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 October 2022
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > Obstacles to Guru Devotion
A student had been experiencing spontaneous thoughts of ill will and of harming the guru. The student didn’t know if the cause of the disturbing thoughts was physiological or spirit harm, and they felt the wish to harm was coming from an external...
Contemporary Issues > Court Cases and Legal Action > Legal Proceedings
A student wrote that the tenant in their rental house refused to leave and was suing them. They said the tenant was lying about their actions.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Karma > Understanding Karma
Rinpoche sent this advice about karma to a student who was having difficulties with tenants who owed thousands of dollars in rent and property damage. The tenants were eventually evicted, but the student found it difficult to generate compassion...
Holy Objects > Monasteries and Stupas > Stupas
A student wanted to build a stupa and asked Rinpoche about a location. Rinpoche advised it should be well-made and beautified and built in a public place where it can benefit many sentient beings.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Lamrim Study and Practice > The Path to Enlightenment
After finishing the six-year Basic Program, a student wrote to ask Rinpoche what they should do next. Rinpoche advised the importance of lamrim study and practice.
Contemporary Issues > Natural Disasters > Climate Change
This advice was given during an intense heatwave in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in June–July 2021. Rinpoche said to look at the difficulties as an opportunity to purify negative karma and cultivate bodhicitta. Rinpoche also...
Sangha (Monks and Nuns) > Ordination Advice > Giving up Vows
Rinpoche sent this heart advice to someone who had been ordained and had recently disrobed.
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Brain Disorders
A student wrote that her son had sustained a traumatic brain injury and had developed psychosis and obsessive behavior. Her relationship with her son was difficult, however, he had a connection with the Dharma and with Rinpoche. The student also...
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Tumors
A student wrote to Rinpoche about a family member who was diagnosed with gioblastoma multiforme, a fast-growing brain tumor, and had just three to six months to live, or up to two years if he had radiation and chemotherapy. He had a...
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Bodhicitta > Advice on Developing Bodhicitta
A student wrote that they saw Rinpoche’s kindness to animals at a retreat and cried afterwards. The student told Rinpoche about the activities they were now doing to benefit animals and said they had the opportunity to lecture large groups and...
Advices posted during the month of September 2022
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > 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...
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...
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.
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...
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 > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
Rinpoche checked and advised these practices for a student with life obstacles.
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.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Practices for Pacifying Sickness
This advice was given to a longtime student who asked about health obstacles.
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.
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.
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 (lamrim) > 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.
