Lama Zopa Rinpoche begins this teaching, recorded on August 17, 2021, at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, by reminding us that while we are so fortunate to have received this rare and perfect human rebirth, which is qualified by the eight freedoms and ten richnesses, death can happen at any time, even before this teaching ends.

Therefore, the real purpose of life is not just to achieve liberation from samsara for ourselves alone, but to never harm and only benefit all sentient beings by freeing them from the oceans of samsara, the total cessation of the gross and subtle obscurations and the completion of realizations. That means every single one, including every ant and fly, and even those you can’t see with your eyes. As a human, this should be the purpose of life. This should be our attitude all day and night, even if we are enjoying ourselves in a five-star hotel, even if we are in the process of dying—we can enjoy for sentient beings, we can die for sentient beings! To bring every sentient being to enlightenment by oneself alone is the purpose of life, therefore we must achieve a state of omniscience as quickly as possible. Therefore, I’m going to listen to the teachings.

Rinpoche shares that the current incarnation of Domo Geshe Rinpoche is going to be an incredible benefit to the world by helping the teachings spread and last a long time. Rinpoche currently offers help for this young lamas’ yearly expenses.

Rinpoche also shared some stories of Sera Je Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Delek’s life in the Buxa Duar, the camp in India where refugee Tibetan monks lived in the 1960s.

Rinpoche reminds us that these teachings are specifically for the ordained Sangha, to remind them that it is most important to live a life in ordination and that this is not just some hippie trip. However, anyone is welcome to listen and benefit from this advice.

Rinpoche then discusses sections from Garland of Jewel Light by Geshe Tsewang Samdrub. He begins by offering commentary on the four doors for receiving downfalls from breaking vows:

1. A lack of conscientiousness.

2. A lack of respect.

3. Not knowing the vows.

4. Having many delusions.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has emphasized the need to live an ethical life, to be a good human being, Rinpoche says. To do this, you need discipline to practice patience, tolerance, compassion, loving-kindness, and forgiveness for those who harm you, and to immediately apologize when you harm others.

Rinpoche explains the four ways to prevent downfalls, citing Garland of Jewel Light:

1. Continuously possessing conscientiousness.

2. Having great respect for the vows of morality.

3. Knowing the vows.

4. Striving in the remedy to the delusions.

When you do these, the doors to making mistakes and downfalls are closed.

Rinpoche then goes over the benefits of protecting morality, again from Garland of Jewel Light:

1. All your collections of goodness will increase and develop.

2. You will be praised by the buddhas.

3. You will be praised by the devas.

4. You will be praised by your friends.

5. You will be worthy of being praised by even yourself.

6. You will be worthy of being naturally praised.

7. Your reputation will cover all the directions.

8. You will listen to the holy Dharma.

9. You will not forget the holy Dharma you listened to.

10. Your realizations of the paths and bhumis will increase.

11. When you die you will be happy and you will go to a happy transmigration.

12. Day and night you will be happy.

13. You will be protected by the devas.

14. You will be happy in front of holy beings.

15. You won’t be able to be harmed by human beings and non-human beings.

16. You will receive whatever enjoyments you need without effort.

17. Whatever prayers you do will succeed.

The results of living in pure vows are very powerful. "You become Dzambhala!" Rinpoche says. "When other people make offerings to you and respect you, they collect much merits. And then, if you pray for them, your prayers are so powerful that there is success for them. Like that, your pujas and your prayers are very powerful."

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We invite you to go deeper into the topics presented here, plus many others, by watching Rinpoche’s video and reading the full transcript of Rinpoche’s teaching. Links to the transcript, translations, and more:

https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche/being-sangha-is-not-a-trip/