This podcast brings to you the teachings given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in full length. Our current focus for new episodes lies on older teachings by Rinpoche that have not been published in video yet as well as major retreats that Rinpoche had led over the years. These episodes are mostly unedited in terms of content but often improved in terms of sound quality. See their video counterparts on our RAN page at fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:00 Rinpoche shares the story of the incredible attainments of the ascetic monk Gen Jampa Wangdu. 00:31:25 Rinpoche explains the importance of making good quality offerings and the benefits of various offerings according to scriptures. 00:53:00 Rinpoche leads the group practice of offerings and mandala offering. 01:00:56 Recitation of migtsemas and dedications. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:00 Preliminary prayers and Rinpoche leads the motivation and practice of Four Immeasurables. 00:14:45 Rinpoche leads the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and leads the motivation for extensive offerings. 00:35:12 Rinpoche gives a commentary to the text by Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo, the essence of which is confession based on generation of intense regret over the vast negative karmas accumulated from beginningless rebirths. 01:03:38 The group chants the confession prayer from Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and Rinpoche gives a commentary on how to do visualizations while doing the practice of Vajrasattva in the context of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga. 01:09:48 Rinpoche leads the practice of Vajrasattva. 01:35:10 Rinpoche leads the practice of rejoicing and requesting to turn the wheel of Dharma. 01:43:10 The group recites Migtsemas and prayers from Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and Lama Chopa Jorcho. 02:25:37 Rinpoche leads the extensive dedication prayers. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:00 Rinpoche explains the benefits and meanings of several mantras: mantras for blessing the speech, Chenrezig mantra, and other mantras. By reciting these mantras, the negative karma of anyone who sees, touches oneself or hears one's voice gets purified. 01:05:35 Rinpoche leads the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:00 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the motivation for the practice of Confession of a Bodhisattva's Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas. 00:10:45 Rinpoche does the practice of Confession of a Bodhisattva's Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas with students. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:01:45 Rinpoche leads a reflection on the nature of samsara and three types of suffering. 00:08:03 Why do we need to take refuge in the Three Jewels? Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha have the perfect power and qualities to liberate oneself and all sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and its causes. 00:27:22 The four immeasurable thoughts - equanimity, loving kindness, compassion and joy - is a preliminary practice, but it is an important practice as it is about making a very important decision to transform one's life to benefit all sentient beings. 00:29:40 Rinpoche explains the meaning of jin lab, blessings of the Guru. 00:52:05 The power of regret and how to do the practice of confession. 01:05:20 By rejoicing in Lama Tsongkhapa’s qualities and extensive holy deeds, one creates the cause, sooner or later, to be able to complete the path. One creates the cause to be able to have unmistaken realization of Lama Tsongkhapa’s path and to offer extensive benefit to sentient beings and the teaching of Buddha, the same as Lama Tsongkhapa did. 01:29:30 The group recites prayers Requesting to Turn the Dharma Wheel and Dedication, Special Request for the Three Great Purposes, The Foundation of All Good Qualities, and final dedications. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:59 Reading Lamrim prayer leaves a positive imprint of the whole path to enlightenment in a few minutes. 00:27:45 Rinpoche tells how deity retreats have been set up. Rinpoche included certain prayers and specific dedications to be recited at the end of each session. The most common prayers recited during deity retreats are King of Prayers, Prayer to Be Reborn in the Land of Bliss, Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsongkhapa’s Teachings and others. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 Rinpoche tells about the meaning of negation in the Heart Sutra. "No" doesn't mean that things do not exist, it is negating the way phenomena appear - as truly existent from their own side. Understanding this point helps not to fall into extremes of nihilism and eternalism. 00:10:05 How to avoid the mistake from the very beginning of your analysis by identifying the correct object of refutation - gak-cha. 00:33:00 Phenomena exist, but they exist in mere name, merely imputed by mind. They do not exist from their own side. 01:04:00 From the I down to the split seconds of consciousness, all phenomena exist in mere name, merely imputed by mind. Without mind labeling them, they cannot exist. 01:27:00 When meditating on emptiness, if fear arises, that is a good sign - it means your meditation is harming the object of ignorance, the root of samsara. One should go through the fear, not stop the meditation. 01:48:00 The word "Ah" in the Heart Sutra is like an atomic bomb that destroys the hallucination of true existence projected onto all phenomena by ignorance. It shows phenomena are empty of existing from their own side. 02:24:00 When reciting the Heart Sutra, one should apply it to one's own problems and sufferings, meditating that they are empty of true existence. This becomes a powerful puja to pacify obstacles. 