Offering Thanks
Thanks for Guidance and Inspiration
Rinpoche requested that this letter is kept for others to rejoice in.
Dear Lama Zopa,
I am writing to express my deepest gratitude to you, the lineage lamas and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Teachings [FPMT]. In your teachings and the teachings of this lineage, I have found the most precious jewel that is purifying my obscurations and cultivating bodhicitta in this transient and illusory life.
I first took refuge in 1991 and I have been practicing ever since. My practice has been totally pathetic at times and deeply transformative at other times. I have mainly practiced in the Nyingma tradition, and have had the good fortune to meet the most profound teachings in the tradition of Longchenpa and Dudjom. I am very close to completing the accumulations of ngön-dro.
Early on in my learning of Buddhism, I came across the writings of Langri Tangpa and Shantideva, and I hold these teachings the closest to my heart; I put my faith and trust in the teachings of these two masters more than any other. The teachings of Langri Tangpa and Shantideva are my supreme guide.
Now I have come across the FPMT mandala and Sangha here in the San Francisco Bay Area and your teachings. I feel like I have found my true home! I am so deeply inspired by the focus on bodhicitta, compassion for all sentient beings—my precious mothers in the six realms of cyclic existence. I came across The Everflowing Nectar of Bodhicitta in an FPMT practice book and have been practicing this daily. This is now my core practice. The combination of Chenrezig, the yi-dam [meditational deity] I feel closest connection with, along with Langri Tangpa’s Eight Verses of Thought Transformation, the ground of all wisdom and inspiration for me, is profoundly meaningful. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this sublime practice.
Indeed, deepening and widening compassion for all sentient beings in the six realms is my path. I know that the only way I can truly relieve the suffering of mother sentient beings is by actualizing buddhahood. This is the most important thing to me in life. I am finding that your teachings are providing the guidance and inspiration needed for me to realize this aspiration. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
About seven years ago, due to the increasing awareness of suffering of animals, I became vegetarian, and two years ago, vegan. I volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center to help injured and orphaned animals. For my work, I am fortunate to be employed as a hospice chaplain, providing spiritual and emotional support to people who are dying. I feel so fortunate to have so many ways to show compassion to others. Now I have found your teachings and the FPMT Sangha, and that supports and gives even greater meaning to these endeavors. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I am inspired to write to you to express my deepest, heartfelt gratitude to you and the FPMT for transforming and supporting my practice and guiding me on this life’s journey of ever-deepening bodhicitta, onwards to buddhahood. I will never be able to repay your kindness. I pray that any karmic hindrances to the fulfillment of your highest aspirations ripen in me, and I give all the merit I have accumulated in this and every life.
Deepest blessings and auspiciousness to you,
Robert
Touched By Your Compassion
A student wrote to thank Rinpoche for his inspiring example. Rinpoche requested that the letter is kept for others to rejoice in.
Dear Lama Zopa,
I am writing to let you know how much I appreciate what you do to benefit all of us.
From my own side, I found the Dharma because a quote from you—that our purpose in life is to benefit others—resonated, and as a result I went to the November 2010 course at Kopan. That experience changed my life, not least of which was forgiving my husband from whom I was separated. We are now together again. He joined me for the November 2011 course, took refuge, as I did, and is now doing some volunteer service at a center.
More recently I was inspired by you making a full prostration, even though it was very difficult. Again, when I see the example you set for guru devotion with your attitude towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I think of my own roughness and feel humbled, yet also inspired to do better.
Every minute of every day you work to benefit all beings. It boggles my mind when I think of the far-reaching benefits of the FPMT, with all its centers around the world and I wonder that all of this started with two lamas teaching a few Westerners in Kathmandu.
I am so, so, so grateful to have been touched by your compassion. When I wake up in the morning, I am happy to be alive with a precious human life, and I aspire to the example you set. When I work to apply an antidote to some worldly concern, I am reminded that if it were not for you and for your many dedicated teachers, I would not be making this effort of understanding the purpose for it. I am just very, very grateful.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Sincerely,
Anya
Thanks for Teachings
A student gave this card to Rinpoche in March 2011, during a retreat held at Atisha Centre, Bendigo, Australia, just prior to Rinpoche manifesting a stroke. Rinpoche requested publication of the card, so others can rejoice.
Dearest Lama Zopa Rinpoche,
I just want to say how happy I am (and all of us here, really) to have had the karma to spend time with you. Your kindness and skill has inspired me to go back to the drawing board and totally change my life.
May I work as tirelessly as you to fulfill the wishes of every sentient being, and may you, Rinpoche, always abide in my heart. Thank you for all the understanding, teachings and purification. I have not fulfilled all my commitments to you, but I will!