muni wrote: Those who see my body as ordinary form
and hear my voice as ordinary sound
Have set out upon a mistaken path.
Such people do not truly see me.
"According to Buddhism the best spiritual guide is the Buddha as the teacher, the Dharma as the path, and the Sangha as the best spiritual companions to befriend you upon the path. All schools of Buddhism take refuge in the Three Jewels as the external sources of refuge. As you go deeper on the path, the refuge becomes more internal. According to the hinayana and mahayana schools, refuge is always taken in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. As you enter vajrayana or secret mantra, while refuge is taken in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha according to one's level of understanding and practice, refuge is also taken in the Lama (the spiritual teacher), the Yidam (meditational deity) and the Dakini (the female principle of enlightened awareness).
As the understanding of this inner refuge deepens (according to maha yoga practice), refuge is then taken in one's channels, vital energies and essential fluids (according to the mother tantra anu yoga). As this process deepens or becomes more internal (according to ati yoga or the vehicle of the Great Perfection), refuge is taken directly in the mind in its essence, which is empty; in its nature, which is radiantly luminous; and in its quality, which is unobstructedly compassionate."
"Ancient Wisdom: Nyingma Teachings of Dream Yoga, Mediatation & Transformation" by Gyatrul Rinpoche, Snow Lion Publications.
Moreover, from the 3rd Do-drüpchen Rinpoche:
"Among the false tertons there are many who are harmonious with people, who seem to have disciplined conduct, and are fortunate and charismatic. At the same time, among the authentic tertons there are many who are loose in speech and behavior and who, without the least hesitation, get involved in many activities that people will condemn. In that way the tertons take many grave obstructions of the doctrine on themselves in the form of infamy and ill repute and they use them for the practice of taking every experience in the great equal taste.
.....
One cannot judge tertons as inauthentic because of their imperfect and mercurial character, even to the slightest extent."
From Padmasambhava:
"The hidden enlightened beings appear in uncertain form; the fool-deceivers are great hypocritical mimics of the dharmic practitioner. O people! Do not take gold and dross as equal."
"Hidden Teachings of Tibet" by Tulku Thondup, Wisdom Publications.