02:30:00 Rinpoche explains that Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche used to recite Extensive Dispelling of Hindrances after the Heart Sutra as a way of pacifying all obstacles for the teachers, students, and Dharma centers due to sickness, spirit possession, unfavorable conditions, past karma, and immediate conditions. 02:37:30 The group recites Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and Rinpoche leads the extensive offerings practice and dedications. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 To receive the jenang (permission to practice) of a deity from the four-class Tantra, one needs to first receive the initiation of that class of Tantra. 00:06:31 Even though one has received a precious human body, it can be stained by desire, carelessness, laziness, sleep, gossiping, and seeking offerings and respect. This leads to wasting the precious human body on meaningless activities. 00:10:34 To take the essence of the perfect human body, one must train well in the gradual path of the lower, middle, and higher capable beings. 00:11:51 All sentient beings have been one's mother countless times in past lives, but due to taking rebirth, they are unable to recognize each other. Generating love and compassion for them, one should strive to achieve enlightenment for their benefit. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 The Migtsema prayer, composed by Lama Tsongkhapa, is the king of prayers that embodies the essence of the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha. 00:33:40 At Lama Tsongkhapa's birthplace Kumbum, a tree grew from his birth blood with 100,000 images of Manjushri and mantras on its leaves, indicating he is the emanation of Manjushri. 00:37:44 Before Lama Tsongkhapa's birth, his mother dreamt of a Chinese monk from Wutai Shan (Manjushri's holy place) dissolving into her, signifying that the child is Manjushri's emanation. 00:49:50 In the tradition of secret mantra, one must accept that all the buddhas are one mind. The previous lama of Sägyu tantric college added the line about Vajrapani to Migtsema and it became a five-line Migtsema. Gyalwa Ensapa’s disciple wrote the nine-round migtsema. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the meaning of protector prayers and the motivation for doing protector prayers dedicating them for success in Dharma activities around the world for benefiting sentient beings. 00:11:04 The fundamental Buddhist philosophy is that happiness and suffering are created by one's own mind, not by others. One has complete freedom to stop suffering and achieve happiness up to enlightenment by changing how one thinks. 00:23:05 Dharma centers play an important role in world peace by educating people about the mind, karma, compassion, and thought transformation. 00:42:10 By practicing thought transformation (lojong), one can transform all obstacles and problems into causes for enlightenment. If you are happy, practice Dharma, if you are unhappy, practice Dharma. 01:00:00 Centers benefit sentient beings by teaching lojong. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 The mind is obscured by many superstitious thoughts, like attachment, anger, and self-cherishing, which are based on grasping at an exaggerated object. 00:06:47 While everything is empty of true existence, the ignorance projects true existence onto phenomena, like wearing colored glasses that make everything appear a certain color. We then allow our mind to believe this hallucination is real. 00:14:52 Realizing emptiness helps generate strong compassion for sentient beings, seeing how they are suffering due to being ignorant of the way things actually exist. Their suffering comes from wrong concepts and mistaken ways of thinking. 00:22:24 Realizing emptiness doesn't contradict bodhicitta, but rather makes one generate stronger bodhicitta. The positive thoughts like compassion and bodhicitta are not caused by or based on the ignorance grasping at true existence. 00:26:20 Reciting Calling the Guru from Afar. The way to clean away the superstitious thoughts is through guru devotion - making requests to the guru from one's heart. One should strive to devote to the guru with the nine attitudes, such as viewing the guru as a buddha, following the guru's advice, and seeing the guru's actions as perfect and so on. 00:36:30 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the recitation of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, offering of a short mandala, and recitation of Migtsema mantras. 00:51:35 The group recites the Lamrim prayer from Lama Chopa. 00:59:05 The group recites the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation and other prayers from Lama Chopa. 1:23:32 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the protector prayers and dedications. 02:08:55 Lama Zopa Rinpoche tells about Geshe Lama Konchog's Life. Dedication prayers. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:07 Lama Tsongkhapa practiced Dharma and completed the path, unstained by the three types of worldly dharma: black worldly dharma, mixed worldly dharma, and white worldly dharma. This means unstained by attachment clinging to this life, unstained by self-cherishing thought, and unstained by ignorance, the concept holding true existence. Each time we rejoice, we create the cause to have Lama Tsongkhapa's qualities. 