Four kinds of teacher

Four kinds of teacher or lama (Tib. lama nampa shyi; Wyl. bla ma rnam pa bzhi) —

1. gangzak gyüpé lama (Wyl. gang zag brgyud pa'i bla ma) - the individual teacher who is the holder of the lineage
2. gyalwa ka yi lama (Wyl. rgyal ba bka' yi bla ma) - the teacher which is the word of the buddhas
3. nangwa da yi lama (Wyl. snang ba brda yi bla ma) - the symbolic teacher of all appearances
4. rigpa dön gyi lama (Wyl. rig pa don gyi bla ma) - the absolute teacher, which is rigpa, the true nature of mind

Further Reading

• Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Indisputable Truth (Boudhanath, Hong Kong & Esby: Rangjung Yeshe, 1996), pages 16-17 & 79-80.
• Dzogchen Ponlop, Wild Awakening (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2003), pages 51-55.