Luminous Emptiness – a Dzogchen / Mahamudra blog

Today I came across a rather beautiful metaphor for roles in the guru-student relationship:

The teacher is the mirror in which you see your own face. The mirror shows you your face, and the guru therefore helps you see the nature of your mind. So you are able to see the nature of your mind because it shines in the mirror of the guru. Of course the mirror won’t come to see you, you have to go and stand in front of the mirror yourself.

Then, the part which I found especially resonant …. In order to see yourself, you also need the light. And in this metaphor, the light is devotion. When you’ve put yourself in front of the mirror, and the light is present, then it’s impossible not to see your face. At that point, you have the choice to clean the mirror or leave it dirty course.

The metaphor of the guru being a mirror is something I’d come across before, but the addition to it of devotion being like a light was quite new for me, and profoundly illuminating!

Dorje Chang Thung prayer

I was then led to reflect on the third sloka of the Dorje Chang Thung prayer with the benefit of this metaphor:

MO GU GOM GYI GO WOR SUNG PA SHIN.

As is taught, devotion is the head of meditation;

MEN NGAG TER GO JE PEI LA MA LA.

the lama opens the door to the profound oral teachings.

GYUN DU SOL WA DEB PEI GOM CHEN LA.

To the meditator who always turns to him,

CHO MIN MO GU KYE WAR JIN GYI LOB.

grant your blessing that uncontrived devotion be born within.
Dorje Chang Thung prayer

With best wishes in the Dharma

A Beautiful Guru Student Relationship Metaphor – Devotion and Openness

By Chodpa

On 14/07/2004

In Vajrayana

Isn’t Light a metaphor for Wisdom, rather than Devotion?

I thought it was interesting to reflect on why devotion was likened to the light in this metaphor. Common metaphors for devotion are in terms of energy to empower something, in terms of receptivity, or openness to the teachings.

So why is devotion likened to light here?

Stand before the mirror

In the metaphor, one brings oneself into relation with the guru, so one stands before the mirror which allows us to see ourselves. It seems that the metaphor is saying that you can be with the guru as much as you want, but without devotion you will not learn anything, not develop realisation – you can stand in front of the mirror as long as you like, but without light you will not see your reflection.

So, devotion is what enables the relationship to work, as a skilful means or method of the path. So why is that? Why does devotion enable this you to see yourself, and enable the guru-student relationship to work?

Perhaps it’s because without devotion, all you see in the mirror of the guru are the reflections of your own ignorance, your own egoistic projections. Without devotion, when you view the guru, you can judge the guru in worldly terms – I like this, I don’t like that about him/her, and then you don’t see yourself, you don’t see into the nature of your mind at all. You just keep perpetuating your ignorant misperceptions.

Woman before the Mirror painting (detail) by Frans van Mieris the Elder

Devotion and openness

But with devotion, with an openness to the wisdom of the guru, then one can lay aside one’s ego to a degree, and the light of devotion can penetrate the darkness of ignorance, and allow the mirror to really function. So in the relationship with the guru, you start to see yourself as you really are, rather than just the judgements and projections of ignorance.

Well, that’s how devotion being likened to light in the metaphor makes sense to me. It’s interesting how different people see different things in the metaphor, as your own reflections make clear. It’s as though the metaphor also acts as a mirror reflecting back our own understanding to us, each differently.

very best wishes in the Dharma

A Beautiful Guru Student Relationship Metaphor – Guru is the Mirror

By Chodpa

On 14/07/2004

In Vajrayana

In response to a reply saying that:

The dust does not come from teacher – it means it comes from you; which means the mirror itself – more exactly its ability to reflect, is part of your mind, not something “outer”.

Absolutely! The guru is the mirror with which you are able to see your mind. His or her being and actions provide the means with which you can see clearly your mind. And of course, in a sense, the guru is your mind – the guru’s appearance arises in your mind. The guru can only arise in the context of your mind. In that sense, the guru’s mind and your own are inseparable. There is no guru outside of your mind.

Nevertheless, in terms of skilful means, I think the metaphor is pointing out that the interaction with a guru can be a much more powerful means of development than relying on your own efforts alone. That’s the key to Vajrayana method.

In that sense, “approaching the mirror” is not really a physical movement, but more like turning your devotion towards Teacher …

Yes indeed, but perhaps more accurately to say that the process is one of turning your awareness towards the guru. At this stage of the metaphor, the turning towards the guru (turning towards the mirror) is that of bringing awareness to the relationship with the guru.

We always have devotion – but to what?

we always have devotion to some cause, or causes, or to something we think, or do, or desire – that is how we got caught into karmic circle. but we can use this quality of our mind – devotion – and turn towards our true nature directly…what do you think ?

That’s a really nice observation:-)

And it’s interesting that the root of devotion is the same root that entangles us in samsara – that of desire. In a sense, the same energy, directed towards different objects. The same attractedness, or fascination.

But perhaps devotion differs in one respect from other manifestations of desire? Desire is a wanting to possess something, to bring it into oneself, in a desire to gain lasting happiness. But devotion is in one sense a giving. It’s love turned towards an object which is somehow higher or more realised than oneself. And that sort of love has quite a nature of giving, rather than taking ….

Dorje Chang Thung

Is the “Dorje Chang Thung” prayer the proper name for what I know as the short invocation of blessing of Mahamudra Lineage?

Dorje Chang Thung is the traditional Tibetan name for the prayer. It’s taught in two ways. Firstly as a devotional song, which is a beautiful supplication to our lineage fathers. But it’s also used as a meditation, which goes through the four key stages with its four main sections. These four sections correspond to the Four Ordinary Foundations (Four thoughts which turn the mind), the Four Special Foundations (Ngondro), Shamata, and Vipassana. As such, it’s a complete path, and the meditation on it can be profound indeed.

best wishes to you

A Beautiful Guru Student Relationship Metaphor – Dorje Chang Thung prayer