It’s recommended that beginners do a thorough background check of the guru in question — listening to the stories that follow a particular guru around, reading books and other literature, evaluating his or her social media. Also, don’t limit your search to just one guru; leave the mind open to other options, apparent or unseen.

Just because a guru is adored by hundreds of disciples does not prove his or her authenticity. As history has shown, hundreds, if not millions, of people are very capable of creating a phenomenon of group denial. You could settle with the first person who sparks your interest, but it’s wise to seek out different types of teachers from different age groups, with different styles, from different lineages, before making a commitment. They may open your mind.

Perhaps you have a preconception that you don’t like a certain type of guru, but you might be surprised to find that that is the very type that benefits you most.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book The Guru Drinks Bourbon?

Read a random quote or see all quotes by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Further quotes from the book The Guru Drinks Bourbon?:

• Dharma without devotion
• Abundance and variety in the teachings is so important
• Check how the guru handles criticism
• Peeling of our patches of samsara
• Guru devotion and pure perception
• Hearing the Dharma
• Teachings don’t just rain down
• The authentic guru lineage is indispensable
• A proper guru-student communication
• A different interpretation of austerity
• Going beyond Rational and Irrational Devotion
• Pure perception
• Devotion
• Never opt for the easy way out
• Good gurus are on the verge of extinction
• You and only you will decide
• Spiritual wealth
• Examining the Guru
• Dismantling the puzzle of dualism
• The Worst Forms of Abuse Award