Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe

By Adele Hulse

Big Love is the official, authorized biography of Lama Yeshe. It contains personal stories of the lamas and the students who learned, lived and traveled with them, as well as more than 1,500 photos dating back to the 1960s. If you knew Lama, you will be reminded of his wisdom and charisma; if you did not, this is the perfect introduction.

Watch this short video, The Big Love of Lama Yeshe, for an overview of this historic publication. Order your copy using the "Add to Cart" button on this page. Read more about how to order here.

Explore our Big Love resources to find links to excerpts from the book, a special image gallery of rare photos, a video of Lama Yeshe's final teaching at EEC1 in 1982 and Adele Hulse's dramatic readings on the LYWA YouTube channel. You can also read what people are saying about this amazing book and find links to readings from the Big Love Audiobook Heart Project.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche enjoying his copy of Big Love, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2020. Photo: Ven. Sherab.
Big Love Teaching Excerpts

Edited excerpts from the teachings below by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found in Big Love. Click on the links to read the entire teaching. 

Chapter 9. 1971: The First Kopan Meditation Course
  • The Suffering of the Lower Realms: Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the suffering of the lower realms of samsara (cyclic existence) in this teaching excerpted from the Fourth Kopan Meditation Course in March 1973. 
  • On Marriage: Lama Yeshe answers questions about marriage and relationships in this collection, drawn from talks given at various locations from 1975 to 1981. 
Chapter 10. 1972: Unsurpassed Dharma Land of Enlightenment
  • Refuge: Lama Yeshe advises that refuge is the first step on the Buddhist path, in this teaching given at Yiga Choezin, Zollikon, Switzerland, in July 1978. 
  • Giving Up the Eight Worldly Concerns: Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains how freedom from the eight worldly concerns creates real peace in this teaching excerpt from the Fourth Kopan Meditation Course in March–April 1973. 
  • Lama Yeshe on Ordination: Lama Yeshe teaches on the benefits of ordination, and discusses the five lay vows and the bodhisattva vows, at the Fourth Kopan Meditation Course, March-April, 1973. 
Chapter 12. 1974: Introducing Vajrsattva
  • The lamas with Western Sangha and Mount Everest Centre students in Bodhgaya, 1974. The Benefits of Bodhicitta: Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches on the negative mind and the value of bodhicitta, especially for those wishing to cultivate world peace, in this teaching given at the Sixth Kopan Meditation Course, March 1974. 
  • Introduction to the Kalachakra Initiation: This excerpt is from an introductory talk given by Lama Yeshe in Bodhgaya, India, in January 1974. 
  • The Cycle of Death and Rebirth: Lama Yeshe discusses cyclic existence in this excerpt from a teaching given during the Seventh Kopan Meditation Course held at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, in November–December 1974. 
Chapter 14. 1976: Heaven is Now
  • A Simple Explanation of Karma: Lama Yeshe discusses karma in this teaching given at Manjushri Institute, Cumbria, England, in September 1976.  
Chapter 15. 1977: The More Meditation, the More Happy
  • The Meaning of Dharma: Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains how Dharma provides us with a method to achieve happiness and avoid suffering in this excerpt from a  lamrim course at the Institute for Mental Physics, Yucca Valley, California, in March 1977.
  • Why We Need a Guru: This is an excerpt from a teaching by Lama Yeshe at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, September 1977. 
Chapter 16. 1978: Mahayana, Mahayana, Mahayana!
  • The True Nature of the Mind: Lama Yeshe discusses the meaning of "buddha" and how to become completely open and free from ignorance, in this excerpt from a public talk on the four noble truths given in Tokyo, Japan, on March 23, 1978. 
Chapter 17. 1979: Even Your Enemey Who Tries to Kill You Is Your Best Friend 
Chapter 19. 1981: Public Life and Private Time
Chapter 20. 1982: A Celebration of the Enlightened Experience
  • The Experience of Transformation: Lama Yeshe gave this introduction to tantra at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Italy, in October 1982, during His Holiness the Dalai Lama's tour through Europe. 
Chapter 21. 1983: Lama’s Last Year
  • The Importance of Retreat: In Madrid, Spain, on January 16, 1983, Lama Yeshe spoke to the directors and staff of O Sel Ling Retreat Centre.
  • How to Let Go: Lama Yeshe gave this talk at Vajra Yogini Institute, Marzens, France, on September 5, 1983.