10.3 The role of the guru and initiation

Vajrayana Buddhism places immense importance on the ###guru-disciple_relationship_0###. This unique bond is seen as essential for spiritual growth, with the guru acting as a living embodiment of the Buddha's teachings and a direct link to enlightenment.

Initiations and empowerments play a crucial role in Vajrayana practice. These ritual transmissions authorize disciples to engage in specific practices, establish connections with deities, and plant the seeds of enlightenment in the disciple's mind.

The Guru-Disciple Relationship in Vajrayana Buddhism

Guru-disciple relationship in Vajrayana

Top images from around the web for Guru-disciple relationship in Vajrayana

• 

  Budisme tibetà - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vajrayana - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vajrayana - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Budisme tibetà - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vajrayana - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Guru-disciple relationship in Vajrayana

• 

  Budisme tibetà - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vajrayana - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vajrayana - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Budisme tibetà - Viquipèdia, l'enciclopèdia lliure View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vajrayana - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

The guru-disciple relationship is considered essential for spiritual progress in Vajrayana Buddhism

• The guru is seen as an embodiment of the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) and a direct link to enlightenment
• Disciples rely on the guru's guidance, blessings (adhishthana), and transmission of teachings (dharma) to progress on the path The guru is believed to have the ability to remove obstacles (antaraya) and accelerate the disciple's spiritual growth
• Gurus use skillful means (upaya) to help disciples overcome their limitations and negative habits (vasana)
• They provide personalized instruction tailored to the disciple's needs and capacities The relationship is built on trust (shraddha), devotion (bhakti), and mutual commitment
• Disciples are expected to follow the guru's instructions and maintain a respectful and devoted attitude
• Gurus are responsible for the spiritual welfare of their disciples and should act with compassion (karuna) and wisdom (prajna)

Devotion in Tibetan Buddhism

Devotion (Tib. mös gus) is a key element in the guru-disciple relationship and Tibetan Buddhist practice

• It involves cultivating faith, respect, and love for the guru and the teachings
• Devotion is seen as a means to open the heart, purify the mind (chitta), and receive blessings Devotional practices, such as prostrations (Tib. chak tsal), offerings (Tib. chöpa), and prayers (Tib. monlam), are used to strengthen the connection with the guru
• These practices help to overcome ego-clinging (atma-graha) and develop humility and receptivity
• They also serve to accumulate merit (punya) and create positive imprints (vasana) in the mind Devotion is not blind faith but is based on the disciple's direct experience of the guru's qualities and the effectiveness of the teachings
• Disciples are encouraged to examine the guru's qualifications (Tib. lama'i khenpo) and teachings before entering into a commitment
• Genuine devotion arises from a combination of critical investigation (Tib. chöpa) and personal experience

Initiations and Empowerments in Vajrayana Buddhism

Initiations and empowerments of Vajrayana

Initiations (Tib. wang) and empowerments (Tib. abhisheka) are ritual transmissions that authorize and enable disciples to engage in Vajrayana practices

• They establish a connection between the disciple and the deity (yidam) or practice being transmitted
• Initiations also confer blessings and plant the seeds of enlightenment (bodhichitta) in the disciple's mind The four main types of initiations in Vajrayana Buddhism are:

1. Vase initiation (Tib. bum wang): purifies the body and grants permission to practice the generation stage (utpattikrama)
2. Secret initiation (Tib. sang wang): purifies the speech and grants permission to practice the completion stage (sampannakrama)
3. Wisdom-knowledge initiation (Tib. sherab yeshe wang): purifies the mind and grants permission to practice the most advanced techniques
4. Word initiation (Tib. tshig wang): a special transmission that combines all three previous initiations Other types of empowerments include:

• Blessing empowerments (Tib. jinlab wang): transmit the blessings of a particular deity or practice
• Permission empowerments (Tib. jenang wang): authorize the disciple to engage in a specific practice or recite a mantra
• Reading transmissions (Tib. lung): oral transmissions of texts that enable the disciple to study and recite them

Contemporary guru-disciple dynamics

Benefits:

• The guru-disciple relationship can provide personalized guidance and support for spiritual growth
• It offers access to authentic teachings and lineages (parampara) that have been preserved for centuries
• The relationship can foster a sense of community (sangha) and belonging within a spiritual tradition Challenges:
• The hierarchical nature of the relationship can be prone to abuse of power and exploitation
  • There have been cases of gurus misusing their authority for personal gain or engaging in unethical behavior
  • Disciples may find it difficult to question or challenge the guru's actions due to the power imbalance
• Cultural differences and modern sensibilities can create tensions in the traditional guru-disciple model
  • Western disciples may struggle with the level of devotion and obedience expected in the relationship
  • The emphasis on faith and devotion can be seen as contradictory to the rational and individualistic values of modern society
• The lack of oversight and accountability in some Buddhist communities can enable misconduct to go unchecked
  • The absence of formal institutional structures and the reliance on personal charisma can make it difficult to address problems when they arise
  • The reluctance to criticize or challenge the guru can lead to a culture of silence and complicity