(from "Mast - The Ecstatic" by Mohanji):
Gautama was very deeply respected by the students almost like a Master. Even Nandi (the bull that lived in the ashram) followed Gautama wherever he went, like a bodyguard. Nandi also treated Gautama almost like Shantananda. Yet, Gautama never acknowledged their attention and remained just a servant of the Master. He was the one who was mostly teaching, imparting knowledge, grooming, and mentoring. But the manner he handled the students displayed zero ownership. He never took any favor from any disciple. He forbade students from touching his feet, a customary mark of respect to a senior or an elder.
He never pushed his personal agendas. He never portrayed himself even as an acharya (teacher), let alone a Master. He presented himself as a simple messenger of the Master who owned nothing. His extreme humility and surrender taught the student, especially Vamadeva, of the importance of insignificance as a powerful positioning and tool on the spiritual path which always keeps one well-grounded. Vamadeva in later years would lead his life similarly. He owned nothing and handled his followers similarly, without any ownership.
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(from "Enlightened Vagabond: The Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche"):
At a time when Patrul was traveling alone, on foot, he came upon the tent encampment of a group of lamas who were on their way to a large dharma assembly. He approached them to beg alms and asked if he might travel with their group. They agreed to let him join their party. Looking like an ordinary wandering practitioner, he was treated as one. They gave the shabby nomad lama lots of menial chores to do: making tea, gathering firewood, serving tea to the other monks. With Patrul working hard as their humble servant, the group traveled through remote regions over several weeks until at last they reached their destination.
A prominent lama was to give an important Vajrayana transmission, and in keeping with the importance of the spiritual occasion, the gathering was very grand. In all aspects, it was a magnificent spectacle: a huge crowd made up of ordinary people dressed in their best clothes, high officials and their families, and handsome aristocrats in silken garments riding horses with polished silver-alloy bridles, elaborate saddles, ornate stirrups, and brightly colored saddle pads. There were many high lamas and many very important monks, wearing tall ceremonial hats, brocades, and other monastic regalia. The long ritual horns and conch-shell trumpets sounded like a celestial symphony. Each important lama was seated on a special throne whose exact height was precisely set according to rank and precedence. The religious rituals began, and continued for several days. Once the assembly was over, all the monks, wealthy patrons, and laymen and lay-women got into line, waiting to make individual offerings to the presiding master and receive his blessings.
Patrul had been sitting at the back of the crowd the whole time, so he wound up at the end of the very long line, standing and waiting patiently for his turn to receive a personal blessing. (Patrul himself always declined to give such hand-blessings.) As the queue slowly advanced, people made prostrations, one by one, before the great master’s throne. They each offered the lama a white silk scarf and then received his blessing. At first, the great lama touched each person on the head, using his two hands to give his blessing. After some time, since there were so many people in line, the presiding lama stopped using his hands and began brushing each person’s head with a long peacock feather.
Finally, it was Patrul’s turn. He came forward to receive the great lama’s blessing. Before touching the devotee’s head with the peacock feather, the master peered down from his lofty throne at the bedraggled figure below him. His eyes widened with astonishment as he recognized the vagabond. It was the great Patrul Rinpoche — who was, in fact, the great lama’s own master. The high lama somehow managed to clamber down from his extremely high throne. He stood before Patrul, raised his folded hands to his forehead, and began to prostrate to him. As everyone present, including his former traveling companions, looked on and gasped in amazement, Patrul merely smiled.
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