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Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the path between the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion and Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery, Australia, October 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“When Gelek Rinpoche was living in Delhi, he mentioned during teachings that the poor laborers working outside under the hot sun building roads or doing construction work look up through the windows of the large houses and see the air conditioning and fans,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche shared in Bodhisattva Attitude. “For them it seems like heaven and they think, ‘Those people have so much comfort and pleasure! How wonderful their lives are! They have no problems, only happiness!’ At the same time, the wealthy people living in the houses look down at the laborers and think, ‘Those people working on the road have such a good, simple life with no heavy responsibilities or problems!’ They are attracted to the poor people’s lives because they have so many business and relationship problems and a lot of worry and fear.”
“In a similar way, Kyabje Chöden Rinpoche explained that the mental suffering of the devas is heavier than the physical suffering of animals.
“Numberless times we have been born and suffered like this in samsara due to ignorance, looking at the aggregates as being the I, the self, when in reality there is no I or self. This is the main wrong concept and from that come three others. …”
From Chapter 6, “Four Wrong Concepts,” of Bodhisattva Attitude: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, edited by Ven. Sarah Thresher and published by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Learn more about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s webpage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing the Green Tara statue in Atisha Centre’s gompa, Bendigo, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
“It is said that there will come a time soon when there will no more qualified teachers to guide us. The teachings will still exist in books, and perhaps our wish to progress on the path will be there, but we will be without guides. And without somebody to lead us to enlightenment it will be impossible because the most subtle subjects can only really be understood, and more importantly realized, by taking guidance from a fully qualified teacher,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches in the first chapter of Perfect Human Rebirth: Freedom and Richness on the Path to Enlightenment.
“Therefore, we must generate the determination to make the most of every moment. At this time, with this body and mind, in this environment, we have a unique and precious opportunity to understand the teachings of the Buddha and to generate the realizations of the path to enlightenment. If we attempt it, there is nothing we cannot do. We need to see this. We need to understand how limitless our potential is and not block our precious chance with delusions of incapability. ‘I can’t do it! I’m hopeless.’
“It is time to have big thoughts – huge thoughts! It is time to make vast plans, to lay out the immense project ahead of us and feel so happy that we can achieve our goal to develop ourselves to our ultimate potential. We have perfect role models in the Buddha and the numberless great yogis who followed him, as well as the precious lamas we have the fortune to be able to take teachings and gain inspiration from, and we have the understanding that we have exactly the same potential as they do. Shakyamuni was exactly like us once; His Holiness the Dalai Lama was exactly like us once. In turn, we can be exactly like them. All the conditions are there. What it needs now is our determination.”
From Chapter 1, “What is Dharma?” in Perfect Human Rebirth: Freedom and Richness on the Path to Enlightenment by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, edited by Gordon McDougall and published by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during public talk at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 20, 2014. Photo by Kunchok Gyaltsen.
A hard life is very good for learning, it is a teaching, it shows the nature of suffering. Look at it that way, as a teaching, to give you inspiration, liberate you, and free you from samsara. Seeing sentient beings’ sufferings and from that developing compassion leads to bodhichitta and the Mahayana path, which eliminates all the gross and subtle defilements and causes you to achieve enlightenment. Then you can enlighten all sentient beings. These benefits come when you experience hardships or a hard life. So, if you can, think like this.
– Lama Zopa Rinpoche, from the page on “Various Transitions” in “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book,” part of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Learn more about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s webpage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
You can download this PDF practice from free from the FPMT Foundation Store.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Sangpo visiting a park in Bendigo, Australia, October 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
From Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s “Compassion Is of the Upmost Need”:
A Kadampa geshe said, “Holy beings of the land of Dzambu (this world) respond to harm with good actions.”
When ordinary people are harmed they retaliate with harm. Holy beings repay harm with positive actions. Whoever sees the enemy as the virtuous friend is happy wherever that person is.
The great Indian scholar bodhisattva Shantideva said in the first chapter of his Bodhicaryavatara:
“I bow down to the body of him in whom the sacred precious mind is born.
I seek refuge in that source of joy, who brings to happiness even those who harm him.”
A free PDF download of “Compassion Is of the Upmost Need,” Rinpoche’s 10 quotes on compassion, is available from the Foundation Store in letter and A4 formats.
