Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. In this 59-minute teaching from Malaysia, Lama Zopa Rinpoche explores guru devotion through a striking example: a mother mistakes a dog bone for a Buddha relic but receives actual relics through sincere devotion—showing that heartfelt faith, not the external object, is the principal cause of spiritual benefit. He walks through contexts for guru mantra recitation: after Guru Entering the Heart, during Guru Puja, and daily practice. He explains how seeing the guru as Buddha transforms difficulty into joyful effort and how following a guru’s advice brings one closer to enlightenment second by second. The talk concludes with reflections on the Losang Dragpa Centre’s ten-year history and its impact on Buddhist practitioners in Malaysia.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 10 2005 04 12 LLP5.mp3
UUID: d8be2747-704d-4b3a-b42c-0c8bef55f22d
Teacher: Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1
Collection: z Malaysia (Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1)
Date: 2005-04-12
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 59.9 minutes
Words: ~3,913
Sorry, here. So I didn’t get done the lung of the mantra. Yes, it was a requested. So I thought to do that now. So as I mentioned this as I mentioned this today, of course It is it is kind of strange to say that visualizing me as a Buddha, you see, like that.
However, that as I mentioned the reasons yesterday, but from the side of the disciple, If that meditation is done, then like an example, the mother wanted to have Buddhist relic, asked the son to find, to bring Buddhist relic, but the son didn’t get to bring Buddhist relic or forgot or whatever. But on the way back to home, he found a bone in the road. Then he told the mother that this is Buddha’s relic. So it’s like that in telling you that the teacher is a Buddha. But the mother devoted one hundred percent devoted that bone as a Buddha’s relic.
Then after some time, actual relic, she received the actual relic from that bone. From where that relic so now the how it happened, Evolution, how the relic happened, how the relic came. He actually received the Buddha’s relic, you know, the physical condition, you see, from the dog bone. So the main the principal cause of the relic is a hard devotion. You see, the corporate cause is the dog born, but the main cause principal cause of the relic is a hard devotion.
So the relic came from actually born from a heartfelt devotion. So anyway, so like that so like that, say, similar to that. So from the subtle side, it is a it is a valid practice to visualize like that. So they just so the disciple get benefit. So that’s to be able to exercise the path to enlightenment, you see.
Yeah. So, The different places where you can recite the mantra is with Guru Yoga. One Lama Tsongkhapa, if you have received the Guru entering the heart, And then after guru entering the heart, you you see what? The, you know, after entering the heart, then you can recite the mantra after that And then, you see, of course of course, with the the mindfulness, with the meditation, one is with the guru one is Buddha. So with that, know, meditation.
Not that I have blessings, but it’s the you received one see, they decided to receive because blessings. Sort of that. Then also end of the during the Guru Puja, you know, that you are the deity. You are the guru. You are the deity there.
End of that. After you repeat three times, after the the the general for initiation, that taking for initiation that after that then, enter the guru into the heart. Then there, you see, you recite the first guru mantra, then Tsongkhapa, Lama Tsongkhapa, then Guru Śākyamūni Buddha. Then but Guru Bachadhara. Then, Om Ah Hum, all the Buddhas you see, Om Ah Hum, the mantra of all the Buddha.
So with that divine pride, you know. Yeah. Holy body, holy speech of Buddha. So then you recite. So he was given advice to somebody who was seeking the Dalai Lama to do.
So my my class leader of my class when I was studying the Pakistan, so his name is Chunke. And so he after he disrobed and all that, so he told him the commitments. That all the accumulation of the prayer, you know, the commitment, all these things. So then, his teacher in a later session which is very compassionate too. So the which is advised him, oh, you still do Om Mani Padme Hum.
You do Om Mani Padme Hum. Because I think rather than completely giving up everything, you see, I think it’s it’s like psychology that, you know, still you do something, you know, even though so something let’s all Buddha, you see, so so in three words, So psychologically, it’s still connected. You know? It’s about giving up completely. But but but telling the story doesn’t mean that he should do this.
It doesn’t mean he should, you know, he should become this, leader of my class, the chaplain, you know, know, who was in that session, and I recall that story? So I’m saying that I just remembered that story. Yeah. So, it’s in it. No matter how long it takes time to teach in the language, no matter how hard it is.
To achieving the aim in benefiting beings, no matter how hard it is, no matter how long it is done, I’m going to do it. That’s the objective of my life, to liberate the numberless beings and bring them to enlightenment. Therefore, need to exercise. For that one need to achieve enlightenment and then need to exercise for say, for that one need to exercise the gradual path of the higher capable being, and for that preliminary, one need to receive gradual path of middle capable being in general. For that one need to exercise the gradual path of the lower capable being in general.
