Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. In this 56-minute meeting, Lama Zopa Rinpoche addresses FPMT center directors from across Australia, framing their administrative work as service rendered on behalf of every sentient being. He traces the chain of benefit flowing from a single center visit: someone hears karma teachings for a day or two, develops compassion for animals, and stops fishing — cutting not just immediate harm but the ongoing ripple of that action through future lives. He describes how families notice the change: skeptical parents, even strongly Christian ones, see a child grow calmer and kinder and find themselves drawn toward dharma. He closes by asking directors to hold FPMT’s full 21-year span in mind and feel the cumulative weight of what their centers have actually offered. Suited to FPMT center directors and senior practitioners.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 01 1996 10 08.mp3
UUID: e29a5935-118d-4de9-81c7-b4720899e1c1
Teacher: Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1
Collection: y Directors Meet With Zopa (Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1)
Date: 1996-10-08
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 56.4 minutes
Words: ~3,825
Thank you. Okay. So I’m Elsa Campbell. I’m the director of Tārā Institute at Nālānda Buddhist Institute in Queensland. I’m Janelle Sawiri.
My will be director of Atisha Centre in Bendigo. Tenzin Samten, director of Tenzin Shedrup and Bendigo. Kimball. Kimball Cudahy. Daytona.
Peter Stripes, representing Lindsay Malhot, Chokden Tentong Centre for Tasmania. Tenzin Nundug. No name for the centre, eight centres up the coast, and on the FPMT board. Will Abraham, assistant director to Kimball, Kangaroo Island, Daytalyn Retreat Centre. We’re having too much subject, but I think collections of practice.
And even people cannot do it full time, but kind of much, but I think in the Buddha’s various practices put together integrated. And, again, even people their students could not come for the whole time, you know, one week or whatever, three days, Just the effort of just the effort of, like, the time to come to the teacher. It’s a way of learning, you know, practice. You know, how to how to do the practice, basically, for them. And that way, by having some knowledge, hard practice, it gives opportunity.
Then going back at home, you know, then it’s your, you know, whole life. This, you know, this opportunity to to collect merit, meditate, to do practice. That’s an easy way to. And inexpen— inexpen—. You know, on the.
Such an easy way to. That we didn’t reach too much subject, but those important various practices Mhmm. How to — most — how to — how to do — in the sense that becomes a means to purify many lifetime, many years in the karma and practice. And and how to make it a path an effective way. So I think that’s all what we need to learn and practice.
So each day closer. So this way, You know? Every day, we make our life closer to realization, you know, the path to the end — the end of — and to enlightenment. And And also, that’s one thing. The other one is since since since now we have many centers, They open up this development.
So we need We can see how much the sentient beings is people need help, how much help they need. You know, they need so much. How much how they need so much. There’s so much ignorance. Ignorance.
You know? Such vast and deep. So so all the wrong views. So so that because of that, it causes constantly. So it’s a I thought and many sanghas, many — all the scriptures — that can —.
And it’s very important because it’s a it’s a good visit. For for learning and practice the skills, you know, the methods for one’s own really oneself and, you know, of some side of self, but also especially to benefit others. Especially to benefit others. How do this? How do that?
How do this? Know? And it’s very, very essential. It’s all — it’s a house guide. Others see the various practice, meditation.
Mhmm. So It’s not that — it’s not that I have a great experience or something. Just — not that — let’s see. Just a little, you know, how to practice. So just some drops from that.
I think even with that, I think that’s almost good benefit others. Even just that few drops, I think, can benefit much to others to others. That type of bit of drops, you see. Yeah. Out of practice.
I think it’s very good. I think it’s very good to practice at the center to, you know, how to help how to practice it. Easy way. I mean, so none of us, you know, easy way to achieve and also not on the center also. And then as for, you know, more practice than your experience.
You can have more merit and more more experience. If there’s no extra realization, but more experience. So it’s You can benefit others deeper and, you know, with one’s own practice. So, therefore, it becomes a real then it doesn’t become artificial. Real to others.
So during this time, as as the progress on, you know, certain ideas. I mean, how things do at the center or say, I mean, to help, basically, to help people to help others. So the institute — integrated learning So therefore, it’s a I don’t think also, yeah, many. And then so let’s say create learning many things, many different forms of practice. Of course, Then I would like to thank you very much.
Yeah. Take it out. Yeah. Take it out. Take it it out.
Out. The center members, they really put the best effort what they can do to make to organize the place, you know, to combine everything, whatever they can think of, how to make best. So I really appreciate that very much, and I think it’s also admirable. I think it’s very good. I think I think also in the future.
Yeah. When this yeah. [unclear] So that’s all. So I wanted to thank very much to to everyone of you, all your dedication, service to help them — whose continuation of suffering?
Sometimes suffering has no beginning. You know, whose continuation of suffering has no beginning. See? But you see, with our help it can end. So because of the nature, they everybody have the nature, so the able is give positive to end this suffering, but they need help.
So so having established center, you know, many parts of Australia, in many parts of other in many parts of this world, and even within Australia and in many students, many, you know, dedicated their life and open service to other sentient beings and to be — you know — making conditions, creating conditions, so it’s important to practice. So yeah. That is that. One thing is that, you know, they didn’t begin with this life. They didn’t.
So that that’s I think the other thing is, you know, your own as I often mentioned during the teaching, during the motivation, you know, I use often that reason. All of us are part. None of us — past happiness, present, future happiness, realization, enlightened, everything. Every any collection of goodness, one yours, past, present, which are all up to enlightenment, received by kindness of every single sentient being. There’s no one there’s no one that from whom we didn’t we don’t receive our happiness from every every body, from everyone, every insect, every human being, every being, every every single thing.
So that that the most precious, most kind one, whatever. That is the reason. That is the reason to repay the kindness back. You know, to repay the kindness. So and to to thank for to thank on behalf of — so I thank all of you on behalf of all the sentient beings.
On behalf of all on behalf of Numberless hell beings, on behalf of numberless pretas, on behalf of Numberless animals, all the insects you see outside, on behalf of everybody, on behalf of all those beings. I think so. Okay? And yeah, they cannot speak like that.
So So so by taking that — I’m taking this time, this time, you know, so I can use the to say thank you. And now they they have so so, you know, so and they have all the human beings as well who, you know, so much help from you, you see, from your effort. So that and I think and also, this is a continuing wishes. The third thing is the continuing wishes. He — the founder of this organization.
And so which is that, you know, benefit the world. The benefit in the world, not just this one. To all the sentient beings. For example, the person by coming to the center here learns about bodhicitta, And then, you know, importance importance of to actualize compassion to all the things in bodhicitta. So so it’s time when they generate the daily motivation bodhicitta to benefit for sentient beings, to free them from all the sufferings, and to bring them in full enlightenment.
And that one is practicing. So then now, this year, Even daylight, you know, doing service. So teach you that at the beginning. When when they do prostration, when they make offerings, dedicate this. So put benefit for us.
So so even from that, each time on the generated motivation, it benefit all sentient beings. You know? That’s from that person, the number of sentient beings receive temporary ultimate happiness, liberation — and some up to enlightenment. You know? Numberless sentient beings receive happiness from that person.
Now there’s no Buddhist realization. Just just mere just the let’s see. So, like, imitation or just, you know, thinking that way, helping that way. But then, eventually, that will become realization. It will lead lead to, you know, eventually to realization.
So then actually, person if you mind, it should become that twenty four hours. So then, you know, that, you know, only thinking of others — only thought of seeking happiness for others, only working for others. Mhmm. You see, yeah, develop method and wisdom path — within that — any skill. Need to benefit others, then you develop all skill.
We learn about the Dharma. First, in the text, it says, there’s nothing that a bodhisattva doesn’t learn. Need to benefit others. So that then deeper deeper benefit as as far as path, you know, other paths go. And then able to do — benefit to.
So you see so therefore so therefore here, you can see now person coming to the center. Renunciation comes from compassion. You need of compassion because happiness of all things. They need happiness. That’s come from compassion.
So it’s it’s compassion. And, also, personally, you are how own and, you know, to come to the realization. Also need compassion. So each time the person — you can see — then eventually, upon that, able to receive more and more happiness.
Peace. Then all the they receive from that person. Numberless beings who have connection with that person So so all these benefits comes from the center.
You know, each person comes more generally motivate motivational each other, you know, each day practice or service. For this center in office. You see, that means that means the director — your responsibility, you know, The mountains of responsibilities. Yeah? On the shoulder, on the head, and also nose.
