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root lama

namahbuddhanamahbuddha
edited December 2010 in Buddhism Basics
hello everybody,
I have a question about root lama. Some people have the good fortune of meeting their root lama the first time they visit a Dharma centre or to find him in the place they live. If someone takes refuge in a Buddhist organisation does it make the lama who was presiding the ceremony the root lama of that person? can someone also take refuge a second time and receive a second dharma name?


Comments

  • jinzangjinzang Veteran
    Your root lama is the lama who shows you your true nature. If you haven't seen it yet, you haven't got a root lama yet. But you should treat any lama you receive teaching from with respect. You can take refuge any number of times, but you shouldn't take a second dharma name without good reason.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    How do you know if you have found your true nature? I have a teacher but I don't have an idea of her showing me my true nature. But I get nudges along the way to get unstuck and I feel I am on a path.

    The idea of seeing true nature is hard for me to come to terms with. It must be pointing to an experience, but buddhism said to always let go of experiences. So doesn't that mean your true nature will keep bubbling up with new relative forms. The true nature would have to be something that didn't distract you from your place in life, but also allowed you 'pursuit of happiness' with others. Yet all those words pointing to life experience, which is dualistic and a dream? Easy to think about but it makes me think a lot and I could be getting ready for bed.
  • ManiMani Veteran
    A "root Lama" is a term often used in Vajrayana. Some consider a root Lama or root Guru to be the one who has "introduced" the practitioner to a glimpse of their mind's true nature, as an earlier poster mentioned. Others consider the root Lama to be the one who has bestowed a major empowerment thus establishing (or re-establishing) a connection between the teacher and the student. Most know when they have met their root guru.

    namahbuddha, the lama that gave you your refuge vows is your refuge lama.

    Depending on which tradition you practice in, you may receive other dharma names when taking precepts, Bodhisattva vows, and so-forth. Ironic that this just kind of helps to build up our sense of "self", huh?
  • jinzangjinzang Veteran
    "How do you know if you have found your true nature?"

    You'll know you've found it when you've lost any sense of it.
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