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 January 2024
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Rinpoche's Thank-you Cards, Letters and Gifts
Rinpoche sent this advice to a student who was helping at a Dharma center and was also working as a nurse.
Death and Transitions > Impermanence and Death > Impermanence and Death
Rinpoche sent this letter to a student who had recently had a baby and got married.
Holy Objects > Relics > Blessings of the Relics
A student saw relics for sale on the internet and asked Rinpoche if they were valid and whether she should buy them.
Sickness and Health > Digestive System > Stomach, Liver and Digestive Problems
Rinpoche recommended these practices for a student who had Crohn's disease and asked for advice.
Advices posted during the month of December 2023
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Retreats > Long Retreat
A student wrote to ask Rinpoche about doing a long retreat. Rinpoche responded with this advice and quotations on thought transformation (lojong).
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Addictions: Drugs and Alcohol
A student wrote that they had started a personal practice when volunteering at a Dharma center. They quit smoking and hadn’t used intoxicants for nine years and said that after taking refuge all their obstacles began to disappear. The student...
Buddhist Practices > Practicing in Prison > Meditation and Practice in Prison
This advice was for a person who was incarcerated and would be going to court. Rinpoche recommended Kurukulla practice for success in the court case.
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > Animal Liberation
A Ladakhi student wrote that their group was reciting the Golden Light Sutra, as well as liberating animals and doing circumambulations. The student also asked how to help a deceased relative.
Buddhist Practices > Preliminary Practices > Completing the Preliminaries
A student had finished their preliminary practices and wrote to offer them to Rinpoche and to ask for more.
Buddhist Practices > Protection from Spirit Harm > Protection from Spirit Harm
A student wrote to Rinpoche asking about spirit harm and said they had been harmed by spirits in the past.
Contemporary Issues > Practices for Success > Buying and Selling Property
Rinpoche recommended this mantra for the successful purchase of a property.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Bodhicitta > Advice on Developing Bodhicitta
In this letter, Rinpoche advises how we can make our life most beneficial for others.
Advices posted during the month of November 2023
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Headaches and Stress
Advice for a student who was experiencing incredible pain, including severe migraines.
Working for the Dharma > Conflict and Obstacles at the Center > Removing Obstacles at the Center
Rinpoche advised these practices to remove obstacles for a new gompa, which would be located in the house at the Dharma center in Brazil.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Karma > Avoiding Negative Karma
A longtime student wrote to Rinpoche confessing their mistakes. Rinpoche related the example of four of the Buddha’s disciples who were careless and created heavy negative karma. Later they became careful, collected virtue and subsequently...
Buddhist Practices > Tantra and Deity Practice > Tantra
In this letter, Rinpoche explains to a student why it's important to practice Highest Yoga Tantra, in order to achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible.
Buddhist Practices > Daily Practices > Daily Practice Advice
Advice to a student on why it’s important to bless the speech.
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Calm Abiding Practice > Calm Abiding (Shi-nä) Practice
Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this commendation of a new book by His Eminence Chöden Rinpoche and praised his qualities.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > Obstacles to Guru Devotion
Rinpoche gave this advice regarding students who had taken one lama as their guru, but then criticized and talked badly about that lama.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > Advice on Guru Devotion
A student had received lifetime practices from Rinpoche but at the time Rinpoche had advised a Highest Yoga Tantra deity did not come out as their yidam (personal deity) and to check again after six months. This is Rinpoche’s reply to...
Family and Relationships > Children > Advice for Children
Rinpoche sent this advice to a nine-year-old child who had been coming to the local Dharma center.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Various Cancers
Rinpoche advised a student with prostate cancer to do Most Secret Hayagriva practice every day.
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Practices for Pacifying Sickness
A student had fractured his shoulder bone and three ribs. He asked Rinpoche what pujas he should do and for a blessing so that he would get better.
Advices posted during the month of October 2023
Negative Emotions > Depression > Advice on Depression
A student wrote that they were struggling with depression and feelings of guilt.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Various Cancers
A student who was in hospital with leukemia asked Rinpoche for health advice.
