Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. In this 50-minute teaching, Geshe Sopa explores the meditation on death and impermanence as the foundation for genuine spiritual practice. He distinguishes between the ordinary, senseless fear of death—worrying about losing possessions, loved ones, and wealth—and the noble fear that comes from recognizing one’s spiritual unpreparedness. Drawing on Buddha’s own emphasis on impermanence from his first teachings through his final words, Geshe Sopa outlines three main meditations: that death is certain, that its time is utterly uncertain, and that only dharma practice prepares one for that transition. He illustrates each with vivid examples—the elephant’s footprint as the deepest mark, sitting in the mouth of the Lord of Death—and addresses a common deception: postponing spiritual practice until worldly obligations finish, which never happens. The talk emphasizes that genuine practitioners treat death awareness not as morbid but as a transformative teacher that redirects energy from harmful actions and petty grievances toward meaningful virtue.
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File: 05 LP.mp3
UUID: f9ec2de6-99e7-4e0f-a785-e2ef9684ab74
Teacher: Geshe Sopa 1986
Collection: A lamp that illuminates the path (Geshe Sopa 1986)
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 50.0 minutes
Words: ~4,768
Or tomorrow, or he or she was gone, or that kind of word comes, we’ll never know. So therefore, like that kind of situation, all of these thoughts coming or not. So therefore, each of those perceptions, a special kind of meditation or the like the the or that these various kind of false comes. Other than or the each of the sixty of all of them, I’m not going to detail because we have no much time. And then also benefit benefit is the pain.
Also benefit is the other, again, or different, in six different, in the or the or thought in or the by recollecting the impermanence of life or to temper. There’s no the one of the Buddha also taught or the this is the especially person who want to real strong, powerful, spiritual or practitioner. Or then or this awareness of the death or that that is the most transforming mind. On the fear of fear of death or the that has the nature of the fear. One should have a special kind of fear, but nature of fear also not ordinary way.
Other fear of the generally, we usually fear often or death. What that nature of the fear is or kind of senseless fear. Fear of death means, I will be dying. You know? Death comes, and then I will only lose my only belongings or my first, my party lose, and then my belonging in the wealth and the money and all these things lose, or my friend and relatives, etcetera, so many area, those things and the fear of losing that, then oh, no.
That is the fearful thinking. But that or that is or, Dharma practice says, or the senseless, we are here meditating in order to produce fear by thinking in a meditation or death is not that kind of fear. That kind of fear doesn’t help because everybody has to this kind of body and the karmic life has to die. Or when die, they have to all have to leave, or other including one’s own body which are born with together, that also have to leave, or there’s no nothing can do that or there’s no way of stopping. So therefore, by worrying cannot stop that.
There’s nothing can do. All that is one’s happening, just in a more sense less well. Other, there’s nothing can do for the time being. So, therefore, that kind of worrying should not be produced. Now worrying or fear, noble noble thing is fear of merit.
What is the the worrying about at the time death which has not prepared for the next in the future or not prevent after death of going all this miserable or great fearful life, coming ahead, coming ahead or for not met make any prevention or stopping those things. On and worrying, never prepared or wonderful life or good life. Only good life if prepared, and then in like great some of the yogis, when they’re dying is exciting. You’re exchanging life and going much more on nicer or a special kind of wonderful life coming. So they were even about the time or death, only exciting to go, never fear.
Or like that, one who has no preparation, much of great, great negative, sinful action on the mountain of those things already built, which is most beneficial or when you’re thinking about positive or virtuous action on a karma, when you’re thinking, and then almost nothing are there or remember. Even if some remember done this and that, also, they may not be in a pure actual real good one, or they are also dominated by some kind of intention, and they once our selfish, purpose something done, little small things, but these are maybe not in the pure virtues, etcetera. When I look in those things and the preparation for oneself, all those things, nothing done. Without doing that, they’re dying. Other than that, with that condition is is fearful.
Or that it is not fearful, but fearful with that. Other than that, so therefore, always remembering other death will come. And at that time, if I haven’t prepared, all the at that time, great sorrow, great misery, all great all things experience, all the time of that time, then there is no way of reversing. There’s no way of help. Or that that kind of meditation.
