Look Who it Was Random video

EXTRACT Take Refuge to Become Free from Suffering 08-Sep-2017

83 views · Published 5 October 2018 · 15:11 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: FPMT · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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InThis video, extracted from a teaching given on September 8, 2017, at the Light of the Path Retreat in Black Mountain, North Carolina, US, #LamaZopaRinpoche discusses the practice of refuge and how compassion should be the root of all our activities:
First, Rinpoche explains, we need to develop our awareness that we have been experiencing the oceans of suffering of each of the six realms numberless times since beginning less rebirths. We then think of how unbearable this suffering is and that is why we rely on the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha for refuge. This is the small scope way of taking refuge.
There are also numberless sentient beings in all the six realms experiencing the oceans of samsaric suffering since beginningless rebirths just like us. We need to feel how unbearable this is. Then relying on Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, request that all these sentient beings become free from samsaric suffering. This is the Mahayana way of taking refuge—compassion for the numberless sentient beings.
During your refuge practice, Rinpoche says, you should remember your friend or parent who is dying, your child who is sick or having problems, those who have already died, all who are suffering. You can think about those who are being affected by hurricanes or earthquakes and so forth. Remember them when you take refuge and then rely on the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha to free them from oceans of samsaric sufferings.
The more people who are practicing loving kindness and compassion, the more peace there will be in the world due to the results of their actions. This is why we have FPMT centers, Rinpoche says. Dharma centers help our minds, help us turn away from the self-cherishing thought. At the Dharma center, we can learn how to have a compassionate motivation and receive teachings on emptiness. Both of these are needed to achieve buddhahood, the total cessation of obscurations and completion of all the realizations, and to do perfect work for sentient beings.
So our aim is to achieve enlightenment in order to bring all sentient beings to peerless happiness. That should also be the main aim of the FPMT organization. To accomplish all of this, Rinpoche says, our root is compassion, then due to that, all the wisdom will happen.
This video was extracted from a teaching that was recorded in Black Mountain, United States on September 8, 2017.
Find out more about #LamaZopaRinpoche at http://www.fpmt.org

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