27 Responses to Gurus for Hire, Enlightenment for Sale

1. 

   Jacinta Goh on Feb 9, 2018 at 8:02 pm

   I would highly recommend this book/teachings and it is very essential especially for beginners. It’s so important to get the mindset right when you are about to start journeying into so called “mystical” practice. Thank you Rinpoche for these teachings. Also, without the sacrifices of those seniors who have been sitting for long hours in front of Rinpoche, there will not be any teaching from Rinpoche at all! Because of both Rinpoche and the students, I am able to listen to this teachings at the comfort at my own home and at the conveniency of my own time. ?

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2. 

   Jason on Jul 4, 2016 at 1:20 pm

   This was an absolutely amazing video series. I am so glad that Rinpoche shared with us why Guru Devotion is so important. As an American, such devotion seemed like a very strange concept, but Rinpoche explained it in such am eloquent way that now, if I have the opportunity to serve Rinpoche in such a way, I will be extremely grateful.

   Thank you Rinpoche for putting this teaching online.

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   • 

     Pastor Shin on Jul 5, 2016 at 12:03 pm

     Dear Jason,
     Great to know you have finished watching the videos. To help you contemplate more about the teachings, may be you can answer the questions below.

     1. What does Guru Devotion mean to you?

     2. What must we check about the Guru before we take him/her on as a Guru?

     3. What are the refuge vows?

     4. How do refuge vows, which seem to be restrictions, lead to freedom?

     5. What are the benefits of taking refuge?

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     • 

       Jason on Jul 7, 2016 at 4:38 am

       Pastor Shin,

       Here are the answers to your questions. I will also be posting these on the blog post.

       1. Guru devotion means that I have complete trust and faith in my guru. That what he tells me to practice is for my benefit and to help me on the path to enlightenment. It means not disparaging another persons guru as this will prevent my spiritual practice from ripening.

       2. Whether they are stable in their actions, cultivated in their speech, wise, honest and patient. A Guru should not hide shortcomings and they should not claim to have qualities or abilities they do not have. The Guru should be well versed in the meanings of tantra and the ritual procedures. They should also have great compassion and a knowledge of the scriptures.

       3. The refuge vows are as follows.

       No Killing
       No stealing
       No Sexual Misconduct
       No Divisive Speech
       No Harsh Words
       No Idle Chatter
       No Lying
       No Envy
       No hatred or Malice
       No Wrong Views

       4. Refuge vows lead to freedom because they help to remind you of the things that can create obstacles to achieving enlightenment. When we practice holding our vows we gain freedom because we know that there are not any obstacles that prevent enlightenment.

       5. There are several benefits to taking refuge vows.
       They Establish the foundation for taking other vows

       You accumulate merit on a daily basis
       You quickly attain the full enlightenment of Buddhahood
       You are prevented from falling in the lower realms
       You become a pure Buddhist
       Your temporary and ultimate wishes are fulfilled
       You Purify negative karma that has accumulated in the past.
       You are protected from harm inflicted by humans and non-humans

       May my answers benefit all those that read them.

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       • 

         Pastor Shin Tan on Jul 7, 2016 at 11:03 am

         Dear Jason,
         I am happy for you that you have learnt all this knowledge from watching the videos. I will recommend more posts/ videos to you since you are very interested in learning the Dharma and taking refuge.

         These videos are very good introduction for anyone who wish to learn more about Buddhism, particularly if one wishes to join a Dharma/Buddhist centre around the world, and also what to expect/ do about one’s spiritual journey with a special focus on Guru-disciple relationship.

         Have a great weekend ahead and see you on the blog chat!

         Reply
3. 

   Wei Theng on Jul 3, 2016 at 10:41 am

   Why do we need a Guru?

   Previously i used to think that as long as I follow the scripture or sutra or Dharma books, it doesn’t matter whether I have a teacher or not for me to practice Dharma.
   However, when I met my Guru H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, I learned that it is important to have a Guru. A guru will go all the way to guide and support us in our spiritual journey. He will find all ways to have us learn and practice Dharma just like what’s shared by Pastor Kok Yek Yee that some are asked to take care of fishes on one of the fb post (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10208585682053747&id=1060057013&pnref=story). I know some students are asked to take care of plants to to train their responsibilities. 🙂

   Different people has different “button” and our kind Guru will push our buttons so that we can learn and train our mind. It is important for us to just follow and do it. Sometimes he may push us until we nearly cannot stand it and at the edge either to change or to quit. That’s why Guru devotion is important especially in the Vajrayana tradition. Once we have checked out and decided who is our Guru, trust & go all the way!

   Thank you Rinpoche for this previous teaching.