And all that success will depend on this. The root the root guru devotion. So in the guru devotion, in the outline of the guru devotional subject in the Lam Rim. There’s added benefits after one has found the guru, first analyzing, after one has found the guru, and then, correctly, if one correctly follows the virtuous friend, it had benefits, and that every day, whenever every single advice is practiced, get able to practice every day. How many hours and seconds?
Every single advice is able to practice, able to do. So one becomes closer to enlightenment. You know, while you are following the advice, you see, every day, every hour, every minute, every second, you become closer to enlightenment. And while you are doing service, every day, day by day you become closer to enlightenment, hour by hour you become closer to enlightenment, by second you become closer to enlightenment. You become closer to enlightenment.
Second by second, you become closer to enlightenment. So even by doing a service, because it’s the most powerful object most powerful object even if one did good things, say, correct devotee, obtain advice of doing the service of a collect the most extensive measures, but even make mistakes, but also create a very heavy karma, even make mistakes, also, know, heavy karma, so like that. So that even if you’re offering perfume, for example, even offering perfume on the holy body, one pore, one pore, one tiny part, one tiny part of the body. You know, putting perfume, offering perfume, even one pulse of the body of the Guru, you see, you collect more merit than having made an offering to nableness Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, innumerable Bodhisattvas. You create more merit than having made offering, Nambal is Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Indian Bodhisattva, then Nambal is statues to various scriptures.
ten directions, statues, stupas, scriptures. One tiny, you see, scented smell or scented water, even open to one, is a pore. You see, one tiny part of the body is a pore. So example, like how powerful it is to collect, you know, one collects enormous, unbelievable. So however, even just by doing a service, see, every second you can close to enlightenment, collect the most extensive merit and the greatest, most powerful purification.
So that similar, when you one one obtain the one one everyday life when you opt when you follow the advice. So you become day by day, hour by hour. So much see, in the background, second by second, you become so much closer to enlightenment. So much closer to be to the liberation, free free to be free from saṃsāra, you know, to be out of saṃsāra. You can go so much closer.
So so so like that, then the then the if mistakes are done. Then with the relationship with the friend, also shortcomings. And then they see then the the actual training and devotion starts with two outlines, root, training the mind in devotion. Training the mind in devotion, the route, training the mind in devotion and by remembering kindness, then bodhicitta is not just respect, you know. By remembering kindness, you see, so precious.
So precious, you know. So along with that, doing respect. So if there is a correctly devoting virtuous friend with thought, You see, looking at the guru, seeing Buddha. If this is there, then correctly devoting a virtuous friend with action without difficulties. Without difficulties, it comes very easily.
Correctly devoting a virtuous friend by looking at the Buddha’s seeing that which is by looking at the Buddha’s seeing then don’t find then one doesn’t find any hardship. Whatever advice is given, whatever advice is given, unbelievable happy joy, incredible happy joy to follow. Even though it’s so difficult thing to do, but you don’t feel that. It’s an unbelievable, incredible bliss or happiness from our side to do it, Even though it’s something very difficult to do, you see. Sorry about that.
Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche explained in the Lama when Lama was teaching Lamrim and the Guru Yoga section. Lama said that the reason why looking at the Buddha, seeing Buddha is to be able to follow correctly their advice. You see, the teaching of the advice, you know, given by guru. So to be able to to be able to come to be able to follow correctly, you see. That let me say this is the that’s the purpose.
And it makes sense. It makes big it makes incredible sense. So then you see, you’re so happy, you know, to whatever is going to follow. You know? So much joy.
So you see, no hardships. Very easy to follow the advice and get done, whatever it is. The man’s side. I’m trying to remember. So you can edit you can edit Om Guru Vajradhāra.
You can edit like that. So to look at to maintain oneness Om Guru Vajradhāra, you can do that or can do like that. It means to look at you from one side to, you know, to maintain one. Or you can decide without Vajradhāra, make a shorter, ten percent better. However, with the meditation, one is that’s correct meditation.
One more side. So that which is named Tukten Zopa is there. That which exists but which which but which is empty from its own side. May the I who exists, but it’s empty from its own side. Guru Vajradhāra’s enlightenment, which exists but is empty from its own side.
And lead all the sentient beings who exist but who are empty from their own side. To that Guru Vajradhāra’s enlightenment, which exists but is empty from its own side. By myself alone, who exists but who is empty from my own side. So So here, I would like to take opportunity to thank. Yeah.
First, I would like to thank very much There’s those stupas. You know, there are stupas. Not that one. There are stupas. There’s a few.
