Dharma students should be intelligent to understand the qualities of Dharma teachers

The second one is also knowledge. One should be intelligent to understand the qualities of Dharma teachers. Without knowledge, one does not know what kind of qualities that a teacher should have. So, one doesn’t know whether the teacher is good or bad. Therefore, intelligence is very important; [that] means learning about the qualities, to learn how to meet a teacher, how to be a good student – this is [condition to be] successful student. Therefore, one should be learned one. [It is] not empty-minded like knowing nothing, but just following a dark-minded [person]. That’s something not good. So, we should follow the teacher with understanding and intelligence. That’s the second thing.

Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, “Three Qualities a Dharma Master Should Have (Part I)”