   This teachings on Guru Devotion is also published in 2 Books:
   English version: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale
   Mandarin version: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale-chinese

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4. 

   Jeffry on May 9, 2014 at 7:58 pm

   I got this book from Kechara Indonesia office last year and I found it very beneficial for me as it is explain clearly about the fundamental and importance of Guru Devotion.
   Thank you Rinpoche for sharing us great teaching.

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5. 

   Casteven Lim (KH JB) on Feb 1, 2014 at 3:24 am

   Thanks Rinpoche for the details sharing with us…

   We will keep our Guru Samaya as clean possible to have a swift Dharma path for us…

   Reply
6. 

   Wan Wai Meng on Jan 6, 2014 at 1:05 am

   A must read for spiritual aspirants who want to tread the vajrayana path. Rinpoche has said many times he goes on the record for our benefits and there is nothing to hide. Amazing 27 hour marathon.

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7. 

   Wendy Loh on Dec 17, 2013 at 1:15 am

   We all have expectations on how a Guru, Buddhist center and even the Buddha should be. And we love to past judgements. Thank you, Rinpoche for such an illuminating teaching. Here is a video to tell us that we must never judge another person:

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKcZ551Ex4w

   Hope that you will enjoy it.

   Reply
8. 

   Julien Roth on Dec 13, 2013 at 11:11 pm

   I am sure that this is such a wonderful teaching. I would love to get this book from my mum and read it. Thank you for sharing the videos and information with us.

   Reply
9. 

   jerry_sito on Dec 13, 2013 at 11:11 am

   感恩仁波切您的教诲与开示

   尊贵的仁波切总是用最贴近我们内心深处的方式与话语，来向我们教诲与开示佛法，每每听闻仁波切的开示与教诲，总是能突然间地，明白了许多自己的过错与无明，即使我们英文不好，然而在当下，我们的英文却突然间进步了，在每次聆听尊贵的仁波切开示时，仁波切的开示与教诲，就这样非常直接地进入了我们心坎处，我相信这是仁波切用他的慈爱与加持下，为我们的心种下了法喜充满的佛法种子

   感动随喜与感恩的，因为尊贵的仁波切的开示与教诲能够结册成书，被永远地广传下来，让我们可以随时的细细回味仁波切的开示与教诲，从仁波切深入浅出的开示与教诲里，总是能感到一股力量，及一份温馨的提醒，教导我们如何去除无明与不再结下恶因，然而现在繁忙的都市人，总是被灯红酒绿的娑婆世界让我们一次次地迷失其中，每每当我们感到困惑时，只要阅读仁波切的开示与教诲，我们仿佛又被牵引回佛法与尊贵的詹仁波切神圣的曼达拉底下受到保护

   许多人不能够因一次听闻佛法就能够达到明白与证悟，然而只要我们不断地细细阅读仁波切的开示与教诲，并切身地将所学到的佛法运用与实践在我们的生活上，并学习转化我们的心识，让我们用菩提心与正见来造福与帮助一切有情众生

   感恩仁波切您的慈爱与善巧的方式来向我们弘扬佛法，让我们可以随时携带您的书籍，并可以随时打开电脑透过您的博客与youtube学习与分享佛法，祈愿您长驻在世常转法轮

   Reply
10. 

    David Lai on Mar 18, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    If only more Buddhists would realize the potential of this book and the material contained within so that more Buddhists would read up on it and use it as a kind of definitive text or root text that all students of the Dharma, particularly those of the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions would uphold. I think the material contained within are pretty universal especially within the Tibetan/Vajrayana tradition so it is not really confined to just the Gelug tradition or anything.

    I think all Tibetan centers should consider this book as essential reading just like how the 50 Stanzas of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha has become essential reading for everyone looking towards a spiritual guide in this day and age. This is not to say that 50 Stanzas shouldn’t be read but as a supplement reading on the 50 Stanzas would be the Gurus For Hire, in which the 50 Stanzas in interpreted according the conditions and needs of practitioners today.

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11. 

    Adrian Cho on Mar 16, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    It was a wonderful teaching and make it very clear for us easy to understanding..

    Thank you Rinpoche for sharing all this video teachings.

    Reply
12. 

    Wah Ying on Mar 8, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    I first read the book Gurus for Hire, is one of my most favorite books, but listening to the videos is even inspiring and learning more.

    Either the book (http://www.kechara.com/publications/publications/tsem-tulku-series/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale/) or the marathon teaching videos, is a must read/listen.

    Reply
13. 

    Sheryl KH (JB) on Mar 4, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    I have a copy of this book and I love it very much. I love this book for the diversity of the topics and the ease of reading and understanding the content.

    For all who are new to Dharma you will find this book very beneficial. Do get a copy of this.

