View and Search Online Advice Book
Below is a listing of advices in the Online Advice Book. They are sorted and grouped by the date posted on our website, with the most recent additions showing first. You can enter a keyword to search for advices containing that term.
Advices posted during the month of April 2025
Buddhist Practices > Purification Practices > Practices to Purify Negative Karma
A student wrote that they were having many problems after doing a Vajrasattva retreat. Rinpoche advised this was a sign that their past negative karma had been purified and they would have happiness in the future. Daily lamrim meditation practice...
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Anxiety and Panic Disorder
Rinpoche explained the extensive kindness of sentient beings in this long letter sent to a student who had struggled with panic disorder, fear and anxiety for thirty-five years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the student’s fear and anxiety had...
Sickness and Health > Infectious Diseases > Various Infections
This advice was given to a geshe who had contracted COVID-19 in Singapore. Rinpoche said getting COVID is more precious than skies of wish-granting jewels, because we can use it to destroy the self-cherishing thought.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
A student wrote that they had life obstacles and asked Rinpoche what they should do.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
Rinpoche advised these practices for a student with many health problems.
Sangha (Monks and Nuns) > Advice for Sangha > Sangha Communities
This advice was given to a center which was planning to build a nunnery in the future.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Various Cancers
A student with acute myeloid leukemia asked Rinpoche what practices they should do.
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Paralysis and Stroke
A student wrote that their health had deteriorated over the past six years after a small stroke and third-degree chemical burns. They had frequent migraines, pain and exhaustion, but doctors were unsure of the cause or treatment. The student...
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Various Illnesses
A student’s daughter had been experiencing vertigo and dizziness for several years, but doctors could not find the cause. Rinpoche offered this advice.
Working for the Dharma > Conflict and Obstacles at the Center > Removing Obstacles at the Center
Rinpoche gave this advice to a study group on practices to remove obstacles.
Advices posted during the month of March 2025
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Rinpoche's Thank-you Cards, Letters and Gifts
Rinpoche sent this letter to a student in China, thanking him for a thangka and describing recent events in Bodhgaya at that time. Rinpoche also asked about some texts he was looking for and advised he would sponsor pujas for the student’s father...
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Bodhicitta > Advice on Developing Bodhicitta
During the 2018 European Regional Meeting, Rinpoche advised the importance of setting a bodhicitta motivation so that every action becomes Dharma, the cause for enlightenment.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Practices for Pacifying Sickness
A student had received advice on extra practices for their health, but was concerned they couldn’t manage to do them all. Rinpoche sent this update.
Buddhist Practices > General Practice Advice > Practices for Life
Rinpoche advised lamrim study and practice, along with several preliminaries, including tsa tsas, for a student who had retired.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > The Guru/Disciple Relationship
This advice about how to see the guru as a buddha was given to a student who had recently met Rinpoche at Kopan.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Various Cancers
Rinpoche recommended these practices for a student who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Sickness and Health > Musculoskeletal Disorders > Back, Leg and Joint Conditions
A student asked Rinpoche about having a hip operation and also requested advice for retreat.
Holy Objects > Advice on Holy Objects > Prayer Wheels
This dedication prayer for a large prayer wheel constructed in Thame, Solu Khumbu, was composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The completed prayer wheel, which is 9 ft x 6 ft in size and contains 100 trillion mantras on microfilm, was blessed by Sangha...
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Tonglen: Taking and Giving
Rinpoche wrote this letter to a student who had overcome cancer through practicing tonglen. [Please note: Do not disregard medical advice or delay seeking it because of information on this website.]
Advices posted during the month of January 2025
Negative Emotions > Depression > Feeling Suicidal
A student wrote that her teenage stepdaughter was self-harming and suicidal, and the behavior was escalating. Rinpoche explained that it could be caused by spirit harm and advised animal liberation and Black Manjushri practice.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Various Illnesses
A student with many health problems for the past five years had been diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease. This had resulted in chronic kidney disease and a recent episode of facial paralysis.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student who had asked about her daughter.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
A student wrote that they had life obstacles. Rinpoche checked and advised the following practices.
Death and Transitions > Practices for the Deceased > Prayers and Practices for the Deceased
Rinpoche checked and advised the following practices for a student whose mother had passed away.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Practice Advice for Cancer
A longtime student with advanced breast cancer wrote that she was rejoicing in the opportunity to deepen her practice and collect merit. She asked Rinpoche what practices she should be doing, in addition to tonglen and recitation of the...
