It’s usually safer to go with a guru who is not interested in fame. There is a chance that some gurus might be madly designing and printing pamphlets and buttons for the sake of all sentient beings. Not all lamas who are zealously promoting themselves and sitting on the highest thrones have an ulterior motive; some might actually be humble. But the greatest teachers of recent times said repeatedly and with complete conviction that they were not enlightened. They claimed to be totally ordinary beings, and they exhibited their humble devotion to their own gurus and teachers again and again. For example, when I asked Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche for his treasure teachings, his response was that there are so many great treasure teachings and that his were completely useless. He said I should not be wasting my time pursuing him. Instead, most of the time all he talked about was his devotion to his own teachers.

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?:

• The whole purpose of the outer guru
• Merging with the guru’s mind
• A different interpretation of austerity
• Dismantling the puzzle of dualism
• The Worst Forms of Abuse Award
• No one can please everyone
• Beginning to subdue and outshine appearance and existence
• The quest for a guru
• Spiritual wealth
• Your decision is now taking the lead
• Good gurus are on the verge of extinction
• Devotion is supreme
• Abundance and variety in the teachings is so important
• Open-minded guru
• Outer display of guru devotion
• The very essence of the Spiritual journey
• Seeing a student’s potential
• Check how the guru handles criticism
• Cultivating trust in simplicity
• Practicing Dharma requires sacrifice