Remember the Guru’s Kindness

By Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The following advice was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in response to requests by students to help them understand how best to prolong the life of the guru, and how to avoid obstacles that can cause him sickness and a shortened life. Previously published in Mandala, April 1989.

Most important is to remember with feeling the guru’s kindness and to follow his advice; then to remember one’s mistakes and confess them.

Long-life pujas purify negative karma and accumulate merits (generally speaking life can be lengthened by accumulating merit). But the best kind of long-life puja is not just the ritual but to cherish the advice, with the thought correctly devoting to the virtuous friend, and looking at the guru from one’s own side to be the Buddha and remembering his kindness; feeling regret for not practicing properly in the past and making a decision to practice better in the future: generally speaking, in the ordinary sense, to be a better person.

The heaviest effect on the guru’s life is degenerating or breaking the first root tantric vow, i.e. when belittling the guru (meaning giving him up as an object of respect). Also having anger or heresy to arise in the mind toward the guru, particularly heresy. When there is heresy, the mind is barren like a desert, having no faith and nothing can grow. This can cause the holy mind to be disturbed, like a sadness.

Sometimes there can be students who request secret tantric teachings, and not having devotion can cause the guru (in the context of very secret teachings) to break samaya, because the teacher has difficulty to say no. But if the student has the sincere thought to try to develop and keep the vows, etc. then it’s good, although, of course, it may be difficult to keep all the vows because the student’s mind has not even the realization of impermanence and death!

Harmonious sincerity in obtaining advice can inspire the guru, giving him the interest to have the intention to pray in an attempt to have a longer life, even if from the guru’s side there is not the complete capability to control the elements.

It is important to be aware that the student’s breaking of the root tantric vows, samaya and so forth is also a danger for themselves, resulting in sickness and even their lives to be shortened, not to mention suffering in future lives. But of course, as explained in the teachings, any degeneration or breaking of the three levels of vow can be purified through confession, etc.

So these things can cause the guru to take disease and pass away early; this is a dependent arising. This can happen because of the karma of the group, e.g. [they are] my gurus, they don’t have karma but they can show [the] appearance.

In conclusion, a lot depends on how well the student practices Dharma, how much self-cherishing thought there is which causes harm to oneself and others!

I don’t think the problem has so much to do with the fact that the students don’t know what is the cause of the guru taking disease and passing away early. For some students the cause is not being thoughtful and not taking the opportunity to change the life for the better, i.e. not putting the teachings into practice.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making an offering to a beggar on the way up to Vulture’s Peak, India, March 2014. Photo by Andy Melnic.

The sheer volume of compassionate activity undertaken by Lama Zopa Rinpoche every year, day in and day out, is astounding. The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund was established to enable Rinpoche’s kindness and generosity to flourish around the world.

You can now have all news from this fund delivered to your email inbox. Subscribe here and never miss a thing!

IVY Nyung-Na participants with the beautiful altar set up for this special practice.

One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast visions for the FPMT organization is to sponsor 1,000 Nung-Nä retreats. About this retreat practice Rinpoche commented, “Nyung-Näs take such a short time, but bring strong purification. So many eons can be purified in this life; it makes it so easy to have attainments.”

Nyung-Nä practice is an intensive 2-day purification retreat that includes fasting, precepts, prostrations, prayers, mantra recitation, and offerings. Nyung-Nä is a practice based on the deity, 1,000 armed Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, and is extremely powerful for healing illness, purifying negative karma, and opening the heart to compassion.

1,000 Armed Chenrezig by Peter Iseli

O Arya Compassionate-eyed One
Who is the treasure of compassion
I request you please listen to me.
Please guide myself mothers and fathers
In all six realms to be freed quickly
From the great ocean of samsara.
I request that the vast and profound
Peerless awakening mind may grow.
With the tear of your great compassion
Please cleanse all karmas and delusions.
Please lead with your hand of compassion
Me and migrators to fi elds of bliss.
Please, Amitabha and Chenrezig,
In all my lives be virtuous friends.
Show well the undeceptive pure path
And quickly place us in Buddha’s state.

—- From the Concluding Ceremony, Nyung-Na Practice Manual

Institut Vajra Yogini (IVY) in France is now hosting the third set of 108 Nyung-Näs, with four people trying to do the full 108, some of them being sponsored by Lama Zopa Rinpoche himself through the Bodhichitta Fund. From November through the beginning of March, an amazing 73 participants have accumulated 572 individual Nyung-Näs. This is something incredible in which to rejoice!

