“Whether our teachers present in person are ordinary beings or emanations of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, if we are able to pray to them considering them as the Buddha, there is absolutely no difference between them and the Buddha or Bodhisattva or yidam deity in person, because the source of blessings is devotion. So whichever profound practice we are undertaking, whether the generation phase or the perfection phase, we should begin by making the teacher’s blessings the path. There is no more to it than that. But as long as we have not received the blessings, we will not be genuinely on the path. It is said that if disciples who keep the commitments give themselves wholeheartedly, with devotion, to an authentic diamond master, they will obtain the supreme and common accomplishments even if they have no other methods. But without devotion to the teacher, even if we complete the approach and accomplishment practices of the yidams of the six tantra sections, we will never obtain the supreme accomplishment. And we will be unlikely to accomplish many of the ordinary accomplishments either, such as those of long life, wealth, or bringing beings under one’s power. Even if we do manage to achieve a little, it will have necessitated a lot of hardship and will have nothing to do with the profound path. When unmistaken devotion takes birth in us, obstacles on the path will be dispelled and we will make progress, obtaining all the supreme and ordinary accomplishments without depending on anything else. This is what we mean by the profound path of Guru Yoga.”

— A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom: Complete Instructions on the Preliminary Practices
by Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje

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“Your faith magnetized the blessings of Guru Rinpoche’s pure wisdom and compassion toward you.  It is the opening and softening of the heart. Without  faith, your heart can be closed and hard like stone. If your mind is open and devotional, you can receive the Guru’s blessings like rain falling onto the soft ground. Rain never chooses where it will fall, yet wherever it touches receptive ground, it is absorbed.  However, not even one drop will penetrate stone. Everything grows  from the earth but nothing grows from rock. The same is true of our mind. Qualities grow from a mind that is soft like the earth, but will never grow from a mind tat is hard and impenetrable like stone. With devotion, Guru Rinpoche’s blessings will dissolve directly into your heart, like the rain in into the earth. All qualities of wisdom will grow from this mixing of the Guru’s mind with your own mind….”  Continue reading page 39 of  “A Commentary of the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro” by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

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Lama Sonam Rinpoche ~ Teaching:  Guru Yoga 1  at Pema Osel Ling 2016 ~ 1hr 12 min
How to do the Guru Yoga Practice and how to receive the Four Empowerments.