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 2022
Buddhist Practices > Purification Practices > Practices to Purify Negative Karma
In this advice, Rinpoche recommends purifying negative karma with daily Vajrasattva practice, just as the wise ones have done. This is the second part of a letter sent to a student who had criticized the guru and caused problems at the Dharma...
Path to Enlightenment (lam-rim) > Guru Devotion > Confession to the Guru
A student confessed that Rinpoche was initially their least favorite person and apologized for criticizing him whilst traveling in India and Nepal. The student also felt they were a troublemaker at the Dharma center and had caused problems for...
Family and Relationships > Marriage and Divorce > Separation and Divorce
A student was upset because her partner had gone to live with someone else. Rinpoche advised that we have all been suffering from beginningless rebirths and the key to peace and happiness is giving up the self-cherishing mind.
Buddhist Practices > Tantra and Deity Practice > Tantra
Rinpoche offered this advice about the correct way to practice Highest Yoga Tantra, by first accomplishing generation stage and then practicing completion stage. Rinpoche also emphasized the importance of lamrim study and practice.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
Rinpoche checked and advised these practices for a student with life obstacles.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Various Illnesses
A student had been diagnosed with lupus and advanced fibromyalgia. The medication was very strong, affecting many inner organs, the nervous system and general health. Rinpoche checked and advised the following.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Practice Advice for Cancer
Rinpoche offered this practice advice to a student who had uterine cancer and was going to have an operation. The student also wrote that she had two abortions when she was younger and now strongly regretted doing that.
Contemporary Issues > Court Cases and Legal Action > Legal Proceedings
A student wrote that there was an obstacle relating to their job and they may also be facing a lawsuit soon. Rinpoche advised these practices to dispel the obstacles.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Practices for Pacifying Sickness
This advice was given to a longtime student who asked about health obstacles.
Buddhist Practices > Preliminary Practices > Mandala Offerings
Rinpoche had advised a student to complete 300,000 mandala offerings (ngondro), but they could not continue due to chronic neck pain and stiffness after an accident. The student had tried to follow Rinpoche’s advice but was physically...
Advices posted during the month of August 2022
Contemporary Issues > Practices for Success > Overcoming Obstacles
Rinpoche advised a student and their father to do these practices in order to remove obstacles.
Contemporary Issues > Practices for Success > Overcoming Obstacles
Rinpoche advised that this puja should be done for a young girl, so that obstacles she was experiencing could be overcome. Drugchuma puja is performed in relation to Kalarupa/Dharmaraja, a Dharma protector.
Sickness and Health > Operations > Practices Before Surgery
A student asked whether it was good to have surgery for a hernia. Rinpoche checked and advised the following.
Buddhist Practices > Preliminary Practices > Completing the Preliminaries
Rinpoche sent this letter thanking a student who finished some preliminary practices.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Eye Conditions
A student asked about having eye operation. Rinpoche recommended these pujas and a Chenrezig practice to purify the negative karma and disease.
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Rinpoche's Thank-you Cards, Letters and Gifts
Rinpoche sent this letter thanking a benefactor for their kindness, which had enabled the FPMT to benefit numberless sentient beings.
Negative Emotions > Delusions > Desire and Attachment
This letter was sent to a student who wrote that she was having difficulty with attachment to men. Rinpoche advised how to overcome the attachment by reflecting on the nature of the body and the four immeasurable thoughts.
Benefiting Animals > Spare the Insects > Don't Kill the Insects
Rinpoche advised several pujas and practices for a center which had termites. Rinpoche also said the center should not kill the termites and they should take the termite-infested wood out to the forest instead.
Path to Enlightenment (lam-rim) > Refuge > Qualities of the Buddha
A longtime student wrote that he felt very alone and not connected with the lama. He also told Rinpoche he was doing nyung näs.
Holy Objects > Advice on Holy Objects > Tsa-tsas
A student asked Rinpoche what retreat to do for two months. Rinpoche explained how to structure their retreat and how to make the tsa tsas correctly, without imperfections.
Advices posted during the month of July 2022
Buddhist Practices > Practice Problems > Problems During One's Practice
A student wrote that they had been practicing Dharma for over twenty years, and were inspired by Rinpoche’s book Dear Lama Zopa, but they felt unable to continue, especially with the practice of guru devotion. Read Rinpoche’s response...
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Paralysis and Stroke
A student wrote that they had Bell’s palsy and tumors in their breast and lungs. Rinpoche recommended tonglen practice.
Sickness and Health > Cardiovascular and Respiratory > Cardiovascular Disease
A student had some blockages in the arteries going to their heart. Rinpoche advised these pujas.
Contemporary Issues > Practices for Success > Practices for Business Success
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student who asked how to make their business successful.
Sangha (Monks and Nuns) > Ordination Advice > Requesting Ordination
A student wrote asking to take ordination. Rinpoche observed that they had life obstacles and recommended several practices including animal liberation.
