In this teaching, Rinpoche began by discussing the importance of helping young people and expresses a sense of urgency for Universal Education as a method that can bring peace to individuals and the world, regardless of their religious background. By fostering compassion, wisdom, and good conduct, individuals can bring peace not only to themselves and their families but also to their countries, the world, and all sentient beings.
Rinpoche discussed the power of generating compassion toward even a single sentient being by sharing the story of Getsul Tsembulwa, a disciple of the great yogi Nakpo Chopawa, encountering a woman with leprosy who needed help crossing a river. This story shows how compassion toward even one sentient being can lead to enlightenment. The stronger the compassion, the quicker the path to enlightenment becomes. By giving up one’s life and sacrificing for the welfare of another, heavy negative karma is purified, allowing one to see the true nature of the deity. Generating compassion toward even one sentient being can make that being the most kind and precious person in one’s life. Generating compassion leads to bodhichitta, which is the root of the Mahayana path of enlightenment. Once enlightened, one can liberate countless sentient beings from samsaric suffering and bring them to enlightenment, thus continuously benefiting others.
Rinpoche stressed that it is important to practice holy Dharma throughout life, as death is certain and only holy Dharma can guide one at that crucial moment. Rinpoche advises keeping the mind in the lamrim, the stages of the path to enlightenment, and engaging in virtuous actions aligned with the teachings. By doing so, every aspect of life becomes meaningful and contributes to one’s progress toward liberation and enlightenment.
At the end of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s talk, he delves into meditation on emptiness.
This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18-May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here:
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