Guru Yoga
Guru yoga is an essential practice in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, in the teachings of Sutra and Tantra, as well as in Dzogchen. The practice develops a heart connection with the master; by continuously strengthening our devotion, we reach the place of pure devotion within us, which is the powerful and unshakeable foundation of the practice. The essence of Guru yoga is to unite the practitioner's mind with that of the master.
What is the true master? It is the fundamental, formless nature of the mind, the primordial consciousness at the basis of everything. However, as we exist in a dualistic world, it helps us to visualize that nature with a specific form. By doing so, we skillfully use the dualism of the conceptual mind to further strengthen devotion and to help us remain focused on the practice and on the creation of positive qualities.
In the Bön tradition, we often visualize Tapihritsa as the master, or Buddha Shenla Odkar, who represents the union of all masters. If you are already a practitioner, perhaps you have another deity you visualize, such as Guru Rinpoche, a Yidam*, or a Khandro. Although it is important to work with the lineage with which one has a connection, you must also understand that the master you visualize embodies all the masters with whom you have established a bond, all those with whom you have studied, and all the deities with whom you are engaged. The master in Guru yoga is not merely an individual but the essence of enlightenment; the primordial consciousness that is your true nature.
The master is also the one from whom you receive teachings. In the Tibetan tradition, we say that the master is more important than the Buddha. Why? Because the master is the direct messenger of the teachings, the one who brings the Buddha's wisdom to the student. Without the master, we could not find the path to the Buddha. Therefore, we must feel as much devotion towards the master as we would towards the Buddha if he were to suddenly appear before us.
In Guru yoga, one does not practice merely to generate a feeling towards a visualized image, but to find within oneself the fundamental mind, which is the same as the fundamental mind of all your masters and all the Buddhas and realized beings who have lived. When you unite with the Guru, you unite with your true, pristine nature, which is the true guide and master. But this should not be an abstract practice: when you practice Guru yoga, try to feel such intense devotion that the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, tears roll down your cheeks, and your heart opens and fills with love. Allow yourself to enter into union with the mind of the Guru*, which is your enlightened buddha nature. This is the way to practice Guru yoga.