Lama Zopa Rinpoche full length teachings

Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche full length teachings

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/

  1. 02 The Need for Wisdom and Compassion - PART 3; 3-Jun-2006

    1 DAY AGO

    02 The Need for Wisdom and Compassion - PART 3; 3-Jun-2006

    Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses the significance of engaging in wholesome actions that bring peace and happiness to oneself and others. The key to achieving this is by subduing and taming the mind, by protecting it from negative emotions such as self-cherishing, anger, jealousy, and pride. A selfish mind will not lead to happiness and success in life, but rather it will cause problems and make enemies everywhere. Protecting the mind and cultivating positive emotions is essential to living a fulfilling and happy life. A good way of benefiting oneself is to practice bodhichitta. Rinpoche uses the example of a wish-granting jewel, which can fulfill all material needs but cannot stop reincarnation in lower realms, achieve a higher rebirth, or lead to enlightenment. But by practicing morality for the sake of sentient beings, one can achieve liberation from all sufferings and experience everlasting happiness. Therefore, one should regard every sentient being as precious and practice bodhichitta in daily life. Rinpoche shares inspiring stories of his personal journey and encounters with great practitioners, and talks about the courage required to practice the Dharma. He also explains the qualities and abilities of bodhisattvas at different stages of realization, and their immense capacity to benefit sentient beings. Meditating on the path and cultivating the three principles of renunciation, bodhichitta, and right view is extremely important. By studying and practicing the Dharma, one can develop higher realizations and have the ability to benefit sentient beings on an unimaginable scale. We need to train our minds in virtue and follow the path diligently. With this precious human rebirth we have the good fortune of possessing the eight freedoms and ten richnesses, which grant us the perfect conditions to engage in spiritual practice and attain liberation from the cycle of suffering. Rinpoche discusses the incomparable worth of the Four Noble Truths, the Mahayana teachings and the tremendous loss incurred by not practicing them. He reminds us of the preciousness of our human body and the opportunities it presents, urging us not to waste time and to fully comprehend the immeasurable benefits that can be attained. We need to truly comprehend the preciousness of our existence and the extraordinary good we can accomplish for ourselves and all sentient beings. Lama Zopa Rinpoche delivered these teachings at Tara Institute in Melbourne on June 2 and 3, 2006, as part of a broader tour across Australia, which also included a month-long retreat in Adelaide. These teachings were given in Tara Institute, Melbourne in 2006. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche at https://fpmt.org

    1h 10m
  2. 01 The Need for Wisdom and Compassion - PART 1 and 2; 3-June-2006

    13 DEC

    01 The Need for Wisdom and Compassion - PART 1 and 2; 3-June-2006

    Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses the significance of engaging in wholesome actions that bring peace and happiness to oneself and others. The key to achieving this is by subduing and taming the mind, by protecting it from negative emotions such as self-cherishing, anger, jealousy, and pride. A selfish mind will not lead to happiness and success in life, but rather it will cause problems and make enemies everywhere. Protecting the mind and cultivating positive emotions is essential to living a fulfilling and happy life. A good way of benefiting oneself is to practice bodhichitta. Rinpoche uses the example of a wish-granting jewel, which can fulfill all material needs but cannot stop reincarnation in lower realms, achieve a higher rebirth, or lead to enlightenment. But by practicing morality for the sake of sentient beings, one can achieve liberation from all sufferings and experience everlasting happiness. Therefore, one should regard every sentient being as precious and practice bodhichitta in daily life. Rinpoche shares inspiring stories of his personal journey and encounters with great practitioners, and talks about the courage required to practice the Dharma. He also explains the qualities and abilities of bodhisattvas at different stages of realization, and their immense capacity to benefit sentient beings. Meditating on the path and cultivating the three principles of renunciation, bodhichitta, and right view is extremely important. By studying and practicing the Dharma, one can develop higher realizations and have the ability to benefit sentient beings on an unimaginable scale. We need to train our minds in virtue and follow the path diligently. With this precious human rebirth we have the good fortune of possessing the eight freedoms and ten richnesses, which grant us the perfect conditions to engage in spiritual practice and attain liberation from the cycle of suffering. Rinpoche discusses the incomparable worth of the Four Noble Truths, the Mahayana teachings and the tremendous loss incurred by not practicing them. He reminds us of the preciousness of our human body and the opportunities it presents, urging us not to waste time and to fully comprehend the immeasurable benefits that can be attained. We need to truly comprehend the preciousness of our existence and the extraordinary good we can accomplish for ourselves and all sentient beings. Lama Zopa Rinpoche delivered these teachings at Tara Institute in Melbourne on June 2 and 3, 2006, as part of a broader tour across Australia, which also included a month-long retreat in Adelaide. These teachings were given in Tara Institute, Melbourne in 2006. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche at https://fpmt.org