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting the relics in the exhibition center at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion’s, Bendigo, Australia, October 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“The terms ‘renouncing this life’ or ‘renouncing suffering’ both mean renouncing the mind that is the cause of the problems, the thought of the eight worldly dharmas. Therefore ‘Dharma’ includes even pragmatic, transient techniques to stop attachment from arising. This is the actual Dharma, the method that immediately solves our confusion and mental illness. Bringing clarity and lack of confusion to our mind is the best way of bringing happiness to our life. Renouncing suffering doesn’t mean we’ll never have stomach or knee pain, a headache or a cold. It doesn’t mean wishing to be free of all pain but wishing to be free from the very cause of all suffering,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches in How to Practice Dharma: Teachings on the Eight Worldly Dharmas, published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
“It has been the experience of these great yogis that we don’t have to wait until our future lives to experience this happiness. As soon as we stop the dissatisfied mind, immediately – immediately – there’s the result, happiness.
“At first we might be nervous about letting go of desire because we normally equate desire with happiness. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. As soon as we let go of desire we achieve inner peace, satisfaction and happiness; we become independent. Before, we were dictated to and controlled by desire but now we have achieved real freedom.
“We can see in the biographies of the great yogis Tilopa, Marpa, Milarepa, Lama Tsongkhapa and many of those other highly realized beings whose holy minds passed into enlightenment how, even without material possessions, they generated great tranquility and peace and through that were able to realize the great achievements of the path. They didn’t have even the scent of the eight worldly dharmas about them but by completely renouncing desire for this life, they received everything – the best reputation, perfect surroundings and sufficient material comfort.
“In Milarepa’s Hundred Thousand Songs he often says how renouncing this life’s worldly activities automatically stops all the thousands of problems associated with the worldly life and brings great bliss. Without any possessions at all, he led an ascetic life in solitary places. Although he lived like an animal, he spent his life in great happiness, his mind always peaceful, without confusion or problems. He didn’t have even one sack of tsampa but lived on nettles alone. Living without food, clothing or reputation didn’t cause him any problems because of his Dharma practice. He achieved all the high realizations and then enlightenment in that one lifetime, all due to the power of his pure Dharma practice of renouncing suffering, renouncing this life. His mind was incomparably happier than that of the king who has great power and many bodyguards, soldiers and weapons.
“Therefore, it’s completely wrong to think that Dharma only brings happiness in future lifetimes but not in this one. We experience peace and happiness the very moment we begin to practice and live in the Dharma. We feel its effects immediately.”
From How to Practice Dharma: Teachings on the Eight Worldly Dharmas, pp. 144-5, edited by Gordon Gordon McDougall and published by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Learn more about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s webpage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Gun Cissé and Erika Banszky presenting their Facilitator Training presentation. Foundation Service Seminar, Jamyang Buddhist Centre London, October 2013. Photo by Violette Pliot.
From January 23-28, 2015, Land of Medicine Buddha, located in Soquel, CA, will host a Foundation Service Seminar.
FPMT service seminars provide support and training to those offering service within FPMT centers, services, and projects. The seminars help develop a shared understanding of the FPMT mission set out by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and a firm basis to serve effectively and joyfully within the organization.
This seminar will explore our relationship to resources – both material and human; communication skills and conflict resolution; teaching according to the level of the student; ways to maintain and develop one’s personal practice in the midst of service, and methods to prevent and cure burnout. “Service” will be discussed in terms of guru devotion, karma, compassion, and emptiness, and how to draw strength, inspiration, wisdom, and guidance from these practices.
The seminar uses the Inner Job Description, a tool for developing what Lama Zopa Rinpoche calls the “inner professional” (read a teaching on the inner professional), and integrate the Dharma into our daily lives. The training includes group discussion and sharing of experiences, and includes daily meditations as well as group practice as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
To learn more about this training opportunity, please visit Land of Medicine Buddha’s website.
You can learn more about FPMT Service Seminars including Inner Job Description Service Seminar, Rituals Service Seminar, Spiritual Program Coordinator Service Seminar and 16 Guidelines Training Programs.
Lama Yeshe wearing a ceremonial crown of the five dhyani buddhas for the Tara statue procession, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 1976. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (lamayeshe.com).
Share your love, your wisdom, and your wealth, and serve other beings as much as possible. Live in harmony with one another and be an example of peace, love, compassion, and wisdom. Try to be happy in your practice, to be satisfied with your life. Be reasonable in the way you grow, and don’t ever think that it is too late.
