Advice on Lamrim Study and Practice

My very dear Gillian,
Thank you very much for your kind letter. Please find attached the practices that come out best for your quickest enlightenment.

For you it seems the main practice is social service, to help wherever you can and to practice the lamrim. Then, each year you can do some retreat. Every day do some preliminary practices, especially lamrim meditation.

First, study completely the lamrim and practice the meditations until you achieve realizations. Start with renunciation of samsara. First, train the mind in meditating on the perfect human rebirth and karma until you have stable realizations, then train the mind in how samsara is in the nature of suffering, impermanence, the six types of suffering, the four types of suffering, and the suffering of each of the six realms, until you have a stable renunciation of samsara, so that it lasts a long time. Then, train the mind in bodhicitta, then emptiness. Meditate on each section of the lamrim each day until your realizations are stable.

You can practice lamrim meditation anywhere, not just in your shrine room. You can practice at the beach, wherever you are, whenever you find time. Also, you can do lamrim meditation when you’re at work, talking to people, when people are scolding you, etc. Actually, that is the most important time to meditate on the lamrim, on patience, compassion, emptiness, impermanence, and death, because death can happen at any moment. This also helps and becomes the practice of patience, and also you don’t get angry. Then, things don’t make the mind unhappy. Even if a person gets angry with you, you can practice patience, thinking that this is your virtuous friend. Maybe they don’t teach Dharma, but actually they are giving you the opportunity to put the teachings into practice. Also, you can use this to meditate on kindness; the other person is giving you an opportunity to overcome anger, to complete the paramita of patience, and to achieve enlightenment and be able to enlighten all sentient beings. This person is giving you this opportunity, so he or she is the most precious, kind one. Practicing patience in this way makes your mind so happy, and you are so happy with that person.

In this way, whatever you are doing in your life, walking, talking, shopping, sightseeing, etc., practice lamrim meditations, especially in the break times from sitting meditation. Practicing this way is more useful and effective, and is very important. Most of the time we don’t sit in meditation, we are doing other activities. If we are able to keep our mind in the lamrim while we are busy, then that is excellent. You are taking the essence of your life and really making it fulfilling. You are continuously creating the causes of happiness, happiness in future lives, liberation, and ultimate happiness. If you are practicing with bodhicitta, then you are continuously creating the causes for enlightenment. This then causes you to enlighten all sentient beings, bringing happiness to all sentient beings.

Before going to bed, recite a mala or 21 long Vajrasattva mantras with the four powers (you should read what the four powers are and discuss them with the monk at your Dharma center).

Whenever you are able, please recite the King of Prayers, the prayer to be reborn in the blissful realm of Sukhavati, or the prayer to Maitreya Buddha.

Good luck, and love and prayers to you.
Thank you very much.
Lama Zopa

Practices Suggested

• Dorje Khadro (burning offering): 10,000
• Guru Yoga: 60,000 Lama Tsongkhapa (recitations of “migme” mantra)
• Nyung Nä retreat: slowly try to do 100 Nyung Näs. You don’t have to do them all at the same time, you can do some each year if it is convenient.
• The graduated path of lower scope: two months
• The graduated path of intermediate scope: four months
• The graduated path of highest scope: bodhicitta: four months; emptiness: five months
• Main deity: Secret Hayagriva—for your quickest enlightenment
• Other deities: Hevajra
• If you feel more of a connection with Hevajra, you can practice that more.