Also, therefore, if always when you remember all that, by remembering that, it will not make you quicker death, but mentally thinking soon will die. Or tomorrow I may die or that always with one’s own mind, thinking like that way, that makes always some kind of special preparation. Or, therefore, it makes reduce many, many negative pull to the others, reduce many, many negative karma and action and the preparation, many of those mind much more or simple or sincere or more like that way. Although that is the so the that will bring positive or the real or beneficial to future. On a wholesome karma or many things, you know, are coming from that.
Or then for that purpose, you know, wholesome karma means to religious conduct. For example, if you if I do killing or then this will be being such and such. If I do lying or this, if I cheat, then this, this, this. All like this were all negative things power point by point, what makes you or or negative or misuse your poor life. All that these cause in each of them then stops or try to as much hard to stop doing those things.
If I do good things in the future, life, high rebirth, wealthy, and etcetera to practice of charity, practice of patience. On pure conduct, religious conduct. Other like this, even all various kind of positive or taking to the or the rituals. On the net karma, and it is a good and a bad karma, themselves try to realize, understand. On the net, based on that, try to exercise all of these things by maybe on this mindfulness of the or or tomorrow I may be die or that or that kind of recollection will provide many things.
Therefore, Buddha himself also This says, farmers when you plow after you harvest get, then on the ground turn on it. Or anywhere plow and then put those on or bushes or whatever you have put down ground and then that makes soil, you know, all that is makes in the future next growth will be much, much, better. So they will sometimes they plow maybe several times a plow, but the first plow in the twenty-fold, you see, in the in the fall fall season after you cutting, then after a little while, then you plow and upside down all of these things. And during the winter, it stay there and good soil. So, therefore, lot of or among these plow among those, twenty lot means the fall season, this plough is the best.
Other that we’re saying. Although, anyway, season and different country may be a little different, but maybe that is overall across like that way. Like the way, mis-perception or conception of the mind, mis-perception of impermanence or the thinking of the I will do this and this and this so many perception or thinking thought, but among those or the mindful thought of the impermanence or that is the best, or that that is the best, or then perception. Like, also print, footprint, Or lang-gyi kangpa means elephant footprint is the biggest footprint. Yeah?
He’s so big, so he walks and he put his mark, huge mark, leaves on the ground. Or like that way, to see, perception among the other, again, or perception or conception or whatever you call thinking, impermanence or then, again, remembering or that that it is the, again, our best perception because it remark it puts to one’s own mind big mark, which makes one’s self doing something reasonable or noble things. So, therefore, Buddha also in the sūtra expressed in many, many this way. And, also, in general, of course, Buddha when taught first teaching, when the Dharma teaching, you know, called Four Noble Truths. The truth or among the truth, when talking truth of suffering, each four truths have four attributes.
When the truth of suffering has four special quality attributes, there are those attributes also is is the impermanent. So, therefore, teaching also began first beginning with impermanence started. Or the last, his word of teaching also when he passed nirvana or now or the the disciple look or or death or like that where he’s in it again or everybody nature of death. So it should be remembered that kind of teaching again also impermanence or the last word also taught like that way. Whether this or impermanence or meditation or topic by topic.
Or there are three main topics which or maybe next session, tomorrow, maybe a little bit, we will talk on. First topic is everybody. Definitely. That will come definitely. That is the first topic.
As a little easier. And then second topic is when that come uncertain. Or that is the second topic. When actually, when that comes, whenever or what is the most helpful? Who is the friend?
What is the beneficial? What can carry with with oneself? Or that is the only dharma except dharma or virtues action or seed. There’s nothing carrying or there’s no no help any other things. Only if you have prepared or wholesome or the the action or the dharma or that that is only the beneficial at the time.
Or that those three main subjects each happening on each special kind of reasons or the three, each topic has introduced even all three or special reasons or therefore sometimes nine different reasons. Order through these sub subjects. Each have three reasons. And finally, all three different conclusion. All these all those things through meditation, all the thinking at the level to where those three each have reasons.
