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Advice book

Guru Devotion

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche receives thousands of  letters every year from people seeking guidance on a variety of issues. His advice is made available here, so it may be of benefit to others.

This topic contains extensive advice on how to practice guru devotion, including seeing the guru as Buddha, offering service and pleasing the guru. Rinpoche also offers advice on confession and purification of negative karma in relation to the guru. 

See also The Heart of the Path, a compilation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings on guru devotion. The following chapters of The Heart of the Path are especially recommended for further reading prior to establishing a guru-disciple relationship: Checking the Guru, The Qualities of a Guru and Who to Regard as Guru.

Important Note on Context and Personal Safety

The advice was given to specific individuals in particular circumstances and should be understood within its original context. It is provided for informational purposes only and may be applied at your own discretion.

Teachings on guru devotion and the teacher-student relationship can sometimes bring difficult experiences or unresolved issues related to past abuse or trauma to the surface. If engaging with the teachings or advice causes distress or raises concerns of this nature, we encourage you to seek support from a suitably qualified professional or support service.

Personal safety and self-care are paramount. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, coercion, exploitation, or any situation that feels unsafe, please seek support from an appropriate service in your region and, where appropriate, develop a safety plan.

Nothing on this website should be understood as condoning abusive, coercive, exploitative or harmful behaviour, or as discouraging individuals from seeking support, establishing appropriate boundaries, or taking steps to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

Find links to all the main topics on the Online Advice Book home page. You can also click on the links listed on the right, or go to our Teachings menu to refine your search.