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/