And then finally, each conclusions comes into one’s own mind strongly, vividly, or spontaneously comes, or then one become real or religious person, or one’s self, one’s own action become more or fruitful or meaningful toward the only Dharma practice, whether that is, comes. So anyway, I think we will stop today there. Alright. Life life has so many or the harm or injury or harm so many harmful things are there. The it’s like means or like the in the in the water the in the water, sometimes bubble or within certain kind of the wind bubble or sometimes shining in a bubble, which is the or seemingly, like, hot and or solid, looks like.
But it has so delicate. There’s no real solidity. So therefore, is easy to distort. So therefore, our life is like oh, like that. All life and then the all that has all and then nothing much there or only person or the breathing breathing in and then breathing out.
All that that is only. Or that is left. There is no or otherwise, life is so delicate or so easy to. All that have been destroyed all day. So, therefore, one goes to sleep or with breathing in out or or like that way, and then finally, or at the morning, or the there is an opportunity another day to waking up.
Or that that is the all that is in the second karma, then it is great. All amazing or marvelous or the thinking that way. That is the or yogis or think like that way. Or every time, even in the or concentrating or meditating or the or in impermanence of life and or people or people death or whatever the preparations and always preparing for the future journey. Also, therefore, every one even when go to sleep also or after go to sleep also, devote as much as one can to prepare, meritorious, virtues, or mind.
And then also when after waking up, also, only this is in a great opportunity or marvelous situation, rejoicing or waking up. There’s nothing. Only breathing in and out, that that is the only between. So therefore, means always thinking that way, one’s own meaning life to make life great and meaningful. All that way all that is the Nāgārjuna saying.
All the or as like that way, we are, again, talking about the other main all this human nature and fortunate life in this life, and what essential goal or the how to when or when actually or the practice or actually getting the or real and objective goal or essential goal. Other to that essential goal, how to aware of the negating these, you know, or highest goal is the or perfect enlightenment for the benefit of sentient beings. In order to do that, and then there are three different steps which we’re talking about. Or the among them, the first one are order, aware of training in the inferior or or in the or practice of inferior person. Or the next second or the intermediate, like that like that way.
Or the first, know, first one is the Now we have the We were talking yesterday. That is that that two main subjects. First, we talked as about first thing, means they try to order the making order the to producing one’s own mind to fully to develop to or searching or aiming to the for the future life, next life. Other than, first rising or to to one’s own mind because one have no own, generally, mind have to practice practitioner have to switch on an emphasis on this life and emphasis of the future life. How to one self change this emphasis for the future life?
Or that means the or the soul mind is strongly or emphasized for the striving for good for the future life. Or that is the. That is the first. Then is the second one is that then when you rise that, and then what are the method of the in the future or or like, or these two. So, therefore, yesterday, were talking first one, all other than to produce a special kind of mental attitude for the or seeking for good for the next life or future life.
Other other that is the topic. Topic is the other these these topics, many topics, and then just shortly, we, verbally have to go. All these difficult to detail all of these. It will take a long time. But, anyway, or roughly, other first, Then this one, means first, the sinking, and this life our emphasis on mind, on the emphasis on how to stay in this life.
Also, therefore, in order to order the reduce that and then then enter antidote for this and mainly to our future life for the day. So, therefore, this life have no much duration or it will not remain or soon will pass. Other that emphasis on that mind constantly thinking on various way, one’s own mind, and then all this life has no much duration. Other main emphasis or should be in the future, other that is thinking that way, or first topic is the impermanence of life or that we were yesterday, we’re talking. And then that that has many, different topics.
Mindfulness or or remembering the death or that is the many merits, the faults. There are force of not remembering or recollecting the or death or the and then also benefit of the remembering that or always awareness awareness on the about on the death or the has many, many benefits. Other those or each of those can be topic. What is the bad result? Not remembering, not thinking, not awareness, what faults they are.
Other topic is one topic, and that can many, many reasons. Other learning teachings, you know, sometimes each of those six or all these topics and explain it. I have not much time to do that or anywhere or those. And then also, when you benefit thinking also, remembering that benefit also also much benefit Always awareness of that on beforehand. When thinking that brings so many preparations or certain things, you know, blocking the obstacles or the future, mainly, all the ones whatever life left on a special kind of preparation, stone or preparation.
