Four types of guest

The Four Types of Guest (Tib. mgron po bzhi)

• 1. guests invited out of respect – the Three Jewels
• 2. guests invited on account of their qualities – the protectors
• 3. guests of the six classes invited out of compassion
• 4. guests to whom we owe karmic debt

Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima says:

"The rare and supreme ones, the ‘Jewels’, who are the guests invited out of respect, consist of the dharmakaya, sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya buddhas, as well as the Dharma and the sangha, and all the gurus, yidam deities, dakinis and so on.

The protectors, who are the guests invited on account of their qualities, are the eight mahadevas, the eight great nagas, the eight great rahus, the Four Great Kings, the nine great terrifying ones, the ten guardians of the directions, the twenty-eight constellations, and the seventy-five glorious protectors of pure abodes, together with their retinues, their attendants, attendants’ attendants, and families, and all positive forces, local deities and guardians.

The six classes of beings, who are the guests invited out of compassion, consist of the gods, human beings, demi-gods, animals, pretas, hell-beings and so on.

Obstructing forces, who are the guests to whom we owe karmic debts, include all karmic creditors, such as the 80,000 types of obstructing forces, headed by Vinayaka, king of obstacle makers, as well as the fifteen great döns who strike children, and Hariti with her five hundred children."

--From A Guide to the Practice of Sang by Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima