Lama Zopa Rinpoche full length teachings

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Preliminary prayers and Rinpoche leads the motivation and practice of Four Immeasurables.00:14:45 Rinpoche leads the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and leads the motivation for extensive offerings.00:35:12 Rinpoche gives a commentary to the text by Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo, the essence of which is confession based on generation of intense regret over the vast negative karmas accumulated from beginningless rebirths.01:03:38 The group chants the confession prayer from Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and Rinpoche gives a commentary on how to do visualizations while doing the practice of Vajrasattva in the context of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.01:09:48 Rinpoche leads the practice of Vajrasattva.01:35:10 Rinpoche leads the practice of rejoicing and requesting to turn the wheel of Dharma.01:43:10 The group recites Migtsemas and prayers from Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and Lama Chopa Jorcho.02:25:37 Rinpoche leads the extensive dedication prayers.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Rinpoche explains the benefits and meanings of several mantras: mantras for blessing the speech, Chenrezig mantra, and other mantras. By reciting these mantras, the negative karma of anyone who sees, touches oneself or hears one's voice gets purified.01:05:35 Rinpoche leads the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the motivation for the practice of Confession of a Bodhisattva's Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas.00:10:45 Rinpoche does the practice of Confession of a Bodhisattva's Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas with students.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:01:45 Rinpoche leads a reflection on the nature of samsara and three types of suffering.00:08:03 Why do we need to take refuge in the Three Jewels? Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha have the perfect power and qualities to liberate oneself and all sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and its causes.00:27:22 The four immeasurable thoughts - equanimity, loving kindness, compassion and joy - is a preliminary practice, but it is an important practice as it is about making a very important decision to transform one's life to benefit all sentient beings.00:29:40 Rinpoche explains the meaning of jin lab, blessings of the Guru.00:52:05 The power of regret and how to do the practice of confession.01:05:20 By rejoicing in Lama Tsongkhapa’s qualities and extensive holy deeds, one creates the cause, sooner or later, to be able to complete the path. One creates the cause to be able to have unmistaken realization of Lama Tsongkhapa’s path and to offer extensive benefit to sentient beings and the teaching of Buddha, the same as Lama Tsongkhapa did.01:29:30 The group recites prayers Requesting to Turn the Dharma Wheel and Dedication, Special Request for the Three Great Purposes, The Foundation of All Good Qualities, and final dedications.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:59 Reading Lamrim prayer leaves a positive imprint of the whole path to enlightenment in a few minutes.00:27:45 Rinpoche tells how deity retreats have been set up. Rinpoche included certain prayers and specific dedications to be recited at the end of each session. The most common prayers recited during deity retreats are King of Prayers, Prayer to Be Reborn in the Land of Bliss, Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsongkhapa’s Teachings and others.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 Rinpoche tells about the meaning of negation in the Heart Sutra. "No" doesn't mean that things do not exist, it is negating the way phenomena appear - as truly existent from their own side. Understanding this point helps not to fall into extremes of nihilism and eternalism.00:10:05 How to avoid the mistake from the very beginning of your analysis by identifying the correct object of refutation - gak-cha.00:33:00 Phenomena exist, but they exist in mere name, merely imputed by mind. They do not exist from their own side.01:04:00 From the I down to the split seconds of consciousness, all phenomena exist in mere name, merely imputed by mind. Without mind labeling them, they cannot exist.01:27:00 When meditating on emptiness, if fear arises, that is a good sign - it means your meditation is harming the object of ignorance, the root of samsara. One should go through the fear, not stop the meditation.01:48:00 The word "Ah" in the Heart Sutra is like an atomic bomb that destroys the hallucination of true existence projected onto all phenomena by ignorance. It shows phenomena are empty of existing from their own side.02:24:00 When reciting the Heart Sutra, one should apply it to one's own problems and sufferings, meditating that they are empty of true existence. This becomes a powerful puja to pacify obstacles.02:30:00 Rinpoche explains that Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche used to recite Extensive Dispelling of Hindrances after the Heart Sutra as a way of pacifying all obstacles for the teachers, students, and Dharma centers due to sickness, spirit possession, unfavorable conditions, past karma, and immediate conditions.02:37:30 The group recites Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and Rinpoche leads the extensive offerings practice and dedications.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 To receive the jenang (permission to practice) of a deity from the four-class Tantra, one needs to first receive the initiation of that class of Tantra.00:06:31 Even though one has received a precious human body, it can be stained by desire, carelessness, laziness, sleep, gossiping, and seeking offerings and respect. This leads to wasting the precious human body on meaningless activities.00:10:34 To take the essence of the perfect human body, one must train well in the gradual path of the lower, middle, and higher capable beings.00:11:51 All sentient beings have been one's mother countless times in past lives, but due to taking rebirth, they are unable to recognize each other. Generating love and compassion for them, one should strive to achieve enlightenment for their benefit.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 The Migtsema prayer, composed by Lama Tsongkhapa, is the king of prayers that embodies the essence of the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha.00:33:40 At Lama Tsongkhapa's birthplace Kumbum, a tree grew from his birth blood with 100,000 images of Manjushri and mantras on its leaves, indicating he is the emanation of Manjushri.00:37:44 Before Lama Tsongkhapa's birth, his mother dreamt of a Chinese monk from Wutai Shan (Manjushri's holy place) dissolving into her, signifying that the child is Manjushri's emanation.00:49:50 In the tradition of secret mantra, one must accept that all the buddhas are one mind. The previous lama of Sägyu tantric college added the line about Vajrapani to Migtsema and it became a five-line Migtsema. Gyalwa Ensapa’s disciple wrote the nine-round migtsema.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the meaning of protector prayers and the motivation for doing protector prayers dedicating them for success in Dharma activities around the world for benefiting sentient beings.00:11:04 The fundamental Buddhist philosophy is that happiness and suffering are created by one's own mind, not by others. One has complete freedom to stop suffering and achieve happiness up to enlightenment by changing how one thinks.00:23:05 Dharma centers play an important role in world peace by educating people about the mind, karma, compassion, and thought transformation.00:42:10 By practicing thought transformation (lojong), one can transform all obstacles and problems into causes for enlightenment. If you are happy, practice Dharma, if you are unhappy, practice Dharma.01:00:00 Centers benefit sentient beings by teaching lojong.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 The mind is obscured by many superstitious thoughts, like attachment, anger, and self-cherishing, which are based on grasping at an exaggerated object.00:06:47 While everything is empty of true existence, the ignorance projects true existence onto phenomena, like wearing colored glasses that make everything appear a certain color. We then allow our mind to believe this hallucination is real.00:14:52 Realizing emptiness helps generate strong compassion for sentient beings, seeing how they are suffering due to being ignorant of the way things actually exist. Their suffering comes from wrong concepts and mistaken ways of thinking.00:22:24 Realizing emptiness doesn't contradict bodhicitta, but rather makes one generate stronger bodhicitta. The positive thoughts like compassion and bodhicitta are not caused by or based on the ignorance grasping at true existence.00:26:20 Reciting Calling the Guru from Afar. The way to clean away the superstitious thoughts is through guru devotion - making requests to the guru from one's heart. One should strive to devote to the guru with the nine attitudes, such as viewing the guru as a buddha, following the guru's advice, and seeing the guru's actions as perfect and so on.00:36:30 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the recitation of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, offering of a short mandala, and recitation of Migtsema mantras.00:51:35 The group recites the Lamrim prayer from Lama Chopa.00:59:05 The group recites the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation and other prayers from Lama Chopa.1:23:32 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the protector prayers and dedications.02:08:55 Lama Zopa Rinpoche tells about Geshe Lama Konchog's Life. Dedication prayers.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:07 Lama Tsongkhapa practiced Dharma and completed the path, unstained by the three types of worldly dharma: black worldly dharma, mixed worldly dharma, and white worldly dharma. This means unstained by attachment clinging to this life, unstained by self-cherishing thought, and unstained by ignorance, the concept holding true existence. Each time we rejoice, we create the cause to have Lama Tsongkhapa's qualities.00:21:32 When saying "Lama Tsongkhapa", one must remember it refers to the oneness of the lama and Tsongkhapa. If only thinking of Tsongkhapa, it does not become Guru Yoga. By looking at Tsongkhapa as inseparable from one's guru, one is able to see all of Tsongkhapa's qualities and activities as the guru's.00:32:01 The absolute guru is the dharmakaya, the primordial holy mind, which has no beginning, no end, and pervades all existence. The absolute guru takes the form that you have the karma to see and to communicate with, that is the conventional guru.00:52:19 Rinpoche tells about his first retreat in Tibet focused on Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Rinpoche gives an extensive teaching on benefits of offerings. As taught by Manjushri to Lama Tsongkhapa, the quick path to enlightenment involves purifying obstacles, collecting merit, and one-pointedly requesting the guru’s blessings, and even offering one flower to a Buddha leads to the entire path to enlightenment and continues to bring benefit endlessly.00:46:33 A life without compassion, even with a human body, is empty. Therefore, regardless of one’s level of Dharma knowledge, compassion is the most important practice, as it brings happiness to all beings and naturally fulfills one’s own wishes up to enlightenment. Rinpoche also emphasizes the importance of wisdom and demerits of self-cherishing.02:06:40 Rinpoche continues teaching on the benefits of offering practice and leads an extensive offering practice and gives commentaries on how to do it step by step.03:02:15 Rinpoche leads the practice of rejoicing in the realizations of Lama Tsongkhapa.03:06:50 Rinpoche continues leading Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and ends with extensive dedications.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 Our delusions have no beginning, so we cannot expect to achieve realizations or enlightenment quickly or easily. No one achieved enlightenment without hardships, without practicing three types of patience. We must plan to practice for many lifetimes.00:42:38 There is a big difference between experiencing hardships to practice Dharma, which leads to happiness, versus experiencing temporary pleasure that results in future suffering.00:45:44 We have died numberless times working for delusions. Even if we have to die practicing Dharma, it is worthwhile and completes our life meaningfully.00:50:04 We are extremely fortunate to have met the Dharma. If we don't practice and spend our lives following delusions, our lives will finish sadly.01:13:09 It's very important to make our decisions in life with Dharma wisdom rather than ignorance. This makes a huge difference in the results we experience from life to life.01:29:32 Rinpoche gives a commentary on blessing the speech practice.01:56:55 Rinpoche teaches on how to relate to criticism and praise. If words affect one easily, and one's life becomes up and down, that means one is not practicing the right view.02:06:45 Rinpoche continues giving a commentary on blessing the speech practice.02:32:53 Students recite prayers.02:49:15 The benefits of reciting Maitreya Buddha mantra. Students recite Maitreya Buddha mantra.03:00:40 Dedication prayers.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 Lama Zopa Rinpoche guides Lama Chopa practice.00:09:15 Rinpoche guides taking refuge in the Guru and three precious gems to be protected from the sufferings of samsara and the lower realms. One should generate bodhicitta to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.00:13:02 Rinpoche leads the motivation for the practice of Lama Chopa.00:26:25 The prostration section of the seven limbs involves guru devotion meditation. The extensive and deep way to think of the guru’s kindness is to think of how the guru is guiding you, liberating you from all the sufferings of samsara, and bringing you to enlightenment.00:50:48 An important practice from the seven limbs is rejoicing, feeling great happiness in all the merits collected from beginningless rebirths by oneself, sentient beings, bodhisattvas, and buddhas. Rejoicing creates the cause to achieve those same qualities and realizations.01:08:16 Rinpoche guides the visualization of receiving the qualities and wisdoms of the Guru, such as profound wisdom, clear light wisdom, and debating skills. These enter oneself and all sentient beings, purifying obscurations and negative karma.01:13:27 The section on the Guru's qualities is very important. Rinpoche recites these qualities extensively in Tibetan. It is better to read this section in one's own language to understand the meaning.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 Generate strong regretfulness to make negative karma thinner and limit its power. The more regretfulness generated, the more negative karma is purified.00:01:09 Phenomena affect each other through dependent arising. Reciting the names of the 35 Buddhas has the power to purify many eons of negative karma due to the Buddhas' compassion and prayers.00:04:12 The purpose of one's life is to free all sentient beings from suffering and its causes, and lead them to enlightenment. Therefore one must purify defilements and achieve enlightenment.00:06:02 Even one negative karma of killing can lead to endless suffering results unless it is purified. There is no way to relax without purifying negative karma.00:13:07 When blessing offerings, visualize that through the power of mantra, each Buddha receives limitless skies of offerings, making even one offering very powerful and meritorious.00:21:24 There are two ways to purify negative karma during the confession prayer - generating regret and looking at the emptiness of each negative action. Using emptiness makes the purification practice extremely powerful.00:56:54 At the end of any purification practice, meditate that in emptiness there is no creator, action or negative karma created. Then dedicate the merit while maintaining the awareness of emptiness.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 Before beginning a deity retreat, generate the proper motivation. Remember the impermanence of life by reflecting on how great beings of the past have passed away, leaving only their teachings and stories behind.00:16:57 No matter who we are, we will definitely die, perhaps even today. Use this awareness of impermanence and death to abandon negative karma and practice virtue.00:37:00 If we died last night without having purified our negative karma, we would be reborn in the lower realms. The wise thing to do is to practice Dharma - abandoning non-virtue and creating virtue to achieve happiness in future lives up to enlightenment.01:07:11 When generating the motivation for retreat, think that the purpose is to achieve enlightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings from suffering. Make the determination to practice with bodhicitta.01:45:48 The actual instructions for beginning the retreat: 1) Refuge and bodhicitta, 2) Guru yoga, 3) Mandala offering, 4) Vajrasattva purification, 5) Actual deity practice. Remember that yourself, the action of meditating, and the object of meditation are all empty of inherent existence.02:24:04 Within the refuge and bodhicitta prayer, one is practicing the three principal aspects of the path - renunciation, bodhicitta, and the right view of emptiness. This is the essence of how to practice during the retreat.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Preliminary prayers by students.00:15:25 As realizations of the three principal aspects of the path are dependent on the root, the realization of the guru devotion, the guru yoga, Rinpoche will teach on Calling the Guru from Afar before going over the commentary to the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.00:28:48 Rinpoche mentions how important it is to correctly devote oneself to the guru and refers to the eight advantages of correctly devoting to the virtuous friend and eight shortcomings of having made mistakes in the relationship with the virtuous friend outlined in the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.00:34:40 Rinpoche teaches on the preciousness of perfect human rebirth. When people face unbearable problems, they may wish to be animals like dogs or butterflies, thinking those lives are free of suffering. But if their body actually started transforming into an animal, they would panic, unable to handle the loss of human abilities like communication and freedom.00:51:29 Rinpoche tells about his first teachers in Solu Khumbu.01:06:48 Rinpoche tells about his experiences in Buxa and how he met Lama Yeshe. The Lam Rim Chenmo says that the definition of a disciple is the one who is devoting to the guru and the definition of a guru is the object to whom one is devoting. Rinpoche adds that according to Choden Rinpoche, from the teacher’s side there also has to be the recognition that this is a disciple.01:08:20 Rinpoche tells about His Holiness Serkong Dorje Chang.01:16:26 Dedications prayers.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:36 Rinpoche emphasizes the urgent need to receive funding to complete the Maitreya Project statue and benefit sentient beings.00:02:24 Rinpoche discusses the importance of supporting Sangha in various monasteries around the world by providing facilities, education, and food.00:03:19 Building holy objects in different parts of the world is as an easy way to help sentient beings purify negative karma, collect merit, and achieve realizations on the path to enlightenment.00:04:04 Rinpoche expresses the wish to establish more beneficial hospitals and social services for the elderly, similar to successful projects already underway in Australia.00:07:01 The importance of Universal Education is discussed, especially in countries with a lot of violence. Rinpoche praises an existing project in India that has been very beneficial in developing students' minds.00:10:38 Urgent social service needs in Mongolia are highlighted, such as providing food and shelter for the homeless. Establishing good monastic education with qualified teachers is also a priority to help revive Buddhism in Mongolia.00:15:37 In conclusion, Rinpoche emphasizes that the real aim is to bring temporary and ultimate happiness to all sentient beings. He encourages everyone to pray and dedicate their practice for the success of these vast projects to illuminate the minds of all beings.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:54 Lama Zopa Rinpoche introduces Calling the Guru from Afar, a profound text by Phabongka Rinpoche that contains lamrim and tantric path.00:02:53 Without a guru, one cannot achieve realizations and enlightenment, even if one knows many texts by heart. Devotion to the guru is the cause of receiving blessings and attaining realizations.00:11:51 When devotion is lost, it becomes difficult to benefit the mind and have realizations, even from hearing Lamrim teachings. Devotion needs to be stable and established by reasoning.00:19:09 The objective of one's life is not just happiness for oneself, but to achieve enlightenment in order to enlighten all sentient beings. This is the greatest profit and success.00:27:46 Lama Zopa explains the yoga of eating - making offerings with each bite of food and meditating that oneself and the food are empty. This becomes a means of collecting extensive merit.00:40:57 In reality, despite the diversity of phenomena, everything is empty. Things function while being empty. Our basic meditation should be on emptiness.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:01:57 It is extremely important to practice Guru Yoga, which involves developing compassion, power, and wisdom. This enables one to do perfect work for all sentient beings.00:27:23 By doing Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga practice, one establishes the root of all goodness and collections of merit in this and future lives up to enlightenment. It makes one's listening, reflecting and meditation practice very effective.00:48:45 The Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga practice helps one retreat from negative actions of body, speech, and mind. Keeping the mind in renunciation, bodhicitta, and right view also helps retreat from negativities.01:05:05 In Tantra, one practices the path that harmonizes with the four purified results - purified place, body, enjoyments, and deeds. By visualizing these now, one collects unimaginable merit and quickly progresses on the path.01:28:28 In Tantra, one's mind simultaneously focuses on the deity's holy body (method) while understanding its emptiness (wisdom). This unified practice of method and wisdom is extremely powerful for quickly achieving enlightenment.01:42:33 The four classes of Tantra - Kriya, Charya, Yoga and Anuttarayoga, were taught by the Buddha to utilize attachment in the path to enlightenment according to the practitioner's capacity. The highest class, Anuttarayoga, enables achieving enlightenment most quickly.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Rinpoche leads the motivation and protector prayers.00:26:00 Rinpoche gives a commentary on a quote from Lama Tsongkhapa about giving up the essenceless activities, like casting the husk, and practicing Dharma.00:51:00 Rinpoche explains the meaning dag nyen - all sentient beings being one's kin.00:57:35 From beginningless rebirths, every sentient being has cherished us more than themselves, especially when being our mother, suffering numberless times for our well-being, happiness, and even our education, creating so much negative karma due to not having Dharma wisdom. Even those who abuse us in this life have done this numberless times, and they continuously suffer in the lower realms without even one second of freedom from samsaric suffering, so we must generate compassion and loving kindness towards them.01:36:15 All the Buddhas and bodhisattvas whom I pray to, follow, who inspire me, all the rest of the Mahayana path realizations come from suffering sentient beings.01:50:50 Rinpoche leads the analytical meditation on taking responsibility to free suffering sentient beings and generating bodhicitta.01:54:10 Rinpoche explains the importance of Highest Yoga Tantra in achieving enlightenment.02:19:50 According to Lama Tsongkhapa tradition, integrating Chakrasamvara, Guhyasamaja and Yamantaka makes it possible to achieve enlightenment quicker.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:04:23 Lama Zopa Rinpoche thanks the organization and Lama Tsongkhapa Institute for providing the facilities and course.00:08:46 To achieve enlightenment, we need to engage in both study and retreat. Dromtonpa explained, “While I am listening, I am reflecting. While I am reflecting, I meditate.” Listening, reflecting, and meditating should be practiced without separation.00:16:15 Without learning and explanation, there is nothing to meditate on, except delusions. The more we practice, the more powerful our actions become to benefit others.00:22:48 Even with intellectual understanding we can benefit so much, but especially if we have realizations, we are able to offer very deep benefit to others.00:24:54 The meaning of "transmigratory beings": all those sentient beings who are transmigrating to one of the six realms under the control of karma and delusion.00:42:43 If it was only up to the compassion and power of the Buddhas, there would not be a single suffering sentient being left. Sentient beings need to make effort from their side to change their karma.00:59:14 The best way to benefit sentient beings is by learning and practicing Dharma - stopping non-virtuous actions and engaging in virtuous ones. This enables us to give others the ultimate benefit.01:01:45 Even just by educating others in the Four Noble Truths, we can offer incredible benefit and lead them to ultimate happiness. This is the best solution and our contribution to world peace.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continued his video teachings on thought  transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in August.  Here is a summary Thought Transformation video #132, offered on August  14, 2022: Make your suffering into the best happiness, Rinpoche urges us. All of  the pain we face in life came from our mind—our self-cherishing thought  with attachment, anger, and ignorance harmed others and now we  experience the evolution of that. We can use our pain as a cause to  achieve enlightenment, not only for ourselves like taking drugs for our  benefit alone, but for all sentient beings. This is so important to  write down and remember every day. When something undesirable  happens, remember this. Whether physical or mental pain—we can make  it into the best happiness by enjoying it. Every single suffering of all  sentient beings we take onto the path of enlightenment. This makes life so  happy.Whenever we see a suffering sentient being we can do this, we can  practice tonglen, by sincerely taking on other sentient beings’  suffering and giving our happiness to them in return. Each time we do  tonglen, we collect more merit than the sky and become closer and closer to enlightenment, and more and more distant from samsara. The goal is to experience the suffering of sentient beings so that they  become enlightened, free from samsara. While there is pain, death,  relationship problems, etc., we experience it for all sentient beings,  for them to be free from suffering and achieve enlightenment.

The purpose of our life is not just to accumulate wealth or power. These pursuits alone cannot bring true satisfaction or happiness. In fact, the more we chase after material wealth without a good heart, the more we experience inner misery and dissatisfaction. Power, without the intention to benefit others, can be dangerous and lead to harm for oneself and others. Fame and reputation also do not fulfil the purpose of human life. Despite achieving fame, many individuals experience unhappiness and even resort to suicide. This shows that fame alone does not bring inner peace and happiness. The lack of spiritual practice and inner development can leave our hearts empty and unfulfilled, leading to a sad and empty life.Even if one possesses extensive knowledge of Buddhist scriptures and commentaries, it is meaningless without a genuine intention to benefit others. Education alone does not bring about inner transformation or positive change. Without practice and a compassionate heart, life remains empty, and the mind remains unchanged or even worse than before.On the other hand, someone with a good heart, even if they have limited intellectual understanding, can experience peace, happiness, and love for others. With a good heart, all external wealth, power, and education can be used to benefit sentient beings and bring them happiness. Fame and reputation can be used as a means to inspire and encourage others on the path of spiritual practice and benefit.Blocked by negative karma and defilements, one cannot experience the teachings as they are meant to be understood. Without continuous purification and a genuine connection between the teachings and one's heart, intellectual understanding alone does not lead to experiential transformation.Dedication is also essential as it safeguards the merits we have accumulated through our practice. It is important to meditate and deeply contemplate while reciting dedications, rather than merely reciting words. We should dedicate the merits to spreading the Dharma throughout the world and within our own hearts. If the mind is unhappy and depressed, it can lead to physical deterioration and a shorter life. By viewing one's own suffering as representative of the suffering of all sentient beings and voluntarily taking it upon oneself, one can cultivate the mindset of a bodhisattva. The main aim of life is to benefit sentient beings, rather than seeking personal comfort, health, praise, or reputation.This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18-May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

Guru Puja (Lama Chöpa) encompasses the essence of both sutra and tantra. This practice is the quickest way to achieve enlightenment. Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends studying His Holiness the Dalai Lama's commentary on Guru Puja, which provides a clear and effective explanation of this essential practice.Taking vows, specifically the bodhisattva vow and tantric vows, helps eliminate obstacles and create conducive conditions for spiritual progress. While many people recite prayers and perform various practices, it is crucial to target the root of suffering, which is the delusions and, especially, the self-cherishing thought. All practices should aim to overcome these obstacles in the mind.We should engage in meditation during prayers to prevent them from becoming mere rituals. Such meditation transforms prayers into a meaningful and transformative practice, preparing the mind for enlightenment and benefiting all sentient beings.We should also generate gratitude and awe for our precious human life and the incredible opportunities it presents for Dharma practice. The chance to practice the Dharma, particularly the lam-rim teachings, is a great fortune, especially when compared to those who lack access to such teachings and live with ignorance. Even though we may have access to extensive teachings, understanding how to integrate them into a path to enlightenment can be challenging without lam-rim guidance.Rinpoche provides commentary on "Calling the Guru from Afar," a profound guru yoga text composed by Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo. The practice combines guru yoga, guru devotion, lam-rim, and highest tantra, making it an effective and profound meditation.Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses the impermanence of life and the significance of remembering the guru at the time of death. No matter how much one wishes to stay with loved ones or cling to life, there is no choice but to face death. Fear and distress can accompany the moment of death, even for those who may not believe in reincarnation or karma. This fear arises from the intuitive understanding of something terrible happening after death. In order to break free from samsara, we must learn, meditate, and make progress on the path to liberation. We need to take advantage of this precious human life and the opportunities it offers for spiritual growth. Understanding the guru in our hearts will lead to the realization of the dharmakaya, one of the three kayas (bodies) in Mahayana Buddhism.This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18 to May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

There is great positive transformation through the power of mantras, holy objects, and moral conduct. This power comes from the compassion of Buddha, who provided these methods for sentient beings to purify negative karma, accumulate merit, and progress on the path to enlightenment quickly. The more we understand the suffering of samsara, the more we can appreciate the kindness of Buddha in offering such methods for liberation.Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the power and benefits of various mantras, their ability to purify negative karma and lead beings towards enlightenment and the power of holy objects like statues and stupas, even without mantras, in bringing positive results to those who interact with them. The merit accumulated through making offerings to arhats equaling the number of sand grains in the Atlantic Ocean for countless eons is immense. However, merely seeing a statue of Buddha or a picture of Buddha can result in even greater merit.Achieving a human rebirth is incredibly rare and requires the practice of pure morality. Confession and purification are crucial daily practices to protect ourselves from negative karma and maintain pure morality. The practice of confession should be done continuously to ensure a good rebirth and the basis for spiritual realizations.Rinpoche discusses negative karma's suffering results, including health problems and rebirth in unhappy realms and stresses the importance of accumulating positive karma through virtuous actions, mantras, and blessing the environment and all sentient beings in it, even if they are unaware of the benefits. This way, we can create a virtuous atmosphere and purify negative karma for ourselves and others.Negative karmas, like killing, can perpetuate endless suffering unless we engage in purification practices and alter our behaviour. Contemplating the frequency of our negative actions in this life and acknowledging their cumulative impact across countless past lives is essential. The transformative power of dedicated practice and adopting moral behavior to prevent further negative actions, not only brings inner peace and happiness but also benefits other sentient beings by averting harm.This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18 to May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

The great bodhisattva Khunu Lama Rinpoche, a profound scholar and yogi had extensive knowledge of Buddhist scriptures and teachings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama received extensive commentary on the Bodhicharyavatara from him. Lama Zopa Rinpoche attributes the origins of FPMT chanting practices to Khunu Lama Rinpoche.Khunu Lama Rinpoche's teachings became widely known, with people seeking blessings from him. His teachings for the monks at Kopan Monastery emphasized the need to tame their minds and the importance of lam-rim teachings in this process.All teachings in Buddhism are meant to help us actualize wisdom, and the main teaching for this purpose is the Perfection of Wisdom, which is the revelation of the truth. Buddha liberates sentient beings by revealing this truth. Bodhisattva Chenrezig requested teachings from Buddha Shakyamuni on the Perfection of Wisdom. Reciting the name of Chenrezig, his mantra, or extensively explaining, writing down, or making offerings related to Chenrezig leads sentient beings to attain enlightenment in the future.Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains how our feelings and mental states are intimately tied to how we label or interpret situations and objects as positive or negative. These labels are conceptual in nature and influence our emotional responses. Even seemingly external circumstances, such as other people's behaviour, are deeply intertwined with our own interpretations and labels.When we do not remember or apply the basic philosophy of Buddhism, we may carry resentment in our hearts for a long time, causing immense pain. Such prolonged suffering is a result of our own concepts and negative interpretations. These issues are often connected to societal beliefs, cultural norms, and concepts of what is considered "good" or "bad."It is important to accept situations and understand that they are a result of karma. By recognizing that we have harmed others in the past, we can come to terms with the harm we receive in the present and develop patience and understanding.Rinpoche provides commentary on the Four Immeasurables, to cultivate loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity towards all sentient beings. He also discusses meditating on emptiness to analyze the concept of "I" and to recognize that the self is merely a mental construct, not an inherently existing entity. The "I" we grasp onto is a hallucination, and by meditating on its non-existence, we can gain insight into the emptiness of all phenomena.This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18-May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

We can precede the Chenrezig visualization by calming techniques and breathing exercises, reciting prayers and reflecting on the kindness of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha. Buddha made immense sacrifices for the benefit of all sentient beings, practicing morality, charity, perseverance, concentration, and wisdom for three countless great eons. Integrating Lam Rim meditation with deity meditation and mantra recitation can make the practice more powerful. Chanting serves as a form of meditation, giving us time to reflect and meditate on the teachings and carries blessings from enlightened beings and supports the arising of devotion, renunciation, compassion, and bodhicitta.Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the three causes of refuge (recognition of suffering and delusion, compassion for sentient beings, and devotion to the Three Jewels) and the distinction between causal and resultant refuge in the path towards enlightenment.Generating bodhicitta by reciting, "I must achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, therefore I'm going to generate bodhicitta" accumulates far greater merit than making offerings to the Buddhas for eons equal to the number of sand grains in the Pacific Ocean, or even the Atlantic Ocean. The act of generating bodhicitta is so powerful that it surpasses unimaginable offerings in terms of merit.When making offerings to Guru Chenrezig, visualize the essence of the offering as generating infinite bliss in his holy mind. Offerings we make during our practice are not just visualizations but are real offerings. Rinpoche guides us through a visualization of Chenrezig, focusing on the deity's form, attributes, and the symbolism of each aspect. Chenrezig's pure body contains countless pure realms of Buddhas within each pore, signifying the power and qualities of the Buddhas. The commentary continues with the recitation of Chenrezig's mantra and the development of great compassion, where we can engage in practices such as Tonglen (taking and giving) to alleviate the suffering of sentient beings and purify our own negativities.We can make requests to Chenrezig using a prayer that includes various requests and aspirations. These requests encompass a wide range of situations and challenges that we may encounter in our lives. We seek Chenrezig's guidance and blessings to overcome them.This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18 to May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

Our current bodies carry the seeds of disturbing thoughts and defilements, and they perpetuate samsara. The continuity of these aggregates, including consciousness, never breaks, constantly circling from one life to the next. The general suffering of samsara includes the impermanence of everything, the unsatisfactory nature of desires, and the inevitability of leaving our bodies behind.Sentient beings have never experienced even a moment of true happiness in samsara because even samsaric pleasures are suffering. The overwhelming suffering experienced in samsara is due to misconceptions about the self and the attachment to impermanent and contaminated phenomena. These misconceptions perpetuate suffering in the realms of samsara, stretching back into beginningless time.We urgently need to break free from these wrong concepts, as they lead to endless suffering. The opportunity to have a human body with the potential for spiritual practice arises from the kindness of sentient beings. Every single sentient being has contributed to this opportunity through their kindness. Achieving liberation, enlightenment, and all levels of happiness depends entirely on the kindness and existence of sentient beings. We need to cherish and work for sentient beings, pledging to free them from suffering and bring them to enlightenment. The root of happiness and spiritual growth lies in cherishing others, and this cherishing originates from great compassion, generated in response to the suffering of sentient beings.By taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts with bodhichitta motivation, the merit accumulated multiplies exponentially, potentially by millions of times. Living in accordance with each precept leads to the accumulation of limitless skies of merit. Each precept serves as an opportunity to collect merit for the benefit of all sentient beings.By abstaining from even one negative karma, such as killing, we can experience the happiness for hundreds or even thousands of lifetimes. Conversely, if we engage in negative actions without purifying them, the suffering that results from those actions can continue endlessly. By rejoicing in our virtuous actions and merit accumulation, we can enhance the power and effectiveness of our spiritual practice.Correctly meditating on method and wisdom is crucial and Lama Zopa Rinpoche provides a detailed commentary on the Chenrezig Sadhana, explaining visualization, mantra recitation, compassion, and purification. This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18 to May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

Everything we perceive, from objects to colours, is a result of the mind labelling and imputing meanings onto them. By recognizing the imputed nature of phenomena and the contradiction between appearance and reality, we can prevent the mind from solidifying mistaken beliefs and contributing to delusion, attachment, and other negative emotions. By focusing on wisdom and understanding the ultimate nature of things we can overcome the ignorance that perpetuates delusions and cultivate a more peaceful and compassionate mind. We should consistently cultivate the motivation to benefit others, similar to a loving mother caring for her child. This motivation should be maintained throughout daily activities, not just during formal Dharma practice. Continuously monitoring and adjusting our intention to align with benefiting others helps maintain a genuine altruistic mindset.By skillfully applying the principles of Dharma, daily actions can become a source of purification and a means to collect extensive merit. We should use the transformative power of intention and mindfulness, even in seemingly ordinary activities like sleeping to integrate Dharma practice into all aspects of our lives, utilizing every opportunity for spiritual growth and benefitting others. Engaging in circumambulation and walking meditation are practical ways to integrate these teachings into daily practice.Our own mind has the power to shape our experiences and emotions. Labelling and interpretation play a significant role in determining what we perceive as good or bad, friend or enemy. By understanding and controlling our labelling process, we can shift from suffering to happiness, and positively influence our own well-being as well as that of others. This emphasizes the importance of mindful awareness and the potential for personal transformation through mental training.Lama Zopa Rinpoche uses the twelve links of dependent origination to illustrate the evolution of samsara, the cycle of birth and death, and how our own mind is at the root of this cycle. Not only do the seven results of suffering come from the consciousness and karma, but all appearances in our world, whether positive or negative, stem from our mind's labelling and conceptualization.We should spend time deeply contemplating the connection between our mind and our experiences. This understanding empowers us to choose our responses and become creators of our own happiness and well-being. By recognizing the role of our consciousness, karma, and ignorance in shaping our experiences, we can take control of our reactions, create happiness, and break the cycle of suffering.This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18 to May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continued his video teachings on thought transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore in August and September, 2022. Here is a summary of the most recent teaching recorded on September 14, 2022:By not harming others, we are creating the cause for peace in the future, Rinpoche explains. If we fight those who harm us in this life, it creates the cause to fight them again in future lives. This can go on for eons with no peace. Those who win create the cause to lose in the future, and those who lose create the case to win in the future. This is repeated on and on endlessly, a cycle of negative karma and no harmony. If we follow the path of not harming, not fighting, this is the way to create peace in the future. Rinpoche leads a tonglen meditation starting at 2:35:27 in the teaching.Rinpoche also offered the Refuge ceremony and some advice regarding taking refuge, starting at 49:56 in the teaching.   

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continued his video teachings on thought transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in August and September. Here is a summary of the teaching offered on September 10, 2022:During Rinpoche's September 3 teaching (#134: In Your Life as a Couple, Practice Good Heart), Rinpoche offered the oral transmission for Lama Tsongkhapa's Utilizing Suffering in the Path to Enlightenment. Rinpoche began giving commentary on this important thought transformation text in the September 7 teaching (#135: The Great Difference Between Taking and Not Taking Vows). In this latest teaching from September 10, Rinpoche continues the commentary on Utilizing Suffering in the Path to Enlightenment starting at 40:06.During this commentary, Rinpoche discusses the benefits of experiencing suffering, including:When You Experience Suffering, You Develop Renunciation of SamsaraWhen You Experience Suffering, You Develop Trust in the Objects of RefugeWhen You Experience Suffering, It Dispels ArroganceWhen You Experience Suffering, You Become Careful of Negative KarmaWhen You Experience Suffering, You Enjoy VirtueWhen You Experience Suffering, You Develop Compassion for Sentient Beings

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continued his video teachings on thought transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in August and September. Here is a summary of the teaching offered on September 7, 2022:The most important Dharma, Rinpoche teaches us, is compassion. If you are becoming kinder and more compassionate, this means you are practicing Dharma.Rinpoche discusses the importance of taking vows. Our virtue is much more extensive after having taken vows than if we have not taken any. This is also true for the non-virtues: it is heavier negative karma for someone ordained to commit a trivial misdeed than for a lay person to indulge in the ten non-virtues. This is why it is so heavy when people who hold bodhisattva vows, and even more so, tantric vows, commit misdeeds. We should take and receive vows to receive a human rebirth again because there is no cause for a higher rebirth other than practicing ethics. We create great merit even by keeping even one precept. By taking vows, one's virtue increases continuously—even while sleeping, and by not having vows and committing non-virtue, one's negative karma increases continuously. Because of this, we need to purify our negative karma to stop it from increasing every day.Rinpoche offers the lung of the Vajrasattva long and short mantras (1:31:17), to help us with our practice or purification.During Rinpoche's September 3 teaching (#134 In Your Life as a Couple, Practice Good Heart), Rinpoche offered the lung for Lama Tsongkhapa's Utilizing Suffering in the Path to Enlightenment.  In this teaching, Rinpoche began translating and offering commentary on this important thought transformation teaching by Lama Tsongkhapa at 1:40:14. 