So the first year as an teacher, this is. So yeah. So What? What’s that one? There’s another one there.
So they have dedication, being all the hardships to teach, you know, the students. So it’s very good to take opportunity to learn. Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Sherab studied extremely well in Sera Monastery in South India and Geshe Lobsang, and Geshe Tutob. Therefore, very good opportunity to learn as much possible, to take opportunity. Deeper and deeper Buddhism, more, I say, vast as much as children learn.
Then more understanding, less ignorance, less mistakes when you practice, and easy to achieve right realization. By learning the philosophical teachings other than Lamrim learning. Learning other than Lamrim learning philosophy, philosophy has become commentary. It’s commentary of Lamrim. One, to see the behind the explanation.
Especially when you teach others, especially when you teach others, then you can make very clear and deeper. When you explain Dharma Buddhism to others, you can make very clear and deeper explanation. So let’s just study, let’s understand Dharma. Without understanding philosophy, then you see when you explain, when you teach others, your teaching is very limited. You can’t make it very clear, you know.
We can teach the essence, but you can’t make it very depth clear. So especially when you teach. So then other people, then their understanding becomes very limited, With the others dependent on you, so then their understanding becomes very narrow or where then they have a little understanding of dharma. This is what happens. Very good to take opportunity to learn as much as possible, extensive.
Good. The extensive Dharma, what you’ve learned or understood, integrated in learning, then actualize. Put in the practice and actualize. So next I would like to thank director of the Losang Dragpa Centre. I think I think they’re not the stupa Tārā, but I asked Tārā for success because a lot of because so many responsibilities, so many things.
So So many respond, there are certain things to do. So I thought maybe ask, maybe Tārā can help. Thank you very much. Then two. I would like to thank them.
Two. Two. Two are the coordinator. Over here. She’s coming.
So the next one I would like to thank very much to Thank you very much. So next I would like to thank very much David, in charge of operations. Then I would like to thank very much Selena, FPMT. Yes. We’ve got a business.
People should be who there’s no I think it’s better in China. This style, you know. It’s everything in China. Okay. Maybe maybe you paint gold leaf.
Put gold leaf. Nelson. Nelson. I want to thank you very much. Or Nelson?
Nelson. Nelson. The Project Manager. Let me see if you will stay. Thank you.
Thank you. You. Thank you very much. Thank you. Half of for you, half of the Okay.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Then I would like put on my heart to thank all the all the rest, students, members who did so much hard work, service, dedication that is being done now and was done in the past. To everyone, I would like to take the opportunity thank very much from the bottom of my heart. Then this Losang Dragpa Centre, it’s a study, say, founded or studied by we.
I say, Hu. I say, I don’t know how to spell, I just say Hu, Hu. Hu. Anyways, so we. I don’t know which year.
I was in Malaysia first or second time. I left already from Malaysia, then I got a letter. Got a letter from so it’s a letter from we, but I hadn’t met when I was here. And she sent a letter with some questions and I don’t remember now the content of the letter much, but it seemed to be quite intelligent person. So that’s how Namgyal replied to the letter.
That’s how the Losang Dragpa Centre started by her. Many years since the start, how many years ago? Five years. Ten years. Ten years.
So for so for quite for many years, She founded and so many years really set us alive to here in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, other sentient beings to meet Buddhadharma, Tibetan Buddhism, particularly Lama Tsongkhapa teaching. She sacrificed her life for many years. Started at her own house. So this gave the life gave the life for the center to allow others to meet Lama Tsongkhapa teaching. So so there has so how much benefit that there has been has been inconceivable.
Just even come to know the Thirty-five Buddhas practice, just come to the center, just come to know that there is Vajrasattva that you can purify with some number of mantras, you can purify so much. By the sudden Thirty-five Buddhas’ names, once you can purify, so many negative karmas become purified. And so you don’t have to be born in lower realms. By having purified all those many negative karmas, you are free from all those many kinds of suffering in the lower realms. See, that’s just an unbelievable benefit to what so many sentient beings and people who come to the center receive as benefit.
So, we see so much, let’s say, unbelievable liberation, just by doing even one time part of the Thirty-five Buddhas’ prayer. So I say all those many many causes to suffer in the lower realms, you become free, liberated. That’s incredible liberation. So then of course, So many sentient beings becoming the center got liberated from all those negative karma, from all those lower realms suffering. Not only that, but only that, but taking vows, lay vows, and then admire the person that people come to know by taking those vows and by coming to the center, and they created so many causes to take a higher rebirth.
