#LamaZopaRinpoche begins this teaching, #ThoughtTransformationTeaching 71, recorded on September 20, 2020, at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, explaining that the reason why we practice lojong (thought transformation) is to utilize all undesirable situations—sickness, misfortunes, etc.—on the path to enlightenment.
Rinpoche explains a quote from Serlingpa, one of Lama Atisha's two root gurus, to illustrate his point. The quote, from Serlingpa's "Leveling Out All Conceptions," says:
"Unfavorable conditions are virtuous friends.
Spirit possessions are manifestations of the Victorious One.
Sicknesses are brooms for cleaning negative karmas and obscurations.
Sufferings are displays of the ultimate nature."
Suffering is a manifestation of emptiness, Rinpoche explains. By meditating on suffering you realize that the ultimate nature of suffering is emptiness, a dependent arising.
Rinpoche then continues the oral transmission of “The Heart’s Utmost Need” (at 0:07:28 in the video). Rinpoche reminds us that the motivation for listening to a teaching or receiving an oral transmission is to free numberless sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric sufferings, and not only that, but to bring numberless beings—meaning everyone—to enlightenment.
Therefore, we should think, I must achieve enlightenment for all beings. This is the motivation for listening to the teachings: to achieve enlightenment in order to liberate others.
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For more on this teaching, including the teaching transcript and links to more resources:
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