Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. In this 54-minute session from an international retreat, Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches the complete Guru Yoga practice—a foundational meditation in Tibetan Buddhism on devotion to the spiritual master. He begins with preparation: nine-round breathing to settle the mind, then builds a detailed visualization of the guru as Śākyamūni Buddha and Vajradhāra surrounded by all lineage masters and enlightened beings. The instruction walks through refuge-taking and its power to purify, the four immeasurable thoughts cultivating boundless compassion for all six realms of beings, and generating bodhicitta—the commitment to attain enlightenment for all sentient beings rather than oneself alone. The session culminates in an elaborate offering ritual where practitioners visualize bathing and adorning the gurus with divine offerings and silks. For those who have received Highest Yoga Tantra initiation.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 108 2004 05 01 MR.mp3
UUID: f485cd37-6952-4592-ad40-b8b8d6f375d8
Teacher: Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1
Collection: y Mahāmudrā International Retreat (Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1)
Date: 2004-05-01
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 53.7 minutes
Words: ~3,738
Having cleaned the place, cleaning one’s mind by means of the nine-round breathing, casting out the worldly thought as the greatest enemy. So say one more time, these dharmakayas are only for people with highest yoga tantra initiation. They’re not to be shown by others to others. So please do nine-round breathing. In the space in front of me is a large jeweled throne supported by eight great lions, on top of which is a seat of variegated lotus and moon and sun mandalas.
On top of this is the essence of my own root guru in the aspect of the Conqueror Śākyamūni Buddha. The color of his holy body is the purest gold, and he has an uṣṇīṣa on the crown of his head. He has one face and two arms, his right hand in the mudra of touching the earth and his left in the mudra of concentration, holding a bowl filled with nectar. He’s wearing the saffron robes of monk and is adorned by the marks and signs. His holy body is in a nature of transparent light, and he sits in the vajra posture in the center in aura of light rays.
Surrounding him are the direct and indirect gurus, deities, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, dakas, dakinis, and protectors. In front of each of these holy beings on a faultless throne, sits the Dharma taught by them in the form of texts, having a nature of light. All of these beings in the merit field are in the aspect of being pleased with me. By remembering their qualities, by remembering their kindness. I feel great devotion towards them.
Surrounding me going out endlessly, all sentient beings, all experiencing the various different types of suffering of the six realms, all in human form. They’re extremely pitiful and crying out for help. I lead them in taking refuge. From beginning this time till now, I and all mother sentient beings have been experiencing the various general sufferings of saṃsāra and numberless times, especially the sufferings of evil gone realms. Still it is difficult to see the endless saṃsāra, to see the depth of suffering.
This time I’ve received a perfect human rebirth qualified by eight freedoms and ten riches, which is difficult to find, but once found is highly meaningful, can be used to attain a good future rebirth, liberation, and even enlightenment. Now after having met the precious Dharma of Buddha, which is so difficult to meet, if I did not try to attain the most sublime state of full enlightenment, which is beyond the state of peace and all samsaric sufferings, I’ll have to experience over again the general sufferings of saṃsāra and the particular sufferings of three lower realms. Who has the power to protect me from these sufferings? Only the guru and the three precious gems abiding in front of me. I must achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Therefore, I’m going to take refuge in my guru and three precious gems. Focus on the gurus. Awareness one hundred percent. This is all the Buddhas appearing to me in human form. Purify all past negative karmas accumulated in relationship with the gurus in beginningless past lives.
Completely purified. Now receive all their blessings and realizations and qualities into your own mind and that of all beings. I and all sentient beings come under protection, the gurus. Focus on the Buddhas. Received all the qualities.
Focus on the Dharma. Purified. Received all the realizations from good rebirths to enlightenment. Myself and all sentient beings are now under the protection and guidance of the holy Dharma. Focus on the Sangha.
Received all the blessings, realizations, Sangha. Myself and all sentient beings have now come under the guidance and protection of the Sangha. Now from deep down in your heart, along with all sentient beings, take refuge in Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, remembering the qualities and that they have the power to liberate yourself and all beings from suffering. Remember Rinpoche’s holy words, that taking refuge contains the whole path to enlightenment. The whole subject is there like the luminous sky.
The entire teaching of Buddha comes in refuge. Every time we take refuge, there is so much merit collected that if it was materialized, even the three thousand galaxies is too small to fit it. Replicas of Buddha absorb into you, transform into Buddha. From every pore of your holy body, infinite light beams emanate out on the tip of each light beam a Buddha comes to the crown of the head of each hell being, each hungry ghost, each animal, each human, each sura, each intermediate state being ripens and liberates. Their minds become, their bodies become.
