4. Lojong Advice from the Great Masters

Whenever you experience an adverse or bad condition, see it as a virtuous friend. This is because just like a virtuous friend explains karma—that from negative karma comes the result suffering and that from good karma comes the result happiness—so too do bad conditions or problems explain to you that you created negative karma in the past. By seeing that, it energizes you to abandon negative karma and to create good karma, the cause of happiness and success.   (Lama Zopa Rinpoche)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India, 2020

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

As you read this chapter of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings and watch the video excerpts keep the following points in mind and reflect on them:

  1. What is the advantage of someone criticizing you?
  2. What is the problem with having wealth?
  3. How can you make your wealth beneficial?
  4. How is a bad condition like a virtuous friend?
  5. What is Choje Gotsangpa’s advice?
  6. What is Shakya Shri’s advice?

Once you have finished reading this chapter, do the related meditations and mindfulness practices. 

Colophon for the Points for Reflection
The points for reflection were compiled by Ven. Joan Nicell, FPMT Education Services, August 2017.