You can read commentary from Lama Zopa Rinpoche about this powerful practice courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

FPMT Education Services has published a Nyung Nä practice manual with everything you need to complete this retreat. It can be purchased on the FPMT Foundation Store.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and one of the beautiful Namgyälma boards being used to bless sentient beings in the Pacific Ocean and all who come into contact with it.

In addition to the weekly animal liberations offered by the Sangha at Kachoe Dechen Ling – Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s California residence, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has requested the Sangha to also make weekly trips to the Pacific Ocean in order to bless all the beings living in the ocean, by using large  Namgyälma mantra boards. This practice benefits all sentient beings in the ocean as well as all who touch the ocean, swim in the ocean, surf, etc. The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest ocean (69,375,000 square miles) so by blessing this ocean, the benefit spreads far and wide. As well as blessing the sentient beings in the ocean and those who interact with the ocean, extensive practice involving visualization and mantra recitation is also done in accordance with advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. An excerpt from this beautiful practice, the abbreviated Yeshe Kadra practice:

From the introduction:

Pretas suffer heavily of hunger and thirst – not finding even a drop of water or a spoonful of food for hundreds of thousands of eons; incredible exhaustion; disappointment; heat and cold, etc.  In particular, the pretas experience three types of obscurations: outer, inner, and obscurations related to food and drink. This practice of  “Yeshe Karda” is a practice whereby every single preta, of all the different types of pretas, receives drink.

From the actual practice:

For all pretas, whom the Omniscient Mind sees, this ocean of water appears as nectar. All pretas see it as an ocean of milk; they drink it and are fully satisfied. It liberates them from all sufferings, defilements, and the causes of sufferings – karma and delusions, including the specific sufferings of pretas.  All these are purified and they actualize the whole path to enlightenment.

The practice is dedicated to all beings, especially for the long life of our precious gurus and and with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recommended dedication practices.

Here you can see Rinpoche doing this very practice with Sangha

 About the Namgyälma mantra, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said:

“Namgyälma is one of the five powerful deities that manifested to purify negative karma. The benefits of reciting the five powerful mantras are mind blowing. If you recite the mantras for anyone who has been born in the lower realms, it has the power to liberate them into a pure land and so forth. That’s an incredible thing. The mantra when written can be put on the head of a person or animal who has passed away. Or you can chant this mantra and then blow on water or sand, which you throw over the body to purify. These mantras are very important and powerful in the jangwa prayers.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Sangha and students using the Namgyälma boards to bless all who come into contact with the Pacific Ocean.

“Before reciting the mantra one can do the seven-limb prayer. Then make a request to Namgyalma for oneself and all sentient beings to be completely purified of all negative karmas and all those who are already in the lower realms to be immediately born in the pure land, where they can attain enlightenment, or to receive perfect human rebirth, meet the pure Mahayana teachings and be guided by perfectly qualified Mahayana gurus. Also, all the different negative karmas of sentient beings causing war, earthquakes, famine, disease, etc. to be purified, to not happen again in the future.

“Generate strong compassion. Recite the long mantra several times and then the short mantra. As you recite the mantra, visualize nectar beams are emitted, purifying the negative karmas of every sentient being since beginningless rebirth. They all receive the blessings of Namgyälma.”

Extracted from advice given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche following the tsunami tragedy, Kachoe Dechen Ling, December 28^th 200.

Long Namgyälma Mantra

Further Reading/Resources

• Mandala Publications, “Lama Zopa Rinpoche Blesses All Sentient Beings in the Ocean “
• Practices of Namgyälma hardcopy collection of practices
• Namgyälma Mantra Card
• Namgyälma Mantra Decal Stickers
• Namgyälma Protection Amulet

 You are welcome to contribute any amount to this weekly practice:

DONATE

The children of Central School for Tibetans are offered a good quality vegetarian meal every day for lunch, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, is sponsoring all the midday (lunch) meals for the children of  the Central School for Tibetans in Bylakuppe in South India. The cost for this is US$8,086.61 for the year.

In April 2013 Rinpoche also offered US$30,000 for the complete renovation of this school’s kitchen.

The vegetarian meals are prepared in the new kitchen, also sponsored by the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the school in January of this year for the inauguration of the kitchen. At that time Rinpoche wished to offer more support to the school and pledged to offer lunch for the children for all of 2014. The children are offered a good quality vegetarian lunch that is prepared daily in the new kitchen.

Please rejoice! This offering will allow the school to focus more of their limited resources on the educational curriculum.

You can donate any amount to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund:

DONATE

Dagri Rinpoche offering to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the long life puja. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

Ven. Sarah Thresher provided us with the following report on a beautiful long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India.

