An overview of the different aims, expectations, cultural, spiritual and psychological factors that affect the relationship between students and their Dharma teachers.

A downfall from the tantric vows requires transgressing one of the fourteen root vows with the four binding factors being complete. Several factors may cause us to transgress our vows.

Fear of "A Breach of Guru-Devotion" Almost every classical text on the disciple-mentor relationship includes a section on the hellish suffering that follows from what is usually translated as "a breach of guru-devotion." The material derives mostly from Ashvaghosha's vivid...

There are many forms of fear and many reasons for it to arise, but with skillful methods we can overcome fear and lead calmer, happier lives.

Inspired by the work of Tsultim Allione, this method fits the structure of a “fulfill and restore” ritual of a Dharma-protector to address fear and anxiety.

Imagine suffering like others are, to develop compassion for them to be free.

Feelings as Having the Four Aspects of True Suffering As we have seen, the four aspects of true suffering also apply to feelings. All feelings – happiness, unhappiness and neutral – are nonstatic, miserable, devoid of a coarse “me” experiencing them and lack a subtle “me”...

Inner peace comes from a realistic attitude, honesty, compassion and altruism.

Choosing our spiritual teacher or a root guru, someone whose inspiration serves as a root to anchor and nourish our spiritual growth, requires us to have examined them well and to feel a sense of instinctive connection.

The Two Truths Have the Same Essential Nature When the statement is made that the two truths have the same essential nature (ngo-bo gcig), but different conceptual isolates (ldog-pa tha-dad), it does not mean that they are referring to the same essential nature. It is not that...