Question asked by Jessica
Hi, i'm write from italy. I practice a tibetan buddhism from 3 years ( but i study many books from 10 years) . I met my singing bowls teacher in Milan e finally i understand how to praxtice. Now i try to do the preliminary practice. But where i live i don't have buddhist center. I unfortunatly i don't have a guru. So I try to study with the text the Rinpoche write in this blog but it's hard to do alone. How can i do guru yoga? Who can I visualize if I don't have a guru? Last question: when Tsem Tulku Rinpoche come in Italy? Thank you . Tashi delek
Dear Jessica,
Thank you for your questions. I am happy to see that you are practicing Tibetan Buddhism in Italy. In regards to the preliminary practices, you can follow this blog post to understand more about the preliminary practices, and how to engage in them: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/preliminary-practice.html. You can find a lot of information on this blog, detailing how to perform various practices. I understand that it is hard without a guru, but by following the teachings on this blog if you wish, will help you a lot on the spiritual path.
Even if we are not physically close to the guru, and we accept them in our hearts as our guru, we will receive their blessings. In the Lam Rim teachings, this is stated clearly. In fact if we make offerings on our altar, generate a good motivation, and generate the feeling from out heart that we accept a lama as guru, this person becomes our guru. From that day on we should think strongly that this person is our guru, and follow the principles of guru devotion.
The above post about preliminary practices has a section on Guru Yoga, however His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche has kindly recorded a video teaching on the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa, available for you to watch here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html. This is the main Guru Yoga practised within our Gelugpa tradition. During this practice, we actually visualise Lama Tsongkhapa as the central image. As such, we visualise and generate the feeling that Lama Tsongkhapa is none other than our guru. This is what it means to engage in Guru Yoga, it means that Lama Tsongkhapa is none other than our guru. As for His Eminence coming to Italy, I do not believe there are any fixed plans of now, but anything is possible. I hope this helps.
Thank you