Compendium of Determinations says:
(a) Rely on excellent persons
As previously explained, you rely on excellent teachers when you see them as the source of all good qualities, for you have already gone to the Buddha for refuge and thereby uphold the teacher of the path as your refuge. The practice that conforms with this is actual reliance on the one who teaches the path to you.
Lamrim Vol 1, Pg 192
Yes, we should rely on our teacher now as Buddha is not around and our teacher is the one who teaches the path to us currently.
Our excellent teacher is the true refuge for us to get close to and rely on to learn the buddha’s teachings in this era! ????????????
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