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 2014
Death and Transitions > Practices for the Deceased > Prayers and Practices for the Deceased
Rinpoche gave this advice to a Kopan monk whose teacher had passed away.
Sickness and Health > Addictions and Mental Illness > Acute Mental Illness
A student was experiencing many obstacles, severe anxiety and fear. His medications included anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, tranquillizers, stimulants for ADHD and anti-psychotics. Rinpoche checked and advised that it was important to do the...
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Breast Cancer
A student diagnosed with breast cancer had an operation that removed only non-cancerous tissue, not the tumor, so she needed another operation immediately. Rinpoche gave this advice on purifying past karma in order to achieve ultimate happiness,...
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Eye Conditions
A student with serious glaucoma asked Rinpoche for advice.
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Retreats > Retreat Advice
A student asked Rinpoche what retreat he should do.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Transforming Problems
Rinpoche gave this advice about rejoicing and using difficulties on the path after hearing about devotees making a large offering of gold for the spire of the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, India. [Hand-typed by Rinpoche on an iPad; lightly edited...
Buddhist Practices > Tantra and Deity Practice > Tantra
A student asked Rinpoche about the preliminary practice of tonglen—she had missed a day and started again. Also, she believed she hadn’t taken a Highest Yoga Tantra initiation because she hadn’t maintained a visualization of the guru as one with...
Contemporary Issues > Dharma in Daily Life > A Meaningful Life
A student advised that after hearing just one word from Rinpoche, she decided to go to Kopan, Nepal. She later forgave her husband, from whom she was separated, and he went to Kopan. They are both practicing now.
Sutras, Mantras and Root Texts > Mantras > Mantra Recitations
A student advised that her father had recently recited over two million manis [Chenrezig mantra] in just a few months at home. It was his first time reciting this...
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > Various Practices for Animals
While staying in California in 2013, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Dagri Rinpoche and about 100 students went to a local wharf to bless sentient beings in the ocean, by lowering a number of embossed Namgyalma mantra boards into the water. State park...
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Guru Devotion > The Guru/Disciple Relationship
A student offering service to the guru was having difficulties. Rinpoche gave the following advice about guru devotion.
Meditation and Retreat Advice > Retreats > Retreat Advice
Rinpoche sent this hand-written card to a student who had written about his meditation experience while doing retreat. Lightly edited by Sandra Smith.
Advices posted during the month of December 2013
Family and Relationships > Relationship Problems > Advice on Relationship Problems
Rinpoche gave this advice to student about practicing patience and asked that it be made widely available. [Hand-typed by Rinpoche on an iPad; lightly edited by Sandra Smith.]
Death and Transitions > Caring for Others at the Time of Death > Essential Advice for the Time of Death
This is the most essential advice given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the time of death.
Sickness and Health > Transforming Pain and Illness > Handling Illness
A student with prostate cancer had a HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) procedure which removed the tumors. He asked Rinpoche for guidance on what he could do to be rid of the root cause of the cancer and to restore his body to optimum...
Buddhist Practices > Practice Problems > Problems During One's Practice
A student felt that their practice was not progressing. They had the motivation and plans for practice, but they always seemed to take a step back and felt blocked.
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > Animal Liberation
Rinpoche sent this letter to a student who had arranged the liberation of 12,000 kg of shellfish, an estimated 1.5 million animals, during an eclipse. The student had also personally finished one million Hayagriva mantras. In addition, he had...
Death and Transitions > Impermanence and Death > Impermanence and Death
Rinpoche dictated this letter about the three types of suffering to a student’s mother, who was worried about death.
Contemporary Issues > Students' Letters > Offering Thanks
Rinpoche requested that this letter is kept for others to rejoice in.
Contemporary Issues > Students' Letters > Offering Thanks
A student wrote to thank Rinpoche for his inspiring example. Rinpoche requested that the letter is kept for others to rejoice in.
Sangha (Monks and Nuns) > Ordination Advice > Requesting Ordination
A student wrote to Rinpoche requesting ordination.
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Lamrim Study and Practice > The Path to Enlightenment
After meeting Rinpoche for the first time, a student’s father had started to learn lamrim, but he was from a Theravadin background and had many doubts about the lamrim. He thought that Tibetan Buddhism was created by Tibetans and did not come...
Sangha (Monks and Nuns) > Practice Advice for Sangha > Sangha Practice Advice
A letter to nuns at Bigu Nunnery in Nepal, who have been doing 100 million mani retreats sponsored by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT every...
Contemporary Issues > Students' Letters > Offering Thanks
Rinpoche asked a student to write a report on how she had dealt with depression after following his advice.
Advices posted during the month of November 2013
Working for the Dharma > Service and Support of the Dharma > Fundraising
This letter was sent to a student who was trying very hard to fundraise for projects.