On making or constantly doing that, all of those things by awareness of death, all of that in brings, all of so many of those things, all all the help. All the Then also or the manner of how to concentrate meditation or the or that itself has yesterday mentioned. This has usually three main topics and which has all the three reasons, all the nine different reasons. So all the final or conclusions. All of these are again namely mentioned.
All the question. All first main is the other all the means root or the basic three main topics, which is concentrating, meditating, all the definitely will die or death. All the all that will come definitely, or one will die or definitely. All that that is the, you know, one. All the the first topic is that one.
Although that first topic has or that that has different reasons. Of course, this is everybody has or the or since we have the equipments, mostly the mind also, therefore, seen through other people or other beings, you know, dying. So therefore, in a generally kind of in a weak way, in the back of the mind, we have one will be die, you know, or the sinking like that. That is not necessarily too much in it. Itself, without the meditation, back of the mind, one will die.
All that is the we have. But the all the on a true meditation, all that that become on the surface, know, obvious way, all that these meditation or if one have all these all that that is the definitely will die. All that that is the first topic. Or that that that has the three other different reasons. I think we opposite part.
Three reasons we have. But each of these, I I don’t think, again, all talking in detail. All that’s the second topic is the or definitely die is one. Or the second one is more important also. Or the when it when it die, death will come.
Or that that is there. Again, uncertainty or the time of death, uncertainty. All that that has also, again, one topic and then one way meditation comes into uncertainty or reason or the sinking as much, you know, reason. The uncertainty or maybe this and, of course, in uncertainty is three different reasons explained, but the reason is generally, first one is the in in general, all the living beings on this continent, human beings on our own continent, human being or or the life lifespan has or no certainty. There are other beings or some some other beings, they have life.
Once you bring their life in the some sort of life by karma, then there certain lives fixed. How how many or how long duration is fixed. Once the karma brought into that life, and then fully under that finish, it will not die. Until the exhausted, you know, like like, when a fuel exhausted, a lamp goes. Like that where all that is the certain lives and all the earth, all the fixed.
But our human life or all that this continent or the life human life like our us type of life has no certainty or the uncertainty needs, and they can meditate and concentrating many way or the especially, or the time of, like, or such this or time, or that there are time, sometimes many, many millions of years if you will, or sometime human life is much more longer, more little more duration or but now or sometimes in a less and less or the uncertainty needs or that is the sometimes uncertainty, thinking from or the unless some or sometimes from the or just the month, you know, even mother’s womb. Sometimes after or just the time of birth or sometimes or right after other birth, etcetera. Or from there, and, you know, childhood up to old age, all range, there’s no such or in a fixed situation. So these kind of thing are many way on a concentrating. Other sinking, you know, various way, other all sinking.
Other that sinking, generally, first, the sinking like that way, and then finally looking all these things or that happened somewhere else, and then not thinking one step, and then that will not help. Or over there, or somebody die there, and a small, and young, and a healthy person die or rich person die, etcetera. And then high how do you say? Powerful person dies, etcetera. All of these thinking there, when everything thinking that, it never turn into oneself, not thinking then that will doesn’t help.
Those are the example. What do you have oneself thinking duration or assurance or not like that? This kind of thinking when you were thinking then, all that will brings oneself also uncertainty. So, therefore, what only certainty is right at that moment is the only knowing the living. Or that moment, if the female value life to want to use or utilize, other make it meaningful, beneficial.
That is the only or knowing that origin or to oneself, all of these things, uncertainty. Others, second one, also, Uncertainty of also, second reason this has on. There are so many conditions or the cause and condition of the other on the death. As soon as they are all less, very few of the surviving conditions. Other like this and this also sinking when you concentrate even all the way so many life has so many hindrance, obscure obstacles, all the diseases, etcetera, all of these elements or the outside elements or these unbalanced element diseases and all of these, even if supposed to be very survival condition is like food, etcetera.
Even the food themselves also sometimes, you know, not definitely for causing living instead that they themselves also becomes a cause of all that, etcetera. All the various kind of meditation. Again, each has a special kind of all those things concentrating meditation. And finally, step or very, very aware of that that every every situation, one’s self is almost like oneself like, Almost like if there is Lord of Death or with a big mouth, with huge tusks. And one step in sitting on that mouth, anytime the occasion is ready to and there is no anything just all the time sitting like that, almost like that way.
