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 2021
Negative Emotions > Depression > Advice on Depression
A student was experiencing severe depression after a family member passed away, and was unable to alleviate it. Rinpoche recommended meditation on emptiness and advised these techniques.
Buddhist Practices > Preliminary Practices > Preliminary Practice Advice
A student had surgery on her left elbow and was unable to do prostrations and water bowls, however Rinpoche had recently advised these preliminary practices. The student hoped to recover fully, but even with therapy there had been little...
Sickness and Health > Transforming Pain and Illness > Handling Illness
Rinpoche gave this advice about tonglen practice to a student who had punctured their lungs in a fall and was in hospital.
Advices posted during the month of March 2021
Contemporary Issues > Court Cases and Legal Action > Legal Proceedings
A student wrote to Rinpoche for advice about a legal case, as well as financial and relationship difficulties.
Death and Transitions > Preparing Oneself for Death > A Happy and Peaceful Death
This advice was given to a student who had cancer and was close to passing. The student had been a center director for many years and had helped many centers in the area.
Working for the Dharma > Serving as Center Director > Advice to Center Directors
This advice was given to a center director who had made a confession about past mistakes at the Dharma center.
Contemporary Issues > Politics and Conflict > Advice and Practices for Various Countries
Rinpoche advised that prayers to Padmasambhava could help resolve the political unrest in Hong Kong.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Karma > Understanding Karma
In this letter to an Indian taxi driver, Rinpoche advised that success and happiness are the result of our virtuous actions. Rinpoche also recommended a powerful mantra which has many benefits.
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > How to Benefit Animals
This letter was written to a student who was working in the garden at a Dharma center and was concerned about the worms, insects and other animals harmed by planting the flowers. The student asked what they could do for the animals.
Buddhist Practices > Purification Practices > Practices to Purify Negative Karma
Rinpoche advised a student to recite one million Vajrasattva mantras and then sent this message.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Various Illnesses
A student wrote about polycystic kidney disease. She had been told by doctors that she would have a reduced life expectancy. [Note: Rinpoche's advice about nyung näs was just for her personally. Rinpoche advised the student to...
Buddhist Practices > Preliminary Practices > Preliminary Practice Advice
In this letter to a student who had completed many nyung näs, Rinpoche suggested several preliminary practices and gave instructions on how to practice lamrim meditation until effortless realizations are achieved.
Death and Transitions > Preparing Oneself for Death > Preparing for Death
A student with health issues wrote to Rinpoche asking for life practices. Rinpoche advised Amitayus long-life mantra, the five powers and other practices.
Advices posted during the month of February 2021
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Various Illnesses
Rinpoche advised these practices for a student who wrote about chronic health problems.
Negative Emotions > Delusions > Desire and Attachment
A student had developed strong attachment to a monk. Rinpoche recommended meditating on impermanence, the impurity of the body, the sufferings of samsara, and the emptiness, or lack of true existence, of the object of attachment.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
A student wrote to ask Rinpoche about life obstacles. Rinpoche checked and advised these practices.
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Addictions: Drugs and Alcohol
A student wrote about her twenty-year-old son, who had become depressed and addicted to drugs. After overdosing he tried to stop using drugs, but later relapsed and eventually went to a rehab clinic, where he was feeling physically and mentally...
Sangha (Monks and Nuns) > Ordination Advice > Giving up Vows
A monk wrote that he no longer wanted to be ordained. Rinpoche advised the monk to meditate on the lamrim and to remember that real happiness comes from renouncing the eight worldly concerns and attachment to this life.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Transforming Problems
Lama Zopa Rinpoche sent this message to a student who was upset and angry after having many negative experiences. Rinpoche explained that practicing Dharma means subduing one’s own mind.
Family and Relationships > Your Parents > Caring for Sick Parents
A student asked Rinpoche whether he should take care of his mother, who was sick. Rinpoche advised he would collect unbelievable merit by offering service to his mother.
Working for the Dharma > Translation Work > Translating Texts and Teachings
Rinpoche wrote this letter to a translator to thank him for translating the Vajra Cutter Sutra.
Buddhist Practices > Daily Practices > Daily Practice Advice
A student wrote requesting practice advice. She had a new child and was also SPC at a center. Rinpoche advised several daily practices and recommended training the mind in the graduated path (lamrim) until enlightenment is achieved.
Holy Objects > Pilgrimage > Advice on Pilgrimage
In this letter, Rinpoche describes his experience of Bhutan while on pilgrimage there in 2016. Rinpoche praises the country’s policies, which include not harming sentient beings, protecting the environment and restricting tobacco products.
Advices posted during the month of January 2021
Working for the Dharma > Conflict and Obstacles at the Center > Conflict With Others
Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this advice about resolving complaints and dealing with interpersonal conflict at the Dharma center. Rinpoche said the real enemy and the cause of all our problems is the self-cherishing thought. He explained that...
Family and Relationships > Children > Educating Children
Rinpoche advised that teaching the good heart is the most important education for children. By practicing the good heart, they will bring peace and happiness to others throughout their lives. This advice is excerpted from a long letter which you...
