Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. In this 97-minute Guru Yoga teaching, Lama Zopa Rinpoche emphasizes that the Lamrim prayer — the graduated path to enlightenment — deserves full mindful attention above all other practices. Reciting it with complete concentration, he argues, surpasses the spiritual value of reciting millions of mantras without understanding, because it plants imprints of the entire path to liberation. He then guides the core visualization: receiving blessed nectar infused with six forms of wisdom — great wisdom for comprehending teachings, quick wisdom for rapid insight, profound wisdom for depth, writing wisdom, debating wisdom, and explaining dharma wisdom. This is followed by the guru entering the heart, torma offerings, and the request for three attainments: the outer pure land, the inner clear-light realization, and complete enlightenment. The practice purifies all vows and commitments from the beginning of saṃsāra, with the ultimate goal of liberation and enlightening all beings.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 2005 06 09 2 TWN – Kaoshuing. 2 LTK Guru Yoga Puja.mp3
UUID: 965a397c-aa2c-4dae-9123-335737a731cc
Teacher: Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1
Collection: Taiwan (Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1)
Date: 2005-06-09
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 96.9 minutes
Words: ~3,143
Received. Now didn’t know the nectar orange color, they received. So first, the twenty-one, you know, I received great wisdom. Then next, about that much, and then great wisdom. Then the next, that much, then quick wisdom, then next that much, and then profound wisdom.
So put it that. Something like dividing one mala. So more or dividing one mala then. After that, depending which depending which wisdom you need more, the right if you are writing writing wisdom, if you are debating, debating more. You explain dharma, then more or more on that.
So all the atoms of neck all the atoms of nectar the order of the nectar, all the atoms of the nectar received with one. So every single atom became. Then I have received great wisdom. Then from from those Mañjuśrī, Mañjuśrī beams emitted, beams emitted away, all the ten directions up to the ten directions up to the Brahma realms, then they create they create wisdom from Mañjuśrī absorbed into oneself. I have received the great wisdom.
What’s important? That’s just like Of all the of all the. Now and now every single nectar natural nectar is nectar receive the muscle, everything becomes there. Mantra, Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhih. You know, inside the body completely everything.
Every atom becomes blessed. Then I have received clear wisdom. From Mañjuśrī’s mantra class and then I received from immediately, then I received then I received from each Buddha, Buddha assemblies, know, their wisdom, in form of mantras, absorbed into oneself. I received all the of the wisdom.
Strong faith. Now nectar simply becomes. Every atom of the nectar becomes the syllable Dhi. I received quick wisdom. beams are emitted from the syllable Dhi, and and then absorb back from which you receive the quick wisdom in the form of syllable Dhi, absorb the. Now, nectar. Now every single atom of the nectar then becomes a text and sword on top.
text and the sword, standing sword. That’s beautiful. And then I received the profound wisdom. Now beams emitting from each one and absorb back from each of the. the beams from the text and sword standing.
Like the Lama Tsongkhapa, you know, in the in the this is a body posture. He holds the sword like that. Greater wisdom then to be able to understand, able to explain. The extensive the mean meaning of the extensive meanings of the of the words of the extensive scriptures. Without any resistance, without any blockage, without any resistance, able to able to understand, able to explain.
And then, with the wisdom, then able to cut immediately the doubts. The what one do not what one do not understand, they have to understand very quickly, and then the wrong the wrong thoughts, and then able eliminate quickly. Then you clear with them. The extremely subtle extremely important subtle points Unmixed and able to understand and able to explain. Then you are able to understand, able to explain in depth the the scriptures, you know, the the meanings, meaning of those words.
Very deep, very profound. I’m able to explain. So now next. For their their explaining wisdom, then every atom, the nectar, every atom becomes a text, Dharma text. In particular, the which text you’re going to explain in that text.
Fill the whole field. Totally fill it also. Then same. Then same. I think I’ve received wisdom explained dharma.
Then beams emitted from the text. That is from the nature of the wisdom explained in the form of text. I said, which one explain dharma? So in this way, then absorb into you. You are able to explain anything in that without obstruction.
