The Jewel Treasury of Advice

Abstract

In order to study and practice this magnificent path, in order to be free from samsara and attain enlightenment, it is essential to have a fully qualified teacher. For example, if one were to try to cross the ocean in a ship with no captain, one would have no hope at all of reaching the opposite shore. In the same way, one needs a qualified teacher to lead one safely to one's goal, especially on the path of tantra. One may practice guru yoga, seeing one's lama as the four kayas of a buddha, but this is not just guru worship; rather, it is the way to awaken the mind and receive the full blessings of enlightenment