receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
Lama Zopa Rinpoche reading Lekshe Nyingpo while circumambulating the Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya, India, February 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived at Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India on February 2. Ven. Sarah Thresher recently shared some of Rinpoche’s beneficial activities with Mandala:
Much work has been done on improving Rinpoche’s house [at Root Institute]. A library has been constructed on the roof to house the entire Kangyur and Tengyur. It is a beautiful time of year weather wise; the Root Institute gardens are full of flowers, and it is very peaceful at the center and at the Mahabodhi Stupa.
The purpose of Rinpoche’s visit is to do some retreat, but the first week has been spent resting and going to the stupa. Usually, Rinpoche goes to the stupa just before closing time, but that doesn’t seem to bother the guards who pull back the big heavy gates to let Rinpoche and entourage enter. I have seen the soldiers respectfully saluting Rinpoche as he enters and leaves. Following him is a gathering of students, and we always seem to accumulate more.
Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya, India, February 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche has been taking the opportunity to recite Lama Tsongkhapa’s Lekshe Nyingpo (Essence of Eloquence) while doing korwa (circumambulation). He started this last year, but didn’t finish. First we do bodhichitta motivation, then the circumambulation mantras and then we start walking while reciting mantras and prayers, trying to keep mindfulness that the stupa is all the ten directions buddhas and bodhisattvas whose essence is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. When we finish the korwa and leave the stupa, Rinpoche will very respectfully and deliberately offer 10 rupees to each beggar outside on the way to the car. Sometimes they grab at the money, but I’ve also seen them touch Rinpoche’s feet with respect and devotion. It’s obvious to everyone that Rinpoche is a holy being; ordinary actions become extraordinary in his presence.
A few days after arriving, Rinpoche was on the way to the gompa to make offerings to the holy objects when he saw the discussion group from the Introduction to Buddhism course. He asked if anyone had a question and then spent nearly an hour explaining emptiness and the essence of Buddhism.
Three days ago, Rinpoche started teaching on patience. On arrival at Root, he translated a text by the Kadampa masters with simple practical advice on patience. Then he announced he wanted to teach on the text. The gompa is full each day and so far we have not gone beyond an explanation of the Diamond Cutter verse which is in the preliminary prayers to the teaching: “Look at all phenomena like a star, a faulty vision, a butter lamp, etc.” Rinpoche has been using this to teach on emptiness and subtle dependent arising, giving techniques that can be applied continually in everyday life to meditate on emptiness. “We are living a totally false life till we realize emptiness … the whole world is hallucinating,” Rinpoche said. “Your whole day, your whole life is lived in total hallucination. You must know that. You must realize that. Then you can meditate on emptiness.”
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.