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Bon Dzogchen
T.W.: Sure, we all go—we have all been in school. There we take different subjects, have different majors because of interests, similar karmic connections and abilities; it opens up different doors for different people. It is the same thing with the dharma, the teachings, also.
L.M.: Can someone, through the practice and through unselfish action, can they shed that karmic weight you might call it, that we have been conditioned with? A student comes with not such good karma, but still the teacher sees their sincerity.
T.W.: They can be, they can be; the teacher can help and guide them. They can try to work through purification practices; and they can overcome their deficiencies. Still, there are people, it is very hard to work with them; they don't have a connection.
L.M.: What is your role as a teacher of Bon? Also, how does a potential student know that the teacher really is who they say they are—and that the teacher is right for them?
T.W.: Well, I think one way is—the role of the the teacher, the compassion of the teacher. It somehow pervades and enters into the student's consciousness—when you meet—and even before you meet. The student starts to have dreams, for example—it is not a coincidence-people start to have dreams about you. You are already connected energy-wise. The students are awakening inside themselves. And when you encounter these students, it is like recognizing an old friend. Immediately, they feel a connection.
L.M.: The teacher feels this.
T.W.: Both teacher and student.
L.M.: Both.
T.W.: When you feel like that, it is a much easier process. There are clear structures in our tradition, as far as the practice is concerned. What is the first thing that you do? You do a preliminary practice. A preliminary practice means that you should take refuge; students should take refuge. That means,
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