They transform into Śākyamūni Buddha, and the light beams are reabsorbed back into your holy body, feel great joy in having been able to enlighten all beings. Then remembering that this is just visualization and reality, sentient beings are still suffering because they still have the causes, the delusions in their mind. Therefore, I must generate the four immeasurable thoughts. Purpose of these four immeasurables is the strength in bodhicitta. Just as a mother constantly thinks about her only child who is sick, the thought to free the child intensifies more and more the more she thinks of them.
By meditating on these four immeasurables, it strengthens and expands the bodhicitta. Remember the disadvantages of cherishing thought? Target it with the thought to destroy it. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were to abide in equanimity, free from hatred and attachment, not holding some close, not others as distant. When they abide in equanimity, I myself will cause them to abide in equanimity.
Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful that would be if all sentient beings were to abide in equanimity, free from hatred attachment, not holding some close and others distant. May they abide in equanimity, I myself will cause them to abide in equanimity. Please, guru deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were to abide in equanimity, free from hatred and attachment, not holding some close and others distant.
May they abide in equanimity, I myself will cause them to abide in equanimity. Please, guru deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful it would be for all sentient beings and happiness and the cause of happiness. May they have happiness in these causes. I myself will cause them to have happiness in these causes.
Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. Remember when you recite the word happiness, in the heart, there is a thought enlightenment. Don’t think of what we ordinarily think of as happiness, which is only the nature of suffering. Think enlightenment. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings had happiness and the cause of happiness.
May they have happiness in its causes. I myself will cause into happiness in its causes. Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings and happiness and the causes of happiness. May they have happiness in its causes.
I myself will cause them to have happiness in its causes. Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings are free from suffering and cause of suffering. May they be free from suffering and its causes. I myself will cause them to be free from suffering and its causes.
Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings are free from suffering and the cause of suffering. May they be free from suffering and its causes. I myself will cause them to be free from suffering and its causes. Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this.
How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were free from suffering and the cause of suffering. May they be free from suffering and its causes. I myself will cause them to be free from suffering and its causes. Please, guru deity, bless me to be able to do this. Take on the whole package of suffering of each being in all six realms, taking it right on to disturbing emotional thoughts, the I, the disturbing emotional thoughts, the object of ignorance, the I, and the self-cherishing, destroying it completely.
How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were never separated from the happiness, the high rebirth, and liberation. May they never be separated from these. I myself will cause never to be separated from these. Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were never separated from the happiness of high rebirth and liberation.
May they never be separated from these. I myself will cause never to be separated from these. Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were never separated from the happiness of high rebirth and liberation. May they never be separated from these.
I myself will cause never to be separated from these. Please, Guru Deity, bless me to be able to do this. Give away all your three-time merits along with all the results, both temporary and ultimate happiness, including enlightenment. Give everything to all beings. Special bodhicitta, Every single hell being is a source of all my past, present, and future happiness.
Each one has been my mother countless times, cherishing me with the greatest affection and love, bearing countless hardships for me. Nurturing me and sacrificing themselves for me when I was totally helpless. It’s so unbearable for me to think of even one of these hell beings having to suffer the intense sufferings of the hell realms even an instant. And there are numbers, and the suffering is endured for a great length of time. It’s my responsibility to free each one of these hell beings from their suffering and bring them to a state of happiness.
Therefore, I must do something. I must achieve enlightenment. Therefore, I’m going to engage in this profound quick path of Guru Yoga. Every single hungry ghost is a source of all my past, present, and future happiness. Each one has been my mother, cherishing me countless times.
It’s so unbearable for me to think of even one sentient being having to experiencing unimaginable sufferings of hunger and thirst in the preta realm. And they are numberless. And the suffering is experienced for great lengths of time. Therefore, I must do something. I must free them from their suffering and cause them to be free from suffering. Therefore, I’m going to engage in profound quick path of Guru Yoga.
Every single animal source for my past, present, future happiness. Each one was precious and dear unto me. It’s so unbearable for me to think of even one animal having to experience the sufferings of the animal realms even an instant, and they were numberless. Therefore, I must do something. I must achieve enlightenment.
Therefore, I’m gonna do this profound quick path of Guru Yoga. Every single human being is the source for my past, present, future happiness. Each one is the most precious and dear one to me. Each one has been my mother countless times, protecting my life from danger in so many ways when I was totally helpless. It’s completely my responsibility to free each and every one of these human beings from all their suffering, put into a state of perfect happiness.
Therefore, I must do something. Must achieve enlightenment. Therefore, I’m going to engage the profound quick paths of Guru Yoga. Every single sura and asura being has been my mother countless times, each one’s most precious and dear one. So unbearable for me to think of even one of these suras and asuras suffering and there are numberless.
Therefore, I must achieve enlightenment. Therefore, I’m going to engage this profound quick path of Guru Yoga. Each intermediate state being undergoing the terrifying hallucinations and fear of the intermediate state right now has been my mother countless times, cherishing me in numberless ways, caring for me when I was utterly helpless, creating so much negative karma for me. It’s so unbearable for me to think of even one of these beings undergoing that suffering and are numberless. And the suffering is not just for a short time, but for a long time.
Therefore, I must do something. Therefore, I must achieve enlightenment. Therefore, I’m going to engage in this profound quick path of Guru Yoga by which all the great masters achieved enlightenment very fast and which is full of blessings. For the sake of all mother sentient beings, I shall quickly, in this rare life, attain the state of primordial guru, Vajradhāra Buddha. I shall free all mother sentient beings from suffering and place them in the great bliss and Buddhahood.
Therefore, I shall now practice the profound path of Guru Yoga Vajradhāra Buddha. So now visualize that the merit field gradually absorbs. And then enters into you, absorbs into blissful light, and then enters into you. And then you absorb into emptiness. Then do the dharmakaya meditation, taking three kayas into the path and rising as a deity.
In a vast space of indivisible bliss and void amidst billowing clouds of Samantabhādra offerings, at the crest of a wish granting tree adorned with leaves, flowers, and fruit, Is a lion’s throne ablaze with precious gems on which is a lotus, sun, and full moon. There sits my root guru, kind in all three ways. In essence, all Buddhas. In aspect, a saffron robed monk. With one face, two arms, and a radiant white smile.
Right hand in the gesture of expounding the Dharma. Left in meditative pose holding an alms bowl full of nectar. You wear three lustrous saffron robes and your head is crowned by a golden pandita’s hat. In your hearts sits all pervading lord vajradhara with a blue body, one face, two arms holding vajra and bell, embracing Vajradhatu Ishvari. You delight in the play of simultaneous bliss and void, are adorned with jewel ornaments of many designs, enclosed in garments of heavenly silk, radiant with countless light rays adorned with a major and minor mark.
You sit in the vajra position encircled by a five colored rainbow. Your skandas are the five sukkatas, your four elements, the four Buddhas’ consorts. Your sense fields, channels, sinews, and joints actually bodhisattvas. Your hair pores are twenty one thousand arhats. Your limbs, the wrathful protectors.
The light rays, directional guardians, lords of wealth, and attendants. While all worldly gods are cushions for your feet. Surrounding you and their respective order, sit the direct and lineage gurus, yidams, hosts, mandala deities, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, heroes, and dakinis encircled by an ocean of protectors. The three vajras mark their three doors. From HUM, HOH, light rays radiate to invite the wisdom beings from their natural abode to inseparably abide.
To the endowed transcender and destroyer, the one gone beyond, foe destroyer, the completely perfected, fully awakened being, perfect in knowledge, and conduct. Supreme guide of human beings revered. Teacher of gods and humans, the founder, the endowed transcender and destroyer. Fully awakened one to all of you here, I offer this bath possessed of all qualities. The bathhouse has an extremely sweet fragrance, a crystal floor, and beautiful sparkling jewel pillars.
The roof is covered by canopy decorated with shining pearls. Just as after the birth of Buddha, the gods made offerings of pure water pure water for the gods. Holy body created by ten million excellent virtues. Holy speech fulfilling the hopes of infinite migratory beings. Holy mind seeing all existence as it is.
I offer this bath to Lama Dorje Chang. I offer this bath to holy bodies. The lineage gurus with extensive conduct. I offer this bath to holy bodies. The lineage gurus of profound view.
I offer this bath to holy bodies. The lineage gurus with bliss practice. I offer this bath to holy bodies. All lineage gurus. Guru Vajradhāra, encompassing all three refuges, taking the form of the virtuous friend for remembrance of vows, granting sublime and common realizations to the kind gurus I offer bath.