Clear explanation. Okay. Now then same. Every atom on the nectar receive nectar that receive doesn’t every atom become the debating. I said that’s right.
Every atom becomes, I say, for debating. Every atom become debating. Every atom become the sword. Not not the sword. One sword.
So the six-spoked wheel, the fletch. Like what the Yamāntaka is holding with one hand, one of the implements that wheel that turns and then the center of it turns and cuts. However, here here is not to cut the heads. Here is the cut the the ignorance. You know?
Cut ignorance, the doubts, wrong things. So the thing I received debating wisdom from all the Buddha assemblies and all the, I think, debating wisdom in the form of sword. Absorb with ourself. Shouldn’t think like like material.
So it’s it’s natural it’s natural to wisdom, you know, of the nature to wisdom out there. So, you know, the Guru Tsongkhapa, you know, the ultimate wisdom. That’s what I’m taught. That same received from all the Buddhas’ assemblies, their wisdom. So you shouldn’t think the, like, material that that, you know, material that was cut.
The bolt is cut, cuts. You know? So you shouldn’t think like that. The essence of wisdom is the mind. So the holy mind.
I have received the debate and wisdom from all the Buddhas. Then they will every atom, that’s what they receive. Then they become in the form of the text, and then six, you know, the flaming swords on top of the text. So full. And that thing I have received writing wisdom.
To each of from each of those in there. Received back from all the Buddhism or their writing wisdom in form of same text and six swords. You know? Text on top of text, six swords. Absorb with the oneself.
Uh-huh. So the way of meditating, the so here, purification, that’s preliminary, then the six wisdom. That’s a special special special benefits. Yeah. Hundred.
One there are about nine special benefits special benefits. So the one with special ones that that with this Buddha Yoga, can achieve wisdom. Even by practicing practicing even one month and like that, you can see the development of wisdom for that. And then and then whatever practice, listening to Dharma or reading texts, but whatever do, effective becomes it makes it effective to your mind. So, you know, benefits to subdue the unruly mind.
Mhmm. So that’s one benefit. Eliminate obstacles. Then then and by the way, it also becomes a protection from receiving harm from those Nagas and you see, there’s a so protect from the those being, you know, Nagas harm, spirit king, and sen, those different spirits, their harms, causing harm, I’d say, the miseries of illness. So, yeah.
I think that And then, Yeah. And then the very special thing is that when you die, then you’re able to go to able to be born in that pure land where Lama Tsongkhapa is, the Tuśita pure land. The even more even more special thing is the next lives. You’re able to meet Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings again for this I I didn’t remember all the benefits, but so this very special benefit that I mean is especially the last one, wisdom, and especially the last one. And that’s I was able to meet Lama Tsongkhapa teachings the next life.
This is that that’s much more rare than to be born to be born in metopur land is very easy. To meet Lama from our teaching is extremely rare. So that because they’re unified through the Tantra, you know. Means the absorption to pass Tantra. And then by developing the good bodhicitta, then all your wishes get fulfilled.
Works for self and works for all sentient beings. So so here, when you read the Lamrim prayer, very important. I don’t mean I don’t mean the only this time, pay attention. Attention. The other time, it’s not pay attention.
You’re not saying that. But the by saying this, it doesn’t mean it’s not saying that. But here is the whole path. Here is the whole path to enlightenment. The whole path to enlightenment, essence of the whole path to enlightenment is is contained in this in this words.
So it’s very important to pay full attention this. And then then it leaves positive imprint of the whole path in just a minute. Within a few within a minute, you see. You know? Within within within a minute, within a few minutes.
So so it makes each time each time when you do that when you do the Lamrim prayer, something like this complete, so it makes closer to the realization path of enlightenment. That means closer to enlightenment and closer to enlightenment, to liberate yourself, to liberate numberless sentient beings, from the oceans of samsaric suffering, and bring to yourself close to bring the sentient beings into enlightenment each each one day, each time when we do the Lamrim prayer. So that is an incredible advantage, you know. So now, even though we don’t get to meditate and actually achieve the realizations, if we do train the mind in the Lamrim path and achieve the actual realization, even that didn’t happen, but at least leave the imprint as much as possible this life, you know, every day by reading the Lamrim path, you know, with full mind with mindful full attention. So then this way, if the mind is distracted, can’t hear even your prayers.
You can’t even you decide verbally, you can’t hear even your prayers. Even even your own voice, you can’t hear. But then, difficult to even positive imprint. So, you see, so in not really positive imprint, you have to hear your voice, your own, you see, reciting. Or you read mind fully or you recite mindfully, you see.
Then only then can be positive imprint of the whole path of enlightenment, you see. So Pabongka Rinpoche said that, you know, makes life much more meaningful just just, you know, direct meditation of the Lamrim, just reciting prayer straight with mindfulness so that that becomes direct meditation. Think of the meaning of the prayer. Lamrim prayer, then it becomes a direct meditation, you see, of the prayer, Lamrim. So Pabongka said that this is much more meaningful than even reciting one hundred million mantras and this and that.
Even by even seeing Buddha if you’re seeing Buddha so if somebody had a vision of Buddha, you see, because they got to they something fascinating or something exciting. Of course, it’s of course, that that’s an if it’s unmistaken one, then, of course, due to pure mind. During those days, pure mind. The mind is more purified, so you have the vision of Buddha. But it was a mistaken one.
So, so even you see Buddha, you can’t you cannot you can’t become you you are you cannot become enlightened during that during that second. The minute you see Buddha become enlightened, that doesn’t happen. So you have to have good bodhicitta and have real realization there — realization, bodhicitta, right view, then there are stages of tantra, so step by step. You you have to train your mind and then achieve realizations. If you see Buddha still have to do that.
So perhaps, of course, maybe perhaps makes the person’s mind more maybe less, maybe as a more pure. Perhaps then can with more blessings, maybe can achieve realization quicker. That may be possible. But you have to maintain the Lam Rim step by step to achieve enlightenment. So you don’t become enlightened just by the minute when you see Buddha, you don’t become enlightened there.
So I think that I’m assuming that’s the reason behind. So then so yeah. So and then she if possible, you’ll be ready slowly. Then you can so it takes time to think. Then by Pabongka Rinpoche said, the direct meditation of Lamrim, just going through Lamrim prayer, mind of prayer, thinking the meaning, you know.
This is more meaningful than having having done a hundred millions of mantras. Of course, this is not talking about a Hindu mantra or other mantra in Muslim mantra. This is just talking about, you know, Buddhist mantra, this mantra. So anyway so but why are talking about the thing by saying even the date is sometimes, you know that. So because because the purpose here, you have to understand.
Purpose, like, three or two, like, reciting so many, you know, say, millions of mantras like that or for example, purpose of reciting mantra is to purify the deity of holy mind through this blessing. What then what then what is the use of blessing? So that one can have long term realization. So the goal is to have good devotion and the two, to see if it’s part of the two stages. So the whole point is that.
So therefore so therefore here, if you don’t maintain Lamrim, just chant mantra in your whole life. So you’re just doing the you’re not doing actual practice. You are just doing the you are just practicing what you’re doing is the branches, like the branch like the branches of tree, not the main not the main trunk. Main trunk is the meditation on Lamrim. And also why why there’s no development in the mind, why the mind is not progressing is because we actually didn’t meditate on Lamrim.
Even though we did a lot of mantras, lot of other Sadhanas, lot of other prayers, but this didn’t maintain Lam Rim. So that’s why they unable to see progression in the progression. Mind getting better, you know, year by year. See, not happening. So it’s because of that.
So make so that’s the behind the meaning what why Pabongka is saying that. Why this make life more meaningful than having recited many hundreds of millions of mantras. Of course, you can be of course, you don’t need to to be born in pure land, you don’t need to have a realization of the whole path enlightenment. You know? See, they just recite in Buddha’s name, mantra.
