Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice

Lama Zopa Rinpoche listening to a question during CPMT 2014, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion during the morning tea break on the second day (September 14) of the CPMT 2014 meeting, currently being held at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Australia. After tea, Rinpoche joined a small group discussion on the proposed idea for an international FPMT Advisory Council. After lunch Rinpoche attended the presentation on FPMT Education Programs and participated in a small group discussion on the topic. Rinpoche then had an open question and answer session with participants.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche following the path from the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion to Thubten Shedrup Ling, Victoria, Australia, September 14, 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.

For more on CPMT 2014, visit Mandala’s blog.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director 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 turning the prayer wheels outside the Great Stupa at dusk, Australia, September 12, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived at Thubten Shedrup Ling, next to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, on Thursday night, September 11. Rinpoche is attending the five-day CPMT meeting and leading the month-long Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa retreat, September 25-October 23, at the Great Stupa.

Rinpoche’s opening talk at the CPMT meeting on Saturday, September 13, at 10:15 a.m. AEST will be streamed live. (Click here for time zone conversions). For up-to-date information on CPMT webcasts of Rinpoche, visit the CPMT Livestream page.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche circumambulating the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 12, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

On Friday, September 12, Rinpoche circumambulated the Great Stupa and turned the newly installed prayer wheels on the outside of the building. Rinpoche then gave an impromptu teaching on the proper visualization one should do while spinning the wheels. 

For more on the CPMT meeting, including updates and photos, visit Mandala‘s blog.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director 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, Washington, US, April 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

“If we generate compassion, we become a friend to everybody and everyone becomes our friend. With this positive attitude, compassion, toward everyone, others also become friendly toward us so we receive no harm from them, only benefit, only help. This way, there’s success in our life. …

“… Each of us here is completely responsible for everybody’s happiness, for every sentient being’s happiness. Not only human beings, not only that, but for all the rest of the sentient beings. Each insect we see on the road, each fly, each bird, each dog, each worm we see on the ground, we are responsible. Each of us here is responsible for the happiness of every single sentient being that we see around us in everyday life, starting from that to all the rest of the sentient beings. So, if we don’t practice compassion, if we only follow the ego, the self-cherishing thought, there is danger to others, starting from the family, starting from the people nearest us to all the rest of the sentient beings. They receive harm from us, directly or indirectly, from life to life.”

Excerpted from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings at the 24th Kopan lam-rim course in Nepal, 1991. These teachings are included in the ebook Practicing the Unmistaken Path: Lam-rim Teachings from Kopan 1991, due out in November from Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

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.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving teachings to Sangha and lay students at Chenrezig Institute, Eudlo, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given much advice to Sangha, which you can find in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book. Here’s an excerpt of Rinpoche’s advice on living as a monk, given several years ago in Bodhgaya:

“Morality is the road to liberation from samsara. With morality, it’s easy. Without morality, life creates obstacles for realizations, and then it creates sufferings. It destroys realizations and causes rebirths in lower realms.

“People are looking for happiness, but the method is important. Hunting and killing animals is creating suffering. Other people commit suicide; they kill themselves while they are looking for happiness. The aim for everyone is reaching happiness.

“Maybe it’s not possible to do it every day, but at least once a week or every two or four days we should go over the sutra looking at the benefits of the vows. This is fuel and gives us energy. It is very important. It makes the mind strong, directs the mind to be strong, and strengthens the mind of renunciation. …”

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.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the children of Chenrezig Institute releasing butterflies during the 40th anniversary celebration, Eudlo, Queensland, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche celebrated Chenrezig Institute’s 40th anniversary on Saturday, September 6, 2014. Rinpoche has been staying at the FPMT center in Eudlo, Queensland, Australia, where he gave a public talk in conjunction with the celebration. 

Chenrezig Institute shared on their Facebook page: “Wow, wow, wow! Amazing, amazing, amazing! Unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable! What a great day we all had at the 40th anniversary of Chenrezig Institute. Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the Garden of Enlightenment and led a group of kids in prayers and in releasing a group of happy butterflies (I assume they were happy…), then he spontaneously broke into a long talk about the benefits of stupas and to top it up he gave a four-hour teaching at the gompa. …”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Geshe Jamyang and Geshe Phuntsok (resident geshe at Chenrezig Institute) next to a poster of Lama Yeshe during Chenrezig Institute’s 40th anniversary celebration, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

September 7-9, Rinpoche gave a Great Chenrezig initiation at Chenrezig Institute. Rinpoche travels next to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Atisha Centre and Thubten Shedrup Ling, all located outside of Bendigo, Victoria. Rinpoche will be there for the CPMT meeting, September 13-19, which is followed by a public talk on September 20 and the month-long Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa retreat, September 25-October 23.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s opening and closing talks at CPMT 2014 will be live streamed as well as his public talk on September 20 and the retreat at the Great Stupa. 

Visit Mandala‘s blog for news and updates from the CPMT meeting.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director 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 teaching at the 100 Million Mani Retreat in Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, August 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

“Lama Zopa: If you are wise, practice rejoicing in others’ and one’s own good karma. Feel a sense of joy in others’ good deeds and actions.”

