Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice

Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving the preliminary teaching before the long life initiation during the CPMT 2014 meeting, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 17, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave an exhilarating teaching on the merely labeled ‘I’ and emptiness during the preliminary teachings for the Amitayus long life initiation given during the CPMT 2014 meeting in Australia. A recording of the teaching is now available on the CPMT livestream page.

Rinpoche will be webcast live giving the concluding talk and dedication of the CPMT 2014 meeting on Thursday, September 18, at 4 p.m. AEST (UTC+10). 

Here’s an excerpt from a long letter Rinpoche dictated to Ven. Holly Ansett in 2008, published on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, with extensive advice on emptiness and the merely imputed ‘I’.  Rinpoche advised:

“… The I, or the self, action and object are dependent arisings. The I exists being imputed in dependence upon its base, the aggregates. Here aggregates refers to form, feeling, recognition, compounded aggregates and consciousness. The I exists in dependence upon the aggregates; the I is merely imputed to the base, the aggregates, which exist in mere name. So, the I is empty of existing from its own side, empty of existing by its nature; it does not exist inherently.

“It is the same with any action. How an action actually exists is as a dependent arising. It is not independent, but a dependent arising. ‘Action’ is labeled on what the body, speech or mind does. It exists, but dependently. Any action, no matter what name it is given, is merely imputed by the mind. It is not independent, but a dependent arising. Action does not exist from its own side; it does not exist by its nature; it does not exist inherently, or truly.

“It is the same with any object. In dependence upon the base and the thought, something is labeled ‘object.’ The object came from the mind, not from the base. You could say that it exists from the side of the mind, or in dependence upon the mind, which imputes, or designates, it. But it also exists in relation to its base. So, it is the same with an object: it does not exist from its own side.

“Therefore, I, action and object are all totally empty. They are not nonexistent, which is nihilism, but they do not exist from their own side. They do exist from the side of the mind in relation to the base, but they do not exist from their own side. Therefore, they are totally empty from their own side. This is the same with all the rest of phenomena. Nothing exists from its own side. While they exist, all phenomena are totally empty of existing from their own side. They exist in mere name and function in mere name, but that doesn’t mean that they are nonexistent.

“This is a very subtle explanation of how the I, action, object and all other phenomena exist. It can be explained in a gross way, but here this is an extremely subtle explanation. Phenomena exist in mere name, being merely imputed by the mind. Here one needs to study and one needs to analyze, which means really check how things exist. …”

The complete advice “The Merely Imputed I” is part of “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book” on the website of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Mandala will be covering the CPMT meeting with daily updates and new photos. 

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 leaving the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion after the morning motivation, Victoria, Australia, September 16, 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.

The video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s morning motivation for Day 4 of CPMT 2014 meeting, September 16, is now available to watch online. Rinpoche has been attending many of the session of the CPMT 2014 meeting currently taking place at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion near Bendigo, Australia.

On Day 5, September 17, Rinpoche’s teaching before the long life initiation will be webcast live at 9 a.m. local time (AEST, UTC+10, click here for time zone conversions). 

On Day 6, September 18, Rinpoche’s closing remarks for the CPMT 2014 meeting will also be webcast live at 4 p.m. local time (AEST, UTC+10, click here for time zone conversions). 

On Day 7, September 19, Rinpoche’s teaching for the long life puja will be webcast live at 9 a.m. local time (AEST, UTC+10, click here for time zone conversions). All these sessions will be made available after the webcast as recorded video at the same link.

CPMT 2014 participant listening as Lama Zopa Rinpoche offers the morning meditation.

Then on September 20, Rinpoche’s public talk at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion will be webcast live and available afterwards as video for streaming. Following that, the Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa retreat, September 25-October 23, will also have Rinpoche’s teachings webcast live.

Mandala will be covering the CPMT meeting with daily updates and new photos. 

Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

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.

One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast visions for the FPMT organization is to sponsor 1,000 Nung-Nä retreats. Upon hearing about Rinpoche’s vision, Institut Vajra Yogini quickly picked up the project of hosting these retreats and has now started a third set of 108 Nyung-Näs, from mid-November 2013 to mid-June 2014.

More than 125 students from 12 different countries took part in one or more Nyung-Näs, accumulating an amazing total of about 1,000 individual Nyung Näs! Four people offered a consecutive year of their lives engaging in these retreats.

The Nyung-Nä retreat is an intensive practice that carries great blessings and is highly praised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a supreme method for transforming the mind. The practice includes taking the 24-hour Mahayana precepts every day, with the addition of complete fasting and silence every second day. One does four – 2 ½ hour sessions of well-structured practice that includes meditation, prostrations and mantra recitation each day. It is a powerfully effective experiential practice that can be done by anyone with respect and faith for the practice.

16 people did more than eight Nyung-Näs, four of them managing to do more than 100 Nyung-Näs. This is something amazing in which to rejoice!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, sponsored some of these retreatants, as he had done for the two previous sets. The next set of 108 Nyung-Näs is scheduled from the November 18, 2014 to the 20th of June 2015. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is again offering sponsorship for up to 10 people able to commit for 100 Nyung-Näs.

These Nyung-Näs will be led in French but people can follow simultaneously in English or any other language.

Everybody is welcome to join for one or more Nyung Näs, you can contact Institute Vajra Yogini to enter any number of these retreats (1-100) when they begin the next set.

Contributing to the sponsorship of these Nung-Näs or completing one or more yourself is directly contributing to Rinpoche’s wishes.

Nyung-Näs are a most powerful, most beneficial and quickest way for you to develop bodhicitta, to collect extensive merit to quickly achieve enlightenment, to become Chenrezig, to liberate sentient beings from the oceans of samsara suffering and bring to enlightenment….This is an extremely powerful practice, it in an incredible way to develop bodhichitta.

—Lama Zopa Rinpoche

 You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

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