Today I came across a rather beautiful metaphor for roles in the
guru-student relationship.
The teacher is the mirror in which you see your own face. The mirror
shows you your face, and the guru therefore helps you see the nature
of your mind. So you are able to see the nature of your mind because
it shines in the mirror of the guru. Of course the mirror won't come
to see you, you have to go and stand in front of the mirror yourself.
Then, the part which I found especially resonant …. In order to see
yourself, you also need the light. And in this metaphor, the light is
devotion. When you've put yourself in front of the mirror, and the
light is present, then it's impossible not to see your face. At that
point, you have the choice to clean the mirror or leave it dirty
course.
The metaphor of the guru being a mirror is something I'd come across
before, but the addition to it of devotion being like a light was
quite new for me, and profoundly illuminating!
I was then led to reflect on the third sloka of the Dorje Chang Thung
prayer with the benefit of this metaphor:
MO GU GOM GYI GO WOR SUNG PA SHIN.
As is taught, devotion is the head of meditation;
MEN NGAG TER GO JE PEI LA MA LA.
the lama opens the door to the profound oral teachings.
GYUN DU SOL WA DEB PEI GOM CHEN LA.
To the meditator who always turns to him,
CHO MIN MO GU KYE WAR JIN GYI LOB.
grant your blessing that uncontrived devotion be born within.
With best wishes in the Dharma
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