For those of us living as a couple in relationships, we need to practice having a good heart. With body, speech, and mind, we have incredible opportunities to collect good karma. If we dedicate our own lives to serving others, to create happiness and reduce suffering in others, then we influence our companions to gradually do the same. This is really offering so much help to them, helping them to be free from samsara and attain enlightenment more quickly. Even if not thinking about enlightenment, even if not Buddhist, it is still very logical to practice a good heart because it brings so much happiness to others. Rinpoche offers the oral transmission of Lama Tsongkhapa’s thought transformation teaching, Utilizing Suffering in the Path to Enlightenment at 1:13:44 in the video. At the end of this teaching, Rinpoche also shared some advice offered to a geshe in Singapore who contracted Covid-19. Rinpoche requested that copies of this advice be made available so that those who receive it will, “enjoy the most and be most happy.” This full advice is available to all here: https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/how-to-think-about-obstacles-and-look-at-everything-as-positive/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continued his video teachings on thought transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in August. Here is a summary of the teaching offered on August 16, 2022:Rinpoche offers some of the history of how he began teaching courses at Kopan Monastery in Nepal and how the FPMT organization began (starting at 28:12).Real happiness comes from a good heart, Rinpoche reminds us, not come from the outside. Using the example of Milarepa, who externally had nothing but had incredible realizations and inner peace and happiness, we can see that happiness comes from the mind, not from what we have. Believing that happiness comes from outside, including how much wealth we accumulate, causes great suffering and dissatisfaction, as well as so much worry and fear.For those of us living as lay couples, Rinpoche advises that we practice the ten virtues together and Rinpoche also suggests practicing the ten Dharma conducts.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continued his video teachings on thought transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in August. Here is a summary of the teaching offered on August 13, 2022:To live life as a couple, you need wisdom and compassion, Rinpoche teaches us. If we don't have this, life together is so much suffering, so many problems. This is due to thinking in the wrong way—with the self-cherishing thought and ignorance, which are the opposite of compassion and wisdom. Depending on how much compassion and wisdom a couple has developed is the degree to which they will be happy or suffer. Each person has to have compassion for the other, and also they must each have the wisdom to see which actions in relation to the other are right or wrong. Otherwise, the relationship is total hallucination.The more you learn Buddhadharma, the more wisdom you develop. To try and help each other, encourage each other to abandon negative karma as much as possible and inspire each other to create good karma. To do this, you can engage in compassionate activities together, helping others.In these degenerative times, we desperately need lojong—thought transformation—where we transform suffering into happiness.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continued his video teachings on thought transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in August. Here is a summary of the teaching offered on August 10, 2022:It is very important to understand how anger destroys your happiness. By getting angry at a bodhisattva, our merits are destroyed, we will be reborn in hell, and realizations will be delayed. And by getting angry at a buddha, even more merit is destroyed. Since we cannot tell who is a bodhisattva and who is a buddha, we have to be very, very careful of anger and put so much effort into practicing patience. We can train our mind to practice patience, it gets easier the more we practice. Since anger is the cause of hell suffering, we should stop it. Therefore, motivate every morning to practice patience. Otherwise, anger suddenly arises. You have to prepare yourself with determination to stop it.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his video teachings on thought transformation from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore at the request of Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Ganden Tendar Ling FPMT Buddhist Center, Aryadeva FPMT Study Group, and the Save Tibet Foundation in Russia. Here is a summary of his August 6, 2022 teaching:Most of the world is suffering, Rinpoche reminds us. Whether rich or poor, there is suffering from disease; dangers of the elements such as earthquakes, floods, or fires; violence - the suffering of samsara is constant. Even science cannot stop these dangers. Dharma is the only way to be free from all of these sufferings by purifying the mind which is the cause. Our happiness and suffering depend on how we think, and Dharma is medicine for the mind.The definition of Dharma, according to the Kadampa geshes, is any action of body, speech, or mind that becomes an antidote to delusions. Dharma is anything that benefits, that brings happiness beyond this life up to enlightenment. Until we are free from samsara, we need happiness in all future lives.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his video teachings on thought transformation. Here is a summary of a teaching given on June 26 from Kopan Monastery, Nepal, at the request of Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Ganden Tendar Ling FPMT Buddhist Center, Aryadeva FPMT Study Group, and the Save Tibet Foundation in Russia. The first kindness of sentient beings is that they are the source of all past, present, and future happiness including enlightenment, Lama Zopa Rinpoche reminds us. They are from whom we receive Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and in whom we take refuge. A buddha comes from a bodhisattva. A bodhisattva comes from bodhichitta, and bodhichitta comes from great compassion. Great compassion comes from all those sentient beings whose minds are obscured and suffering including every hell being, every hungry ghost, every animal, every human being, every sura, and every asura being.Before you practice thought transformation, you have to understand that sentient beings are so precious and we must stop harming others. If we remember the kindness of sentient beings, naturally we will respect them and the mind will be less depressed.Rinpoche discusses “the second kindness,” the kindness of sentient being when they were our human mother (55:30), offering commentary on several points related to this. The “third kindness” is that our shelter, food, and clothing came from the kindness of sentient beings (1:13:47).Sentient beings are like a guru, Rinpoche explains. They are wish-granting jewels more precious than gold, diamonds, or sapphires. Cherishing even one sentient being brings us to enlightenment. In fact, the happiness of all sentient beings is in our hands.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his video teachings on thought transformation. Here is a summary of a teaching given on June 25 from Kopan Monastery, Nepal, at the request of Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Ganden Tendar Ling FPMT Buddhist Center, Aryadeva FPMT Study Group, and the Save Tibet Foundation in Russia. The foundation of thought transformation is to stop harming others, Rinpoche explains. When anything undesirable happens to us, we believe it came from outside, we never relate it to our own mind. If we didn’t harm others in the past, nobody could harm us in the present time. If we are harmed by people or animals, anger arises and we want to harm them back, we view them as an enemy. If we really want to stop experiencing harm, we have to learn and understand karma, we have to stop harming others.When we practice Dharma, we take care of the world. If we think in a positive way, there is peace for oneself and peace for others - we can bring peace to the world and in our family by practicing Dharma. Practicing Dharma means taking care of the mind and benefiting others. Happiness follows a good heart and suffering follows a bad heart. With a good heart, when we speak to someone or undertake any activity - it becomes virtue, the result is only happiness. This is why it is very important, in any action of body, speech, and mind in daily life, before we start, generate a good heart, a Dharma mind. Then every action becomes Dharma.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his video teachings on thought transformation from Kopan Monastery in Nepal, offered to students from China and Malaysia via Zoom on June 13.All of the 84,000 teachings of Buddha are included in the advice to not harm sentient beings and to benefit them, Rinpoche explains. If we harm sentient beings, we can’t benefit them. All of the suffering we experience ourselves, as well as the suffering we cause others to experience, is caused by our self-cherishing thought. Our worst enemy is our self-cherishing thought. From Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara (v. 8.120):If you want to quickly guideYourself and others,Secretly practiceExchanging yourself and others.The conclusion, Rinpoche explains, is that the solution to our problems is bodhichitta. Our main practice in life should be bodhichitta, cherishing others. Without giving up the I, we cannot abandon suffering. The less self-cherishing and the more we cultivate the good heart, the less problems we have.Rinpoche discusses the kindness of mother sentient beings, and also the kindness of those who are not your mother starting at (1:07:28) in the video.In preparation for offering the refuge ceremony, Rinpoche discusses four of the five lay vows which one can take in addition to refuge. One can take refuge alone or any/all of the following vows in addition: the vow to abandon killing (1:16:57), the vow to abandon sexual misconduct (1:19:43), the vow to abandon stealing (1:20:27), the vow to abandon lying (Rinpoche did not discuss this vow in this teaching), the vow to abandon alcohol (1:21:37).Rinpoche offers the refuge ceremony at (1:24:48).