And don’t be afraid of death.
Even if you are going to die tomorrow, at least for today keep yourself straight and clean-clear, and be a happy human being.
– Lama Yeshe, from When the Chocolate Runs Out, published by Wisdom Publications
Lama Yeshe was the founder of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ian Green discussing the art and decorations for the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo, Australia, October 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered this advice to students on the benefits of building a stupa:
“By building a stupa, without words we are continually liberating so many sentient beings. Every day, the stupa plants the seed of enlightenment and purifies anybody who sees, touches, remembers, talks or dreams about the stupa. This includes insects that touch the stupa. The stupa is meaningful to behold, and it liberates many sentient beings, insects and humans, every day.
“When the wind touches a stupa—especially if it has the four dharmakaya relics inside—the wind becomes blessed. Then, wherever the wind goes and whoever it touches, it liberates them from the lower realms, by purifying their negative karma. When rain falls on the stupa, that water liberates any being it touches—all the worms in the ground etc, are liberated from the lower realms. It is similar with dust.
“We can build stupas to inspire people without even teaching Dharma. 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. After we die, even if we are in another universe, in the hell realms or a pure land, wherever we are, the stupa that we built or helped to build, is continually benefiting sentient beings. It is incredible how we can continually benefit sentient beings by building a stupa.
“From the Flower Garland Sutra:
Whatever one offers [to a stupa], whether it is tiny or big, it causes happiness from beginningless rebirth up to now.
“This refers to temporary happiness and on top of that the cause of ultimate happiness—liberation from suffering and causes of suffering, and full enlightenment, for the sake of all sentient beings. Then we are able to liberate numberless sentient beings from suffering and bring them to enlightenment, so of course this includes achieving worldly people’s small happiness; it is all contained here.
“These are some of the benefits we get by helping to build this stupa.”
From the page on “Stupas” in “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book,” part of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Light offerings projected on to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, October 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing Dzambhala practice, Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
FPMT Education Services is pleased to announce the release of The Method of Water Charity which is a compilation by Lama Zopa Rinpoche containing many valuable practices including “Water Offering to Dzambhala,” “Water Charity to Preta Beings,” “The Dharani of Swallowing Obstacles,” and “The Dharani Protecting the Preta Beings with Fire Blazing Out of Their Mouths.”
This collection is available from the FPMT Foundation Store as a downloadable PDF.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during retreat at Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, October 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
From September 26- October 10, 2014, Lama Zopa Rinpoche conferred an extremely rare lung (oral transmission) of the 21-chapter version of the Golden Light Sutra at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Australia to 250 people as part of the month-long Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa retreat.
Rinpoche permitted watching the video as an authentic reception of the transmission. By having received an oral transmission of the sutra, it becomes more powerful when you recite it. You can watch the video recordings of the oral transmission of the Golden Light Sutra, and receive the lung yourself, on FPMT’s Livestream page.
FPMT Education Services has put together a resource page, including access to the sutra in 14 different languages. This resource page also provides information on how to report and dedicate recitations.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught extensively on the benefits of the Golden Light Sutra. During the oral transmission Rinpoche said, “You are taking care of your life – present and future up to enlightenment –by reading the Golden Light Sutra. The whole world benefits.”
When Rinpoche first read this precious sutra, he made a vow to spread it around the world. The sutra has now been recited by FPMT students in 74 countries. Please rejoice!
Recording of all the daily sessions with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the retreat in Australia can be watched on the FPMT Livestream page. Audio MP3 recordings of the retreat sessions with Rinpoche are available for download with translation into French, Italian and Spanish.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche having tea with International Office staff, June 2012. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
FPMT Education Services is happy to announce the release of a newly available drink offering practice, The Words of Requesting and Offering to One’s Own Kind Root Guru (Garsha Drink Offering) available as a free PDF download from the FPMT Foundation Store.
This drink offering practice can be used when offering any drink such as chai, tea, coffee, juice, chang, etc. The first verse was composed by Kachen Yeshe Gyältsen and translated and amended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who felt that taking the Kachen Yeshe Gyältsen verses of offering to the Buddha and applying it to one’s own Guru and praising in that way would be beneficial for one’s mind. The second and third verses were composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.