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Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
- Willkommen
Die Stiftung zur Erhaltung der Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) ist eine Organisation, die sich weltweit für die Erhaltung und Verbreitung des Mahayana-Buddhismus einsetzt, indem sie Möglichkeiten schafft, den makellosen Lehren des Buddha zuzuhören, über sie zur reflektieren und zu meditieren und auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrung das Dharma unter den Lebewesen zu verbreiten.
Wir bieten integrierte Schulungswege an, durch denen der Geist und das Herz der Menschen in ihr höchstes Potential verwandelt werden zum Wohl der anderen – inspiriert durch eine Haltung der universellen Verantwortung und dem Wunsch zu dienen. Wir haben uns verpflichtet, harmonische Umgebungen zu schaffen und allen Wesen zu helfen, ihr volles Potenzial unendlicher Weisheit und grenzenlosen Mitgefühls zu verwirklichen.
Unsere Organisation basiert auf der buddhistischen Tradition von Lama Tsongkhapa von Tibet, so wie sie uns von unseren Gründern Lama Thubten Yeshe und Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche gelehrt wird.
- Bienvenidos
La Fundación para la preservación de la tradición Mahayana (FPMT) es una organización que se dedica a preservar y difundir el budismo Mahayana en todo el mundo, creando oportunidades para escuchar, reflexionar, meditar, practicar y actualizar las enseñanzas inconfundibles de Buda y en base a esa experiencia difundir el Dharma a los seres.
Proporcionamos una educación integrada a través de la cual las mentes y los corazones de las personas se pueden transformar en su mayor potencial para el beneficio de los demás, inspirados por una actitud de responsabilidad y servicio universales. Estamos comprometidos a crear ambientes armoniosos y ayudar a todos los seres a desarrollar todo su potencial de infinita sabiduría y compasión.
Nuestra organización se basa en la tradición budista de Lama Tsongkhapa del Tíbet como nos lo enseñaron nuestros fundadores Lama Thubten Yeshe y Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A continuación puede ver una lista de los centros y sus páginas web en su lengua preferida.
- Bienvenue
L’organisation de la FPMT a pour vocation la préservation et la diffusion du bouddhisme du mahayana dans le monde entier. Elle offre l’opportunité d’écouter, de réfléchir, de méditer, de pratiquer et de réaliser les enseignements excellents du Bouddha, pour ensuite transmettre le Dharma à tous les êtres. Nous proposons une formation intégrée grâce à laquelle le cœur et l’esprit de chacun peuvent accomplir leur potentiel le plus élevé pour le bien d’autrui, inspirés par le sens du service et une responsabilité universelle. Nous nous engageons à créer un environnement harmonieux et à aider tous les êtres à épanouir leur potentiel illimité de compassion et de sagesse. Notre organisation s’appuie sur la tradition guéloukpa de Lama Tsongkhapa du Tibet, telle qu’elle a été enseignée par nos fondateurs Lama Thoubtèn Yéshé et Lama Zopa Rinpoché.
Visitez le site de notre Editions Mahayana pour les traductions, conseils et nouvelles du Bureau international en français.
Voici une liste de centres et de leurs sites dans votre langue préférée
- Benvenuto
L’FPMT è un organizzazione il cui scopo è preservare e diffondere il Buddhismo Mahayana nel mondo, creando occasioni di ascolto, riflessione, meditazione e pratica dei perfetti insegnamenti del Buddha, al fine di attualizzare e diffondere il Dharma fra tutti gli esseri senzienti.
Offriamo un’educazione integrata, che può trasformare la mente e i cuori delle persone nel loro massimo potenziale, per il beneficio di tutti gli esseri, ispirati da un’attitudine di responsabilità universale e di servizio.
Il nostro obiettivo è quello di creare contesti armoniosi e aiutare tutti gli esseri a sviluppare in modo completo le proprie potenzialità di infinita saggezza e compassione.
La nostra organizzazione si basa sulla tradizione buddhista di Lama Tsongkhapa del Tibet, così come ci è stata insegnata dai nostri fondatori Lama Thubten Yeshe e Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Di seguito potete trovare un elenco dei centri e dei loro siti nella lingua da voi prescelta.
- 欢迎 / 歡迎
简体中文
“护持大乘法脉基金会”( 英文简称:FPMT。全名:Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) 是一个致力于护持和弘扬大乘佛法的国际佛教组织。我们提供听闻,思维,禅修,修行和实证佛陀无误教法的机会,以便让一切众生都能够享受佛法的指引和滋润。
我们全力创造和谐融洽的环境, 为人们提供解行并重的完整佛法教育,以便启发内在的环宇悲心及责任心,并开发内心所蕴藏的巨大潜能 — 无限的智慧与悲心 — 以便利益和服务一切有情。
FPMT的创办人是图腾耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。我们所修习的是由两位上师所教导的,西藏喀巴大师的佛法传承。
繁體中文
護持大乘法脈基金會”( 英文簡稱:FPMT。全名:Found
ation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ) 是一個致力於護持和弘揚大乘佛法的國際佛教組織。我們提供聽聞, 思維,禪修,修行和實證佛陀無誤教法的機會,以便讓一切眾生都能 夠享受佛法的指引和滋潤。 我們全力創造和諧融洽的環境,
為人們提供解行並重的完整佛法教育,以便啟發內在的環宇悲心及責 任心,並開發內心所蘊藏的巨大潛能 — 無限的智慧與悲心 – – 以便利益和服務一切有情。 FPMT的創辦人是圖騰耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。
我們所修習的是由兩位上師所教導的,西藏喀巴大師的佛法傳承。 察看道场信息:
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Like molding dough in your hand, you can definitely turn your mind whichever way you want.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
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The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop and features a vast selection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. These items include homestudy programs, prayers and practices in PDF or eBook format, materials for children, and other resources to support practitioners.
