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    Living in the Path

    Taking the Essence

    THE EIGHT MAHAYANA PRECEPTS

    LP logoTaking the eight Mahayana precepts is another way to make life meaningful, to take its essence all day and night, by taking vows. It is so simple. It is just for one day. Just for one day. It makes it so easy. It’s not for a lifetime.    (Lama Zopa Rinpoche)     

    In The Eight Mahayana Precepts, Lama Zopa Rinpoche shows us the importance of taking and keeping these special one-day vows based on the Mahayana motivation of bodhichitta.

    IMPORTANT: If you have not previously received the lineage of the eight Mahayana precepts from a teacher/master, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given special permission to take the lineage from him via the video Actual Ceremony for Taking the Precepts found in the Course Material below.

    The teachings included here are extracted from the Light of the Path Retreat 2009 held in North Carolina, USA. They were originally included in Living in the Path, Module 2: Taking the Essence - "The Eight Mahayana Precepts."

  • Guidelines for the Module

    Guidelines for the Module

  • Practice Text

    Practice Text and Oral Transmission of the Eight Mahayana Precepts (2020)

    coverPractice Text

    Download the text updated in 2020 for taking the eight Mahayana precepts: Ritual for Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts

    Oral Transmission of the Eight Mahayana Precepts

    On the merit-multiplying day of the full moon of Saka Dawa in 2020, Lama Zopa Rinpoche conferred the eight Mahayana precepts on a small group of students in his room at Kopan Monastery, Nepal. At that time, Rinpoche also gave special permission for others to receive the lineage of the eight Mahayana precepts from him by listening to the video recording and repeating after him the words of the following prayers from the Ritual for Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts:

    • Prayer for Taking the Precepts
    • Commitment Prayer to Keep the Precepts
    • Mantra of Pure Morality
    • Prayer to Keep Pure Morality

    Download a transcript of the video here and read along as you listen to the video (this will make it easier for you to do the ritual together with Lama Zopa Rinpoche).

    Please be aware that by taking the lineage of the eight Mahayana precepts from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Rinpoche will become one of your gurus.

    Note: You can either take the lineage of the eight Mahayana precepts from this video or the video in "Chapter 4. Actual Ceremony for Taking the Precepts" below. 

  • Course Materials

    Course Materials

  • Additional Resources

    Additional Resources

  • Forums

    Forums

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