You know, even by that sutras, even by that, you can be born pure land. See. Then if that’s if that’s if that is I mean, if that’s only that is enough, then there’s no why as you say, there’s no reason why Buddha taught. Buddha revealed all these extensive teachings of expand the expand the in the whole path whole path of enlightenment, you know, in all these extensive teachings, Sūtra and Tantra, so that then, you see, will become unnecessary done. Let all these teachings in this world, the Buddha.
To do that, Buddha himself collected the merits for three countless eons, made his life charity, limbs, and abandoned his king’s family and the whole family. He made charity around the world, you know, for three countless eon years, practicing morality, patience, all that, you know, to be able to to be able to reveal Dharma to us. You know, it’s omniscient mind so that it doesn’t make any mistakes to guide us, to give Dharma to us. So the whole thing is to teach us, to reveal us, give us all these teachings, you know, to us in the midst so then it would put effort for three countless eons, like that sacrifice your life. So then this, as with the foundation of the four noble truths like that, you know.
Then all this become unnecessary, you know, that, say, you don’t need to learn Dharma, you know, just just only besides Buddha’s name, mantra then, you see, then you see, born pure land, you see. See. All the great pandits all the great pandits, yogis, and then all this, Nāgārjuna, Tsongkhapa, all those great masters did extensive listening to teachings, reflecting and meditating, practice on the path. You see, listen to Dharma, studied Dharma. Then or they understood it.
Then prac put in practice. Then it’s realization. So then then all that become unnecessary. So like that, you see. That including.
So even one is born pure land. You have to you have actually have to learn Dharma by here and there. Because of Amitābha Buddha, you hear from Amitābha Buddha, they still have to learn Dharma, you know, by hearing teachings. The purpose is in teaching is to to extract parts, you see. So slowly you have to learn.
So now the guru entering the heart. Oh, no. We just hope. Yeah? Before guru entering the before guru entering the heart.
Before guru entering the heart and sleeping. Lamrim prayer. Lamrim prayer. I talked about importance of Lamrim prayer, but I think I forgot forgot. After all that.
Yeah. So reach. Yeah. Reach number pair. Then you generate yourself into deity, which great initiation you have received Hayagrīva Heruka.
Okay? So we can absorb. We can they we can absorb the guru. So yeah. With the one stop, they can be done.
Although those who those who received teachings on guru, entering the heart, you can do that. Then after that, then you see yourself as guru, you are manifesting deity. Then we just torma offering. Blessed. You know, offering.
And let’s talk. Then the if you have received the but the Vajrayoginī or Heruka, they generate into other Heruka or Vajrayoginī, whatever. Did Then you do the visualization. The mental offering. Oh, then a pleasant torma. First one is offered to Heruka Amitāyus.
There’s a request for the ground attainment with the pure. The attainment of the khacho is not only there’s outer khacho, inner khacho, and great khacho. So outer khacho is the pure land. The outer pure land. So, inner khacho is the inner pure land, the clear light realization in this body.
So you have overcome then you have you have overcome death already. The cycle of death is birth. The great culture is the the great khacho is the full enlightenment. That so asking the request for the great attainment of the khacho has all three meanings. So many things to achieve great many things to liberate from the ocean.
Sometimes, sometimes bring up enlightenment. For that, the one needs to achieve great khajuk enlightenment. So if that doesn’t happen in this life, then at least to achieve inner khacho. If that didn’t happen before that, then you go then go to the outer pure land. So there you achieve the pure inner khacho and the great, you know, khacho enlightenment through them.
So numberless ocean numberless ocean, so nectar. Natural bliss, then offered and generate infinite bliss in the holy mind filled. So that’s the very essence of nectar. Oh my. Oh my.
Oh Oh my. Oh So I can think. Nectar emitted from the energy field into the muscle channels, body and mind. It totally purified All the all the nirvana, the downfalls of the three vows are all purified from beginnings, but that happened, we are completely purified. The the the the particular day, if you just want the flight over there, they just the samaya with the guru, from the beginning of this samsaric realm, completely purified.