Big Love features many excerpts of teachings given by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Click on the links below to explore these teachings.
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.)
- On Marriage: Lama Yeshe answers questions about marriage and relationships in this collection of teachings.
Chapter 10. 1972: Unsurpassed Dharma Land of Enlightenment
- Refuge: In this teaching, Lama Yeshe advises that refuge is the first step on the Buddhist path.
- Giving Up the Eight Worldly Concerns: Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains how freedom from the eight worldly concerns creates real peace.
- Lama Yeshe on Ordination: Lama Yeshe teaches on the benefits of ordination and discusses the five lay vows and the bodhisattva vows.
Chapter 12. 1974: Introducing Vajrsattva
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. - Introduction to the Kalachakra Initiation: In this teaching, Lama Yeshe stresses the understanding of three prerequisites before taking tantric initiation.
- The Cycle of Death and Rebirth: Lama Yeshe discusses the energy of consciousness and cyclic existence.
Chapter 14. 1976: Heaven is Now
- A Simple Explanation of Karma: Lama Yeshe discusses karma and maintaining awareness of everyday life actions.
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.
- Why We Need a Guru: In this excerpt, Lama Yeshe explains how the correct guru is the antidote to our confused minds.
- Recognizing Vajrapani: Lama Yeshe explains how students can transform projections of the dualistic mind into peace, bliss and joy.
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. - Living in Awareness: In this teaching, Lama Yeshe discusses the value of living in mindfulness of every moment, realizing the nature of our actions and how they relate to karma.
Chapter 17. 1979: Even Your Enemy Who Tries to Kill You Is Your Best Friend
- Tantra: Limitless Enjoyment and Freedom From Grasping: Lama Yeshe explains how to investigate the space-like nature of all phenomena and establish right view.
Chapter 19. 1981: Public Life and Private Time
- Powa: Transference of Consciousness at the Time of Death: In this teaching, Lama Yeshe explains the motivation and practice of powa, a special technique to gain rebirth in Amitabha's pure land.
- Actualizing the Perfection of Patience: Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend explains how to deal with situations in which strong emotions arise; Lama Yeshe teaches on this text and the importance of developing patience.
- The Blissful Wisdom of Vajrayogini: Lama Yeshe advises to make experiences beneficial by transforming all phenomena into Vajrayogini’s blissful nondual wisdom.
Chapter 20. 1982: A Celebration of the Enlightened Experience
- The Experience of Transformation: In this excerpt, Lama Yeshe discusses tantra—a realistic way of transforming our situation into the path to liberation or, at least, into a subdued and tranquil life.
Chapter 21. 1983: Lama’s Last Year
- The Importance of Retreat: Lama Yeshe explains the necessity of retreat and its role in promoting spiritual development, as well as the benefits of creating and working at retreat facilities.
- How to Let Go: In this teaching, Lama Yeshe discusses how every appearance in daily life is in fact a false dualistic projection of our own minds.
