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 2019
Death and Transitions > Preparing Oneself for Death > Preparing for Death
A nun who had cancer was close to passing away. Rinpoche advised these practices.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Bodhicitta > Advice on Developing Bodhicitta
Rinpoche gave this advice about bodhicitta, the mind of enlightenment.
Sangha (Monks and Nuns) > Practice Advice for Sangha > Sangha Practice Advice
A Tibetan student who had cancer took ordination, following Rinpoche’s advice. The student wrote to let Rinpoche know.
Buddhist Practices > General Practice Advice > Dorje Shugden
A student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote to confess that as there was no other center nearby they had started attending a New Kadampa Tradition center and were practicing Dolgyal (Skt: Dorje Shugden). The student confessed not following the guru’s...
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Anxiety and Panic Disorder
A student with cancer wrote that her husband was hospitalized due to his severe anxiety. He was not a Buddhist. Rinpoche sent this advice.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Skin Disorders
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student who had severe blisters and itchy skin.
Holy Objects > Monasteries and Stupas > Stupas
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student who had a new stupa in their house.
Negative Emotions > Depression > Advice on Depression
A student wrote to Rinpoche about a sixteen-year-old relative who had severe depression. Rinpoche offered this advice.
Advices posted during the month of May 2019
Family and Relationships > Marriage and Divorce > Separation and Divorce
A student asked if he was committing sexual misconduct because his current partner was legally married. She had separated from her husband and was not having any physical contact with him, however, they were still married. Rinpoche spent a long...
Death and Transitions > Caring for Others at the Time of Death > Caring for the Dying
This advice was given to a student whose brother was in intensive care and close to dying. The student asked what could be done for his brother to avoid rebirth in the lower realms.
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Rinpoche's Thank-you Cards, Letters and Gifts
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote this letter to Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche, the abbot of Namgyal Monastery, Dharamsala, and spiritual director of Ghe Pel Ling Institute, Milan, Italy. Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche and Ven. Tenzin Khenrab Rinpoche had organized the...
Holy Objects > Advice on Holy Objects > Statues
A new center had placed a statue of the Buddha outdoors on the ground. Rinpoche saw photos of the opening of the center and wanted to pass this message on to the center director.
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > Various Practices for Animals
Rinpoche wrote this card to two Sangha members who were doing the Charity to Ants practice every week and were also liberating animals weekly.
Family and Relationships > Relationship Problems > Disharmony in the Family
A student wrote to Rinpoche about harmony in the family. Her children had experienced a lot of trauma and she wanted to have a connection with her grandchildren.
Holy Objects > Pilgrimage > Advice on Pilgrimage
In this letter sent to his dentist, Rinpoche writes about a sacred lake in northern India where he went on pilgrimage in February 2016, and also gives an outline of the Buddhist path.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Tonglen: Taking and Giving
A student was having many health issues, including heart arrythmia, anxiety and panic attacks, fatigue, stomach problems and dizziness. This prevented the student from doing nyung näs. Doctors could not find any problem. Rinpoche checked...
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Various Illnesses
A student wrote that their husband had been diagnosed with diabetes. Rinpoche advised a simple tonglen practice and explained why we need to develop renunciation of samsara.
Advices posted during the month of April 2019
Death and Transitions > Impermanence and Death > Impermanence and Death
A student had been grieving for many years after her child had died at birth. She had been trying to conceive in various ways for a long time but not been able to. She asked Rinpoche for advice on how to deal with situation.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > The Guru/Disciple Relationship
A student asked Rinpoche how to recognize whether their attachment to their guru, who was a lay person, was positive or was coming from a deluded mind.
Working for the Dharma > Advice to Dharma Centers > Practice Advice for Centers
Rinpoche sent this card to students at a center.
Buddhist Practices > Daily Practices > Restarting Daily Practice
A student wrote to confess that they had distanced themselves from Rinpoche and FPMT for many years, and wanted to reconnect. Rinpoche recommended The Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness (Including Enlightenment), an...
Buddhist Practices > Tantra and Deity Practice > Tantra
Rinpoche gave this advice about the purpose of tantric practice, especially Highest Yoga Tantra, to a student who asked what their main deity was.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Transforming Problems
This advice was given to a student who had worked for many years helping Rinpoche and who suddenly became very sick and was in hospital.
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Acute Mental Illness
A student had experienced mental health issues and had spent time in a psychiatric hospital receiving treatment. The student asked Rinpoche for advice on what practices would help.
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Anxiety and Panic Disorder
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student who always felt nervous and was having panic attacks. The student had a frail nervous system and was very sensitive to caffeine and different foods.
