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 March 2023
Sickness and Health > Healing and Pacifying Illness > Eliminating Life Obstacles
Rinpoche gave this advice to a student who was sick and had life obstacles.
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Epilepsy
A student wrote to request pujas or practices for her eleven-year-old daughter who was having seizures which resulted in a loss of consciousness, and subsequently a headache and feeling sick. It could be epilepsy but that hadn’t been daignosed...
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Mahayana Mind Training
A student felt overwhelmed by obstacles, persecution and possible spirit harm, and was not sure how much more they could handle. In key moments of their life, such as career, spiritual practice and relationships, many obstacles had appeared and...
Sickness and Health > Transforming Pain and Illness > Transforming Pain
This mind training advice was given to a student who was very sick and in extreme pain.
Advices posted during the month of February 2023
Holy Objects > Making Offerings > Offering Practices
Rinpoche gave this advice on how to collect “the most unbelievable merit” when making offerings, originally in relation to offerings to the Boudha Stupa, in Kathmandu, Nepal. A room close to the stupa had been rented for that purpose. Rinpoche’s...
Path to Enlightenment (lamrim) > Karma > Understanding Karma
In this letter, Rinpoche advised that the current problems in the world, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, are the result of harming others. Rinpoche said he hopes that people can learn how to stop the suffering and achieve...
Benefiting Animals > Non-harming > Being Vegetarian
This letter was sent to the owner of a guesthouse where Rinpoche stayed in Maratika, eastern Nepal. Rinpoche said if she could stop eating fish, he would offer thanks from the bottom of his heart on behalf of all the fish, who cannot speak.
Contemporary Issues > Politics and Conflict > Advice to Politicians
A high-ranking government official asked a student to help him with a mo and puja to bless him for success in a forthcoming election. The student sought help from Rinpoche because if the politician was elected he could be like a guardian...
Sickness and Health > Infectious Diseases > Various Infections
A student had been sick for three months due to Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus. Their symptoms included a fever for the past eight weeks, feeling very tired and lacking energy.
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Neurological Disorders
A student wrote to Rinpoche regarding ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Rinpoche checked and advised the following.
Emptiness > Advice on Emptiness Practice > Emptiness Meditation
Rinpoche advised how to meditate on emptiness by reciting verses or quotations from the Buddha’s teachings while doing any kind of mundane activity.
Family and Relationships > Children > Advice for Children
Rinpoche sent this letter to a Sherpa teenager who had contacted him. Rinpoche gave a brief outline of the Buddhist path and encouraged her to study Dharma and live her life with a good heart. The student’s letter and Rinpoche’s response are...
Negative Emotions > Depression > Feeling Suicidal
Rinpoche advised these practices for a student’s son who was depressed and having suicidal thoughts. The parents had asked Rinpoche what they could do to help him.
Benefiting Animals > Practices to Benefit Animals > Animal Liberation
Rinpoche sent cards and this advice to thank students who were helping with animal rescue and care at Kopan Monastery and in Australia.
Advices posted during the month of January 2023
Working for the Dharma > Translation Work > Translating Texts and Teachings
Lama Zopa Rinpoche was invited to write a foreword for the English translation of Lama Tsongkhapa’s Illuminating the Intent, an important...
Contemporary Issues > Dharma in Daily Life > Travel and Immigration
Rinpoche checked and advised these practices to help teacher and interpreter with their visa applications.
Working for the Dharma > Translation Work > Translation Service
Rinpoche sent this letter to a nun who had translated a text and provided commentary to students. Rinpoche advised that her kindness brings great benefit to so many sentient beings at this time of unbelievable suffering in the world.
Compassion and Bodhicitta > Mind Training (lo-jong) > Mahayana Mind Training
A nun explained that she had been donating money to a monastery but later found out that the lay manager of the monastery guesthouse had cheated her by secretly withholding quite a lot of money for himself. Rinpoche typed this reply.
Family and Relationships > Your Parents > Caring for Sick Parents
This advice was given to a student whose brother was taking care of their parents. Rinpoche explained the great merit collected by serving our parents and said if we understand their kindness, offering service to them will come from our heart....
Family and Relationships > Having a Baby > The Purpose of Having a Baby
A student asked Rinpoche whether they should have a baby or not. Rinpoche advised that a positive attitude is the most important thing.
Sickness and Health > Cancer > Various Cancers
Rinpoche advised these practices for a student with multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer.
Sickness and Health > Brain and Nervous System > Epilepsy
A student was experiencing uncontrollable shaking in their entire body, like epilepsy, from time to time.
Death and Transitions > Preparing Oneself for Death > Preparing for Death
A student wrote to Rinpoche about a program they were developing on death and preparation for death from a Universal Education perspective. Elements such as the five points at the moment of death and tonglen meditation were being adapted...
Contemporary Issues > Work and Business Problems > Removing Business Obstacles
A student asked Rinpoche about a possible new business and how to improve his finances. He had previously sent a report explaining how Rinpoche’s blessed strings had really helped two dogs.
Sickness and Health > General Illnesses > Skin Disorders
A student’s daughter had very bad eczema that would not heal. Rinpoche recommended Most Secret Hayagriva and explained how to do the meditation.