Rinpoche offered this teaching to students from China and Malaysia via Zoom on June 12, 2022 from Kopan Monastery, Nepal.By taking refuge in the Dharma, we should stop harming sentient beings, Rinpoche reminds us. And more than that, we should benefit them. In fact, the real refuge practice is cherishing sentient beings. If we take care of them the most, if we cherish them the most, that is the best offering to all the Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha. To show respect for everyone is the best practice.Sentient beings are so precious because the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha came from them. Even those who we call enemy, who get angry with us, who harm us with their body, speech, and mind. These people are unbelievably precious because Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha come from them as well. The more we realize the kindness of sentient beings, the more we will dedicate our life to them.Throughout this teaching, Rinpoche also continues to discuss what to abandon and what to practice after having taken refuge in the Sangha.

Rinpoche offered this teaching, recorded on June 11, 2022, at Kopan Monastery in Nepal for a group of students in China and Malaysia. Numberless buddhas of the past, present, and future can see our suffering and that we need happiness, Rinpoche explains. They want to help, they want to guide us. However, from our side, if we don’t rely on them by going for refuge, all of their power together cannot guard us, cannot save us, cannot keep us from the lower realms. Therefore, take refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha so we don’t cheat ourselves. The reason why we have been suffering in samsara from beginningless rebirths is because we haven’t followed the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.Rinpoche discusses what to abandon and what to practice after having taken refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche/having-taken-refuge-what-to-abandon-and-what-to-practice/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues teaching on refuge in this new video. Rinpoche explains how “taking refuge is not only reciting words." He offers the example of a robot, which does not have a mind and which only recites words without feeling. Rinpoche then talks about the many ways we can benefit numberless sentient beings by taking them around holy objects and having holy images and mantras for them to see and so forth. Rinpoche also reviews the different kindnesses of sentient beings. Rinpoche concludes the video, returning to the topic of refuge and explaining what taking refuge is. When you truly go for refuge, you want to be saved because you are afraid of the lower realms and samsara. You also have total faith that the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha can guide you to safety, and you want to rely on them. Read more about his teaching here.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his teachings on refuge from Kopan Monastery in Nepal. In this video Rinpoche reminds us that understanding the topic of refuge is so important because it can take a whole life of studying or even many lifetimes to understand it. Rinpoche offers commentary on Phabongkha Rinpoche’s teachings on refuge from Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand as discussed in “Day Twelve” of this famous twenty-four day teaching on the lamrim. Rinpoche emphasizes that the more you think about other religions, the more you become devoted to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; and if you have two refuges, you lose your refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Rinpoche discusses the disadvantages of the Bön religion in detail and warns that “taking refuge is not only reciting words.” Read more about his teaching here.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues teaching on refuge. Quoting from Lama Seringpa, Rinpoche explains how we should immediately cast away our self-cherishing thought, which creates all our suffering. Then we should immediately cherish others, from whom we received ultimate happiness. We must also understand the three types of suffering--the suffering of pain, the suffering of change, and pervasive compounded suffering--and how we are bound to samsara. Since beginningless rebirths we have been reborn countless times in the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm. “We need to be free from this,” Rinpoche says. Read more about his teaching in our blog here.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues teaching on refuge, emphasizing that refuge is not something simple that you hear and chant. Instead, one has to understand the four noble truths extensively and also understand the qualities of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Rinpoche explains that it is extremely important to understand what ties us to the suffering of samsara. When we fully understand how karma and delusions lead to all suffering, we develop the “upset mind renouncing samsara,” which is so valuable. Read more about his teaching here.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues teaching on refuge, emphasizing how important it is to not belittle the guru with whom you have made a Dharma connection. Quoting the Fifth Dalai Lama, Rinpoche explains that what you see as mistakes by the guru are actually your own mistakes. Instead, you should see all that the guru does as positive. You should also be very careful about from whom you take refuge. Rinpoche illustrates this with cautionary stories and warning about practicing Dogyal. Rinpoche also offers a translation of the Mahayana Sutra Called “Going for Refuge to the Arya Three Rare Sublime Ones.” Read more about his teaching here.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues discussing refuge in this recent teaching, reminding us that there are many ways in which we can help others, even with limited experience with and understanding of the path. For example, we can build holy objects and offer Dharma books and teachings to others, which helps them purify mistakes, create merit, and dispel ignorance. About the benefits of taking ultimate refuge in Buddha, one won’t be reborn in the lower realms and by taking strong refuge in Buddha, one’s heavy negative karmas get purified. And if the merit of taking refuge was materialized, Rinpoche explains, it would not fit in three-thousand-fold galaxies. Read more about his teaching here.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues discussing refuge in this new video, reminding us that we must be careful about the objects in which we take refuge and making the point that it is best to go for refuge to Buddha. When you are dying, in order to not be born in the lower realms, to purify negative karma, to obtain a higher rebirth, Rinpoche says emphatically, "Rely on Buddha!" To free you from samsara, to achieve nirvana, ultimate happiness forever—"Rely on Buddha!" Buddha has all the power and qualities to guide you. Read more about his teaching here: https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche/dont-think-taking-refuge-is-something-easy/