The Appearance of my Root Guru in a Dream

Since I have lived in the Monterey area, our Dharma Center has organized an annual retreat at the start of each New Year.  This year too (2020), I had an opportunity to be in retreat with Sangha members.  During this particular retreat, I taught Patrul Rinpoche’s Self Liberating Meditation.  My Dharma friend, Anam Thupten Rinpoche also participated in this retreat.  He gave a teaching on the Heart Sutra.  As Anam Thupten Rinpoche is a great teacher, everyone was very happy with the teachings.   The final day of the retreat was very hectic with concluding activities and I was a bit tired and went to bed early.

About 4 in the morning, I dreamt of my root guru, Kyabje Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche whose kindness is immeasurable.  In my dream, he seemed frail and small, his face brightly lit with a smile, adorned with a red robe and a Dhakpo meditation hat.  The place felt like my home town in Tibet, and it was filled with flowers.  Rinpoche was with about 100-200 of his followers, and at that instant, my heart was filled with immeasurable joy.  He held a vajra and bell in his hands and was chanting and blessing the place.  As the prayers concluded, all his followers received blessings as he placed the vajra and bell on their heads.  I also followed  in line to receive his blessing with my head bowed and hands folded at my heart.  He placed the vajra on my head and then looked straight at me intently and said,

When I woke up around 5 a.m., my heart was filled with a sense of joy that I had never experienced before.  It was almost unbelievable and I couldn’t tell if it was in fact, a dream or real.  I felt extremely fortunate, as if pulled out from the dirt of samsara by my guru.  He is the very reason for whatever I am today.

As the saying goes, ‘there can be countless teachers on this Earth but only one in one’s heart.’  He is such a teacher, in my heart.  Even though my root guru’s body has departed, his Dharmakaya, his heart’s kindness, has always held me.  Just like an anchor, I feel his presence with me at all times.   Such a dream is proof that my teacher is always with me.  Oh! How amazing that it seemed so real as if I really saw him.

I then analyzed and wondered why I had such a dream.  It was after the conclusion of the 4-day retreat and after my teaching on Patrul’s Self-Liberating Meditation.  Generally, when I teach, I do so with a fervent aspiration of being one with my teacher.  Without it being some sort of interpretation, I try to include my own practice and teach with a high level of concentration, which may be why my root guru appeared in that dream.  Even though he was not present during the retreat, because his wisdom mind is inseparable from the teachings, I interpreted THAT as his contentment of my teaching.  We are not able to see him, but he sees us with his wisdom eye, and I have not an iota of doubt about this.  We are unable to see him because we are blinded by our own afflictions but he is able to do so with his wisdom, as if someone is sitting in front of a blind person.  That I have no doubt!

When making consequential and difficult decisions, I supplicate wholeheartedly to my teacher before going to bed and analyze my dreams.  Sometimes, I receive directions regarding those decisions and decide accordingly.   There is a Tibetan saying: when you can’t depend on humans, with fervent devotion to your lamas, seek for guidance, and you can depend on them.  I have complete faith in my lama’s direction.  Some may say that a dream is just a dream.  That may be right too.  Dreams, along with illusions, mirages, echoes, etc. are examples of the eight untruths, but there are differences in dreams.  Some dreams are guided by a Lamas’ blessings and Yidams’ messages, and they are special, while ordinary dreams are a reflection of our own daily and subconscious activities.  Many Kagyupa teachers such as Marpa, Milarepa, and Gompopa have found their teachers and expressed realizations through their dreams.  It is said that the best merit is the merit accumulated through one’s devotion to their guru.  I believe the reason that my root guru often appears in my dreams is because of my pure devotion to him, not merely with words but from the depths of my heart.

These days, people receive all sorts of teachings, including high-level Mahamudra and Dzogchen, empowerment of Yidams and commitments to Dakinis for many years.  However, with slight misunderstandings or unfavorable instances, they are quick to criticize teachers and break commitments.  As for me in this life, I have relied on and trusted my Guru, befriended Yidams and Dakinis, and followed the path of Dharma.    If I do not die and live for sometime, my only aspiration is to become like you, My Guru!  This is my vajra-like pledge and steadfast resolve.

In conclusion,