Question asked by Kunga Dhondup(aka. Dongho)
What is the difference between a refuge lama and a root guru? Aren't they both the same? If not, who am I supposed to revere highly and practice guru yoga on? Also, does one HAVE to spend 12 years of watching a lama then receive some high tantra empowerment in order for that lama to be my root guru? That's what the Dharmawheel website said, but I have no clue, especially as I took refuge in Lama Kunga Thartse through phone and thought him as my root guru. Could you please clarify?
Hello Kunga Dhondup,
It is good to see you here again, you ask good questions. The difference between a refuge lama and a root guru, is due to the role that the label is associated with. A refuge lama, is the lama that you took your original refuge vows from, where as your root guru is the guru that you consider the most important in your life and is usually the one who has given you the most teachings.
For most people who become Buddhist, this is usually the same person. For example, in my own case His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche is my refuge lama because I received my Buddhist refuge from him, and also my root guru because he is the guru that has given me the most Dharma teachings and practices.
However, in the cases when a person has more than one guru, the role may be different. For example, I have a friend who took refuge with a lama many years ago when she was a teenager, but then didn’t practice much during that time. Later in life, her refuge lama introduced her to another guru, who ended up becoming her root guru because she received most of her Dharma, practices and knowledge from him.
It is not necessary to spend 12 years with your lama before receiving empowerment. In fact this is not a practice that is commonly followed these days. However, this was a guideline given by practitioners of the past to ensure the student was sure that they wanted to create a close spiritual bond with this master and to ensure that this master was actually practicing the Dharma without other motivations. In essence, if you have watched the activities of your teacher well over time, and have come to a firm decisions after having known the Dharma and how a practitioners should behave and what they do, then you can request to become a student of the lama. It is during this period as well, that the lama will also check the student to see if they are ready for such a relationship as well.
Since you have taken refuge already within the Sakya Ngor tradition, you should contact your lama’s centre to find out more information on guru devotion, and to ensure that what you are practicing matches what you guru suggests for you. I hope this helps.
Thank you