Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. Recorded at Lama Yeshe’s memorial ceremony in Adelaide on 3 July 1984 — about four months after his passing in March of that year — this 50-minute recording features two speakers. Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Lama Yeshe’s own teacher from his years in Tibet, opens with a memorial address honouring the extraordinary work that Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche accomplished in establishing FPMT centres across the West. He urges students to continue that work harmoniously, to support one another across centres, and to rally behind Lama Zopa Rinpoche as the continuation of that mission. Lama Zopa then speaks personally about the grief of losing Lama Yeshe and other great lamas that year, shares his belief that Lama Yeshe consciously planned his passing, recounts being present with him in hospital — including Lama Yeshe’s remarkable request to perform the Heruka self-initiation near the very end — and closes with a reading from Lama Yeshe’s will. His central teaching is that developing one’s own mind through sincere practice is the truest offering to Lama.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 1984-07-03 – 1A – Memorial or – LY.mp3
UUID: 75745f37-778a-4c34-bf0b-8bafdc02fc65
Speakers: Geshe Lhundub Sopa, then Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Subject: Memorial ceremony for Lama Thubten Yeshe
Collection: Lama Yeshe Memorial 1984
Date: 1984-07-03 (Buddha House Adelaide ceremony)
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 50.4 minutes
Words: ~4,140
Model: Deepgram Nova-3, AI re-corrected 2026-04-30
Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 1984 08 03 c1s1.mp3
UUID: c5ad1e4b-f026-4701-9830-8ed065b4523e
Teacher: Lama Yeshe
Collection: Buddha House Adelaide — Memorial
Date: 1984-08-03
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 50.4 minutes
Words: 4145
Model: Deepgram Nova-3, AI-corrected (Sonnet+dict, layers L1-L3)
Good morning, I’m here. Of course, I didn’t come to give speech or to talk to you, but mainly came for Lama Yeshe’s ceremony, participating. And also, they requested me to give a few words to advise or talk with the people. Since I’m the teacher of Lama Yeshe in Tibet long time when he was a young boy, I was his teacher. So therefore, we know each other for a long time as teacher and student relationship.
We had all the way through up to this point, we had good relationship. So therefore, I really feel that responding to Rinpoche’s request I should come here. But I have nothing much to say. I have nothing much to tell you. Just to show up here and a few words I would like to say.
So one thing is, of course, Lama Yeshe had during these past years so much activity which is really a benefit to many people, especially in the West. How much benefit Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa, these two teachers really had a wonderful job. So this is the result of everywhere in the West, so many centers, so many students, and how they established themselves and organization and the teaching and following teaching seriously. And they had also wonderful opportunity to meet other teachers and many, many instructions and teachings.
Really, somewhere when you look, even that kind of opportunity, even in Tibet, we don’t have much. Even these lamas, high lamas, all the time teaching and high initiations, all the time valuable, these kind of things, very, very rare over there. You had a lot really wonderful these things and opportunities in the past several years. So therefore, I’m really happy and admiring them. And then also the people and the followers also, it’s difficult to follow certain new religion or culture or certain kind of custom, which is a different culture and built completely different way from young age.
And it is not easy for us to interest to accepting or really following like this, but I see so many you people are doing enthusiastic or faithful and many, many great works done and the practitioners also, so many you have seen. So I’m just kind of amazed looking like this and everywhere. So that is the one I really enjoy and happy. Now Lama Yeshe has passed away. But while he was alive, I think most time what he wanted to do is to go to the West, beginning small group in Nepal started from there and spread everywhere like catching fire, like everywhere.
So therefore, this way, and then each center have groups when they return to their home, and they need the same kind of tradition, the same kind of teaching, same kind of atmosphere, something like this for that benefit in the center. They need different teachers and groups what they want to develop or follow continuously. So that is the spreading teaching everywhere. We have Buddhism, Mahāyāna, with that is the Mahāyāna means only medicine to cure the misery of sentient beings is the Dharma, the teaching. Of course, without spiritual proper correct teaching, there is no real cure or complete permanent freedom from misery or suffering.
