I think what Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche is saying, is that
your true root guru is only one: the person who led you to
enlightenment. This makes sense. However, here is how Choegon
Rinpoche explains it:
2) Rinpoche. Can one have more than one Root Guru?
A: I would say if you have received or wish to receive oral
instructions from several masters, then those masters also become
your root guru.
I have Khamtrul Rinpoche as my root guru, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
is my root guru, and Adeu Rinpoche is my root guru. These masters
have given me so many oral instructions, empowerments and
meditation pointing out instructions that they all are my root
gurus. So if people received oral instructions from many masters,
they would also have many root gurus.
But when you become enlightened, although you may have many
important gurus, you will consider only one of them as your root
guru. This is because you don’t get enlightened again and again.
You get enlightened only once. So, basically when you attain
enlightenment you have only one root guru, the one that made you
enlightened.
Until you attain enlightenment, of course you can have many root
gurus. There is no problem with this. If you just depend on one,
maybe your karmically connected guru is still somewhere else. But
do not go to everybody and anybody. You have previously asked why
there are so many lineages or sects. So once again here, before you
receive oral instruction, you have to find the proper lineage for
yourself, the master who has meditated, who has the lineage, who
has the kindness, who can instruct you. Then you can go to him.
But don’t go just because he is a very high lama or carry a big
title, or he has a very large following, or he is very successful.
That doesn’t serve any useful purpose. Why is this so? Because you
may not be able to receive teachings from him, or maybe he will not
treat you as his heart son. Some fully enlightened masters are
capable of picking up the flower from the mud, so to speak, and
identify an exceptional disciple within the crowd. In that case,
there is no problem. Otherwise, a lot of people suffer. They just
go because the master has a big following or is very renowned. When
they don’t get connected, they suffer. They complain, “I don’t get
the opportunity to see the master, it is so difficult, I cannot see
him.” Then, it’s too late.
Some masters like Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche are truly very
capable. He could pick out from among the monks the exceptional one
and dearly give him important teachings. Later that person would
become a great yogi.
In our lineage, Shakya Shri was just someone who was looking after
the monastery’s horses. The 6th Khamtrul Rinpoche Tenpai Nyima
(1849-1907) said, “Don’t treat him like cow dung! One day you all
will need to get blessings from him. He will be like Dorje
Chang.”
Khamtrul Rinpoche said this about Shakya Shri, an ordinary person
who was just taking care of horses. He instructed him, and later
Shakya Shri became one of the highest and greatest yogis in Tibetan
history. In his early life, he was just a shepherd, looking after
cows, sheep and horses. When in his twenties, he started
practicing, and he became the greatest Dzogchen and Mahamudra yogi,
respected by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgon Khongtrul and all
great masters. He received direct teachings from Milarepa. That
kind of master is very rare.
So, you have to find a real master. Not just by looking here and
there.
