Dangerous Friend: The Teacher-Student Relationship in Vajrayana Buddhism

By Rig'Dzin Dorje

Book Overview

Although Tibetan Buddhism continues to grow in popularity, the crucial relationship between teacher and student remains largely misunderstood. Dangerous Friend offers an in-depth exploration of this... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1570628572
• ISBN13: 9781570628573
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A much needed commentary

This is an amazingly well-written book filled with insight. It is an important book for western students of Vajrayana to understand in terms of their relationships with their root teacher. However, it is sad that such a commentary is necessary. Since it is written using the terms and phrases of Vajrayana Buddhism, it is unlikely that non-Buddhists will understand many of the concepts. It is also written from the perspective of a Nyingma tradition using Dzogchen as the primary example of Vajrayana practice, but those of us from the other traditions should be able to substitute our own common terms in place of the Nyingma terms (for example, students of a Geluk lama may be more likely to hear about the self-cherishing mind than the dualistic mind) and still understand the point. I recommend this book.

An Excellent Book

The author has done the world of Vajrayana Buddhism a true service by writing this book. I knew early on in the book that I was going to enjoy it immensely. The kind, respectful, gentle way the author speaks about his teachers, and how they in turn speak of their teachers, was really inspiring. To me, that type of relationship with one's teacher(s) is the distilled essence of the Vajrayana Path.About his teachers, he says, "...the debt I owe them for the entire content and quality of the life I now lead. This is a debt which, in the nature of Vajrayana, cannot be less than total. It will always remain beyond the possibility of repayment. This is a typical Tantric paradox--a debt that buoys me up rather than weighing me down."The author speaks of the Dalai Lama of Tibet telling us we can take up to 13 years to decide if a certain teacher is right for us. Rigdzin Dorje says a Teacher-Student relationship is not something to be entered into lightly. Once you do accept a teacher, the commitment should be complete.When the activities of the teacher are inconsistent with your particular viewpoint, Dorje states, "However incomprehensibly the teacher may behave, always maintain pure perception, and recognize his way of doing things as skillful means. Pure vision means viewing the vajra master as continuously acting for the benefit of beings, and regarding all of his or her behavior as manifestations of unceasing enlightened activity. The vajra master represents the completion of the path in person."Whether you are a long-time Varayana practitioner, or someone who is seriously thinking of choosing a teacher, or even someone who interested in this particular path, I highly recommend this book.

Much-Needed Clarification

This book is an excellent introduction to the practice of vajra commitment (samaya or damtsig), which is an essential part of Vajrayana Buddhism but is very much misunderstood in the West. Rig'dzin Dorje, a Western lama and the disciple of a Western lama, clearly presents the nature of this crucial relationship from the point of view of both the lama and the disciple, including the responsibilities each takes on toward the other. The author also describes and demonstrates, in a beautiful and inspiring way, why students continue to enter into this relationship and why it is necessary for success on the Vajrayana path.

great help to anyone desiring to practice tantra/dzogchen

Nga-la Rigdzin does a fabulous job of defining the differing relationships one has with a Buddhist teacher. In easy to understand language he shares with the reader not only what sort of relationship one has with the traditional tantric teacher, vajra master, but also how to responsibly take vows with a teacher as well as how to choose the appropriate teacher. He further explains the many ways that the tantric teacher provides transmission, formally, informally, secretly, etc. Even though I have already chosen a tantric teacher, I still found the book to be profoundly helpful at helping me appreciate my teacher and interact with her. Thank you so much Nga-la Rigdzin.

Breath of fresh air

Rig'dzin Dorje's 'Dangerous Friend' is long overdue--a book about the mechanics of the teacher-student relationship in Tibetan Buddhism, approached from the student's perspective, in accessible plain English. It is clear that he writes with intimate knowledge of both the working details of this kind of relationship, and the Western culture from which we approach it. There has been so much hyperbole around this issue that it is a relief to find a sane voice willing to offer some personal experience and sensible rationale, rather than merely scriptural citation.