Losar started very early morning with Yamantaka and Palden Lhamo prayers before dawn. Dagri Rinpoche stayed over at Root Institute to join Rinpoche for the prayers. Before dawn the monks served early morning Tibetan tea and kapse.

After breakfast people began arriving for the long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested by Dagri Rinpoche and Root Institute. Representatives from various Indian centers and the two Maitreya Projects in Bodhgaya and Kushinagar led Rinpoche into the gompa. Rinpoche went first to offer body, speech and mind to the decorated throne of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and then the throne of Lama Yeshe. This Losar was the 30th anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s passing away.

Dagri Rinpoche and Keutsang Rinpoche both took part in the Losar long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Dagri Rinpoche and Keutsang Rinpoche both took part in the puja along with several rows of monks from Sera Je Monastery. Even though Bodhgaya is not busy now, the gompa was full with people showing up from all over to pray for the guru’s long life. Following the tsog offering, Rinpoche took the microphone and began teaching. First, he explained how important these fifteen days of Losar are, the days that commemorate Buddha displaying miracles to subdue the Tirthika teachers, because at this time merit multiplies many 100 millions of times. Rinpoche commented that for lazy people like himself (!) it was an opportunity to make up for time lost the rest of the year when no practice was done.

Rinpoche then continued with a beautiful talk about the qualities of Lama Yeshe and the importance of the guru. He quoted Padampa Sangye who advised, “Cherish the guru more than the Buddha and realizations will come in this lifetime.” Rinpoche described some of the obvious qualities of Lama Yeshe, his always loving aspect that attracted everyone to him, his humility, his wisdom, and Rinpoche explained that Lama was known by all to be a great scholar. Rinpoche then mentioned that Lama Yeshe was also a great yogi who had the tantric realizations of clear light and illusory body but that he hid these profound practices by meditating while lying down during his regular afternoon “nap.” Rinpoche said that whatever benefit the FPMT had been able to offer and however much we ourselves had been able to learn and practice, it was all due to Lama Yeshe’s kindness because it was Lama who set up the organization.

Then Rinpoche praised the director of Root Institute, Ven. Trisha, for her devotion to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha and compassion, which meant the center was harmonious and able to benefit sentient beings greatly.

Following the puja, lunch was offered on the lawn and the three lamas sat outside for a long leisurely lunch discussing Dharma.

Please rejoice that another sincere request for Rinpoche’s long life has been made on behalf of FPMT.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering puja.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, recently offered US$3,469 to the FPMT Puja Fund to support the ongoing amazing array of pujas and activities that are continuously offered and dedicated for the success of FPMT, the health and long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, as well as all FPMT students, benefactors, and to all beings.

The extensive range of practices and pujas that are offered in India, Nepal and around the world through the Puja Fund is astounding. As Charitable Projects Coordinator, Ven. Holly Ansett, commented, “It is like Rinpoche has taken on the personal responsibility to care for all the main holy objects in the world on behalf of FPMT.”

Supporting the Puja Fund is a high priority for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and he personally donated $65,000 to this project in 2013.

Rinpoche often mentions that much of the success of FPMT is due to the pujas that are happening all the time.

Every month the Puja Fund sponsors the offering of gold and robes to the most holy Jowo Buddha Statue in Tibet.

For example, the following are offered through the Puja Fund:

• Annual 100,000 Tsog Offerings to Padmasambhava
• Annual recitation of 100,000 Praises to the 21 Taras
• Annual recitation of the Kangyur
• Monthly extensive Medicine Buddha Puja
• Monthly Extensive Hayagriva Puja
• Monthly offerings to the Bouddhanath and Swayambhunath stupas
• Monthly offering of robes and gold to the Buddha statues in Tibet and Bodhgaya
• Incredible array of pujas and offerings during the 15 days of Losar
• Incredible array of pujas and offerings during the month of Saka Dawa
• Incredible array of pujas and offerings during Chokhor Duchen
• Incredible array of pujas and offerings during Lha Bab Duchen

 Please consider joining with Rinpoche in supporting The Puja Fund:

DONATE

The nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal, are sponsored to complete two 100 Million Mani Retreats each year through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.