    Thank you too for the team who transcribed and edited Rinpoche’s talk within a short time span, you can made the precious teachings available to many who did not have the chance to be at the scene 6-7 years ago.

    Reply
14. 

    Sean Wang on Feb 28, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    This is a very amazing teaching about Guru Samaya. It is also a display of how far Rinpoche is willing to go to benefit others and spread the Dharma, by having a 3-day continuous Dharma talk. It is indeed an amazing feat!

    This teaching can be used to teach people how to properly treat your guru and how to properly set up a Dharma centre and how you must be virtuous when setting up a Dharma centre and not play political games behind closed temple doors.

    The book that was produced from this lovely teaching is indeed an amazing read and anyone should bless their eyes by reading the book!

    Reply
15. 

    Sharon Saw on Feb 24, 2013 at 3:24 pm

    I loved this teaching which is still a popular book with much positive feedback from Buddhists around the world. Many people who are not familiar with Vajrayana Buddhism are very skeptical of the concept of Guru devotion, seeing it in a negative light. This book will clear all misconceptions by explaining the role and purpose of the Guru as well as the student. It addresses very candidly the many issues Dharma communities encounter and provides guidelines on how Dharma students and volunteers can run their centres better to improve the harmony and spiritual success of their centres.

    This book is strongly recommended to anyone who is a Dharma student!

    It is available at leading bookstores in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India and UK, as well as for order on many websites, including:

    on Amazon:
    http://www.amazon.com/Gurus-Hire-Enlightenment-Tulku-Rinpoche/dp/9834339984

    on Barnes & Noble:
    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale-tsem-tulku-rinpoche/1016203283

    on Tower Books:
    http://www.tower.com/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-sale-tulku-rinpoche-tsem-paperback/wapi/113424398

    on The Book Depository, UK:
    http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Gurus-for-Hire-Enlightenment-for-Sale-Tsem-Tulku-Rinpoche/9789834339982

    on Wisdom Books, UK:
    http://www.wisdom-books.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=17478

    on Select Books, Singapore:
    http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/getTitle.aspx?SBNum=049911

    There is also the Acrobat e-book:
    http://www.mphonline.com/books/nsearchdetails.aspx?&pcode=9789675365065

    Reply
16. 

    David Lai on Feb 24, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    I think the common misconception about Guru devotion is to offer the Guru physical service in terms of providing comforts,monetary and other physical service like cleaning, cooking and so forth. According to Gurus For Hire, those are very minimal offerings that one offer to our Guru, which is necessary for generating merits but that the actual devotion. Real devotion to the Lama consists of mental and spiritual transformation along with listening and carrying out instructions and advice from the Guru.

    I am not picture perfect in such terms but I have seen many Dharma friends carry these with great aplomb and excel in their Dharma work. I think the success they have enjoyed is because of their hard work, transformation and carrying out the Guru’s instructions with their utmost ability. This is just wonderful way in which many senior students of Rinpoche express their devotion, their faith and their transformation over the years.

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17. 

    Milly on Feb 22, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    I had the merits to attend this teaching. It was a marathon teaching and Rinpoche was not feeling too well. But he still went on to teach us until late at night. Shows us how much Rinpoche loves the Dharma and cares for us. It covered all the mundane and crucial doubts in a new practictioner’s mind. Very realistic and practical teaching which applies to all Dharma centres irrespective of the lineage.

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18. 

    abby f on Feb 22, 2013 at 1:09 am

    The word ‘Guru’ itself is so mystery, and who could be the Guru, how to find a Guru, what a Guru means and etc., all these are something totally new to most of the people. For someone who already has a Guru, the proper way to serve/assist a Guru, the attitude and motivation to serve a Guru could be something new as well, therefore a guild line to tell who, what, how, why (about Guru) is extremely important, because Guru is the one who teach/preach the teachings of the Buddha.

    If we serve our Guru well, we are actually creating causes for Dharma to grow in our region/place, this is because we prepare everything well for our Guru to teach/explain the Dharma to many. Besides this, by serving our Guru, we actually collecting numerous merits, the reason behind is also the same, as we are serving the person who benefits hundreds/thousands/millions of people.

    This teaching also helps us to find a Guru, as in Tibetan Buddhism, Guru is the key in our practice. Rinpoche said that in our era, Guru is important, as we can’t see/hear from Buddha directly. And to find a Guru is a long journey for some, to have a guideline is crucial. Anyway, to be a qualified student is as important as to find a qualified Guru. In Tibet, a Guru will observe a student before accepting a student and the student will observe the Guru before becoming a student of a Guru. This teaching tells perfectly about all these. A must-have book for serious practitioner or practitioner-to-be.

