What makes the Buddhist path so special is that it looks dualistic, but it has that ability to liberate you from the bondage of dualism. It is a deliberate and conscious knot that is consciously and deliberately designed to undo itself. All the skillful means and methods of the Buddhadharma are like a thorn that we use to take out another thorn in our hand. The purpose of renunciation mind, compassion, the recitation of mantras, and contemplation on the breath is to dig out dualism. These practices will dismantle the puzzle of dualism. They speak the language of the nondual and have the flavor of the nondual. For example, compassion is definitely dualistic, but with heavy investment, it leads you to nonduality.

Of these skillful methods that appear dualistic but point in the direction of nondualism, guru yoga is supreme. In the Vajrayana, guru devotion is even more practical than practicing compassion. It’s tangible. In the end, there is no such thing as dualistic and nondualistic. Remembering all of this, we develop gratitude to the guru and appreciation of the path of Tantrayana.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book The Guru Drinks Bourbon?

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Further quotes from the book The Guru Drinks Bourbon?:

• Beginning to subdue and outshine appearance and existence
• Controlled by circumstances
• Sooner or later, you will have to check
• Open-minded guru
• Famous unintentionally
• The very essence of the Spiritual journey
• The guru is like the horizon
• Humble Gurus
• Skillful Guru
• Modern Buddhadharma
• Guru
• Look beyond titles and hats
• Cultivating trust in simplicity
• Outer display of guru devotion
• 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