On those — on your shoulders. And everybody, all the staff, you know, who share — who take different responsibilities, different roles. And then and because teacher comes — and then from the effort, then able to arrange the teacher, and you know, So so what I was saying here, in essence, each person come to center learn about compassion. But each time, even they don’t have realization, but just immediate, just, you know, try to generate the action. In this case, we may generate — freeing from all the origins of suffering of sentient beings, but then that we bring each person, then you have to bring them up to.
So you are offering that. So centers that come from the center. So you’re offering all these benefits. So you see, they’re offering benefit each of this person. But even though it’s a small group, you see what each person does — to numberless sentient beings — even to that effect.
Even one person that comes to learn in this small group — just now think of the words and meditate. So everyone — it’s all one benefit.
It brings all the happiness to all being. You know, the it’s gonna be all the happiness from, you know, enlightenment — to liberation. So that’s how that’s how we should see long run you know, offering such benefit. Then I think as I normally said that, you know, listen to teaching even two days, I mention two days. Essence of karma.
Yeah. To not harm others. Compassion. And to just. You see?
Yeah. So one is one is talking karma consequences, you know, from your attitude and your action, what it does to your happiness or suffering. The consequences are a result of the action. If it is a negative attitude, negative action, then result back, you know, problem, you know, something. If it’s a positive thing, that result back to you.
You experience happiness. And also, if it’s negative, also harm to others in the. It projects harm and also projects happiness to others. So, however, the, you know, cause and effect of compassion. Let’s see.
No. Because the need for need for once something’s happening is for them is for them. What one should should do to not to not experience problems in this life, to not experience suffering. They are suffering. Confusion, dislike, and long run suffering.
Profound confusion from the emotion — the emotion — afflictions. That is the main one. That’s one thing. The other one is what other people don’t talk about. You know?
Common people don’t talk about. That’s the common the long term. So so the reason, you know, because their need is happening, then compassion is here. Others need happiness. So Mhmm.
The reason become even reason become to not harm and to benefit become the reason become even like limitless sky, you know, so extensive the reason to learn Dharma or to meditate, you know, is it to stop harm and to. So it is because nobody is investigating what is really happening. So that’s after. So, anyway so therefore so therefore it’s it’s how often bring up, let’s say. You see, even even though even even though this is the way this is the way how to bring peace this is way how to bring peace and happiness in the world, you know, by giving education.
Not by force, but giving education. Then from their own side, they start giving. So, like, even the government, which is does this. So, yeah, the center, center. Mhmm.
And, like, you see, centers that teaches. So plays the most important role for this. Plays the most important role. Most active, most important role for bringing peace in the world. You know?
The main — the key — is the most — is the key organization for bringing really bringing all this. Really bringing, you know, not just from some lectures. But, you know, to actually arranging facilities — the teacher teaching — and educating to see. Give full So place the, say, most important role. Bring a.
Yeah. Example. Mhmm. Mhmm. If this happens, daughters and sons, you see, they get interested somehow.
They meet somebody. They meet a friend. They meet somebody who met them or, you know, some. And then they got interested. Then they come to the center.
Listen to teachings. Listen to teachings or contemplation. Then they they learn, you know, they’ll they’ll they’ll learn, it’s not good for you to harm others. You know? karma.
And then being good for others, you know, You know, do not harm others — practice kindness — by doing Lamrim meditation, doing Lamrim meditation, then they became kind to their parents. They became kind to their parents before not. But after meeting Buddhism, during Lamrim meditation, they became kind to their parents.
Then the parents, I really appreciate. I mean, I heard quite a number of times the parents expressing, oh, I hear what it’s the parents telling me. This their son daughter meeting dharma. The word that they use is by meeting your religion. By your religion.
Meeting your religion. Since that that’s how they say. By meeting your religion, make them good for us. So, anyway so that that those things are those things are excellent. You know?
A result of part a result a result of practice, result of understanding, result of understanding, there you see in the you see the affect, the happiness, peace, the parents. Those are the culture — because of the culture. Because parents — they have little problems. Whatever has something wrong, their daughter and son blame the parents. Mhmm.
So so that is a little problem, like ignorance, you know, with the parents. So there is so therefore, the parents are such I think, you know, I think not easy life, but such a to do the, you know, like, in the west. So and the culture is here. So and yeah. And, you know, and And I was I don’t know if the person’s.