Every year since 2009, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has sponsored the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery to complete one and now two 100 Million Mani Retreat (100 million recitations of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM). This is offered through the kindness of a benefactor and the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund. To date the following has been sponsored:

• 2009: One retreat was sponsored during Saka Dawa
• 2010: One retreat was sponsored during Saka Dawa
• 2011: One retreat was sponsored during Saka Dawa
• 2012: Two retreats were sponsored over Saka Dawa
• 2013: Two retreats were sponsored beginning on Lama Tsongkhapa Day

In addition to the 100 Million Mani Retreats taking place over the next six months, the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund is offering all the cost of food to all the nuns for this period as well as the cost of a very qualified geshe to stay during the retreat in order to give lam-rim teachings. This is very important for the nuns’ studies. The retreat lasts three months and about seventy nuns participate. Each nun doing the recitations receives a small offering and the nunnery also receives an offering. This is the main means of support for the nuns and the nunnery.

The nunnery has also managed to save a little from the last five years of offerings to rebuild the nunnery kitchen. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote a letter to the nuns encouraging them in their efforts and explaining why these retreats and their other Dharma practices are so imperative and beneficial.

“My concern is that the Dharma knowledge alone and experience to tame the mind does not produce a good heart. One does not get realizations of paths and grounds that is needed through meditating on the path along with collecting merits and purification of obscurations. Even if one does get a little education and then leaves the nunnery, then goes on to work for money. Then one gives up the ethics of the individual liberation vow that leads one to the state of liberation. I hope it won’t happen like that….

“Since the start of reciting 100 million mani mantras, because of this all the surrounding areas will have rain on time and good harvests. It happens just like the story of the four harmonious friends. This is the sign that you all did good practice by reciting the 100 million mani mantras. And also it is the blessing of Arya Avalokiteshvara [In Tibetan: Chenrezig]….

 You are welcome to contribute to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Fund which supports these yearly retreats.

DONATE

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making offerings for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life at the conclusion of this year’s Jangchub Lam-Rim teaching event at Sera Je Monastery.

FPMT had the incredible fortunate to make offerings for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the conclusion of this year’s Jangchub Lam-Rim teaching event at Sera Je Monastery. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was present and offered a giant silver Dharmachakra, a beautiful White Tara thangka made of pearls, and over US$20,000 on behalf of all FPMT centers, projects and services.

Each year FPMT is committed to arrange or be an official benefactor for His Holiness’ long life puja. Over twenty years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested for this to happen annually. Please rejoice!

Lama Zopa Rnpoche with the exquisite long life thangka made with pearls which offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Tremendous thanks to everyone who contributed to this wonderful long life offering. You can donate anytime to the Long Life Puja Fund for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

DONATE

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the children from the Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Sera Monastery, India, January 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

In January, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave many oral transmissions and teachings to school children from the Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Ladakh, India. The school was set up by the monks of Ngari Khangtsen at Sera Je Monastery in South India. The children were brought to Sera Je for the recent Jangchup Lamrim teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  

Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, is offering food to all the children (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) this year. The cost is 10,000,000 rs ( US$15,873). This is the second year that Rinpoche has been able to make this offering.

The  children at the Ngari Institute are orphans or have come from very poor families. They follow the standard government educational curriculum during the day and learn about Tibetan Buddhism and culture during after-school hours.

Rinpoche’s assistant Ven. Roger Kunsang reported that the children have memorized many prayers and Lama Chöpa and “they know all the tunes!” (See video below.)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessing a giant Padmasambhava thangka, Sera Monastery, India, December 29, 2013. Photo copyright Rio Helmi/Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche greeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo copyright Rio Helmi/Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee.

During the recent Jangchub Lamrim teachings at Sera Monastery, His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed a giant Padmasambhava thangka which was sponsored by the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.

The impressive thangka, which with its brocade board measures 90-feet (27-meters) wide by 70-feet (23-meters) high, took two years to make and was completed in 2013. It is for the Guru Rinpoche Bum Tsog (100,000 tsog offerings) in Nepal.

You are welcome to donate any amount to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund:

DONATE

Dagri Rinpoche making offerings to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, September 2013.

Following the long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, CA, USA, on September 29, 2013, Rinpoche offered US$12,106, toward the completion of two stupas being build in California.

 US$6,053 was offered to the Stupa to Minimize Harm, a stupa to minimize harm caused by possibly earthquakes on the coast of California, and US$6,053 was offered to a new stupa being built at Land of Medicine Buddha.

If you build stupas or statues to inspire people, without even teaching Dharma, for however many hundreds and billions of years the holy object lasts, it continues to liberate many sentient beings every day, freeing them from the lower realms, causing them to actualize the path liberating them from samsara and bringing them to enlightenment. Even if after you die you are in another universe, in the hell realms or a pure land, wherever you are the stupa or statue that you built is continually benefiting sentient beings. It is incredible how you can continually benefit sentient beings by having built a stupa.

—Lama Zopa Rinpoche