Kopan Course No. 08 (1975)

By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 1975 (Archive #089)

These teachings were given by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche at the Eighth Kopan Meditation Course at Kopan Monastery, Nepal in 1975. The transcripts are lightly edited by Tsultrim Davis.

You may also download the entire contents of these teachings as a pdf.

Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in a group photo from the 8th Meditation Course at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 1975.
Kopan Course No. 8 Index Page

The Index Page provides an outline of the topics discussed in each of the lectures. 

SECTION ONE

Lecture 1:  November 9, 1975  (morning)

  • Renouncing a Life of Ignorance
  • Suffering and Happiness Arise from Internal Factors
  • The Three Poisonous Minds

Lecture 2:  November 9, 1975 (evening)

  • The Three Poisonous Minds (Continued)
  • The Practice of Dharma is Renouncing Suffering and its Causes
  • Observe Karma
  • Nature of the Mind

Lecture 3:  November 10, 1975

  • Question and Answer: Reincarnation and the Self
  • Thinking about the Future and the Present 

Lecture 4:  November 11, 1975

  • Continuity of Mind 
  • Universal Responsibility to Benefit All Mother Sentient Beings
  • The Essence of the Mahayana Path 
  • Introduction to lam-rim 
  • The Two Lineages 
  • The Greatness of the Author
    • Atisha’s Birth 
  • Meditation Instruction

Lecture 5:  November 12, 1975 (morning)

  • Everything Depends on Mind
  • The Greatness of the Author 
    • Atisha Leaves the Palace and Meets his Gurus 

SECTION TWO

Lecture 6:  November 12, 1975 (evening)

  • The Greatness of the Author 
    • Atisha Leaves the Palace and Meets his Gurus
  • Visualizing Shakyamuni Buddha 

Lecture 7:  November 13, 1975 (evening)

  • Why and How to Set a Proper Motivation 
  • The Greatness of the Author 
    • Atisha Travels to Guru Serlingpa
    • Lha Lama Yeshe Ö requests Atisha 

Lecture 7a:  November 13, 1975 – Discussion During Pipi Break

  • Understanding Negative Feelings Experienced while on the Dharma Path 
  • How the “Graduated Path” Works 

Lecture 8:  November 14, 1975 (morning) 

  • A Perfect Human Rebirth
  • The Greatness of the Author 
    • Nagtso Lotsawa travels to India to request Atisha

Lecture 9:  November 14, 1975 (evening)

  • Commentary on Bodhisattva’s Jeweled Rosary (through verse 5) 
  • Checking Up on the Mind 

Lecture 10:  November 15, 1975 (morning)

  • The Greatness of the Author 
    • How Atisha’s Teachings Benefit in Tibet and India 
    • The Three Lineages of Atisha’s Teachings 

SECTION THREE

Lecture 11:  November 16, 1975

  • The Qualifications of the Teaching 
  • The Teachings are not Contradictory 
  • All of the Teachings Appear as Personal Instruction

Lecture 12:  November 19, 1975

  • Making the Perfect Human Rebirth Meaningful 
  • The Benefits and Method of Correctly Listening to and Explaining Dharma 
    • How to Listen to Dharma 

Lecture 13:  November 20, 1975 (morning)

  • Motivation 
  • The Benefits and Method of Correctly Listening to and Explaining Dharma 
    • How to Explain Dharma
  • How to Lead the Disciple on the Path to Enlightenment 
    • How to Practice Guru Devotion
    • The Meditation Session: Preparation
    • The Meditation Session: The Actual Meditation
  • Guru Yoga 

Lecture 14:  November 20, 1975 (evening)

  • Guru Yoga (Continued) 
  • Equilibrium Meditation Question and Answer

Lecture 15:  November 21, 1975

  • Perfect Human Rebirth Motivation 
  • Guru Yoga (Continued) 
  • The Qualities of the Guru 

SECTION FOUR

Lecture 16:  November 22, 1975

  • The Futility of Attachment to Samsara 
  • It is Natural to Follow the Wrong Path 
  • The Qualities of the Guru (Continued)

