In his teachings on the Fifty Verses on the Guru, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa stresses the significance of vajra masters and the respect they receive from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
The text elucidates how these enlightened beings prostrate to qualified vajra masters, emphasizing their pivotal role in transmitting the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings.
Despite being ordinary individuals, vajra masters are revered for their ability to carry out the work of enlightenment.
However, the Karmapa cautions against blindly following anyone labeled as a guru, stressing the importance of discernment and thorough examination to determine a teacher’s qualifications.
Through anecdotes and explanations drawn from Tibetan commentaries, this teaching underscores the essence of respecting and honoring authentic spiritual guides while navigating the complexities of spiritual discernment.
