The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Essence of Devotion”
Although the Buddha that we remember as Siddhartha, Gautama Buddha, Shakyamuni is not present in his physical body as we understand it right now, we look at the Lama as the embodiment of the qualities, intentions, compassion and activity of the Buddha in the world. Our Lamas, those reincarnate Lamas who are recognized as reincarnate Lamas, are considered to be the Nirmanakaya form of the Buddha. They are the Buddha in the world. So we look at the Lama as being the embodiment of the Buddha. We look at the Lama as being the embodiment of the Dharma because, if we were to try to study Dharma on our own, even though all the books in our bookstore are written with the commentary of a qualified Lama, when you read those books you must also have first of all the teachings from the guru that deepen and ripen the mind ..Empowerment, lung, commentary teaching, the taking of vows, those teachings that deepen and ripen the mind, can only be given by the Lama, only be given by the Lama, and you must have them. You must have your mind ripened. A mind that is not ripe may delude itself into feeling spiritual and may even be able to speak spiritually. However, if it is not ripe, it cannot fulfill itself. So we should consider like that.
The Lama is considered to be the path. The Dharma is given to us by the Lama. The Lama connects us with the Dharma. The Lama ripens us in the Dharma. The Lama is the Dharma in that sense. The Lama is also the Sangha because without the Lama there would be no Sangha. It is the Lama’s qualities and compassionate activities that sound the note that eventually calls the Sangha. When one of the Sangha has come to practice in some way, there is a personal and private circumstance that has called them, has pulled them in some secret inner way, particular and unique only to them, and their response is like a bell tolling somewhere deep in their minds—very unique, very individual, very present. That is the gathering of the Sangha and it is done through the influence and compassionate activity of the Lama. So the Lama is the first object of refuge, and the supreme object of refuge on the Vajrayana path. That is our view.
Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo. All rights reserved
