Item Id: E-LIPM4

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The foundation of the path to enlightenment is the realization of guru devotion - seeing the guru as a buddha. On the basis of this, one makes offerings, offers service, and, most importantly, obtains advice and follows it. There is no quicker path to enlightenment than this. In this module, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gives pith instructions for how to generate this realization and how to take advantage of the guru-disciple relationship for maximum benefit. These teachings are extracted from the Light of the Path Retreat, September 2009 and 2010 in North America taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

"Buddhas definitely exist and definitely guide us through manifesting as gurus."


When you purchase this course, you will receive an email with a link to download a PDF, which contains the enrollment key required to access this course on the online learning site at http://onlinelearning.fpmt.org

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS COURSE

Session One: The Most Powerful Practice

• Buddhas manifest in various forms to guide sentient beings.
• The power of having a karmic connection with your guru
• The guru is kinder than numberless buddhas
• Guru devotion is the most powerful practice
• Always engage in pleasing the guru
• The merits of offering to even a pore of the guru’s holy body

Session Two: The Happiest Life

• Fighting for freedom
• Guru devotion – the most important thing to know in the beginning
• Making offerings to the guru
• Qualities of the guru from Guru Puja
• The happiest life is practicing guru devotion
• Attaining realizations through activities
• Guru devotion protects you
• HHDL is Chenrezig working for all sentient beings

Session Three: Guru is Buddha

• Seeing the Guru as Buddha
• Why practice guru devotion?
• Three great shortcomings of getting angry at the guru
• Benefits of pleasing the Guru
• Taking ordinary aspect
• Devotion creates the perfect guru

Session Four: How to Meditate on Guru Devotion

• Do one meditation every day
• Four major points: The guru is buddha because…
• Buddha Vajradhara promised to take ordinary form to guide sentient beings
• The Guru performs all the actions of a buddha
• Even nowadays, buddhas and bodhisattvas are working for sentient beings
• Nothing is certain, according to your view
• Changing the order for Westerners
• Devotion in action: make offerings, offer service, obtain and follow advice
• Meditation on the precious, kind guru
• How seeing mistakes can increase faith
• The ultimate guru and the guru for the all-obscuring mind
• The guru is the doer of all the buddhas
• Mistakes that arise from not seeing the Guru as Buddha
• Mind like an ocean
• Guru devotion brings realizations
• Buddhas definitely exist, manifesting as the guru

Session Five: How to Meditate on the Requesting Prayer to the Lineage Lamas

• The root guru
• Meditation: purifying and receiving
• We need Dharma wisdom
• The way to achieve enlightenment quickly
• Like growing crops
• The very meaning of “guru”
• Your heart and the guru’s heart become one
• Instruction on the Requesting Prayer

ACCOMPANYING VIDEO EXCERPTS

• “The Buddha Manifests in Many Forms” (13 minutes)
• “The Most Powerful Practice” (5 minutes)
• “The Most Important Thing to Know” (7 minutes)
• “The Happiest Life” (4 minutes)
• “Why Practice Guru Devotion?” (5 minutes)
• “With a Pure Mind, Buddha Appears,” (11 minutes)
• “Devotion Creates the Perfect Guru” (5 minutes)
• “Gurus are the Doers of Buddhas’ Work” (9 minutes)
• “Mistakes of an Impure View” (11 minutes)
• “The Way to Achieve Enlightenment Quickly” (6 minutes)

OTHER MATERIAL IN THIS COURSE

• A reading pack in PDF format
• Meditations & Practices
• Mindfulness exercises for daily life
• Service component or karma yoga exercises
• Questions for discussion for student/facilitator review & assessment
• Suggested readings
  
• Helpful resources