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Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his video teachings from Kopan Monastery in Nepal during the coronavirus pandemic. Here is a summary of the most recent teaching:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche taking precepts from the altar before giving precepts, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 25, 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In this teaching, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offers the eight Mahayana precepts. Rinpoche has given special permission for anyone who wishes to do so to receive the lineage of these 24-hour vows and practice from the video. Rinpoche is offering these vows, in particular, so we have an opportunity to take them for those who have died from COVID-19.
To receive the lineage, it is necessary to actually take the precepts. If you do watch this video to receive the lineage, you also must live in the vows for 24 hours. Students are also welcome to watch the video for the teaching, and then opt to take the precepts and receive the lineage another time.
The eight Mahayana precepts are taken from early morning until sunrise the next day. Therefore, when you are ready to take them, wake up early and before dawn, watch Rinpoche take the precepts from the altar (at 19 seconds into video), and do the section of Preliminary Prayers in the Ritual for Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts. Then, listen to the video or audio recording of the section Actual Ritual (at 1:28:48 in this video), and as Lama Zopa Rinpoche recites the following prayers, repeat the words after him:
- Prayer for Taking the Precepts
- Commitment Prayer to Keep the Precepts
- Mantra of Pure Morality
- Prayer to Keep Pure Morality
The eight Mahayana precepts are:
- To not kill any sentient being, even an insect.
- To not steal, that is, to not take what has not been given.
- To not engage in sexual activity.
- To not tell lies.
- To not take intoxicants, including alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
- To not eat food at the wrong time, that is, after noon.
- To not sit on large and high seats and beds.
- To not wear perfume, garlands, and ornaments, and to not sing, dance, and so forth.
Taking these precepts from Lama Zopa Rinpoche establishes a guru-disciple relationship, so one should feel confident they are prepared and confident to make this commitment.
Taking the eight Mahayana precepts on the upcoming Buddha multiplying day, Saka Dawa, is a very auspicious, and you are also welcome to take it anytime.
Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teaching “Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts in Particular for Those Who Died from the Coronavirus”:
https://youtu.be/3p-_N1zJIjw
- Read the transcript of Rinpoche’s teaching “Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts in Particular for Those Who Died from the Coronavirus.”
- Ritual for Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts
- Dedication verses for COVID-19 Crisis Teachings
Find more advice and video teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche from Kopan Monastery during the COVID-19 crisis and also links to videos in translation, transcripts, MP3s, and more:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche-for-coronavirus/
Practice advice from our teachers, Dharma study-from-home opportunities, and more can be found on the page “Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic.”
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.