This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.
00:00:00 Even without realizations, there are many ways we can benefit sentient beings, such as taking insects around holy objects to purify their karma. Rinpoche tells that he carries holy objects in order to help insects purify negative karma. One can also recite the five powerful purification deity mantras and bless them with blessed water or other substances to lead them to higher rebirth and enlightenment.
00:28:30 Rinpoche tells about the mantras that can benefit sentient beings, such as Stainless Pinnacle deity’s mantra and King of the Tantra Purifying the Lower Realm.
00:42:58 Rinpoche gives instructions on how to dedicate one’s merits to others’ enlightenment with specific examples.
01:19:50 Rinpoche tells how one can benefit insects and animals and shares the story of seven insects who went around a Buddha statue on a leaf blown by the wind - in their next life they were born as humans, generated renunciation, and in the life after that met Buddha Kashyapa and were predicted to enlightenment. This shows the power of circumambulating holy objects.
01:57:00 When liberating animals, set up an altar with many holy objects and take the animals around it - this creates unbelievable causes for their enlightenment. The animals are also benefiting you by purifying your karma.
02:14:14 Rinpoche begins the oral transmission of the King of Prayers. Recitation of this prayer leads to Amitabha guiding you at the time of death and then in the Blissful Realm.
02:24:15 Rinpoche gives an oral transmission of a short Amitabha practice that he received from His Holiness Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche.
02:27:08 Rinpoche explains the benefits of reciting the Maitreya Buddha mantra.
02:35:00 The group recites extensive dedications.
02:52:35 Rinpoche gives extensive instructions on how to think during break times, relating to the Lamrim meditations one did in the session. One should think that one's ignorance is like the magician. The magician uses some material object and recites mantras and things like that to cause people to see illusions. The negative imprint left by ignorance on our mental continuum is like the mantra or substances used to cause the hallucinations. One should keep one's mind in bodhicitta, emptiness, guru devotion, etc. This makes one's whole life meaningful and becomes a quick path to enlightenment. Try to remember the Lamrim and bodhicitta even when very busy in daily life.
