Many gurus claim they are straight shooters: they say what they think without inhibition or filters. But if they dish it out, they should be able to take it. They should embody tolerance. But most of the time, critical gurus don’t tolerate criticism very well. One way to check is to watch how the guru handles bad publicity. Check the Internet to see whether he or she has ever been met with scandal, and if so, how did he or she react? How a person handles praise and criticism, gain and loss, fame and insignificance, happiness and suffering is all very telling.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
from the book The Guru Drinks Bourbon?
Read a random quote or see all quotes by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
Further quotes from the book The Guru Drinks Bourbon?
:
- You and only you will decide
- Abundance and variety in the teachings is so important
- Look beyond titles and hats
- The path is practical
- Dismantling the puzzle of dualism
- Seeing a student’s potential
- The whole purpose of the outer guru
- A different interpretation of austerity
- The quest for a guru
- Advice on selecting a guru
- Your decision is now taking the lead
- Guru devotion and pure perception
- Devotion is supreme
- Why can’t the Guru be perfect?
- Open-minded guru
- Practicing Dharma requires sacrifice
- Skillful Guru
- The very essence of the Spiritual journey
- Sooner or later, you will have to check