While reciting and explaining Pabongka Rinpoche's ‘Heart-Spoon’, Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses the importance of reflecting on impermanence and death. Neglecting to contemplate these realities deprives our lives of meaning. Even though many of us have encountered Buddhadharma for a long time, we lack an understanding of foundational concepts and fail to achieve realizations in our spiritual practice.

Dharma protects us from suffering by preventing the creation of negative thoughts and actions. Rinpoche emphasizes the significance of guru devotion as a safeguard against harmful emotions and obstacles on the path to enlightenment. By contemplating impermanence and death, negative emotions are curtailed, bravery is instilled, and our actions can transform into virtuous ones.

Recognizing impermanence and death awakens the need for a path that leads to the cessation of suffering and its causes. Rinpoche describes this contemplation as Buddha's psychology, a means to understand our lives, overcome suffering, and actualize the path to enlightenment. Realizing impermanence and death is a means of freeing ourselves from negative emotions and suffering. Practising Dharma protects us from impure appearances and concepts, cultivates a pure mind, and prepares the mind for the realization of the three kayas and the achievement of merit.

Buddhism aims to achieve freedom from suffering in its entirety and emphasizes the need to develop renunciation for the entire scope of samsara. Rinpoche discusses the connection between calm abiding meditation, total renunciation, emptiness, and bodhichitta on the path to liberation and enlightenment.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche underscores the uncertainty and impermanence of life and advises against delaying the practice of Dharma. He encourages us to integrate Dharma practice into all aspects of our lives and transform every moment into an opportunity for progress on the path.

Rinpoche discusses the three principal paths of renunciation, bodhichitta, and right view, as well as the importance of guru devotion. He explains that the ultimate aim of these teachings is to make life meaningful and benefit oneself and all sentient beings.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche also reviews the mantras of the Twenty-one Taras. They each have their own activities for the benefit of sentient beings. Choose whichever Tara suits your needs and chant her mantra accordingly. The Twenty-one Taras are here to help us overcome obstacles and fulfil our wishes.

This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18-May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here:

https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/4-kadam-deities-2003/