– From Ven. Roger Kunsang’s Twitter page, posted on August 30, 2014

Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc., shares Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pith sayings on Ven. Roger’s Twitter page. (You can also read them on Ven. Roger’s Facebook page.)

More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s homepage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived in Australia this week. Rinpoche is at Chenrezig Institute in Queensland, giving a public teaching on September 6 and offering a Great Chenrezig initiation on September 7-9.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arriving at Chenrezig Institute, Eudlo, Queensland, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Rinpoche travels to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion near Bendigo, Victoria, for the CPMT meeting, September 13-19. Afterwards, Rinpoche remains at the Great Stupa for a public talk on September 20 and the month-long Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa retreat, September 25-October 23.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s opening and closing talks at CPMT 2014 will be live streamed as well as his public talk on September 20 and the retreat at the Great Stupa. 

Visit Mandala‘s blog for news and updates from the CPMT meeting.

More information, photos, schedule 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 at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, UK, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

 “People use the word ‘happy’ a lot, but what they think is happiness is not real happiness, it is suffering. Therefore, I mentioned that the best happy life, living with compassion, has great meaning. With compassion you can really have a happy life. Happiness can be on different levels. If sentient beings have compassion then they are able to achieve enlightenment and liberate sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric sufferings.”

— Lama Zopa Rinpoche, from the page “Compassion Quotes” on 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.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the 100 Million Mani retreat, Idgaa Choizinling Dratsang, Ganden Monastery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, August 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived in Mongolia earlier this week for the 100 Million Mani retreat organized by FPMT Mongolia. The retreat, which is being held at Idgaa Choizinling Dratsang, Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, began on August 17 and runs through September 18. This is the second year of the retreat. Rinpoche is teaching at the retreat August 27-September 1. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at the 100 Million Mani retreat, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, August 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Last year several hundred Mongolians and about 70 non-Mongolians attended the retreat, which was regarded as a complete success. A total of 108,939,500 mani mantras were recited. Rinpoche appeared very pleased with the retreat and requested that it be done every year.

Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, August 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

FPMT Mongolia has several centers and activities in Mongolia, including Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, the center located in central Ulaanbaatar, and Golden Light Sutra Center in Darkhan. FPMT Mongolia also oversees Drolma Ling Nunnery in Ulaanbaatar and several other socially focused programs.

You can find more stories and photos from the 100 Million Mani Retreat in Mongolia and on FPMT Mongolia on Mandala.

Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT activities, teachers and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Geshe Tashi, resident geshe at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, visiting the the Tibetan Peace Garden next to the Imperial War Museum in London, UK, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered much advice on creating peace in the world. You can find much of this advice posted on the “Lama Zopa Rinpoche Advice” page on fpmt.org. 

Rinpoche encourages students to recite the Golden Light Sutra to help create the causes of peace. Of its benefits, Rinpoche said, ”The holy Golden Light Sutra is the king of the sutras. It is extremely powerful and fulfills all one’s wishes, as well as bringing peace and happiness for all sentient beings, up to enlightenment. It is also extremely powerful for world peace, for your own protection and for the protection of the country and the world. Also, it has great healing power for people in the country.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director 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 at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, April 2014. Photo Ven. Roger Kunsang.

“When you have in mind the thought that death can come today, if something suddenly happens, it is not a shock,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche instructs in his book Bodhisattva Attitude: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others. “It is not a shock at all because your mind is prepared. You have already trained your mind by thinking very strongly about death first thing every morning and keeping that awareness throughout the day. That helps you to be at peace and not have fear when you face a life-threatening problem or something similar.

“If your mind has not become Dharma because you haven’t trained in the thought of impermanence but instead have always thought, ‘I am going to live for a long time,’ and done all your activities with attachment to this life, then if something opposite to that suddenly happens and the reality of life – its impermanence – is shown, all of a sudden, while you are planning billions of things, you get an incredible shock.

“You may know Buddhism and have memorized the hundred volumes of the Buddha’s teachings (Kangyur) and the two hun­dred volumes of commentaries (Tengyur) and be able to explain and recite them by heart, but your mind has not thought about impermanence. You may know by heart all the root texts, the five great treatises, along with the tantric texts and commentar­ies and be able to explain them, but your mind has not thought of impermanence. Because you have been living your life with the concept of permanence, the day something happens and the reality of life is shown, it is a shock and there is incredible fear. Suddenly you see that you don’t want to die. It is not that you don’t want to die because you want to benefit sentient beings. I am not talking about that. You don’t want to die for fear of what will happen after death. You don’t want to die because of fear. You don’t want to lose this body. You don’t want to lose your possessions, property, belongings or family. Your mind is clinging to these things and because of that, there is great fear.

“Meditating on impermanence is the very beginning of Dharma, but look what happens if this meditation is left out or if you thought it wasn’t important because emptiness, shunyata or some tantric meditation was more important.”

You can read more from the chapter “The Teachings: Cutting the Concept of Permanence” from the book Bodhisattva Attitude: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and published by 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.