So therefore, temporary medical etcetera, temporary sickness and disease may be temporarily subdued or cured, but the spiritual way, the real medicine to cure all the sickness or misery or suffering is real teachings. So therefore, if teaching survives, teaching spreads everywhere, there is great beneficial, great cure to everywhere. So therefore, spreading teachings is one of the most excellent service for the rest of the people or humans. So therefore, it’s service for teaching and service for benefit of all the others. When even this is spread, it only brings some kind of the highest goal or happiness. The teaching does not bring any kind of misery or suffering or harm, but it is supposed to bring peace and happiness and to cure the suffering.
So therefore, that is, I think, his goal also. So when this happens, he would be very happy and enjoying. So when you see like these many, many classes, many, many followers in the teaching, and also people there, so many people dedicate themselves, sacrifice sometimes themselves, try to have this kind of teaching to develop not only oneself for the benefit of others, groups and different people. In order to spread, there are many, many jobs needed. Therefore, also, I can see so many people really dedicating to these.
So therefore, each of these various organizations or centers have very, very people are really dedicated to doing for the benefit of other groups and following wishes of the wish of their teacher. So that is the wonderful thing. I really admire all of them. So now what is remaining is Lama Yeshe in the past, but everybody hopes the people, his students, would still continue following his teaching and the groups which he has organized, not letting them down but try to develop in the right way, right proper way, the goal which he wished to accomplish. Many of you probably will know some of the other students. And also, his favorite student, Lama Zopa is here still alive, and he can also continue following.
Helping to help new people and teaching continuously. He’ll help new people also same way to be getting teachings and advice from him. And then also to develop the organization and the teaching, develop the people, everything. People of mind. Religion, Buddhism, teaching is to, of course, peace and calm, and these are spreading throughout everywhere.
That is one of the main goals. So therefore, people here after this, try same way to develop and practice. First, practice accordingly. And then also in the future, in order to practice, of course, surviving teaching. Our teaching also, there are so many different levels, so therefore traditions or each system. You have certain traditions following, and that tradition when you follow without too much mess or mixing, pure kind of system.
Because sometimes many, many systems, sometimes even agreeing some same goal somewhere, but the systems, if systems sometimes mixed, it wouldn’t work. It’s like going somewhere in the far distance. They’re reaching by airplane or by car or by walking, many different, but each have their own system which way you’re going. So therefore, if they are mixed, then it would not be a very, very good thing. So therefore, following each has their own system. So the pure system, if one follows that much, then one will accomplish one’s own goal.
And then also there are Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa. These two together, so many centers established, and there are so many students everywhere. So therefore, sometimes it is important to each other very, very friendly. And as the children of one spiritual father like that, or under one’s teacher. So therefore, they should be very, very harmonious.
And each other try to help. How can I help? How can I serve for this goal? What is the best thing? What is not good?
Those things, we humans have so much intellect. We can do a lot of things if we properly weigh, thinking, examine, and doing earnest attitude toward whatever, and then accomplish great enormous things. And also human has intellect for a lot of things in an evil way. If one goes wrong way, evil things can be also accomplished by humans most in a powerful way than any others. So we have this special kind of intellect.
So using human intellect for the benefit of the spiritual goal and the benefit of others or benefit of oneself. So therefore, I think harmonies between each other, our religious friend, our religious brother, our religious sister, like that way, feeling each other to help each other. What is the best way of help? That is one of the goals. If there are, of course, humans sometimes have errors.
Or sometimes when you see some error, try to solve those things. And some people can do what is the best thing to solve those things, solving certain problems. Certain people have problems. Some other people can be able to help them and solve. That way, helping each other like brother and sister taking care of each other.
I like that way. I think that is also one of the important. In that way, keeping continuous what project which Lama Yeshe did have, you probably generally, general goal or general way of doing already experienced, already known. So to those areas, continue or dedicate, continue. That will be very excellent thing.
Because I know so many people are working so hard, very, very earnest, very, very faithful way toward their own body and mind, try to serve for these goals. So many of those things. So therefore that will be those excellent things. So I hope everybody will do, follow, continue from here the same way, and that will fulfill the qualities, call, or his wishes. And then also, Lama Zopa is still here.
He is now the main of his students. And several years ago, when he was in the hospital, almost doing the operation, at that time, when he goes to hospital, he was not sure actually operating or not. But, anyway, checking a series examinations to do intermittently at that time. Also I know he’s one in his mind also, he has very, very strong wishing to care for Lama Zopa. Lama Zopa is very young.
