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 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.
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.]
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...
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...
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Generosity and Charitable Projects
Rinpoche dictated this letter regarding funds being offered for rebuilding a Kagyü nunnery that had been destroyed by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
Buddhist Practices > Tantra and Deity Practice > Tantra
A student had left another Buddhist organization after establishing a connection with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The student wrote to Rinpoche to request spiritual guidance and practices that would help them...
Buddhist Practices > General Practice Advice > Practices for Life
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student who had requested life practices. The student was studying Lamrim Chenmo and was planning to take ordination.
Buddhist Practices > Preliminary Practices > Preliminary Practice Advice
In this letter to a student, Rinpoche advised that the precious human rebirth could end at any time and recommended practices for that student's lifetime.
Advices posted during the month of December 2024
Sickness and Health > Infectious Diseases > HIV / AIDS
A student who was HIV-positive asked Rinpoche for practice advice.
Buddhist Practices > Protection from Spirit Harm > Protection from Spirit Harm
Rinpoche sent this message to a longtime student who had been sick for many weeks. Doctors were finding it hard to diagnose the illness and ascertain what medicines to give that person.
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Insomnia / Sleep Disorders
A student wrote that they had frequent nightmares and other serious problems during the day. The student felt very sick and doctors didn't know why.
Family and Relationships > Parenting > Bringing up Children
Rinpoche sent this long letter to a student who had asked how to best prepare for motherhood before the baby's arrival; how to find a life partner and what qualities to look for in a partner; and how to balance being a mother with working....
Family and Relationships > Having a Baby > Practices for Pregnancy and Birth
A student was expecting her second child, but the pregnancy was risky. She asked Rinpoche about pujas and practices to remove obstacles to the childbirth.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Cancer and Preparation for Death
This advice was given to a student who was very close to dying from cancer.
