Buddhist Ngondro Video 4: Overcoming the Obstacles of Irritation and Sleepy Mind –– a Foundation Practice Teaching from Venerable Acharya Zasep Tulku Rinpoche
In part four of his video teachings on Ngondro Foundation Teachings, Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche discusses two of the biggest obstacles to practice and their antidotes: irritating monkey mind and sleepy mind — perhaps the biggest problems in modern practice due to the distractions of busy lifestyles. In parts one, two and three of this series on Vajrayana Foundation Practices, Rinpoche explained the four “outer preliminaries” and the obstacles to dharma practice such as doubt, fear, and restlessness, and how to overcome them.
Zasep Tulku Rinpoche is the spiritual head of many temples and meditations centres in Canada, U.S. and Australia and tours worldwide from Mongolia to Mexico to Australia, to Canada and the U.S. His autobiography, A Tulku’s Journey from Tibet to Canada, releases November 12, 2016. (Review of this much anticipated autobiography will soon follow in Buddha Weekly.) He will be teaching at Gaden Choling Toronto in November and December of this year (schedule at bottom of this feature).
Highlights
November 2016, Windhorse releases “A Tulku’s Journey from Tibet to Canada” an autobiography of the most Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche.
“The obstacle of irritation… you’ll find irritations everywhere.”
“Internal irritation… the monkey mind”
“Sometimes you can be irritated by not understanding the practice.”
“Another obstacle is dullness of mind or sleepy mind.”
“Some people have doubts about meditation.”
“Dharma practice shouldn’t be used for worldly purposes.”
“The antidote for sleepy mind…”
“There is a subtle dullness… you can get confused between subtle dullness and calm abiding mind.”
“The obstacle of grasping, wanting, attachment…”
“If you have any questions…” Rinpoche answers student questions.
“When you meditate on Mahamudra, you see your mind.”
“First you do foundations… then you can move on…”
COMING SOON — PART FIVE
Guru Yoga Foundation Practices of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche teaching at Gaden Choling Spring 2017, beginning May 20 with precious Mahamudra teachings. Rinpoche returns in November and December to Gaden Choling for another round of teachings.
About Archarya Zasep Tulku Rinpoche
Rinpoche is popularly known for his approachable teaching style, strong humor and teachings based on a long lineage of great lamas. His own gurus included the most celebrated of Gelug teachers: His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, His Holiness Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Venerable Geshe Thupten Wanggyel, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Venerable Lati Rinpoche, Venerable Tara Tulku Rinpoche and Venerable Khalkha Jetsun Dampa Rinpoche.
Rinpoche is spiritual director of many temples, meditation centers and retreat centers in Australia, the United States and Canada. He was first invited to teach in Australia by Lama Thubten Yeshe in 1976.
Parts One, Two and Three:
Video: Buddhist Teachings on Ngondro, The Foundation Practices with Venerable Zasep Rinpoche
Please support the "Spread the Dharma" mission as one of our heroic Dharma Supporting Members, or with a one-time donation.
Buddhist Features by Topic
Member Login
Latest Features
Dharma by Email
Signup for the latest Buddha Dharma features by email every Tuesday.
Thank you!
You have successfully joined our subscriber list.
Supporting Member Content
Please support the "Spread the Dharma" mission as one of our heroic Dharma Supporting Members, or with a one-time donation.
Latest Videos
Please support the "Spread the Dharma" mission as one of our heroic Dharma Supporting Members, or with a one-time donation.
Latest Podcasts
Please support the "Spread the Dharma" mission as one of our heroic Dharma Supporting Members, or with a one-time donation.
Please Help Support the “Spread the Dharma” Mission!
Be a part of the noble mission as a supporting member or a patron, or a volunteer contributor of content.
The power of Dharma to help sentient beings, in part, lies in ensuring access to Buddha’s precious Dharma — the mission of Buddha Weekly. We can’t do it without you!
A non-profit association since 2007, Buddha Weekly published many feature articles, videos, and, podcasts. Please consider supporting the mission to preserve and “Spread the Dharma." Your support as either a patron or a supporting member helps defray the high costs of producing quality Dharma content. Thank you! Learn more here, or become one of our super karma heroes on Patreon.
Other Popular Stories

Commentary Heart Sutra — Most Famous of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras in Buddhism: Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form

Interview with meditation teacher Kimberly Brown, author of Steady, Calm, and Brave: 25 Practices of Resilience and Wisdom in a Crisis

Guan Shi Yin and the ten great protections of the Goddess of Mercy Kuanyin: Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion

Zasep Tulku Rinpoche discusses decades of teaching, advice for beginner students and funny stories of his teachers.

Mo Dice and Mala, Bamboo Sticks, Tarot, and other “divinations” — insightful self-guided Buddhist practice or superstition?

Buddha teaches the Nadi Sutta: overcoming the assumptions of self with the River Sutra; the river of Samsara cannot be escaped by clinging to the notion of an “abiding self”

Bhaddekaratta Sutta, Auspicious Day: “what is past is left behind; the future is as yet unreached… do what should be done today”

A Map of the Mind Universe — the Mandala of the Five Buddhas: a perfect practice; a perfect remedy for the five poisons

A Picture is NOT worth 1000 Words — the Buddha Dharma is a Tradition of Words — A Guide for Those Who Can’t Visualize (Aphantasia)
Venerable Zasep Rinpoche
Author | Buddha Weekly
Rinpoche is spiritual head of many Dharma Centres, and teaches around the world. Originally from Kham province in Tibet (born 1948) Rinpoche has taught in the west since 1976, after he was first invited by Geshe Thubten Loden and Lama Yeshe to teach at the Chenrezig Institute in Australia. Today, he is spiritual head of the Gaden for the West centres in Canada, U.S., and Australia and also spiritual director of the the charities Gaden Relief Project (Canada) and Manlha Tus NGO (Mongolia). He is the author of three books, including his latest release in 2018 with a rare English commentary and practice instructions for Gelug Mahamudra.
Leave a Comment Cancel Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.