But even young, he is very, very one of the young lamas who is special, who is great, how to say, practitioner who started seriously, who practiced seriously, who can teach to other people and his own behavior, and all of these, I think, everybody can see. So like this, what Lama Yeshe wants to have him in the future successful and very, very good beneficial continuously. So therefore, if he should have certain area needing help to him, whatever needs to have, that is also his wishes. He asked me, now I’m a little bit worrying about him.
Please help him or that thought. So like these things also you can keep in mind. So otherwise, I think he has great everywhere activities. This is establishing everywhere seeds, for example, seeds in the ground for the developing this wonderful spiritual teaching, which is most beneficial to all sentient beings. So when seeds are planted already, so therefore each group can concentrate their own way as whatever they can do into their own way, developing best way to do.
And without interrupting others, but then also some things which we share, some things with ideas, and helping each other. Something like this, that will be very good. So I think I don’t have much to say. Something like this area general. So that is the gist of the request.
I really actually didn’t feel to talk at this point. I just come to the ceremony and just leave. They wanted me to say some few things, so I’m not sure what I should say. But, anyway, those things what I felt at this point, that is what I say. Okay? So I think that’s all I do.
Okay? What do you have? Okay. But that’s all. Then we have today a lot of puja and also, so I wouldn’t take you too long.
Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
And this is very numb, you know. Numb. Can’t think of anything. So fifty-nine years, you know. And he’s got this, you know, this recent. You think what happened? This year, not only not only our own country, also other high lamas who are not common to us, other high lamas passed in the past year in India. I think whatever people say, whatever it is, I think, my one way of thinking that is I think one thing that forty-nine years, soon as the age of forty-nine. So that’s, you know, great.
Our common vision, you see, this great obstacle. I think it became kind of like, you know, of the, you know, life. Maybe since, you know, possibly soon as, you know, kind of I think like that, you know. I’m sure, you know, I’d say the main thing is that sometimes we receive guidance from high beings and don’t have enough merit. So you see. In the glass, the glass is very small, you see?
Then you can see. The glass is very small. Then even there’s, you know, one very large pond in the field with nectar, you know, the whole thing cannot fit in that small cup, you know, that small vase. So like that. I think that’s the main problem.
Leaving all these high lamas. Somehow, and all those high lamas living, including lamas, somehow do not fit to us. Do not fit. So small merit, not fit, per se. You know, do not fit.
You know, we cannot care. Like, a big huge burden cannot carry something. This kind of cannot, we cannot. We have to have incredible merit to have all the holy beings guiding us in our life. So I think that’s the main thing.
Due to our short merit. And also, you know, many causes, having created many causes. You know? See, really for living beings. Even though we don’t have any connection or in Dharma connection.
Especially, those who whom we have Dharma connection. And there are many things to cause them to hurry, you know. Do not need to stay long in the world to guide us. We created those causes. We create those causes.
How to do that? So I think similar, you know, as in general, similar in regards to this particular point of Lama’s passing, same. It is not something that suddenly happened. Lama planned, I think, Lama planned, you know, some time ago, you know, passing away. There’s a lot of preparations.
Preparations. Lama told last year, I was reading the letter that Lama left. You know? I was reading the letter. This has been, what, two years ago?
Nineteen eighty-two. And last year when Lama was in France, Lama told the director or the person who is very close to Lama, who is in the heart of Lama. Lama told him that I would leave my body in New Year time. So I, you know, I told him, must be joking. He said, no, seriously.
So I told him, please write. You should write to Lama so that he can explain all the reasons to live long. It’s not just an ordinary person without choice in that, you know, not like that. And recently, you know, just recently, before I left from Dharamsala, it was you know, almost every day, again, you know, again, over and over.
If I don’t die, then I’ll do this. If I don’t die, I’ll do that. I was, you know, always conversations always involved in that all the time. Very much. And like this.
Okay. Then in the hospital, you see. The hospitals, you know, the treatment generally, you know, I tried to, this is not the main point, what I want to say. You know? So actually my observation was different.
Not just trying to make the final decision based on my own vision, but mainly the final decision was based on Lama’s own advice, you know, where to stay, everything. So it worked right in time. You know, at certain times, like after Lama came to the, you know, paralyzed state, like it’s a good time to come back, you know, to come to be at home. So, you know, and as things change.