00:21:32 When saying "Lama Tsongkhapa", one must remember it refers to the oneness of the lama and Tsongkhapa. If only thinking of Tsongkhapa, it does not become Guru Yoga. By looking at Tsongkhapa as inseparable from one's guru, one is able to see all of Tsongkhapa's qualities and activities as the guru's. 00:32:01 The absolute guru is the dharmakaya, the primordial holy mind, which has no beginning, no end, and pervades all existence. The absolute guru takes the form that you have the karma to see and to communicate with, that is the conventional guru. 00:52:19 Rinpoche tells about his first retreat in Tibet focused on Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:00 Rinpoche gives an extensive teaching on benefits of offerings. As taught by Manjushri to Lama Tsongkhapa, the quick path to enlightenment involves purifying obstacles, collecting merit, and one-pointedly requesting the guru’s blessings, and even offering one flower to a Buddha leads to the entire path to enlightenment and continues to bring benefit endlessly. 00:46:33 A life without compassion, even with a human body, is empty. Therefore, regardless of one’s level of Dharma knowledge, compassion is the most important practice, as it brings happiness to all beings and naturally fulfills one’s own wishes up to enlightenment. Rinpoche also emphasizes the importance of wisdom and demerits of self-cherishing. 02:06:40 Rinpoche continues teaching on the benefits of offering practice and leads an extensive offering practice and gives commentaries on how to do it step by step. 03:02:15 Rinpoche leads the practice of rejoicing in the realizations of Lama Tsongkhapa. 03:06:50 Rinpoche continues leading Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and ends with extensive dedications. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 Our delusions have no beginning, so we cannot expect to achieve realizations or enlightenment quickly or easily. No one achieved enlightenment without hardships, without practicing three types of patience. We must plan to practice for many lifetimes. 00:42:38 There is a big difference between experiencing hardships to practice Dharma, which leads to happiness, versus experiencing temporary pleasure that results in future suffering. 00:45:44 We have died numberless times working for delusions. Even if we have to die practicing Dharma, it is worthwhile and completes our life meaningfully. 00:50:04 We are extremely fortunate to have met the Dharma. If we don't practice and spend our lives following delusions, our lives will finish sadly. 01:13:09 It's very important to make our decisions in life with Dharma wisdom rather than ignorance. This makes a huge difference in the results we experience from life to life. 01:29:32 Rinpoche gives a commentary on blessing the speech practice. 01:56:55 Rinpoche teaches on how to relate to criticism and praise. If words affect one easily, and one's life becomes up and down, that means one is not practicing the right view. 02:06:45 Rinpoche continues giving a commentary on blessing the speech practice. 02:32:53 Students recite prayers. 02:49:15 The benefits of reciting Maitreya Buddha mantra. Students recite Maitreya Buddha mantra. 03:00:40 Dedication prayers. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 Lama Zopa Rinpoche guides Lama Chopa practice. 00:09:15 Rinpoche guides taking refuge in the Guru and three precious gems to be protected from the sufferings of samsara and the lower realms. One should generate bodhicitta to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. 00:13:02 Rinpoche leads the motivation for the practice of Lama Chopa. 00:26:25 The prostration section of the seven limbs involves guru devotion meditation. The extensive and deep way to think of the guru’s kindness is to think of how the guru is guiding you, liberating you from all the sufferings of samsara, and bringing you to enlightenment. 00:50:48 An important practice from the seven limbs is rejoicing, feeling great happiness in all the merits collected from beginningless rebirths by oneself, sentient beings, bodhisattvas, and buddhas. Rejoicing creates the cause to achieve those same qualities and realizations. 01:08:16 Rinpoche guides the visualization of receiving the qualities and wisdoms of the Guru, such as profound wisdom, clear light wisdom, and debating skills. These enter oneself and all sentient beings, purifying obscurations and negative karma. 01:13:27 The section on the Guru's qualities is very important. Rinpoche recites these qualities extensively in Tibetan. It is better to read this section in one's own language to understand the meaning. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 Generate strong regretfulness to make negative karma thinner and limit its power. The more regretfulness generated, the more negative karma is purified. 00:01:09 Phenomena affect each other through dependent arising. Reciting the names of the 35 Buddhas has the power to purify many eons of negative karma due to the Buddhas' compassion and prayers. 00:04:12 The purpose of one's life is to free all sentient beings from suffering and its causes, and lead them to enlightenment. Therefore one must purify defilements and achieve enlightenment. 00:06:02 Even one negative karma of killing can lead to endless suffering results unless it is purified. There is no way to relax without purifying negative karma. 00:13:07 When blessing offerings, visualize that through the power of mantra, each Buddha receives limitless skies of offerings, making even one offering very powerful and meritorious. 00:21:24 There are two ways to purify negative karma during the confession prayer - generating regret and looking at the emptiness of each negative action. Using emptiness makes the purification practice extremely powerful. 00:56:54 At the end of any purification practice, meditate that in emptiness there is no creator, action or negative karma created. Then dedicate the merit while maintaining the awareness of emptiness. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:01 Before beginning a deity retreat, generate the proper motivation. Remember the impermanence of life by reflecting on how great beings of the past have passed away, leaving only their teachings and stories behind. 00:16:57 No matter who we are, we will definitely die, perhaps even today. Use this awareness of impermanence and death to abandon negative karma and practice virtue. 00:37:00 If we died last night without having purified our negative karma, we would be reborn in the lower realms. The wise thing to do is to practice Dharma - abandoning non-virtue and creating virtue to achieve happiness in future lives up to enlightenment. 01:07:11 When generating the motivation for retreat, think that the purpose is to achieve enlightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings from suffering. Make the determination to practice with bodhicitta. 01:45:48 The actual instructions for beginning the retreat: 1) Refuge and bodhicitta, 2) Guru yoga, 3) Mandala offering, 4) Vajrasattva purification, 5) Actual deity practice. Remember that yourself, the action of meditating, and the object of meditation are all empty of inherent existence. 02:24:04 Within the refuge and bodhicitta prayer, one is practicing the three principal aspects of the path - renunciation, bodhicitta, and the right view of emptiness. This is the essence of how to practice during the retreat. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:00 Preliminary prayers by students. 00:15:25 As realizations of the three principal aspects of the path are dependent on the root, the realization of the guru devotion, the guru yoga, Rinpoche will teach on Calling the Guru from Afar before going over the commentary to the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga. 00:28:48 Rinpoche mentions how important it is to correctly devote oneself to the guru and refers to the eight advantages of correctly devoting to the virtuous friend and eight shortcomings of having made mistakes in the relationship with the virtuous friend outlined in the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. 00:34:40 Rinpoche teaches on the preciousness of perfect human rebirth. When people face unbearable problems, they may wish to be animals like dogs or butterflies, thinking those lives are free of suffering. But if their body actually started transforming into an animal, they would panic, unable to handle the loss of human abilities like communication and freedom. 00:51:29 Rinpoche tells about his first teachers in Solu Khumbu. 01:06:48 Rinpoche tells about his experiences in Buxa and how he met Lama Yeshe. The Lam Rim Chenmo says that the definition of a disciple is the one who is devoting to the guru and the definition of a guru is the object to whom one is devoting. Rinpoche adds that according to Choden Rinpoche, from the teacher’s side there also has to be the recognition that this is a disciple. 01:08:20 Rinpoche tells about His Holiness Serkong Dorje Chang. 01:16:26 Dedications prayers. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:36 Rinpoche emphasizes the urgent need to receive funding to complete the Maitreya Project statue and benefit sentient beings. 00:02:24 Rinpoche discusses the importance of supporting Sangha in various monasteries around the world by providing facilities, education, and food. 00:03:19 Building holy objects in different parts of the world is as an easy way to help sentient beings purify negative karma, collect merit, and achieve realizations on the path to enlightenment. 00:04:04 Rinpoche expresses the wish to establish more beneficial hospitals and social services for the elderly, similar to successful projects already underway in Australia. 00:07:01 The importance of Universal Education is discussed, especially in countries with a lot of violence. Rinpoche praises an existing project in India that has been very beneficial in developing students' minds. 00:10:38 Urgent social service needs in Mongolia are highlighted, such as providing food and shelter for the homeless. Establishing good monastic education with qualified teachers is also a priority to help revive Buddhism in Mongolia. 00:15:37 In conclusion, Rinpoche emphasizes that the real aim is to bring temporary and ultimate happiness to all sentient beings. He encourages everyone to pray and dedicate their practice for the success of these vast projects to illuminate the minds of all beings. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004. 00:00:54 Lama Zopa Rinpoche introduces Calling the Guru from Afar, a profound text by Phabongka Rinpoche that contains lamrim and tantric path. 00:02:53 Without a guru, one cannot achieve realizations and enlightenment, even if one knows many texts by heart. Devotion to the guru is the cause of receiving blessings and attaining realizations. 00:11:51 When devotion is lost, it becomes difficult to benefit the mind and have realizations, even from hearing Lamrim teachings. Devotion needs to be stable and established by reasoning. 00:19:09 The objective of one's life is not just happiness for oneself, but to achieve enlightenment in order to enlighten all sentient beings. This is the greatest profit and success. 00:27:46 Lama Zopa explains the yoga of eating - making offerings with each bite of food and meditating that oneself and the food are empty. This becomes a means of collecting extensive merit. 00:40:57 In reality, despite the diversity of phenomena, everything is empty. Things function while being empty. Our basic meditation should be on emptiness. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
