The Teacher-Student Relationship
By Jamgön Kongtrul The Great
The message—encapsulated so well in Gyatrul Rinpoche’s
introduction—is that the Lama is the central and indispensable
element of all Buddhist practice, most particularly the practice of
Vajrayana.
Ron Garry’s translation of and commentary on Jamgön Kongtrul
the Great’s The Teacher-Student Relationship is a
valuable, if difficult book. Much of the difficulty comes from its
complex structure – which, if a reader were not careful, might
obscure its essential message.
This book will appeal to readers interested in the traditional use
of textual authority to explain and establish doctrine. In a time
when the unquestionable rôle of the vajra master is being called into
question by some factions – such a powerful and incontrovertible
method of clearing up doubt is indeed necessary. Ironically, many of
the specifics of the text and its several commentaries may prove
distracting to readers primarily interested in this central issue. The
very attempt to bring context and accuracy to the work renders it
difficult.
The ‘root text’ that forms the book’s core is an
extremely short excerpt from a larger work. The book then includes
Kongtrul’s own commentary. It additionally provides the
translator’s commentary, which includes various background
explanations.
The translator’s introduction and commentary is heavy reading
– particularly placed as the first section of the book.
Therefore, readers are advised to first read the pithy root
text, followed by Kongtrul’s ‘Auto-Commentary’. The
translator’s material should be saved for reference or further
research and investigation.
Although readers unfamiliar with the topic may require the
information contained in the translator’s introduction to
provide context for Kongtrul’s texts, they would be better
served by a more straightforward presentation, such as Ngala
Rig’dzin Dorje’s Dangerous Friend.
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Teachings 
