Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga (Ganden Lha Gyäma)

By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India 1986 (Archive #266)
Ganden Lha Gyäma: The Hundreds of Deities of the Land of Joy

In this commentary, Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches on the Ganden Lha Gyäma practice, often translating the Tibetan verses line-by-line. The teachings were given by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India at the end of the Second Enlightened Experience Celebration held in March 1986.

The teachings were edited and assembled in this format by Uldis Balodis. First published by Uldis Balodis and Kopan Monastery in 1990. Lightly revised by Sandra Smith, September 2020. Tibetan terms checked and revised by Ven. Gyalten Lekden, September 2020. This commentary is now available for download as a PDF file.

Please note: A Highest Yoga Tantra initiation is not required for Ganden Lha Gyäma practice, however, this teaching includes specific instructions suitable for Highest Yoga Tantra initiates. Rinpoche also teaches on more general lamrim topics including the preliminary practices, refuge and karma.

14. Dedication

Please put whatever has been explained into practice as much as possible. Please dedicate all the three times’ merits accumulated by you and all other sentient beings, especially the merits of having read this, to always finding a perfect human rebirth and finding a Mahayana virtuous friend who can show the complete path to enlightenment; and by correct devotion to the virtuous friend to quickly achieve the state of omniscient mind.

I think that is all. Besides that, I have nothing else to say. I rejoice in the effort you put into your practice to develop your mind and to benefit others. And I appreciate very much whatever you can do with the capability of your body, speech and mind to benefit others at the same time. There is nothing to be depressed about because all the opportunities are there—it is just a matter of whether we make the determination or not. The whole thing depends on the decision; on one thing—determination. Whether we talk about sutra or tantra, the whole path to enlightenment, samsara and enlightenment, depends on your determination, which way you decide. All development depends on the decision. I find this word decision very powerful. If you do not make a determination in your mind, nothing happens; if you do make a determination, everything comes: progress and happiness. It depends on which you decide. There are opportunities, everything is available from your own side, from the body’s side, from the side of the place. I myself cannot benefit you at all, but there are many other virtuous teachers, so we have incredible opportunities. The opportunities are all around you, rainfalls of them. So I do not see any point in being depressed. The only thing is which way you decide from your own side, that is all.

As I mentioned, there is no negative karma that cannot be purified. Firstly, as you have heard from the nine examples in Uttaratantra that the mind is not oneness with the delusions. So from that point of view there is nothing to be depressed about. And secondly, there are rainfalls of opportunities to purify the mind in order to not experience the results. So it is just a matter of whether you take the opportunities or not. Since there is no negative karma at all which cannot be purified, I do not think there is any reason to be really upset. If you do not decide and do not do it, that is cheating yourself; it is a loss for you because you are causing yourself a loss of happiness. You have great freedom, and the other sentient beings are giving you incredible freedom, and so many virtuous teachers are giving you clouds of opportunities, therefore you should be happy.

Please put whatever has been explained into practice as much as possible and dedicate the merits of reading this Ganden Lha Gyäma commentary, and reflecting and meditating on it, for the understanding of the complete teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa to arise within your mind, and for you to be able to spread them to the minds of all sentient beings by yourself. That covers everything in the prayer. And may that should come about without the delay of a year, a month, or even a day—right in this second.

A student who was at Kopan many years ago wrote from Canada saying that she has a crisis each year, and it turned out that the Ganden Lha Gyäma practice was very beneficial. Reciting many hundreds of thousands of migtsemas is very powerful for anyone who goes crazy or is harmed by spirits and so on, depending on how great the obstacle is. Also some people wanted to know the secret migtsema practice and many people want to do the preliminary practices as a preparation for the three-year retreat. So even though Dharamsala is full of lamas who could explain it well, there are difficulties such as not finding translators or if there are translators, they are not satisfactory. Seeing all these difficulties I felt it would be beneficial. I have done no practice and have no understanding myself, but I thought to say the few words which I have heard, and the few dry words that there are. So that is how it happened. Basically it was for the long term, as there will be many people who will do the preliminary practices and also some people plan to do a three-year retreat. So I hope it might be of benefit now and in the future for those who want to practice.