    If you prefer to read, you can also read this teaching in the book ‘Gurus For Hire, Enlightenment For Sale’. To purchase or check for further details, please visit this page: http://vajrasecrets.com/books/english-books/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale.html

    Reply
19. 

    Paris on Feb 21, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    I remember these talks like they were just yesterday, when we sat for a total of 27 hours in front of these wonderful teachings. A few of us then went away and transcribed all the teachings, edited them and got them ready for publishing 2 weeks after the teachings – a real amazing race… and amazing it really was!

    We did a second edition about two years later, where I had the opportunity to add other teachings on Guru devotion and the spiritual teacher, as well as further edit the first round of teachings. There’s something incredible and new that jumps out every time I have read through the manuscript – something that will sound more strongly than the time before, or the time before that.

    This covers just about every aspect we need to contemplate when entering a spiritual path in this day and age. Whatever that path may be, we will need to interact with our spiritual guides / mentors, the place that we practice in (or no place, as it might be) and the community that we’re practicing with. So this book, really, is applicable to anyone of any religion, for making the most out of their chosen path. Ultimately, the strongest most resonating message to me, throughout the book, is that a real teacher does everything he does, sets everything up and teaches and gives entirely for us, the students; that he wants nothing in return but for us to discover our own inner gurus and to be happy. Could it really be that simple? Yes, it really is – it’s just us that complicates everything else in between.

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      Paris on Feb 21, 2013 at 11:15 pm

      By the way, forgot to add that the wonderful, super, amazing book of these teachings is available here! http://www.kechara.com/publications/publications/tsem-tulku-series/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale/

      We have received a lot of very positive feedback about this book from practitioners of all traditions, who have told us that they relate very well to these teachings and highly recommend it to many others from their own centers etc.

      Please do share the teachings with people in your own centers around the world and drop back here to give us your feedback – how have the teachings helped you? or your center / spiritual community? what did you find most inspiring and helpful in these teachings? We would love to hear your experiences and thoughts too 🙂

      Reply
      • 

        sarahyap on Feb 22, 2013 at 1:24 am

        I remember reading the book “Gurus for hire,Enlightenment for sale”. That was like 3 years ago when I first read it, and I remember very clearly I finished the whole book in one sitting! (Very rare… lol)

        What made me read the book continuously was that the idea of a Guru-Student relationship was so new to me (at that time). As usual, being born in a family that goes to the temple only once a year doesn’t really expose me to Dharma at an early age, so knowing how the Guru is the key to our liberation… that truly caught my attention!

        If it wasn’t for this teaching which was made into the book by KMP, I would still be lost and not know what Guru devotion is all about. Truly glad that I was fortunate enough to get my hands on this book, it certainly changed my whole spiritual path to a more promising and positive light!

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      • 

        David Lai on Feb 22, 2013 at 10:37 pm

        Dear Jamie,
        That was very fast transcribing and editing work! Wow! 24 hours of transcript would have taken me a whole month to transcribe! Anyway, it was a fabulous book!

        I remember once that when I was on a roadshow to Penang, I met someone from a Gelug center there and he read Gurus For Hire and loved it. He said it is so applicable and a great guide for those interested to engage in their practice in Buddhist center. He said he found this statement particularly relevant to him – Rinpoche said that centers with a resident teacher is like a Circus with a lion tamer or a ringleader so the wild animals are tamer and more under controlled as compared to those without a Guru. This is of course not verbatim from the book but from memory.

        Reply
20. 

    Joy on Feb 21, 2013 at 10:02 pm

    I remembered this teaching… it was a 3 day marathon teaching and we basically had about 3-4 hours nap and in between dinner and lunch breaks. It was such a crucial teaching for all of us because it answered all the questions that people would normally ponder about or being asked about by people. Rinpoche spoke like it was an interview of Q&As and basically all the taboo questions are being answered from centre politics to how one should treat one’s Guru. Rinpoche address all the questions that no normal monk would ever talk about and has ever talked about really.

    This teaching or talk could be used by any Dharma centre as a grounding rule on how to start up a Dharma centre with the correct motivation and correct attitude and mindsets. We are so lucky to have a Guru like Rinpoche who takes the extra care to teach us all this so that we silly lay people know how to treat one’s Guru and practice the Dharma well with the right kind of attitude. Instead of creating more negative karma by misbehaving, causing schism and wrong view of the 3 jewels, and with wrong conduct where by instead of collecting merits we degenerate. Definitely we do not wish to be a cause of that do we?

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21. 

    Erickksiow on Feb 20, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    Love this teaching, Rinpoche did make very clear about Guru Samaya.

    Best Regards : Eric kksiow

    Reply