The Index Page provides an outline of the topics discussed in each of the lectures. Click on the links below to go directly to a particular lecture.

Please note: No dates were given for these lectures.

Lecture 1: The Best Psychology Is the Dharma

• The Dharma is something we have not encountered before
• Attachment is the fundamental problem in our life
• Dharma is the best psychology
• The perfect human rebirth
• We must complete the whole path
• Numberless pandits have completed the path
• Deciding to come to Kopan was your most important decision
• Dedications

Lecture 2: How Things Exist

• A star, a defective view, a butter lamp flame
• The root of samsara according to the different schools
• How we create ignorance
• The child before it is named
• The Twenty-One Taras Praises for success
• The mind decorates true existence
• One thing, different functions, different labels
• An A does not appear until we are taught it
• Our real life is not there
• The four vital points
• The subtlety of how things exist
• The oral transmission of the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga
• Dedications

Lecture 3: The Cause of Samsara

• Delusions disturb and obscure
• The suffering of change
• The need for power comes from attachment
• Understanding suffering inspires us to develop on the path
• The three realms are only suffering
• Everything becomes meaningful when we cherish others
• All forms are labeled by our superstitious mind
• Because of self-cherishing we have not attained enlightenment
• Grasping at true existence is the cause of samsara
• Practicing emptiness mindfulness
• Dedications

Lecture 4: Living in the Dharma

• With an obscured mind we cannot remember previous lives
• Rinpoche’s mother and family
• The importance of reciting OM MANI PADME HUM
• Prayer to Compassion Buddha
• Living in the Dharma
• Developing bodhicitta

Lecture 5: Taking Refuge

• Spirit possession
• Refuge and useful fear
• The mind can be thoroughly cleansed
• Unless we are enlightened, we cause others suffering
• To free sentient beings quickly we need tantra
• To be liberated we need refuge in all three jewels
• The Buddha talking about the benefits of refuge
• Refuge vows motivation: The four suffering results
• Refuge vows
• Dedications

Lecture 6: Cherishing Others

• What renunciation means
• The shortcomings of attachment and other delusions
• With attachment shamatha is impossible
• Don’t be shortsighted
• The mind can be trained
• The signs on Rinpoche’s car
• Guru devotion and purification
• Cherishing others is the cause of all happiness
• Guru devotion
• Dedications

Lecture 7: Vajrasattva Initiation

• Vajrasattva initiation motivation: Guru devotion
• Seeing the guru as pure
• Vajrasattva initiation
• Dedications