Padmasambhava, or the "Migtsema" (a prayer to Je Tsongkhapa).[2]
Thangka depicting the Refuge Tree of the Karma Kagyu Lineage by Sherab Palden Beru, c. 1972
As in other Buddhist traditions, an attitude of reverence for the teacher, or guru, is highly prized.[a] A guru or lama is seen as an essential guide during tantric practice. Without the guru's example, blessings, and guidance, genuine progress in tantra is held to be impossible for all but the most keen and gifted.[citation needed] One particular feature of the Tantric view of teacher student relationship is that in Tibetan Buddhist tantra, one is instructed to regard one's guru as an awakened Buddha.[3]
At the beginning of a public teaching, a lama will do prostrations to the throne on which he will teach due to its symbolism, or to an image of the Buddha behind that throne, then students will do prostrations to the lama after he is seated. Merit accrues when one's interactions with the teacher are imbued with such reverence in the form of guru devotion, a code of practices governing them that derives from Indian sources.[b] By such things as avoiding disturbance to the peace of mind of one's teacher, and wholeheartedly following his prescriptions, much merit accrues and this can significantly help improve one's practice.[citation needed]
See alsoedit
Bhakti yoga – Devotional path to moksha in Hinduism
^Lama is the literal Tibetan translation of the Sanskrit guru. For a traditional perspective on devotion to the guru, see Tsong-kha-pa 2000, pp. 77–87. For a current perspective on the guru-disciple relationship in Tibetan Buddhism, see Berzin n.d.
^Notably, Gurupancasika, Tib.: Lama Ngachupa, Wylie: bla-ma lnga-bcu-pa, "Fifty Verses of Guru-Devotion" by Aśvaghoṣa.
Berzin, Alexander (n.d.). "The Rise of Confusion in the Student-Teacher Relation". Study Buddhism. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
Kapstein, Matthew T. (2014). Tibetan Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Patrul Rinpoche (1994). Brown, Kerry; Sharma, Sima (eds.). The Words of My Perfect Teacher [kunzang lama'i shelung]. Translated by Padmakara Translation Group. San Francisco: HarperCollins. ISBN0-06-066449-5.
Tsong-kha-pa, Je (2000). Cutler, Joshua; Newland, Guy (eds.). The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. Vol. I. Snow Lion. ISBN1-55939-152-9.
Further readingedit
Berzin, Alexander (2019). "Theory and Practice of Guru Yoga". Study Buddhism. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
January 01, 1970
guru, yoga, vajrayana, guru, yoga, rnal, byor, tantric, devotional, practice, which, practitioner, unites, their, mindstream, with, mindstream, body, speech, mind, their, guru, akin, deity, yoga, since, guru, buddha, historical, figure, like, padmasambhava, li. In Vajrayana guru yoga Tib bla ma i rnal byor is a tantric devotional practice in which the practitioner unites their mindstream with the mindstream of the body speech and mind of their guru 1 Guru yoga is akin to deity yoga since the guru who can be a Buddha a historical figure like Padmasambhava or a living person is visualized in the same manner as with a meditational deity The process of guru yoga may entail visualization of a refuge tree as an invocation of the lineage with the root guru channeling the blessings of the entire lineage to the practitioner The guru may be visualized as above the meditator in front of them or in their heart Guru yoga may also include a liturgy prayer or mantra such as the Seven Line Prayer of Padmasambhava or the Migtsema a prayer to Je Tsongkhapa 2 Thangka depicting the Refuge Tree of the Karma Kagyu Lineage by Sherab Palden Beru c 1972 Contents 1 Background 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Works cited 5 Further readingBackground editAs in other Buddhist traditions an attitude of reverence for the teacher or guru is highly prized a A guru or lama is seen as an essential guide during tantric practice Without the guru s example blessings and guidance genuine progress in tantra is held to be impossible for all but the most keen and gifted citation needed One particular feature of the Tantric view of teacher student relationship is that in Tibetan Buddhist tantra one is instructed to regard one s guru as an awakened Buddha 3 At the beginning of a public teaching a lama will do prostrations to the throne on which he will teach due to its symbolism or to an image of the Buddha behind that throne then students will do prostrations to the lama after he is seated Merit accrues when one s interactions with the teacher are imbued with such reverence in the form of guru devotion a code of practices governing them that derives from Indian sources b By such things as avoiding disturbance to the peace of mind of one s teacher and wholeheartedly following his prescriptions much merit accrues and this can significantly help improve one s practice citation needed See also editBhakti yoga Devotional path to moksha in Hinduism Guru in Buddhism Weighty with qualities Guru puja Similar devotional ritual in Hinduism Mahamudra Union of wisdom and emptiness Samaya Vows that binds guru and discipleNotes edit Lama is the literal Tibetan translation of the Sanskrit guru For a traditional perspective on devotion to the guru see Tsong kha pa 2000 pp 77 87 For a current perspective on the guru disciple relationship in Tibetan Buddhism see Berzin n d Notably Gurupancasika Tib Lama Ngachupa Wylie bla ma lnga bcu pa Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion by Asvaghoṣa References editCitations edit Patrul Rinpoche 1994 p 416 Patrul Rinpoche 1994 p 442 Kapstein 2014 p 80 Works cited edit Berzin Alexander n d The Rise of Confusion in the Student Teacher Relation Study Buddhism Retrieved 2021 09 17 Kapstein Matthew T 2014 Tibetan Buddhism A Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press Patrul Rinpoche 1994 Brown Kerry Sharma Sima eds The Words of My Perfect Teacher kunzang lama i shelung Translated by Padmakara Translation Group San Francisco HarperCollins ISBN 0 06 066449 5 Tsong kha pa Je 2000 Cutler Joshua Newland Guy eds The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment Vol I Snow Lion ISBN 1 55939 152 9 Further reading editBerzin Alexander 2019 Theory and Practice of Guru Yoga Study Buddhism Retrieved 2021 09 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Guru yoga amp oldid 1220442032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
