How things Exist – Teachings on Emptiness by Lama Zope Rinpoche is a collection of five talks given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in New York in 1990. The first two talks, given at Columbia University on September 6 and 7, were public talks aimed at a general audience. In the first talk, Rinpoche focuses on the importance and power of compassion, with special emphasis on how each of us has universal responsibility, responsibility for the peace and happiness not just of the people and animals around us but of all living beings, who are just like us in wanting happiness and not wanting even the slightest suffering. Download the free PDF ebook here:
How things Exist Teachings on Emptiness by Lama Zope Rinpoche
About the author Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is a highly respected Tibetan Buddhist teacher and spiritual leader. Born in 1946 in Thami, a small village in the Khumbu region of Nepal, he is recognized as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, Kunsang Yeshe. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is a Gelugpa, which is one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Key points about Lama Zopa Rinpoche include:
Early Life and Recognition: Lama Zopa Rinpoche was recognized as a reincarnate lama (tulku) at a young age. He began his monastic education in Nepal and later continued in Tibet before the political situation forced him to move to India.
Founding FPMT: In the early 1970s, together with his teacher, Lama Thubten Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche founded the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international network of Buddhist centers, projects, and social services dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide.
Teachings and Works: Lama Zopa Rinpoche is known for his extensive teaching schedule, guiding students in meditation and Buddhist philosophy. He has authored numerous books on Buddhism, meditation, and compassionate living, and his teachings often emphasize the importance of compassion and the bodhisattva path.
Health: In recent years, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has experienced health challenges, including a stroke in 2011, but continues to teach and lead the FPMT.
Spiritual Leadership: Lama Zopa Rinpoche is respected not only for his scholarship and teachings but also for his practical application of Buddhist principles. His guidance often includes advice on how to incorporate compassion, mindfulness, and wisdom into everyday life.
Through his efforts, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has significantly contributed to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the West and has inspired countless individuals to engage in spiritual practice and compassionate action.