ject wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 7:01 pm
Malcolm wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 5:07 pm
ject wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 4:28 pm
In this context, how do you "sign up" with a lama? Is there a some type of formal procedure? A "25 words or less" type of elevator pitch?
Explain it in few words like I was completely clueless.
Usually, just go to their teaching. You are interested, they are teaching, that's all there is to it.
Lets use current Merigar event as an example. Perhaps this helps you to understand my confusion.
1. I could not schedule a trip so I am using webcast. In other words, I never met him in person.
2. Every lecture is begins with guruyoga. I have a faint idea of what it's about but sure, I could read a book about it but guess what, it needs an introduction.... from a guru who is long gone.
3. It ends with a "Dedication of merit" that sounds completely different from the one I have seen.
4. Lets say, he has another event, same structure: guruyoga - lecture- dedication of merit.
5. Do I have to go and find another guru to learn what guruyoga and dedication of merit are all about if he has not planned a seminar on those topics?
6. As I mentioned, I have never met Silvano Namkhai in person. He has no idea I even exist
but by what you just wrote, I can call him my guru and he has no say in it.
How can there be any "personal guidance" in a situation like this?
Ok well, this is one organization and teacher, and Yeshi is new to the gig anyway.
As a student of ChNN (who I consider my root teacher, though ironically we never met) from my perspective following his teachings is much about being responsible for yourself, reaching out to senior students, sending emails when you need help and *really thinking about what questions you need answered*.
Once you had the lungs the instructions themselves came in the form of not only webcasts, but the extensive collection of practices available through Shang Shung institute and your own willingness to dig for information. There are dvds, video, etc. available for people with transmission from ChNN to learn practices.
So, practicing in ChNNs lineage is pretty self-directed if you are a remote student with no local group. However, I have no clue how any of this works with people who came post ChNN passing and who want to be Yeshis students.
There are lots of other teachers doing more structured approach, going step by step through texts, answering questions etc. often on Zoom if in person is a no go.
Totally off the top of my head and in no particular order there’s:
Bonpo wise:
Mustang Bön Foundation
Ligmincha
Shenten Darje Ling
Yeru Bon center
Etc….
Buddhist Dzogchen:
Malcolm - if he’s taking students
James Low
Lama Lena
Mingyur Rinpoche (though I think there’s a fair amount of preliminary here?)
B. Allan Wallace
Etc….
Anyway, IMO people put way to much expectation on Lamas to solve their problems and spoon feed them. It seems like the opposite of the mindset needed to engage.
The important thing is being able to get questions asked as they come up and to get guidance when needed, it doesn’t have to always fit the ideal and frankly a large part of what we receive is down to our own diligencel, faith and perseverance, period.
If you’re exclusively interested in DC teachings, this is its own issue, and hopefully someone here could help with that as the whole situation with transmission is still a bit up in the air, I take it.