And that morning, just before completing the passing of the Tibetan year, forty-nine. Lama asked me to do the Heruka Chakrasamvara self-initiation. Especially, even though Lama was in that heavy state, you know, the thing is about the kind of, Lama was able to keep, you know, straight and then to perform the Chakrasamvara initiation like that. Kind of very surprising, you know, that, you know, if I done that much, I cannot remember even, you know. Even when I’m healthy, I cannot remember.
When I’m sick, impossible. Only the thought of sickness. Nothing else. Just worrying about that. So however, right after finishing, around that time, you see, I think late at night. I don’t remember exact. So there was some kind of hesitation or something happened in my mind, you know, something heavy thing might may happen. I mean, I couldn’t decide based on Lama’s body, you know, when Lama’s body, you know, Lama can pass away. I couldn’t decide based on Lama’s body.
So I asked Lama, please, should consider to be recovered soon because the students, they understand Dharma. They’re very intelligent, and they can change their mind, and they will become more harmonious. At that time when I said they, you know, they can change their mind, and they will become harmonious, they will become harmonious, that time, Lama couldn’t speak well. He didn’t respond. He didn’t respond. He sounded like this when I said, you know, they will become harmonious. This request near to the time of passing away.
Somehow, it didn’t accept. So I think we can understand, you know, from this, Lama, you know, kind of quiet, you know, quiet, and there was I felt quite, you know, tough, you know, like this when I was requesting, kind of not, you know, accepting something like that. So we can understand. We can see from that. It’s a great lesson.
You know? However, so therefore. You see like this. I recently heard from one guru. You know? If you make mistake with one guru, then you see you may mistake also with other gurus.
Even though because of that pollution, you see, you have many gurus. Even if you made mistake with one guru, but if you haven’t made mistake yet with other gurus, but because of the pollution, you see, somehow that causes you to have wrong practice with guru. It’s my mistake also in devoting to other gurus. You know, wrong aspect. You know, you see, because of that, also, you know, somehow, you see, that mistake happens following even if one has other gurus. Like that. But by doing one mistake, many mistakes, and something like that. However, the main point is I’m not going too much. Main point is that, you know, since Lama didn’t accept, didn’t respond. You know? But since our mind is not one with anger, not one with attachment, as we all know from studies, you see, since it is not mixed, our mind is not mixed, since it’s possible to separate.
So I think, you know, to put into to attempt. Into the inner. The outer. To subdue the mind, to develop mind. With heart. However, you know. So in that way, the harmonies comes, you see.
How about it? I think, you see, even Lama, to please Lama is not in that aspect, same aspect, but you see, becomes pleasing, becomes best offering, and then, you know, quick as a cause to reincarnate quickly and to guide us, and have the chance to be able to enjoy the nectar. I think that is the main pleasing thing. I think at each center, you see, the first thing to do, the most important thing to do, you know, is to be able to try to develop one’s own mind, you know. And how you practice Buddhism, you know, as much as possible.
Patience, you know, however you learn, as much as possible to develop the mind. Then I think in that way, you see, then that center really gets developed, really gets developed. You know? Has incredible good vibration, and you see, anybody who comes, you know, is so happy, you know. There’s no confusion.
Even that place, you know, is to generate realizations. With the good vibrations for the people, you know, are harmonious. You know that. You know, people want to stay, you know, want to retreat, want to practice. I think that’s the first thing. You know? That’s the best way to develop a center.
Otherwise, there’s no, otherwise, you know, if you talk about general development of centers, you know, if you talk about teaching something in the sky, you know, then you see without relation to one’s own mind, you know, to practice, you know. Then you see, then in that way, then one cannot, you see, you cannot practice, you cannot develop the center. You know, you cannot develop the teaching, you know, developing teaching outside somewhere in the sky. You know, nothing about one’s own mind. Without relating to one’s own life, one’s own mind, you know.
Then I think this is the, you know, best offering to Lama, you know, fulfilling Lama’s wishes. But, you know, I think if you do compete, if you do competition of centers by Dharma practice or development of mind rather than by material. Then also, there are many teachings that we can receive. You see? You know? We still have some fortune to receive, you know, from the teachings of Lama.
I thought to read. You know? I don’t have much time. Lama left a letter here. Maybe you read English, please. The twenty-seventh of September, Lama gave this advice to Nālānda Centre in Spain.
How many years ago? Three years? Three years ago when I was in Spain, the city center. Is that right? In Spain.