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 September 2023
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Paralysis and Stroke
A student who had translated Rinpoche’s teachings and books was having health problems, including issues with their eyesight and possible paralysis on one side of the body. In this long letter, Rinpoche explains how to transform problems by...
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Various Cancers
A student had been diagnosed with cancer at the base of their tongue and was undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. The student asked if Rinpoche could recommend prayers and mantras which would be beneficial at that time.
Contemporary Issues > Dharma in Daily Life > Understanding the Suffering of Samsara
Rinpoche wrote this message in a visitor’s book after seeing a human body exhibition in New York in 2009.
Buddhist Practices > Tantra and Deity Practice > Tsog Offering
A student asked Rinpoche about doing a six-month calm abiding (Tib: zhinä; Skt: shamatha) retreat. Rinpoche suggested 100,000 Lama Chöpa tsog offerings, to purify and collect merit.
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Retreats > Retreat Advice
Rinpoche sent this letter to a student who asked for advice on what retreat they should do.
Buddhist Practices > General Practice Advice > General Practice Advice from Rinpoche
Rinpoche sent this card to a student who wrote that they were enjoying their Dharma practice.
Family and Relationships > Having a Baby > Abortion
This advice was given to a student who had an abortion and asked what she needed to do to purify the karma.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Eye Conditions
A student wrote that they were slowly losing their eyesight and may eventually become blind. Rinpoche told this story about visiting Cherok Lama's previous incarnation for lunch. Rinpoche also advised the student to recite the middle-length...
Sickness and Health > Musculoskeletal Disorders > Back, Leg and Joint Conditions
A student had cervical herniated discs in the C5–C6 and C6–C7 vertebrae in their neck, which compressed the nerves and spinal cord and caused numbness in their fingers. They also had cervical stenosis due to disc and bone degeneration.
Holy Objects > Making Offerings > Offering Practices
In this advice, given to a student who had a stupa at their home, Rinpoche advised how to circumambulate holy objects and how to offer music. Rinpoche explained the motivation, the benefits, the actual practice and how to dedicate the merits.
Path to Enlightenment (lam-rim) > Lam-rim Study and Practice > The Path to Enlightenment
A student wrote that their goal was to attain lamrim realizations and to focus on calm abiding and mahamudra. The student asked Rinpoche if it would be best to retire soon so they would have more time for retreat and practice.
Advices posted during the month of August 2023
Sickness and Health > Infectious Diseases > Various Infections
A student had several types of fungal and bacterial infections, as well as cognitive problems including short-term memory loss, foggy-mindedness, fatigue and depression. The student asked for advice about treatment and how to move forward and be...
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Skin Disorders
Rinpoche advised these pujas and practices for a student who had severe eczema that would not heal or respond to traditional treatment, despite doctors trying to manage the condition for the past ten years. The student was bedridden for weeks at...
Buddhist Practices > Advice for New Students > Advice for New Students
One night at Boudhanath Stupa, Rinpoche met two young men who were studying at a gompa in Nepal. They asked Rinpoche which of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism is best to follow. The four main schools are Nyingma, Kagyü, Sakya and Gelug.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Various Illnesses
A thirteen-year-old student wrote that she would like to become a nun when she turned eighteen. She had cystic fibrosis and prayed every day. She asked Rinpoche what else she could do.
Path to Enlightenment (lam-rim) > Karma > Purifying Negative Karma
A student wrote that they were experiencing many problems and asked why this was happening.
Contemporary Issues > Court Cases and Legal Action > Legal Proceedings
A student wrote to Rinpoche about someone who was involved in a court case and was trying to achieve a peaceful resolution. If the legal action were unsuccessful, it could result in a prison sentence and a large financial loss. This reply was...
Buddhist Practices > Purification Practices > Nyung-näs
A student had to stop after doing 40 consecutive nyung näs because he felt too dizzy and could not sleep. He was planning to complete 108 nyung näs. The student asked Rinpoche for advice.
Death and Transitions > Impermanence and Death > Impermanence and Death
A student wrote that he had previously taken refuge with a geshe but after a close relative suddenly died, along with others, his practice had weakened and he had resumed fishing and hunting. He now regretted the harm he had caused, felt lost and...
Contemporary Issues > Dharma in Daily Life > A Meaningful Life
A student had done a meditation course and retreats at Kopan and felt very connected to Dharma at first, but later moved with his partner and young child back to the city, where there were many distractions. He felt confused, irritated, sad and...
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > How to Benefit Animals
A student wrote that she lived on a farm where she tried to protect the animals and treat them with respect and love. She had abandoned butchering animals but sometimes found it necessary to kill small animals, such as intestinal worms, to save...
Advices posted during the month of July 2023
Family and Relationships > Children > Teenagers
A student asked Rinpoche what he could do to help his teenage son, who was becoming isolated and angry.
Death and Transitions > Caring for Others at the Time of Death > Practices at the Time of Death
Rinpoche advised these practices for a Sangha person who was dying. Rinpoche requested that the advice be kept for Sangha who are passing away.
Sickness and Health > Transforming Pain and Illness > Handling Illness
Rinpoche sent this advice to an old student who was rushed to hospital with an aneurysm. Rinpoche had done prayers and pujas for him. The student wrote to thank Rinpoche for the prayers and said he had clear meditations and visualizations of...
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Rinpoche's Thank-you Cards, Letters and Gifts
Rinpoche sent this message to thank a student who had been raising funds for many of the FPMT’s social service projects for many years.