    2h 10m
  3. 19 The Eight Freedoms And Ten Richnesses  17-Apr-2004

    5 DEC

    19 The Eight Freedoms And Ten Richnesses 17-Apr-2004

    Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that if you are only seeking the happiness of this life, then you haven’t reached any of the three capacities of the lamrim. The attitude of just seeking the power, reputation, and wealth of this life is an ordinary capable being, not a special capable being. This is not different from the animals and insects. Rinpoche emphasizes that the meditations for the graduate path of the lower capable being (the eight freedoms and ten richnesses, the great meaning and difficulty to find again, impermanence and death, the lower realm sufferings, karma) are very important for the success of actualizing the whole path. Without these foundations, you can’t have the next realizations, renunciation and bodhicitta. Without bodhicitta, you have no door to enter the Mahayana path to enlightenment, so you can’t complete the tantric path. Therefore, these meditations are the foundation for all those other paths. Rinpoche describes the eight freedoms and ten richnesses. He urges us to reflect on these points. By doing so, we will realize that we must practice Dharma immediately. Rinpoche says that these meditations will give us hope and courage to defeat the eight worldly dharmas. Rinpoche bestows the lung of the mahamudra root text and ends the session with an extensive dedication prayer and multiplying mantras. From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo. Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

    2h 40m
  4. 23 Purifying Negative Karma, Cultivating a Positive Mind, and the Power of Mantras 10-May-2003

    9 AUG

    23 Purifying Negative Karma, Cultivating a Positive Mind, and the Power of Mantras 10-May-2003

    Lama Zopa Rinpoche talks about purifying negative karma in two ways. Firstly, through the power of regretting negative actions, as that helps purify our negative karma and defilements. This regret should focus on acknowledging and repenting the negative actions, rather than regretting positive actions. Secondly, viewing negative actions as empty, recognizing that they lack inherent existence and are merely labelled by the mind. This realization aids in purifying negative karma by revealing the illusory nature of these actions. The Western perception of regret as negative arises from a lack of understanding of Dharma. In reality, regretting negative actions is a positive practice that contributes to achieving happiness and enlightenment. Rinpoche further discusses how our own mind serves as the root cause of both happiness and suffering. Negative thoughts and delusions generate negative karma and lead to suffering, while positive thoughts and actions create positive karma and bring happiness. Even external pleasures depend on one's mind and karma. By cultivating positive and healthy thoughts through Buddhism and meditation, we can attain peace and happiness for ourselves and others. Applying mindfulness and meditation throughout daily life is crucial to overcoming negative emotions and engaging in positive actions, leading to immediate effects on our well-being. Lama Zopa Rinpoche shares a story about how he threw stones at a bush that people believed was inhabited by a naga, and how shortly after, he developed a pimple on his face that turned into a spreading infection. This experience strengthened his faith in the existence of nagas and their ability to harm those who harm them. Lama Zopa Rinpoche tells another story about a mother who asked her son to bring her Buddha's relics but he forgot and picked up a dog bone on his way back. The mother believed it was a relic and her devotion caused the actual relic to manifest. Similarly, if someone recites Rinpoche's name mantra with pure thought and faith, even if Rinpoche himself has no qualities, that person will receive benefits. The mantra should be recited with guru devotion and the understanding that the disciple's mind and the guru's mind are one. By reciting the mantra with this attitude, one can receive blessings and benefit from it. This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18-May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here: https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/

    5h 49m

About

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/

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada