Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. Lama Zopa Rinpoche structures this two-hour teaching around a single theme: the guru’s kindness as the foundation for all spiritual progress. He opens with readings from Lama Chöpa on why remembering this kindness matters—it generates the devotion needed to receive the guru’s blessings. He then leads practitioners through a complete guru yoga practice: detailed visualization of the merit field with the root guru at center, surrounded by the lineage; sustained prostrations and offerings; renewal of bodhisattva and tantric vows; and meditation on the guru’s kindness using metaphors (doctor, bridge, protector, sun). He weaves in reflection on Lama Yeshe’s reincarnation and concludes with practical instructions for between-session practice. Aimed at serious practitioners in a structured retreat.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 109 2004 05 01 MR.mp3
UUID: f5c1670f-58b6-41bc-b8dc-fafdbbe227f9
Teacher: Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1
Collection: y Mahāmudrā International Retreat (Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1)
Date: 2004-05-01
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 98.9 minutes
Words: ~7,098
By sitting in correct position and then cleaning the mind by doing the nine round breathing meditation. So this session, we’re going to focus on the kindness of the guru. So I’ll read a quotation from Lama Chöpa, Kirtaswar from Lama Chöpa. It is very important to it is very important to remember the kindness of the guru. By remembering again and again, wrong thoughts of heresy don’t arise so much and even stop.
The more we think about kindness and feel it from the heart, the more we develop perseverance and a strong will to bear hardships, to follow the advice, and to accomplish the advice of the guru. On the basis of what is explained in the Lamrim and outlined in the teachings and our own experience of the guru’s kindness and goodness, we are more able to keep our mind calm and clear and less like dirty water. Then devotion arises. Once we have devotion, our mind is prepared for realizations to come. At least the guru’s mark, at least the guru’s kindness blessing our mind, and sudden strong thoughts of death and impermanence, compassion, and loving kindness.
The feelings of loving kindness and unbearable compassion become so powerful that the strong wish develops to be reborn in the naraq immediately for the sake of others. One feels this unbearably and sincerely from the heart. Also, unexpectedly, some realization arises. It’s a surprise, but by developing devotion, we create the conditions for it to happen. Also from Lama Chöpa.
If you listen to the advice of Buddha who has only compassion for sentient beings and no trace of self centered mind, who is perfect in power, wisdom, and compassion, whose holy mind is omniscient, all you get is benefit. Putting yourself under the control of the Buddha brings you every happiness up to that of enlightenment. You get happiness now and every possible future happiness. Similarly, if you put yourself under the control of a virtuous friend, you get the same benefits as you do from putting yourself under the control of the Buddha. There is only benefit and not the slightest harm.
Recollect the visualization of merit field in front. The most pure environment from an ocean of milk arises a wish granting tree composed of the most precious jewels. In the center, on a lion throne, lotus sun and moon disk sits your root guru in the aspect of Lama Losang Tubwang Dorje Chang, the magnificent embodiment of all objects of refuge. From his heart, light rays go out. To either side, the Lineage Lamas of the profound view and extensive deeds.
Behind the Lineage Lamas are tantra texts, including the Mahāmudrā Lineage Lamas. In front, one’s own guru in ordinary aspects surrounded by all those gurus with whom once made Dharma contact. And down below, on layers, on the wish fulfilling tree, The deities, the four classes of tantra, Buddhas in their sambhogakaya aspect, bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddhas, dakas and dakinis, dharma protectors, and around the edge, the four guardian kings surrounded by their entourage. Every single figure of the merit field is the embodiment of one’s own root guru, the manifestation of the absolute guru appearing whatever form is needed to guide us sentient beings from suffering and bring us to the state of enlightenment. Even each pore of the merit field is all the Buddha’s.
All the Buddhas manifest in human form as our Gurus. Our Gurus are the manifestation in human form of all the Buddhas. With this Guru Yoga mind, imagine manifesting numberless bodies, huge like mountains that prostrate from the four directions covering every single atom, reciting praises with great devotion to the guru and with the mind reflecting on the profound qualities and extensive kindness. Your compassion grants even the most fortunate great bliss. Supreme state of the three kayas in instant.
Guru of the jewel lined body, vajra holder, I prostrate at your lotus feet. You, the wisdom knowledge of all infinite conquerors, appearing in any way that subdues. With supreme skillful means, you manifest as a saffron robed monk. Holy refuge savior, I prostrate at your feet. You eliminate all thoughts and the instincts and the treasure of infinite precious causes.
So source of benefit and bliss without exception, perfect pure guru, I prostrate at your feet. Remember when we see, hear, or think guru, we should always remember absolute guru, dharmakaya, transcendental wisdom of nondual bliss and voidness. Before this, there are no Buddhas. All the Buddhas are manifestations of this. Teacher of gods and all in nature, all Buddhas, source of eighty four thousand pure dharmas, You tower above the whole host of aryas.
Kind guru, I prostrate to you. To gurus dwelling in the three times and ten directions, three supreme jewels, no worthy of homage. With faith, conviction, ocean of alluring praise, I prostrate manifesting as many bodies, atoms of the world. At any rate, I must achieve state of full enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings. To do this, I need to accumulate extensive merit.
Therefore, I’m going to do this practice of making extensive offerings to the merit field. Blessing all the offerings set out here. Blessing all the offerings set out above in Rinpoche’s room. Blessing all the offerings set out in all the various FPMT centers. Mongolia, two thousand six offerings in compound above of five hundred bowls.
Land of Medicine Buddha in California, in Taipei Center in Taiwan, all the centers, they are pinned to you, all the offerings, all the bowls, all the lights, all the flowers or incense, all the tea offerings, all the beautiful objects are offered. Then a Rinpoche’s house in Aptos, thousands of lights, candles, bowls, most beautiful bowls filled with deep saffron water. The Rinpocheh’s house retreat house in Washington, again, hundreds of offerings, thousands of lights. Then in the rest students houses in Malaysia, Singapore, also all the offerings, wherever there are actually arranged offerings and a mentally transforming, numberless more, by ascertain this mantra causing all these offerings perceived by numberless Buddhas, remembering each offering has ten benefits, one of which is it creates a cause for enlightenment. Even with one tiny offering, we create merry as extensive as limitless space.
By doing this visualization, and in our minds, we keep the expansive view of offering numberless offerings. May human and divine offerings actually range and mentally created clouds, finest clouds of offerings fill the entire space. May charity, oh, by power of truth, the Three Jewels, blessings all, bless all that is suffering, by power of great mind, they’re completely two collections, completely pure and conceivable, sea of reality, and all these offerings become just so So remembering by offering just one rice to the Buddha comes cause of enlightenment, cause of all success. Through offering just one rice, one petal, you achieve the limitless skies of qualities of Buddha’s holy speech, holy body, speech, and mind, so much profit. Then making charity all these offerings to all sentient beings, every single hard being, every single being, every single animal, human, being, intermediate state being, so that we can all offer these offerings together and all share the benefits and become a huge puja for all sentient beings.
Then, prostrating, putting palms together the heart, making prostrating, which already has has so many benefits to the gurus, all the gurus, with the awareness that each one is the embodiment of all Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, all holy objects in three times, ten directions. Making all the offerings which are the nature of infinite bliss, Buddha’s holy mind experiences all these offerings as infinite bliss. Generating the highest bliss in the guru’s mind. Do this over and over. Prostrate, offer, generate bliss.
Prostrating, offering all the offerings which will make you infinite bliss to all the rest of the figures in the Guru Puja merit field. Meditating the awareness that the essence of all of these is one’s own root Guru, generating infinite bliss in the holy mind over and over. Prostrating, making all the offerings which are nature infinite bliss to all ten directions, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, on every atom and numberless Buddhas, offering all these offerings to all of them with the awareness that they are in essence one’s own root guru, generating infinite bliss in the holy minds over and over. Prostrating, making all the offerings, the offerings here, the offerings in centers, of students’ own houses, students’ houses and so on, mentally visualizing nonetheless more to all ten directions, statues, stupas, scriptures, relics, and all holy objects everywhere. By meditating in essence, they are one’s own root virtuous friend from their own side, generating infinite bliss in the holy mind over and over.
Finally, prostrating to the eight medicine Buddhas in order for all one’s prayers to be fulfilled, Thousand-Armed Chenrezig to quickly generate great compassion and take full responsibility to lead all beings to enlightenment, by oneself alone, And the Bodhisattva Samantabhādra ordered extensive activities for sentient beings exactly in accordance with their wishes with their needs. Offering all the offerings here, all the offerings, all the centers, all the offerings Rinpoche’s house and so on, mentally creating numberless more. All these offerings generating infinite bliss in the holy minds with awareness that all of these are in essence one’s own root virtuous friend. Do this over and over. From all these offerings, numberless more offerings emanate filling the whole earth and sky.
Countless sets of sixteen offering goddesses emitted from one’s heart. Present these offerings to the merit field, generating infinite bliss in their holy minds. Refuge, savior’s treasures of compassion, eminent supreme, man filled with pure faith, I present to you a billion times over. Mount Meru, the four continents, seven precious royal emblems, precious minor symbols and more. Perfectly delightful environments and their beings and a great treasure of all the gods and humans use or desire.
By the merit of having offered this mandata in the merit field, may I and all sentient beings be able to meet the purest and teachings victorious ones which contain the biographies of those eminent ones who live in pure morality and the brave attitude follow extensively the bodhisattva’s conduct We practice the yogas at two stages the essence of which is a transcendental wisdom of non dual bliss and voidness. May I and all sentient beings be able to meet this pure complete teaching of Lama Tsongkhapa, unification of Sūtra and Tantra right this second. To please you, venerable gurus, I offer objects actually set out and a vision of a pleasure grove on the shore of a wish granting sea. Strew with thousand petal lotuses that captivate all minds. These offerings arise in Samsāra nirvana’s virtues.
Everywhere of flowers are worldly and transcendent virtues, the three doors, myself and others. A myriad fragrance Mantavajra offerings. It is laden with fruits with three trainings, two stages, and five paths. I offer a libation of china tea, saffron brine, delicately perfumed, rich with a hundred flavors. The high books, five lamps, and so forth, purified, transformed, increased into a notion of nectar.
I offer illusion, nine consorts, a youthful slender, sender and skilled in sixty four arts of love. The host of beautiful messenger dakinis, feel born, mantra born, and simultaneously born. Unobstructed great wisdom, simultaneous with bliss, the sphere of the actual, unelaborated nature of all things, spontaneous and indivisible beyond thought and expression. Supreme ultimate bodhicitta I offer to you to cure the four hundred and four affliction caused diseases. I offer all kinds of potent medicines, and I offer myself as a servant to please you.
Play keep me in your service as long as space endures. So, Kunden Ngadaki, offering oneself as a servant to the assembly of gurus and deities means to carry out their wishes in order to work for the happiness and well-being of sentient beings. That is the prime purpose. Offering oneself to the guru also entails not letting oneself fall under the influence of delusions and being on constant guard against negativities so that one is able to serve sentient beings in order to fulfill the wishes of the guru and deities. Those who are taking bodhisattva vows, going to retake this.
Remember the extreme urgency, most urgent need to rescue sentient beings from all their sufferings. In order to do this, need to actualize the path, need to generate the rest realizations, but even having generated bodhicitta is not enough, also need to take and abide in pure bodhisattva vows. Short version, I go for refuge, Three Jewels, I confess individually all my negativities. I rejoice in the merit of migrating beings. Take hold in my mind.
Purpose state of Buddha. I go for refuge, the Three Jewels. I confess individual my negativities. I rejoice in the merit of migrating beings. I take hold with my mind.
Purpose state of Buddha. I go for refuge in the Three Jewels. I confess individually all my negativities. I rejoice in the merit of migrating beings. I take hold with my mind, perfect state of the Buddha.
Generate very strong faith, receive pure bodhisattva vows in the presence of the merit field. What has been degenerated is made pure, what has not been degenerated is increased. Then for those who have received highest yoga tantra initiation, I’m going to retake the tantric vows. Remembering even if I’m practicing the Bodhisattva paramita path, but it still it takes three countless great aeons to achieve enlightenment. For that amount of time, those sentient beings with whom I have Dharma contact, those who depend upon me to free them from suffering, they have to wait so long.
Therefore, I must achieve enlightenment as quick as possible. Therefore, I need to take and keep pure tantric vows. Short version. All Buddhas and bodhisattvas, please listen to me. I, [name], from now to reach the essence of Buddhahood, should generate the sacred bodhicitta, just as all Buddhas of the three times and showed themselves awakening by generating it.
I shall uphold all general and specific tantric vows, of the five families without exception. I shall liberate those not delivered, liberate those not liberated, give breath to those unable to breathe and place all beings and stay beyond sorrow. I shall uphold all the general specific tantric vows, of five families without exception. I should liver those not delivered, liberate those not liberated, give breath to those unable breathe and place all beings state beyond sorrow. I shall uphold or general specific tantric vows, of the five families without exception.
I shall liberate those not delivered liberate those not liberated give breath to those unable to breathe and place all beings a state beyond sorrow. Think, receive pure tantric vows and presence of the merit field. What is being degenerated is restored, what is not been generated is enhanced and increased. Causes me to have so many obstacles in my practice. All the heaviest negative karmas that have accumulated is in this and begin with past lives with the holy virtuous friend.
Therefore, I must purify all these immediately just as I would do everything possible to try and get rid of a deadly poison in my body. In order to do this, I need to rely upon the guru manifested as Samaya So Vajrasattva on the crown of one’s head. Guru Vajrasattva sits on the crown of one’s head or at one’s heart. And at one’s heart, all sentient beings. Imagine as you purify your own broken samayas, negative karma is accumulated with the guru, you’re also purifying theirs.
Om Vajrasattva. Says, all your negative karmas, obscurations, and degenerated samayas are completely purified. Generate strong faith. The more faith you have, that much more negative karma is purified. That exactly what’s my version has said has happened in reality.
Your mental continuum has become completely pure, and not the slightest obscuration is left. Even the heaviest negative karma accumulated in relationship with a holy virtuous friend are now completely purified. From now until enlightenment is achieved, may I and all others be protected by the guru deity and keep every samaya of the guru deity. Before those having great compassion, I confess with regret and vow never to commit again. Whatever non virtuous and evil actions I’ve done throughout beginning beginningless time caused others to do or in which I have rejoiced.
Though all things are like a dream lacking inherent existence, I sincerely rejoice in the bliss and joy of all areas and ordinary beings and every virtue that has ever arisen. Rejoice in one’s own virtue. With the awareness, how important. Just as we’re very happy to get money because we see that there are so many things we can do with it. Now understanding that the inner cause of all our happiness is merit.
The inner cause of all our happiness, all our success, everything. Therefore, every single virtue I’ve created in the past is so precious. Every single merit I’m creating now is so precious. Every single merit I will create right up to the point of enlightenment is the most precious thing. How wonderful it is, how precious, how happy I am, how fortunate.
Rejoice in the merit of sentient beings. All sentient beings want this happiness. Therefore, as they’re able to accumulate merit, they have the cause of this happiness. The more merit they have, the more happiness, the more goodness. Every single merit others have created in the past, numberless sentient beings, numberless merit they created in the past is so precious, the numberless merits they’re creating now is so precious.
The numberless merits they will create in the future is so precious. How wonderful. Rejoice in the merit of the bodhisattvas. Remembering the great courageous mind of the bodhisattvas, every single action, every single breath, totally dedicated for all living and human beings. Even the bodhisattvas’ actions, even the new bodhisattvas’ actions, only become beneficial.
There are numerous bodhisattvas. They’ve generated numerous merits in the past. They are generating now. They will in the future. How wonderful, how precious.
Rejoice in the virtues of Buddhas. The Buddhist one just like us originally, ordinary beings having delusions, having suffering, having mistakes, having all the thoughts of the mind, but then, able to generate the mind of renunciation and bodhicitta. From the root, correctly devoting spiritual guide, then able to travel the path bearing great hardships and achieved enlightenment. Having a fully omniscient mind, able to do perfect work for others exactly in accordance with their needs, having perfect power, having infinite compassion. There are numberless Buddhas.
They create enormous amounts in the past. They’re creating now. Will in the future. How wonderful. How precious.
Rejoice in the life stories, Śākyamūni Buddha, three countless great aeons practicing the parameters for us. May I become like that? Remember the life story of Guru Rinpoche, Lama Atisha, all the qualities or extensive activities to benefit others, Lama Tsongkhapa, Milarepa, all the lineage Lamas of the Mahāmudrā, how they practiced, All the great masters of all traditions, the Pänchen Lamas, the Dalai Lamas, the Karmapas, the holders of the Sakya throne, all these great masters who practice, bring hardships and achieve realizations, rejoice in their extensive works, rejoice in their inconceivable qualities, and pray, may I become like this. By making these prayers, we create the cause sooner or later for this to happen. Please let fall or rain a profound extensive dharma from a hundred thousand billowing clouds of perfect wisdom and compassion to nurture, sustain, and propagate a garden of kunda flowers for the benefit and bliss for limitless beings.
Numberless forms of yourself is Brahma offering the dharma wheel. Though your vajra body is subject to neither birth nor death, but as a vessel of the mighty king unification, please abide forever according to our wishes, not passing beyond sorrow until some end. Numerous forms of yourself offering the lion throne. I dedicate the mass of white virtues thus created, so that I may be inseparably cared for in all my lives by perfect pure gurus who are kind in three ways, and so attain the unified state of vajradhara. I prostrate and give refuge to the guru and the three precious gems.
Please bless my mind. I’m requesting you to immediately dispel the wrong conceptions from incorrect devotion to the guru or to solemn your view of the white, red, and dark visions that exist in my mind and minds all mother sentient beings. I’m requesting you to immediately generate all the realizations from guru devotion up to enlightenment in my mind and minds all mother sentient beings. I’m requesting you to pass for all outer and obstacles actualize the entire greater path to enlightenment in my mind and minds of all my sentient beings. I prostrate and go for refuge, the good, and the three precious gems.
Please, bless my mind. I’m requesting you to immediately pass for all the wrong perceptions for incorrect devotion to the guru. and to dissolve your view of the white, red, and dark visions that exist in my mind and minds all mother sentient beings. I’m requesting you to immediately generate all the right realizations from guru devotion up to enlightenment In my mind, the minds, all mother sentient beings. I’m requesting you to pass away all outer and inner obstacles to actualize the entire graduated path to enlightenment.
In my mind, in the minds, all mother sentient beings. I pro strate and go for refuge. The Guru and his three precious gems, please bless my mind. I’m requesting you to immediately pass forward the wrong perceptions and incorrect devotion to the Guru. I’m requesting you to dissolve the view of the white, red, and dark visions that exist in my mind and the minds of all mother sentient beings.
I’m requesting you to immediately generate all the right realizations and grow devotion up to enlightenment in my mind and the minds of all mother sentient beings. I’m requesting you to pass away all outer and inner obstacles to actualize the entire graduated path to enlightenment in my mind and in the minds of all mother sentient beings. I just offer one mandala to all the gurus along with the meditation. So you can focus on your root guru. With the with the thought that all your other gurus are simply emanations of this root guru.
Simply emanation of root guru. Then think, you, the originator, not only focus on the guru thinking, you are the originator not only of all general and sublime realizations, but also of all my happiness the three times, every single enjoyment, even the smallest comfort in a dream. Remembering the guru’s kindness, think this guru is Vajradhāra. The primordial transcendental wisdom of non dual bliss and voidness takes this form as my guru. Think, this guru is also Chenrezig, the treasure of non objectifying compassion.
This guru is also Mañjuśrī, the possessor of the stainless wisdom of omniscience. This guru is also vajrapani, the destroyer of the multitudes of maras, obscurations, and delusions. This guru is also Tsongkhapa, crown ornaments, the learned ones of snow land, Not only learn it in words, but having all the realizations. This guru is the absolute guru, the transcendental wisdom, non-dual bliss and voidness of all the Buddhas which has been guiding me in past lives, is guiding me now, and will guide me in the future. This guru is the embodiment of all three objects of refuge.
To you, I make request. Please bless my mind. Vajradhāra, lord of sages, source for realizations. Amitābha, great treasure of non-objectifying compassion, great treasure of non-objectifying compassion. Mañjuśrī, sustain your wisdom.
vajrapani destroy the entire host of Mars. Losang Drakpa, crown jewel of sage, the land of snows. To you, guru buddha, embodying the three refuges. I make a request for inspiring me through my three doors. Please grant your blessings to liberate myself and others.
Please, restore us to pure and common realizations. Please bless me to become quickly like you. I request the precious guru encompasses all objects of refuge, the past, present, and future. Please, I’m meant to continue. I request the precious guru encompasses all objects of refuge, the past, present, and future.
Please, bless my mental continuum. I request the precious guru encompasses all objects of refuge, the past, present, and future. Please bless my mental continuum. Five colored nectar beams, so forth, in the guru’s holy body. Entering my body and mind and those all sentient beings.
These purified diseases, spirit harms, negative karmas, and obscurations, especially all the collections of obscurations, negative karmas, and degenerated samayas created in relationship to the holy virtuous friend, such as giving harm to the holy body, breaking the advice, disturbing the holy mind, generating undevotional thoughts, criticizing, giving up the guru, and so forth. For all my doors, sense organs, and pores, these are dispelled in the form of liquid smoke or black soot. They are completely purified. My body becomes a nature of light, calm and clear. My life, fortune, merit, and all my qualities of understanding, realizations are fully developed.
The blessings of the guru’s holy body, holy speech, and holy mind enter my body, speech, and mind and those of all sentient beings. I and all sentient beings are now under the protection of the holy virtuous friend. It’s on page sixty nine, making requests. First of all, thinking how fortunate we are to have met with the guru, to have met with all the buddhas, appearing in the form of the saffron robed monk, perfect monk, pure bhikṣu, to inspire us, appearing in the form of a great bodhisattva practitioner, appearing in the form the vajra master, remembering extensive kindness. Source of virtue, great ocean of moral discipline, treasury brimming with jewels, much hearing, master second buddha clad and saffron, Elder, an eye holder, I make request to you.
You have the ten qualities suitable for one to teach the path of those gone bliss. Lord of Dharma, representing all conquerors. Mahāyāna, guru, I make request to you. You are wise, patient, honest, without pretense or ga. Your three doors well subdued.
You have both sets of ten qualities, no tangent rituals, and are skilled in drawing and explaining. Four, most vajra Holda, and make request to you. To those untamed by countless past Buddhas, the unruly my greatest is degenerate age or difficult to seduce. You show unmistakening the good way of those gone bliss, compassionate refuge savior, I make request to you. At this time, when the sunlight teachings are sage setting, you know the deeds of a conqueror for the many beings who lack a savior refuge.
Compassionate refuge savior, I make request to you. Even one of your hair pores is for us a field of merit more highly praised. Than all the conquerors of three times in ten directions. Compassionate refuge savior, I make request to you. Adorn with the three bodies, you manifest in alluring net of skillful means in ordinary form to lead all beings.
Compassionate refuge savior, I make request to you. Your aggregates, elements, sense, basis, and limbs are in nature, so goddess and consorts of five families. Bodhisattvas and wrathful protectors, Bindu, essence is Three Jewels, and make request to you. Arising from the play of primordial pristine awareness, you’re the essence of ten million mandala cycles. Pervading lord of a hundred Buddha families, foremost, vajra holder, unified primordial savior, I make request to you.
Unobscured, inseparable from the play of simultaneous bliss, pervading everything in motion at rest, the nature of all things free from beginning or end. Actual ultimate bodhicitta, I make request to you. Focus all Buddha’s holy mind, the primordial, extremely subtle mind, transcendental wisdom of non-dual bliss and voidness. This is the ultimate absolute guru, unified primordial savior. It has no beginning and no end.
This is the guru. When you become enlightened, your mind becomes one with us. This Guru appearing as all the figures in the merit field to guide me. You are my gurus. You are my yidams.
You are the dakinis and Dharma protectors. From now until enlightenment, I shall seek now as a refuge in you. In this life and all future lives, hold me with your hook of compassion. Free me from saṃsāra nirvana spheres, grant all attainments. Be my constant friend and guard me from interferences.
You are my gurus. You are my yidams. You are the and Dharma protectors. From now until enlightenment, I shall seek no other refuge than you. In this life and all future lives, hook me with your hook of compassion.
Free me from saṃsāra and nirvana spheres. Grant all attainments. Be my constant friend and guard me from interferences. You are my gurus. You are my yadams.
You are the dakinis and Dharma protectors. From now until enlightenment, I shall seek no other refuge than you. In this life and all future lives, hold me with your hook of compassion. Free me from saṃsāra and nirvana’s fears. Grant all attainments.
Be my constant friend and guard me for interferences. By the force of having thus requested three times, nectar and light rays, white, red, and dark blue, stream forth in the places of my Guru’s body, speech, and mind, and dissolve into my own three places one by one and all together. The four obstacles are purged. The four pure empowerments and seeds of the four kayas are received. A replica of the guru happily dissolves into me, and I’m blessed with inspiration.
With the power of having made offerings, respectful requests to you holy and venerable gurus, supreme field of merit, I seek your blessing, saviors, and root for being blessed that I may come under your joyful care. So here we do a meditation on Guru’s kindness. So we’re gonna go from the essential Nectar. First of all, focus on your Gurus. So in front of Guru Lama Losang Tubwang Dorje Chang, one’s own root guru in ordinary aspect.
Surrounded by all those gurus from whom you’ve made dharma contact, with whom that connection has been established. All in ordinary form but without without any physical defects. Imagine they’re all joyfully smiling at you. Their eyes filled with love, extremely pleased that you’re doing this meditation. Their only wish from their heart is that you generate this realization in your mind so that they can pour the blessings of their realizations into you.
And from your side, develop a strong longing to generate this realization deep in the depths of your heart so that you can receive these realizations and transform your mind into the path. Around you, all sentient beings and reflect in the following way. Myself and all sentient beings since beginningless time have been wandering cyclic existence, experiencing the general and particular sufferings of three lower realms. Why? The reason is because we haven’t trained our mind in the correct way of devoting to the spiritual guide.
Therefore, right now, myself and all sentient beings are going to train our minds in the correct way of devoting to spiritual guide. Please, Guru Deity, grant me blessings that we may be able to generate the correct realizations in our minds. Think the Gurus joyfully accept Inconceivable streams of nectar flow down from their holy bodies, purifying all the negativities and obstacles created since beginningless time, and particularly all those that prevent us from generating the stages of path in connection with relying on the spiritual friend. These all come out of the pores of your body. Think this nectar fills up your body and those all sentient beings, filling us with merit, wisdom, long life power, and particularly granting all the blessings so that our minds can ripen very fast in the stages of the path of correctly relying on the spiritual guide.
Now think as follows. Not only are my spiritual protectors the very essence of all the victorious ones, but their kindness to me is much greater than that of all the Buddhas because they always nurture me with a nectar of supreme Dharma. For example, if someone provided bail for a man suffering in prison and gave him a place to stay with the most prized luxuries, that would indeed be an act of great kindness. The spiritual masters extend great kindness by showing me how to remain free from the three unfortunate realms, so that I may temporarily enjoy the glorious endowments of Gods and men as I desire. Furthermore, by skillfully showing the unsurpassable methods to overcome all the sufferings of cyclic existence and solitary transcendence, they lead me to the supreme state of the three kayas.
Why wouldn’t this kindness be greater than that shown to the prisoner? The Buddha said that the kindness of someone who has taught even a single verse of Dharma cannot be repaid even by making offerings for as many aeons as a number of words in that verse. Who then can measure the kindness of a spiritual master who has shown the complete noble path? Because of the kindness of venerable spiritual masters, I renounced ordinary life which is like a fiery pit and entered into religious life. Dwelling in seclusion with righteous and straightforward conduct, I experienced an unequal taste the nectar of supreme Dharma.
Because of the kindness of supreme spiritual guides, I received and gained confidence in the teachings of the venerable guru savior, Je Tsongkhapa, which are difficult to find even when sought for many thousands of aeons. These gurus are like the rising sun, eliminating the darkness of my ignorance. These gurus are my relatives and friends who eliminate my problems and help me to find peace and happiness. These gurus are my mother and father who always guide me with loving kindness. These gurus are protectors, saving me from the lower realms.
These gurus are my bridge, helping me to cross the river of saṃsāra. These gurus are my doctors healing the chronic disease of my delusions. These gurus are water, extinguishing the great fire of saṃsāra suffering. These gurus are captains liberating me from the oceans of saṃsāra. So I’m going to read something that Rinpoche said on the birthday of Tenzin Osel Rinpoche, the incarnation of Lama Yeshe, to reflect on.
This was spoken some years ago. Today is the birthday of Tenzin Osel Rinpoche, the incarnation of Lama Yeshe, who is incomparably kind, kinder than all the Buddhas of three times. There is no doubt about this for those who had direct Dharma contact with lama. But even for those who have had contact through the establishment of Dharma centers. First of all, the dharma wisdom that we have now, which enables us to know what is right and wrong, and which gives us that much freedom to be free from suffering, and to achieve temporary and ultimate happiness, liberation, enlightenment, all came from Lama, from Lama Yeshe’s kindness.
Our dharma wisdom, our understanding of Lam Rim came from lama. We don’t need to talk about bodhicitta emptiness or tantra, just about the subject of karma or about knowing how to make life meaningful, about the three great meanings of life. All the understanding, all the qualities, all the wisdom that we have, all the various practices we do, and the merit we’ve accumulated from them, and our ability to eliminate our thoughts, the cause of suffering, were completely given to us by Lama Yeshe. They are lama’s actions. Even the Dharma that we teach other sentient beings to guide them to the happiness of this life or future lives, liberation, enlightenment.
That we’re able to benefit others by revealing Dharma and accumulate so much merit is all due to the kindness of Lama. It is all lama’s action. Not only our scriptural understanding and explaining dharma, but our establishing and running dharma centers is dependent on lama’s kindness. We should feel Lama’s kindness. Even those who didn’t have direct Dharma contact with lama have let Dharma descendants established by lama.
Since the conditions were arranged by Lama, you receive the opportunity to practice Dharma indirectly from Lama. Either through Lama’s disciples or through the other teachers who teach at Dharma centers established by Lama. So those who directly or indirectly received lama’s help to practice Dharma, please remember the kindness of Lama. And please also remember his incredible kindness and again reincarnating to help us, to guide us. Lama has not left us out.
He has not given up on us, but has again reincarnated. He has taken birth in a form very beneficial to the world in terms of opening people’s minds. Especially of those sentient beings whose Dharma wisdom is blind. For those whose minds are very closed, he will open their wisdom eye to reincarnation, to liberation, to enlightenment, to the path. Remember especially his kindness in having reincarnated in a most beneficial form to guide us again.