Lecture 17:  November 23, 1975 (morning)

  • Don’t Fall Asleep: Motivation
  • The Qualities of the Guru (Continued)
  • How to Follow the Guru
  • Guru Devotion Question and Answer
  • The Qualities of the Guru (Continued)

Lecture 18:  November 23, 1975 (evening)

  • Question and Answer: Daytime and Dream Imagination 
  • Relative Existence and Inherent Existence
  • Prayer Visualization Advice (partial) 

Lecture 19:  November 24, 1975

  • Impermanence 
  • How to Follow The Guru through the Mind: Generating Devotion
  • The Importance of Devotion 
  • How to Follow the Guru through the Mind: Remembering the Guru’s Kindness 

Lecture 20:  November 25, 1975 (morning)

  • Motivation and the Meaning of Meditation
  • How to Follow the Guru through the Mind: Remembering the Guru’s Kindness (Continued)

SECTION FIVE

Lecture 21:  November 25, 1975 (evening)

  • Recognizing the Buddha
  • Persuading the Mind to Take the Essence of this Perfect Human Rebirth
  • Suffering is Created and Projected by the Mind
  • The Eight Freedoms of a Perfect Human Rebirth 

Lecture 22:  November 26, 1975

  • Discipline During Break Time
  • The Eight Freedoms of a Perfect Human Rebirth (Continued)
  • How to Take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on One’s Own

Lecture 23:  November 27, 1975

  • The Dharma Does Not Live in Books

Lecture 24:  November 29, 1975
[Incomplete Transcript] 

Lecture 25:  December 2, 1975

  • Refuge in the Guru Comes First
  • Samsara is Not a House 

SECTION SIX

Lecture 26:  December 3, 1975

  • Meditation on Bodhicitta is Always the Answer
  • Dharma is Never Harmonious with Delusions
  • Rejoice, Generate Bodhicitta, Dedicate Merits
  • Impermanence and Death 
  • The Method to Save Oneself from the Lower Realms
  • The Eight Benefits of Bodhicitta
    • The First Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 27:  December 3, 1975 (evening)

  • The Eight Benefits of Bodhicitta (Continued)
    • The First Benefit of Bodhicitta (Continued)
    • The Second Benefit of Bodhicitta
    • The Third Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 28:  December 4, 1975 (morning)

  • The Holy Thought of Bodhicitta
    • The Fourth Benefit of Bodhicitta
    • The Fifth Benefit of Bodhicitta
    • The Sixth Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 29:  December 4, 1975 (evening) 1

    • The Seventh Benefit of Bodhicitta
    • The Eighth Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 30:  December 4, 1975 (evening) 2

    • The Eighth Benefit of Bodhicitta (Continued)
    • The Ninth Benefit of Bodhicitta
    • The Tenth Benefit of Bodhicitta
  • Introduction to the Ten Innermost Jewels of the Kadampas 

SECTION SEVEN

Lecture 31:  December 5, 1975 (morning)

  • We Need to Understand the Suffering of Samsara
  • Every Word of Dharma Brings Benefit
  • Equilibrium Meditation to Generate Bodhicitta
  • The Seven Point Cause and Effect Meditation

Lecture 32:  December 5, 1975 (evening) 1

  • The Seven Point Cause and Effect Meditation (Continued)
    • The Four Ways of Analyzing the Kindness of the Mother 

Lecture 33:  December 5, 1975 (evening) 2

  • The Seven Point Cause and Effect Meditation (Continued)
    • Repaying the Kindness of All Mother Sentient Beings
    • Equalizing Oneself with Others 

Lecture 34:  December 6, 1975 (evening)

  • Equalizing Oneself with Others (Continued)
  • The Shortcomings of the Self-cherishing Thought

Lecture 35:  December 7, 1975 (evening)

  • The Shortcomings of the Self-cherishing Thought (Continued)
  • The Benefits of Cherishing Others
  • Generating Compassion Toward the Enemy
  • The Eight Verses of Mind Training