All that is the when you think of that, whatever left under under that happens, oneself wanting to prepare or or time is not wasting or one’s own time in a very, very useful way or to putting. And then rather than so much attached to the this life or preparation for that preparation, then anger and hatred and jealousy and fighting each other and all evil and thoughts rising preparation, evil actions, doing to the or for one’s own purpose, hurting, harming to others. All of these can be eliminate instead of that, then one is having doing real positive, or noble, or action, or that noble thought can be produced as as long as much that that. We have, for example, here in in Tibetan, this kind of dress also religious garment, which has also somewhere here is like an elephant tusk, like tusk, like like that way. Other than the have many, many example.
One of the these tusk is like here is a tusk. Here is a tusk example. It’s like you are sitting on the mouth of the other lord of death or the to remind reminding you impermanence life. Other impermanence or the makes impermanence and the on an awareness of death or mind mindful of death itself shouldn’t be considered a bad thing or painful or misery or something. If it rise sincerely or constantly, it is a real noble thing.
It is good like it is service like guru. It is serve like teacher. It deserve on a brings other good, noble attitude. It is itself stops many wrong, activity or wrong notions or many, many things. Therefore, mindfulness is there, a good thing.
Uh-uh, other like that way. This all the all the uncertainty is the body is also so delicate. Or very, very delicate. It has no real or it is can be or small or small things can be or then cause to or death or like that way. Even sometimes a little thorn or or kills you.
Other like that way. It has real or or real firmness. Therefore, thinking that way, many, many. Other these has so many different conditions. Other conditions of the living is so and they are the on a rare or or so on a small or so weak or conditions of the to or dying and or for the death so so great.
Also, therefore, mind in a a taking side of living or staying part is a way to reduce mind or to traveling or leaving this, and then to going somewhere. And when that when you go, what, and how, where, or what situation, what is the meaningful, useful, this kind of the name mentality or the next only bringing. All these all these meditations or practices, main purpose is like that way. All that that is mainly our sinking. Other and then there is a one quotation.
We have on deceiving, on like devil in in our mind. What are these? Or even if we have lesson or understand, even in in in in in this, you know, the impermanent life, etcetera. Or they are in the future, life has to take in. Or there are many, many dangerous.
Or the possibility to born in a or create miserable life. Or once you fall down, all these various kind of situation, even understand some understanding, but still not do or not doing right way to protect them or the guarding and all this stone or measured practice. Not doing is the this attitude. What does that means? We have mind even if a religious person has also practitioner has also this year, on this month.
I have to do such and such, have to do. Lakshana means activity, or I have certain things doing, have to do for this or this and that plan. All these have to first, I will do this. And then when I finish this, afterward, later, all this finish, then all pure dharma. I will should be doing or that do or that kind of thought.
This thought, it will go. This is the real or deceiving thought. Our deceiving thought because the activity, our in worldly activity, worldly are doing things or never end. All ending is one one end or then another rises or another end, then next one rises. Therefore, that way put all the way carry into up to all that.
Because the activity, wordly activity is the one you’re doing and then next to rise. Or after done that, next to the more greater rise continuously. Let me get or the or or the growing paddy or barley. Other, like barley, checking means how much you cut. On and they cut every every week you cut another bunch of the rice.
Again, cut. Again, bunch of rice. There’s no way cutting that stuffs there. That is a create of stuff. There’s nothing.
Other cutting is more growing. Other, therefore, all that will never that all these things. What are that? Is it like? Or if one wants to do real or dharma, which are beneficial to oneself or actually in the future.
And and for one’s own purpose for the future, then if one does strive energetically from now on, from right way, or from today. Today is the time or the everyday. Today is the valid, noble time. It’s the today. Everyday sinking that is or the tomorrow or tomorrow, that thought of tomorrow, tomorrow saying, oh, that that is the odd or deceiving thought of a dull mind.
Other figures, what is gonna happen is the actually doing all the pure Dharma practicing of the tomorrow, the day of tomorrow or and between there, what the there is a dangers of the the time of today, which is