In part 2 of a teaching series on Buddhist Foundation Practices, Venerable Acharya Zasep Rinpoche introduces the fourth outer preliminary, the truth of suffering, in the context of boundless compassion for all sentient beings. Rinpoche transitions the teachings from the outer (covered in video 1>>) to the inner preliminaries with a teaching on Refuge and a guided meditation Shakyamuni Buddha. Rinpoche, spiritual head of several meditation centres in the United States, Canada, and Australia, gave these teachings at Gaden Choling in Toronto.
Rinpoche, himself a refugee from Tibet, compassionately demonstrates how to meditate especially on the truth of suffering: “I know myself what it’s like to be a refugee… homeless, running for your life..”
Some of the topics Rinpoche covers are:
- Mindfulness: “The past is gone. The future isn’t here yet.” Keeping in the now.
- Rejoicing: “It’s important to appreciate life, our friends, our partner, our children…”
- Karma: “Karma is not fate.” Teachings on purifying negative karma.
- The Fourth Outer Preliminary: “Meditation on the Suffering of all Sentient Beings”
- Compassion: “Compassion is the essence of Buddha’s Teaching.”
- Joy: “Joy comes automatically” when you are kind to others. You can say to yourself, “Today, I made a difference in someone’s life.”
- The First Inner Preliminary: Refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
- Meditation on Buddha: a Guided Refuge Meditation Visualizing Shakyamuni Buddha.
FROM A WEEKEND RETREAT ON NGONDRO KEY BUDDHIST PRACTICES FOR BUSY PEOPLE — TEACHING FROM VENERABLE ACHARYA ZASEP TULKU RINPOCHE AT GADEN CHOLING TORONTO.
Part One in this series:
Video: Buddhist Teachings on Ngondro, The Foundation Practices with Venerable Zasep Rinpoche
Coming Soon — Part Three
Teachings on the Inner Preliminary practices of refuge, cultivating bodhichitta, recitations of Vajrasattva’s purifying mantra, mandala offerings and guru yoga.
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.
Lee Kane
Author | Buddha Weekly
Lee Kane is the editor of Buddha Weekly, since 2007. His main focuses as a writer are mindfulness techniques, meditation, Dharma and Sutra commentaries, Buddhist practices, international perspectives and traditions, Vajrayana, Mahayana, Zen. He also covers various events.
Lee also contributes as a writer to various other online magazines and blogs.
Other Popular Stories
Advice from the Teachers: How do we purify negative karma? Do you have advice for people confused by karma?
Music Mantra Video: Taking Refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and the Four Immeasurables wonderfully sung by Yoko Dharma with video visualizations
Part 2 Interview: Alejandro Anastasio, Martial Arts and Dharma Teacher, Sees a Special Relationship Between Martial Arts and Buddhism: Dharma in Action
The role of meditation in mental health, depression, cognitive decline, delusional behavior and trauma: also, what to do when teachers fail in issues of ethics: interview with teacher Theodore Tsaousidis
Songs of the great Yogi Shabkar: every being is mother; absolute nature is my friend; luminosity is my entertainment; my homeland is the Dharmakaya
Family lay Buddhism: What the Teachers Say about keeping motivated in your Buddhist Practice as parents — and coping with every-day family life in a modern stressful world
Video: Why is Mantra important to daily practice? For protection: “We are human beings. We have many problems.”
