Category Archives: Sutras, Mantras and Root Texts

The Essence of the Dharma



The essence of the Dharma is to subdue one’s mind by taming the disturbing, obscuring, emotional thoughts that bring so much suffering to yourself and to others, from life to life.

-Lama Zopa Rinpoche

In this teaching from the 33rd Kopan Course in 2000, Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses the classic Buddhist instruction “Engage in the perfect wholesome action. Subdue one’s own mind. This is the teaching of the Buddha.” Rinpoche then leads us in the ultimate exercise to subdue the mind: a contemplation of emptiness. Read along with a transcript of these teachings on our website here.


The Meaning of Secret Mantra



The meaning of the word ‘mantra’ includes the whole path to enlightenment.

-Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses the use of mantra in highest yoga tantra and explains how our minds should approach the practice of the mantra of Chenrezig. These teachings were given at the Twenty-Eighth Kopan Meditation Course in November 1995. Read along with the transcript on our website here.


Buddha’s Compassion Never Gives Up



The Buddha of Compassion is the embodiment of all the buddhas’ great compassion that embraces and never lets go, never gives up on sentient beings even for one second.

-Lama Zopa Rinpoche

These teachings on the benefits of reciting the Compassion Buddha’s mantra were given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Twenty-Eighth Kopan Meditation Course in November, 1995. After reciting Om Mani Padme Hum, Rinpoche also reassures us that no matter how low we may go, we can trust that the Buddha’s compassion will never give up on us. You can read along with the transcript at https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/chapter/lecture-one-compassion 


The Long-Life Mantra of White Tara



Those sentient beings who accumulate merit, especially the sentient beings who know how to accumulate merit, if they have long life you see, then the longer they live then they are able to make their life more meaningful. They are able to create more cause of happiness, so there is sense in living long.

-Lama Zopa Rinpoche

This month on the LYWA podcast, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gives the oral transmission of the mantra of White Tara and then leads us an extended recitation of this precious mantra. Rinpoche dedicates the recitation by refreshing the visualization and by pointing out that the purpose of living a long life is even more important for those who are accumulating merit in this life for the sake of others. May all beings receive the undying realization!

These teachings given by Rinpoche at the Fourteenth Kopan Meditation Course in 1981. You can read the transcript on the LYWA website at https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/chapter/lecture-1-white-tara


Making Your Mind Vajrayana



So whatever happens, whatever is happening around, around you, your heart has peace.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

In this month’s podcast, Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads us in the vajra practice of Chenrezig. Rinpoche begins by chanting Om Mani Padme Hum slowly and powerfully. Within that resonance Rinpoche teaches on how to maintain the vajra visualization of Chenrezig where method and wisdom are unified in one mind. Rinpoche also touches upon the vajra method of hearing all sounds as mantra and then leads the group again in chanting Om Mani Padme Hum, this time using the kind of chanting Rinpoche says he would hear his mother use at Lawudo. While chanting Rinpoche repeatedly pauses to refresh the visualization of Chenrezig on the crown of all sentient beings to whom the practice is dedicated. After ending this session of chanting while visualizing mindfully, Rinpoche returns to analyzing the emptiness of Chenrezig and helps us see how true existence looks when it is projected on that visualization.

Listening to this experiential teaching will both increase your knowledge of the ultimate view and deepen your practice of Chenrezig for the benefit of all. Rinpoche gave this talk in Madrid, Spain on June 10, 2009. You can follow along with the transcript at https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/chapter/chenrezig-visualization.

 


Compassion is the Real Answer



Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this talk in Madrid, Spain on June 10, 2009. The teaching includes a commentary on the visualization of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), the Buddha of Compassion, and group chanting of OM MANI PADME HUM mantra. Rinpoche also explained the benefits of compassion and the laws of karma. Read along with the transcript at http://www.lamayeshe.com/article/compassion-real-answer-audio-and-unedited-transcripts


Golden Light Sutra: Day 2 Part 2



Excerpted from a commentary and oral transmission by Lama Zopa Rinpoche of the Golden Light Sutra given at Maitripa Institute in Portland, Oregon on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2007. You can also read and listen to the entire unedited teaching at lamayeshe.com/article/golden-light-sutra-portland-or-audio.

04346_sl-3-final-comp-1


Golden Light Sutra: Day 1 Part 4



Excerpted from a commentary and oral transmission of the Golden Light Sutra given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Maitripa Institute in Portland, Oregon on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2007. Go here for the entire unedited teaching.

04346_sl-3-final-comp-1


Chanting the Names of Manjushri



Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this commentary and oral transmission of the Manjushri-nama-samgiti in New York in September 2007. You can find additional resources about the practice here.

04346_sl-3-final-comp-1


Introduction to Sanghata Sutra Oral Transmission



From the introductory teachings Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave during a Sanghata Sutra commentary and oral transmission given in Taiwan in 2007; listen to the entire teachings here.

04346_sl-3-final-comp-1