Practice practice Guru Yoga by being aware that Lama Tenzin Osel. Lama Yeshe in this new form is the embodiment of all objects of refuge, of all Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Man not arise heresy even for a second in the actions of glorious guru. May I regard whatever actions are done as pure. With this devotion, may I receive blessings of guru in my heart.
I humbly beseech you, my precious guru, just as the Buddha’s, the three times in ten directions obtained sentient beings. You too enact the Buddha’s deeds in countless realms taking the form of the saffron robed monk. I humbly beseech you, my precious guru, esteemed by Vajradhāra for those meager of mind as a field of merit more holy than the endless circle of infinite Buddhas. Every supreme and mundane attainment follows upon pure devotion to you, my protector. Seeing this, I forsake my body and even my life.
Bless me to practice what will only please you. Infinite streams of nectar cascading down from the holy bodies of gurus, completely purifying all the negativities to generating total realization, stable respect in the Guru, continually aware of his kindness. Think, I and all sentient beings have now generated this realization in our hearts. Virtues of the three times created by me, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, all other sentient beings. May I, the members of my family or students and benefits this organization and all the rest of sentient beings Meet only perfectly qualified Mahāyāna Gurus in our future lifetimes.
From our side, may we see them only as enlightened beings. May we do only actions most pleasing to the holy minds, the virtuous friends. And may we be able to fulfill the holy wishes immediately. Purpose of my life, for all sentient beings, ocean of samsaric suffering. and instead of this, perfect happiness, therefore I’m going to make this food offering, make charity, all sentient beings, especially those sentient beings living in my body, so this connection may I be able to reveal the holy Dharma to them.
Purify the food in the kitchen, everything we’re going to eat into emptiness. Then generate this uncontaminated wisdom, act by means of deity that one practices. Palms together, prostrating. Offer all the oceans and next life’s food as well as all the other offerings to the Guru Puja merit field. With awareness, each direct and indirect Guru is all the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, ten directions.
Every single Merit field is a root virtuous friend. Even each pore of all the Gurus is the whole Merit field. By making these offerings, they’re in infinite bliss in them. May charity be made to numberless hell beings, numberless hungry ghosts, numberless animals, numberless human beings, numberless asuras, numberless suras, numberless intermediate state beings. They all fully enjoy liberated from suffering cause, actualize the path and became enlightened and form a deity that one practices.
Through this, one accumulates the skies of merit, unimaginable cause of enlightenment. Due to all these merits, may I, my family members, all the organizers of this course, members of Buddha House, everyone who’s offering service, all the students and benefits of the organization who sacrificed their life for Buddha’s teachings of sentient beings. And all other sentient beings, especially those who died for this food, who suffered to provide this food, who worked for this food, All those involved in the evolution of this food, who created negative karma for this food. May all of our sentient beings and our future lives never separate away from the triple gem, always collect merit by making offerings of triple gem, and receive all the realizations of the path from guru devotion up to illusory body in clear light, unification, the highest state, Mahāmudrā, without delay, even one second. During the path, present, future, may all be experienced by myself and all sentient beings, which is completely empty of existing from their own side.
May the I, which is completely empty of existing from its own side. Quickly achieve Guru Vajradhāra’s enlightenment, which is completely empty of existing from its own side. And lead all sentient beings who are completely empty existing from their own side until enlightenment, by myself alone, who is completely empty of existing from its own side. Guru’s assembly of mind-sealed deities. To you, we offer desire enjoyments of this circle of magnificent song.
Please stay by being pleased and satisfied instead of uncontaminated bliss. Grant us the holy body, speech, and mind. Peace grant blessings to achieve in this life. Mahāmudrā profound vajra yoga, inseparable with method and wisdom. So this is between sessions lunch break.
Please can those people who take presets, please can you let them all go first and take and have their lunch first. We’ll come back again at two o’clock. It is really very very amazing what’s happening here. I was talking to somebody else who who’s done many retreats with Rinpoche. I’ve only done three.
It hasn’t happened before Rinpoche’s come every day that we know of. And not only come every day but talk for about eight or nine hours. Nearly every day. So this is just unbelievable, really amazing. So I think this is because everyone’s practicing, so thank you very, much, everyone.
It’s amazing. And let’s hope that it goes on right to the end of the retreat. So please do it, Rinpoche. Keeps, keeps asking between sessions, not to waste between sessions. Try and keep the mind in Guru Yoga, keep the mind in emptiness.
We’ll come back at two o’clock.