This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:00:00 The heart of wisdom, the essential teaching of the Buddha, is realizing the truth of the nature of oneself and all phenomena. This wisdom cuts the root of samsara and liberates beings.

00:14:14 Rinpoche gives pith instructions on how to meditate on the emptiness of the "I".

00:37:10 It is important to listen to teachings on emptiness over and over again, and then correctly devoting to the virtuous friend, one can achieve the realization of emptiness.

00:41:05 Rinpoche tells the story of Tehor Kyorpen Rinpoche, a top Drepung scholar who renounced fame and lived in retreat and acted eccentrically to avoid distractions. Despite being misunderstood, he guided others to realize emptiness easily due to his deep realizations and great merit. According to this lama, a person with great merit has no difficulty realizing emptiness. Difficulties arise only for those with small merit. Therefore, it is important to collect extensive merit in daily life.

01:08:25 Rinpoche gives instructions on how to collect merits in daily life. Whatever action we are doing we should always try to transform it into virtue; we should always try to take the opportunity to collect merit.

01:54:00 Rinpoche explains that nothing exists from its own side and gives an example of a year and a day. Analyzing a "real" day - the 24 hours cannot be found in any of the individual hours or even in the collection of hours. The "year" and "day" are merely labeled by the mind in dependence on their parts.

02:41:31 In daily life, practice mindfulness that all appearances are like dreams - not truly existent as they appear. This prevents the mind from being disturbed by appearances.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:00:00 Rinpoche gives a commentary on Heart Sutra and teaches on how suffering arises.

01:15:05 Rinpoche gives extensive teachings on how to meditate on guru devotion based on teachings and quotations of Kunkyen Jamyang Shepa and Kungtang Jampel Yang about gurus manifesting as ordinary beings. Rinpoche tells stories about His Holiness the Dalai Lama as an example of showing ordinary aspect to students, but in actuality being an enlightened being. Rinpoche explains the difference between appearances and reality. Appearance of gurus as ordinary beings and believing that is true is due to a mistaken and obscured mind.

02:48:00 Prayers and dedications.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:00:00 Rinpoche tells about the importance of the practice of morality and teaches on the benefits of doing prostrations.

00:39:15 Rinpoche tells a short story about Khandro-la.

00:47:22 Prostrating to holy objects like statues and stupas immediately brings eight benefits, such as achieving a perfect body in future lives and being able to live in pure morality.

01:03:00 Pure morality is the main cause for achieving perfect concentration (shamatha). Without shamatha, one cannot achieve higher trainings of wisdom.

01:09:30 In the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition lineage lamas put so much effort into doing many hundred thousands of prostrations in their daily life. Rinpoche gives detailed explanations of how to do the practice of prostrations. Rinpoche also emphasizes that it is very good to have as many holy objects as possible in one's house to constantly create merit by seeing them.

02:10:05 According to Khedrup Je, in retreat once one increased the number of sessions to four, one doesn't decrease the number of sessions afterwards.

02:13:20 Torma offering, protector prayers, and dedications.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:00:00 kar ma rab rib mar me dang...di tar ta stanza is a very powerful Buddhist teaching and meditation to practice awareness, cut negative emotions like anger, desire and ignorance, and realize impermanence.

00:11:00 We believe we will live a long time, even on the day of our death. But Buddha advises not to trust this thought of permanence as it cheats us.

00:35:00 We can't predict who among us here will die first, even by this time next year. Death could happen to oneself at any time.

01:07:00 The main mistake is always thinking worldly concerns are more important than Dharma practice. Because of that, nothing has happened in our minds, no realizations.

01:25:00 Until one lets go of desire and clinging to this life, even if one tries to practice Dharma, it does not become holy Dharma. The motivation is stained by attachment.

01:54:22 Rinpoche gives a commentary on Heart Sutra.

02:25:50 Rinpoche leads the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:03:33 Remembering the suffering of sentient beings in samsara, we should strive to achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible to liberate them. Practicing guru yoga, as past yogis did, enables achieving enlightenment in one brief lifetime.

00:04:09 The foundation of tantric practice is guru yoga, which involves generating very strong devotion. This is what enabled past masters like Milarepa and Lama Tsongkhapa's disciples to achieve enlightenment in a brief lifetime.

00:07:22 Rinpoche explains the benefits of reciting the Clouds of Offerings Mantra.

00:32:30 Rinpoche continues leading the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga and gives instructions on how to do visualizations.

01:51:15 Rinpoche gives an extensive teaching on benefits of doing prostrations.

02:32:02 Rinpoche continues teachings and leads dedication prayers.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:00:00 Rinpoche leads the motivation for the practice.

00:18:15 Rinpoche leads the practice of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:00:00 The stanza "To not commit any unwholesome action, engage in perfect wholesome action, and subdue one's mind - this is the teaching of the Buddha" contains the Four Noble Truths.

00:16:06 The minute when one cherishes the I, one has a problem in life. The stronger one cherishes the I, even a small thing that didn’t happen exactly is regarded a huge problem, it become huge disturbance to oneself.

01:51:02 Doing actions with bodhicitta motivation is the best Dharma. Even eating, walking, sitting, sleeping, and doing jobs with a pure mind unstained by self-cherishing becomes Dharma.

02:04:05 The self-cherishing thought is the root of all problems in life. Cherishing the "I" brings no real peace or happiness, while cherishing others with loving-kindness brings joy and peace.

03:17:12 Guru devotion practice protects the mind. Looking at the guru as a buddha and following their advice is the "emergency practice" and brings quick realizations on the path to enlightenment.

04:31:00 Dedicating that all sentient beings never generate negative thoughts towards the guru, be guided by qualified gurus, and realize emptiness. May all the organization's projects, social services, and centers be successful and beneficial by receiving all necessary funding.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.

00:00:00 The purpose of the preliminary prayers is to pacify obstacles to achieving full enlightenment and the complete qualities of cessation and realization, for oneself and others.

00:11:14 Lama Tsongkhapa emphasized bodhicitta in every teaching. Seeking enlightenment for oneself alone results in a limited realization. One must seek enlightenment to benefit all sentient beings.

00:43:52 Buddhas liberate sentient beings by revealing the ultimate truth and reality, which is the teaching of the perfection of wisdom. This is the heart of the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha.

01:21:15 Practicing kindness, forgiveness, tolerance, and rejoicing in others’ happiness keep the mind peaceful and joyful. Even without deep realizations, these basic practices make one a good human being and bring peace to the world. Ultimately, realizing emptiness—the heart of the Heart Sutra—leads to liberation from samsara.

01:41:16 Without depending on the guru appearing in ordinary aspect, even if there are countless buddhas, they cannot guide you to enlightenment. The guru in ordinary aspect is most precious.

02:47:42 In daily life, practice mindfulness of looking at the nature of phenomena as empty. This helps control delusions from arising. Even if one doesn't have realizations, strong faith in Lama Tsongkhapa's explanation of emptiness gives hope to realize it in the future.

03:27:07 In this retreat, even if one is unable to finish 100,000 migtsemas, if one achieves realization of guru devotion, one will have succeeded. That’s the main goal, the main objective of doing this Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga. We’re not looking for the number of mantras; we’re looking for realizations.

04:07:03 Rinpoche leads extensive dedications.

Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/