You see, hundreds, thousands of life times to receive higher birth. So, unbelievable, unbelievable benefit. And then, practicing renunciation, right view, bodhicitta. So you see, by practicing Lamrim, So you become closer, closer to so many sentient beings through the years. You see all those so up to now, you see, since the center began, so much closer to liberation.
You see, so much closer to achieve total liberation from the oceans of saṃsāra and so much closer to enlightenment. Even there has not been realization of emptiness, but you see, got some idea of the Prāsaṇgika school’s view. There’s only one emptiness that cuts only there’s only one root of saṃsāra. There’s not many roots of saṃsāra, only one, this specific one. So they need realization of the realization that gets to cut that.
Only that you can be free from delusion and karma, you see, and then be free from saṃsāra. So Even just to get intellectual understanding of the person who is able to hear, able to read, study, so I became so much closer to realize emptiness and to become I have been, by having the causes to start to see the emptiness directly. So you see, got so much closer. You see so many sentient beings since the center began up to now. And the other wonderful thing is all those people who came to learn dharma at the center, know, then they generate a good heart and stop giving harm to other sentient beings.
Stop giving harm to others. Stop giving harm to other sentient beings. Make less and less harm harm others. And and increase the benefit in benefiting others more and more. You see?
And the dedicating merits, praying, living life during practice for the happiness of all sentient beings. So the person, you pray for all sentient beings’ happiness, you know. Do the practice for all the sentient beings’ happiness. So that’s unbelievable. Incredible.
So however, the one person coming to the center to learn Dharma, to maintain however, that one person throughout the year since the center began. Therefore, what I’m going tell you is that all these benefits that numberless sentient beings receive, sentient beings in this world receive from those each of those persons coming to the center. So where it came from? Receiving teachings from those great teachers coming from time to time, you see. They used to get the results of the merits going to children’s children’s children.
All these, you see, other sentient beings have this opportunity. It started from we and then all the all the directors, I think all the all the members who worked so hard. And up to now, and including China, then all the the present members, past members to the present members who worked so hard. So I say, I would like to say to so stretch that, say, it came from you. All these benefits.
They say, it’s come from you through these people coming at the center. So it can come from you. So that this is what you’re offering to all the same thing. So I would like so therefore, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart to everyone. And here.
The founding director, Wei Hu. So I would like to mention, Koko read all this letter saying I have been doing this for twenty years and I did this and did that. So maybe the past life may have done twenty years, I’m not sure. All those realizations and enlightenment, however, I hope I can do in the future. Know.
Wish I have those qualities that expressed there in the letter. So, however, I wish to have those qualities in the future, you know, those realizations in the future. I’m the I’m the king of lazy persons, but hopefully, maybe in the future. So I think that’s whatever I can to benefit to a sentient being, little what I can do. I’m teaching Buddha.
See. And I’ll pray. I don’t know how long, long I will pray for something, for long life. That can say how long? It’s okay.
So thank you very much. So thank you very much. What? New name. That session.
The session. In the one hundred thousand units. Recently I’ve been asking people to do a hundred units or a thousand units. Geshe-la contributed two thousand mantras and the Lama who founded the monastery also did, I think, two thousand units. And here, the students who did three thousand mantras, few.
Who did one hundred and many. So this lama is an incredible lama. He’s a Lharampa Geshe from Drepung Monastery. I didn’t know that. I thought it was Kagyu, but actually it was Lharampa Geshe from Drepung.
Then he taught teaching from many different high lamas, made connection, and then he integrated it into practice. And he met law, you know, the very remote area in Nepal, maybe it was Solu Khumbu. I don’t know what happened in Solu Khumbu, many parts of Nepal soon very far. So he met law that people do not hunt animals, cannot kill. So he made law, not the Nepalese government, I think he also made law and somehow it became the government, part of the government law.
So in Solu Khumbu, in the past, if somebody hunted animals in the forest, then the police find out they will catch the person. Normally they’re police, not sheriffs. They catch the person and they put in prison for some days, you know, like that, or maybe a beating or something. I think I think they still do that, but so incredible benefit so much. The sentient beings, very practical benefit.
So this the incarnation of that lama, he does the same thing to protect animals. So he doesn’t he’s invited to the west, but he he doesn’t like to come to the west. So he goes very poor villages in Nepal. In Nepal, you know, around Pokhara or many poor areas, go. Then they do Nyungne with his expenses.
With his own expenses, he go. A few months, so they do all the playing the cymbals and the flute, reciting the prayers. So it’s a few months. So they go to village to village and do Nyungne. And the Hindu, Hindu people in the Hindu, majority Hindu, but their life with the fasting and not eating meat and things like that, you see.
You know? So they they like me. He give a little bit teaching. He give food to them, and he give a little bit teaching to the