Who taught me education, who revealed sūtra and tantra texts and advice, who gave vows, initiations and commentaries on tantra, to the direct and indirect gurus I offer bath. With total control of the speech of the hero and glorious Sri, you, preserving the teachings with thousands, ones like oceans. Completely controlling three realms, you, the incomparable one, I offer bath. Eyes to view all the vast teachings being gateways to liberation for the fortunate, using skillful means to lovingly subdue, to illuminating spiritual friends, I offer this bath. Guhyasamāja, blissful Heruka, most glorious Vajrabhairava and the rest.
The chakras, the four wheels, of countless tantras, toward the assembly deity, I offer this bath. I offer this bath to holy bodies of founding Buddhas. I offer this bath to the protecting ones. I offer this bath for guiding beings, I offer this bath to the three precious gems.
In times long past, before the Bhagawan, you committed to supporting all child or beings, so accomplish practices according to Dharma. The assembly of Dharma protectors and supporters I offer this bath. The five long life goddesses, supporters of Damchen, protect us in the snow land of Tibet, especially those of this country and this place, all the local gods, the nāgas, landlords, and spirits I offer this bath. All these star goddesses and their retinues with many jeweled vessels of scented water, beautifully filled up with excellent songs, a variety of music offer this bath.
I now dry the holy bodies with incomparably clean, sweet smelling cloth. Om hung tram hri ah kaya vishwa danam svaha. Just as a goldsmith polishes gold, really pure and refined, so do I apply the best fragrance pervades billions of universes to the holy bodies, the controlled ones. They’re offering these soft, light, divine clothes with indestructible faith in those who attain the indestructible holy body. May I achieve the vajra holy body?
Because the conquerors adorned by the natural ornaments, the marks, and signs, they do not need any other kind of ornament. By offering these supreme jewel ornaments, may all sentient beings achieve a holy body adorned by all the marks and signs. By offering this auspicious vase, beautified with jewels and filled with various essence, the stains and delusions of all six realms sentient beings to purify. May we be moistened with the wetness of bodhicitta. With my auspicious light blazing forth in tender actions, tender good fortune blazes everywhere.
This crown ornament of precious golden powders, the crown of Chakravartin king I offer. May thereby precious teachings spread, and auspicious good fortune blaze everywhere, the world become pervaded by major happiness. And by becoming the crown ornament of transmigrators, gods included, may they all gain a level of one endowed with the ten powers. Out of your loving compassion for myself and all beings, so Bhagawans, please remain as long as I continue to make offerings by the force of your magical powers. Due to the merits of three times, gathered by me, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings.
The bodhicitta cherishing others, letting go of oneself, letting go of the I, which is source for happiness and success, myself and all other sentient beings. Be generated within my own mind, the minds, all sentient beings, without even a second’s delay. May that which is already being generated increase due to the merits of three times, get it by me, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings. May all the father, mother sentient beings have happiness. May three lower realms be empty forever.
May all bodhisattvas’ prayers succeed immediately and may I be able to cause all this to happen by myself alone. Due to the merits of three times gathered by me, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Buddha of compassion, all other holy beings, all their virtuous activities have stabilized. And may all the holy wishes succeed immediately. Due to the merits of three times gathered by me, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, may I be able to offer skies of benefit to all sentient beings as did by having within me the same qualities, from now on in all my future lifetimes.
Due to the merits of three times gathered by me, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings. From their own side. May the I, which is also totally nonexistent from its own side. Achieve Guru Śākyamūni Buddha’s enlightenment, which is also totally nonexistent from its own side. And need all sentient beings are totally nonexistent from their own side. That enlightenment, which is totally nonexistent from its own side.
But myself alone is also totally nonexistent from its own side. I dedicate all my merits in a way greatly admired by Buddha’s bodhisattvas three times and realized by Samantabhādra and Mañjuśrī. May I be able to complete and actualize teachings which unify Sūtra and Tantra within my mind and spread these teachings in the minds of all sentient beings. Thus, may Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings flourish forever. Due to all the merits of three times, guided by me, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings.
The only sentient being who hears me, touches me, remembers me, thinks about me, talks about me with a praising or criticizes. Abuses me or treats me badly, simply by having made any connection with me, never ever be reborn in low realms. May those sentient beings immediately be liberated from all disease, spirit harms, negative karma, obscurations, and quick achieving enlightenment by actualizing the whole path, especially bodhicitta. By my hearing that someone is sick, may it immediately cause that person to be completely recovered and have the most meaningful life by practicing the Mahāyāna path. By my hearing somebody has died, may it cause that person to immediately be born in a pure land where they can get enlightened.
Between sessions, breakfast, no breakfast, tea. Then we’ll come back at nine thirty. Thank you very much. Bye.