Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Thubten Tendar looking at The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, March 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche begins a third week of teachings at The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia, for the six-week long Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa Retreat. During the first two weeks of the retreat, Rinpoche’s teachings, more than two dozen, have been streamed live online. In addition, recordings of the teachings can be watched online.

Rinpoche so far has spent a lot of time giving instructions on how to do prayers and practices, such as Lama Chöpa; on generating correct motivation; on guru devotion; and on other topics.

Nuns doing bath offering during Lama Chöpa Jorcho, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, April 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Retreat participants listening to teaching, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, April 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The retreat is being held in the large gompa inside of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion. Ven. Holly Ansett shared that it is a very good setting for the retreat, that everything has been well arranged, and that retreat organizers have thought of everything. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Geshe Tenzin Zopa, Bendigo, Australia, April 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The retreat is well attended, with many Sangha and long-time senior students there. Geshe Thubten Rapten, resident geshe at the nearby Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery, attends many of the sessions with Rinpoche and teaches some of the afternoon sessions. Geshe Tenzin Zopa is attending the entire retreat. Michael Losang Yeshe is serving as the retreat leader. Approximately 180 people attended the first week. 

Walking to The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion from Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia, April 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Rinpoche is staying at Thubten Shedrup Ling, which is adjacent to The Great Stupa, and walks from there to give teachings. On the walks, Rinpoche is very careful not to step on any ants on the path and reminds others to do the same. 

On one day, Rinpoche received a tour of The Great Stupa, including visiting the top of the stupa.

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, April 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Rinpoche also visited Atisha Centre, which is next to The Great Stupa. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche being greeted by current Atisha Centre director Ruby Karmay and former director Liam Chambers, during Rinpoche’s visit to the center’s courtyard, Australia, April 2018. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Rinpoche looking at a banner of Amoghapasha during visit to Atisha Centre, Australia, April 2018. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche teach during the Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa Retreat at The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia, March 30-May 12, 2018.

• Find links to watch teachings LIVE:
  https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
• Watch, read, and listen to all of Rinpoche’s teachings from Bendigo at anytime: 
  https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/

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.