But it also old. So, anyway, that so then the parents then they come to listen to some Dalai Lama’s teachings because they see their children. They they see their children good, more more happy than before. You know, more peace, more happy than before. I mean, even though they don’t like Buddhism.
You know? Even though even though they met him — if you are deeply, strongly Christian, maybe this is devil — this is devil power or something. Devil.
Devil. But however they they however they develop. However however their children become better human being. And so even they call it apart — but they become better human beings. So so I think, therefore, I think so they so so they become interesting point because here they see that I’m so happy.
They see that more peace and happiness, you know, in their in their life, you know, more knowledge. It’s more wisdom. Like, that’s not like before. So easy to be disturbed and so selfish, you know, so consider yourself. You see, like, that?
So, anyway, then then they got interest. They wonder what what is this. They wonder they’re interested in read or maybe. So So at least — the minimum — after hearing one day, three day teaching, they stop harming others. The minimum.
You know, many commitments or prayers and stuff. The the the very the the very the one one, you know, one important practice that they will do is stop — stop from that — stop — stop. Intentionally, you know, intentionally harming insects or things like that. You see, no question of human being. You may have guessed.
So stop fishing. You see, because they suffer think of — you think of they suffer. So before, it was before, it was like they were like like a plant, like using you treat the animal like, you know, like a plant, like a vegetable. No mind. But now she stopped fishing like that.
Stop. So that so just that. Even the the other, you know, practice. Just just the just the doing this about taking refuge. You know?
Taking refuge in the Dharma, then stop giving harm to others. At least stop killing. If you can’t cancel all the harm, at least killing. So this causes so many fish to be saved. So many thousand thousand thousand thousand fish to have long life.
Because that person stopped fishing since on that time by hearing dharma one or two days to the center or reading dharma. And, otherwise, that person let’s see. Mean, now it doesn’t live two people don’t live two hundred years. You know? So there are there are only very few who live hundred years.
Then how long the person’s gonna live? Going to go fishing. As far as the person healthy, you know, not in an old folks home, but how do they will go fishing as a part as part of the enjoyment of life, you know, peace as a peace for the life. Fishing. So or hunting for pleasure.
So just that, you know, stopping harming others — just that is, I think, unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable benefit. You know? You see, the center help that person to stop so many of these karma. You know? Harmony human beings.
Killing human beings. Killing human beings, you know, mothers who are killing, even, you know, grown grown up. Up. I didn’t mean any insects. So that that person so so much karma created in their life.
You see? You know? One negative karma. Having stopped one negative karma — then you don’t experience the ripening result, you know, The urge — the action — killing again and again next time. So you don’t experience that.
The as result similar to what can you do? Similar to the previous action — doing that again in the future. When you’re born a human being, give another good karma. When you’re born a human being, then you engage again same karma again.
Then that produces four types of result. One of them is doing the action again. Then that complete karma produces four types of result. One of them is engaging again. So so you see.
So this one — by stopping at that time — you stop the continuing suffering result — which comes from this one. Stop. It’s a person doesn’t experience. So the absence of all that is peace and happiness from life.
That’s why. So just having stopped when they come to the center is incredible. Unbelievable benefit through the that person. So the this is what this is what the center offers. This is what the center offers from the organization.
People put, you know, dedicate that or put so much effort and put your life there. For this, I’m talking here. I can stop at wanting karma. I just think of karma. So then that this person stopped.
Stop. You see? So you can see now. So you can see now. If the person didn’t do that, didn’t meet dharma, didn’t come to the center, didn’t meet dharma, didn’t hear dharma.
You know? We can see that person continue continuing their whole life. And then you can see now how much suffering, how much ongoing suffering, endless suffering from which they become. So you can see So life each of them makes their own life difficult now and future. So, therefore, you see, they stop by hearing karma and by having compassion.
They stop at least at least this this one practice. You know? Something the very first thing is the the most important So so each person, you know, for each person, like, it started since it has started up to now. Twenty one. Twenty one?
Twenty one. Okay. Twenty one years ago. See. So now how many people — how many people — many people can come.
You see? So all those during twenty one years, how many people can do that? You see? So if you think like this, if you analyze it, now you can see the immense benefit to each person — from now to enlightenment — from the center. You see?
It’s in the heart of one sentient being. To raise one virtue in the heart of one being — they don’t get depressed — even if it takes the duration of time.
They don’t get depressed.