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 June 2020
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Lamrim Study and Practice > The Path to Enlightenment
This advice on how to achieve enlightenment quickly was dictated by Rinpoche in Bendigo, Australia.
Holy Objects > Making Offerings > Offering Practices
Advice about the unbelievable merit of making offerings to the Sangha when we have the correct motivation and see them as pores of the guru. The advice refers to offering to monks at pujas, however, it also applies to nuns and lay people who are...
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > The Guru/Disciple Relationship
After meeting a student who asked about guru devotion, Rinpoche sent this letter advising the importance of checking the guru first, and what to do if the guru instructs the disciple to do something which is non-Dharma.
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Retreats > Lamrim Retreat
After completing a three-month retreat, a student wrote to Rinpoche about their realizations and experiences. The student said the retreat had helped with their grief and sadness after losing their mother several years ago. They had thought that...
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Acute Mental Illness
A student wrote that they had started hearing voices and wondered if it was spirit harm. Rinpoche checked and gave this advice.
Negative Emotions > Depression > Advice on Depression
A person who was experiencing anxiety and depression asked Rinpoche which buddha was helpful for that. Rinpoche gave this advice on the good heart and cherishing others.
Advices posted during the month of May 2020
Buddhist Practices > Advice for New Students > Heart Advice
Rinpoche wrote this letter to new young student who had been to Bodhgaya to receive the Kalachakra initiation from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Rinpoche's Thank-you Cards, Letters and Gifts
Rinpoche sent this card to a benefactor who had been supporting FPMT social service projects in India, Nepal and Mongolia for many years.
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > Animal Health Care and Healing
A student asked Rinpoche to make prayers for her sick dog. Rinpoche sent this advice.
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Retreats > Retreat Advice
A student wrote that she had become sick while living at the Dharma center. As well as experiencing many health obstacles, she was having difficulty with Dharma practice and problems with her memory. Rinpoche advised doing Vajrasattva retreat in...
Negative Emotions > Depression > Feeling Suicidal
A student wrote to Rinpoche about her twenty-year-old daughter, who was experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts. The depression had started a long time ago but it had become more serious and the student said her daughter felt trapped,...
Contemporary Issues > Work and Business Problems > Business Crisis and Failure
Rinpoche gave this advice to students whose business was unsuccessful.
Buddhist Practices > General Practice Advice > General Practice Advice from Rinpoche
Rinpoche dictated this dedication for a family and for their mother who had passed away. The dedication was to be read out during pujas that were done for the family.
Sickness and Health > Operations > Practices Before Surgery
This advice was given to a student who asked if any pujas were needed prior to back surgery.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Urogenital and Menstrual Conditions
A student had a diagnosis of three large tumors in her uterus. The tumors were benign but they were causing many health problems, including blood loss, lack of energy and exhaustion.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Mahayana Mind Training
A student was very ill and had impaired mobility, so she needed assistance with washing, eating and toileting. Another student who visited her said he wouldn’t be able to bear her suffering for even one hour, and wondered why she was experiencing...
Buddhist Practices > Practicing in Prison > Advice for Prisoners
A student was going to prison for two years and asked what practices they could do there. Rinpoche gave this advice on how to use the time in prison to practice Dharma.
Advices posted during the month of April 2020
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Acute Mental Illness
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student with PTSD who was experiencing strong anger and rage, as well as having flashbacks to the past and feeling startled by noise.
Buddhist Practices > General Practice Advice > General Practice Advice from Rinpoche
A student asked what practice to do next. Rinpoche checked and gave this advice.
Contemporary Issues > Dharma in Daily Life > Travel and Immigration
This advice was given to a student who asked whether it was beneficial to travel as there were some obstacles.
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Calm Abiding Practice > Calm Abiding (Shi-nä) Practice
Rinpoche advised a student to request Prajnaparamita recitation by a monastery in Nepal in order to remove obstacles to shinä (Skt: shamatha; calm abiding).
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
A student wrote to Rinpoche about her health. She was sixty years old and according to Chinese astrology it was an obstacle year.
Working for the Dharma > Advice to Dharma Centers > Building at the Center
Advice about construction of a statue of the four harmonious friends, dictated to Ven. Ailsa Cameron in Bendigo, Australia. The four animals, an elephant, a monkey, a rabbit and a bird, lived in the forest and spread harmony to the other animals...
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > The Guru/Disciple Relationship
A student wrote that they had a photo of another lama on their altar just because they liked the image, but had not taken teachings from him or accepted him as guru.
Lineage Lamas > His Holiness the Dalai Lama > The Qualities of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Rinpoche sent this message to a geshe who wanted to arrange pujas in Tibet for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
