06 How to Recognize Incredible Fortune and Devote to the Guru 7-Sept-2004

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 Preliminary prayers by students.00:15:25 As realizations of the three principal aspects of the path are dependent on the root, the realization of the guru devotion, the guru yoga, Rinpoche will teach on Calling the Guru from Afar before going over the commentary to the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.00:28:48 Rinpoche mentions how important it is to correctly devote oneself to the guru and refers to the eight advantages of correctly devoting to the virtuous friend and eight shortcomings of having made mistakes in the relationship with the virtuous friend outlined in the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.00:34:40 Rinpoche teaches on the preciousness of perfect human rebirth. When people face unbearable problems, they may wish to be animals like dogs or butterflies, thinking those lives are free of suffering. But if their body actually started transforming into an animal, they would panic, unable to handle the loss of human abilities like communication and freedom.00:51:29 Rinpoche tells about his first teachers in Solu Khumbu.01:06:48 Rinpoche tells about his experiences in Buxa and how he met Lama Yeshe. The Lam Rim Chenmo says that the definition of a disciple is the one who is devoting to the guru and the definition of a guru is the object to whom one is devoting. Rinpoche adds that according to Choden Rinpoche, from the teacher’s side there also has to be the recognition that this is a disciple.01:08:20 Rinpoche tells about His Holiness Serkong Dorje Chang.01:16:26 Dedications prayers.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/