Items displayed in the shop are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from their sale. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.
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FPMT News Around the World
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the United Kingdom in September 2015. Long-time FPMT student Alison Murdoch shared this report on how FPMT UK students united with the local Tibetan community and other Tibetan Buddhist groups to offer a very warm welcome to His Holiness.
Three FPMT students were among a four-person team who collaborated with the Office of Tibet and the Tibetan community in Britain to offer the warmest possible welcome to His Holiness The Dalai Lama during his September 2015 visit to the UK.
Jane Moore, assisted by Drukpa Kagyü student, Ilana Pearlman, started early in the year communicating with Tibetan Buddhist groups of all four main schools throughout the UK about His Holiness’ advice on the Dolgyal/Shugden issue. As a result, over 40 out of a potential 44 groups signed a ground-breaking statement in full and open support of His Holiness. The Tibetans were so impressed that it was broadcast on one of the Tibetan radio stations. They were also keen that the statement be presented to His Holiness.
Jane and Ilana also encouraged Buddhists from all four schools to stand alongside the Tibetan community in Britain in offering a peaceful and colorful phebsu (welcome) to His Holiness at every venue, in counter-balance to protesters, and organized 1,000 brightly-colored balloons with welcoming messages for everyone to hold. FPMT UK coordinator Jay Simpson created a particularly beautiful banner welcoming His Holiness to the UK on behalf of the FPMT, and all the FPMT centers and groups helped publicize the phebsu.
Meanwhile, Anna Colao and Alison Murdoch worked together to set up a welcoming initiative called Open Arms. “The name ‘Open Arms’ was chosen because open arms are a universal symbol of welcome that remind us not only of our parents, friends and loved ones, but also of our responsibility and our potential to show kindness and goodwill to every other being,” said Anna, who masterminded the creation of a virtual khata offering to His Holiness on the Facebook site Open Arms 2015. This included many international contributions from FPMT students and centers and was quite a feat given that Anna was over eight and a half months pregnant at the time.
Alison organized a procession of hundreds of Tibetans and Westerners through Central London, carrying the world’s longest khata offering to His Holiness. It was 252 meters (827 feet) in length, stretching right across the River Thames to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The video of this joyful and auspicious occasion has now been viewed over 11,000 times at https://www.facebook.com/welcomedalailama. When the procession reached its end, near Trafalgar Square, the giant khata plus a photo album containing all the virtual khata offerings was presented to His Holiness.
For the organizing team, it was a matter of great joy to be able to put into practice Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s often-repeated advice that the highest priority for FPMT is to serve His Holiness, as His Holiness is the greatest source of inspiration for FPMT, and that the FPMT should take a clear and public stand on the subject of the practice of Dolgyal/ Shugden.
Another wonderful outcome of these activities was the strengthening of friendships with the Office of Tibet and the Tibetan community in Britain.
“I think the visit was very successful, especially from our perspective in welcoming His Holiness, and it wouldn’t have been so without your help and support,” wrote one of the Tibetan organizers afterwards. “I personally would like to thank you for all your time and efforts in bringing our Western Buddhist friends and centers together to show their support for His Holiness. … We managed to give the warmest and the most unique welcome to His Holiness with your brilliant idea of offering the longest khata, which was truly a wonderful experience for all of us as well.”
You can find the long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s prayer “Remembering the Kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan People,” Mandala stories on His Holiness the Dalai Lama and more on FPMT.org.
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: fpmt uk, his holiness the dalai lama
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Animal Welfare in Nepal after the Earthquake
World Animal Day is celebrated every year on October 4. In honor of the day, Mandala has published a new online feature story, “Animal Welfare in the Aftermath of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake,” by Phil Hunt and Tania Duratovic, coordinators for Enlightenment for the Dear Animals and for the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, a project of Kopan Monastery. Phil and Tania report on the conditions many animals faced after the devastating earthquake. They write:
“When disasters strike, the first response is naturally to search for and rescue people. Animals are often forgotten in the chaos even though they are often injured and in desperate need of food, shelter and medical attention. Getting help for animals in a disaster is a challenge, but it can benefit the entire community as well as the animals themselves. …” (Read the entire article here.)
You can also read updates from Nepal on the amazing work of the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery, who formed Kopan Helping Hands and were immediately offering assistance to thousands of earthquake-affected people. For more see FPMT Charitable Projects blog posts.
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
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On September 3, Wisdom Publications launched The Wisdom Podcast with an interview with His Holiness the Karmapa. In the 23-minute interview, His Holiness discusses a variety of topics including the appropriateness of using the internet to receive Dharma teachings, empowerments and vows; making space for people mostly concerned on improving their current lives; vegetarianism; and his involvement in the establishment of full ordination for nuns in the Tibetan tradition.
The second episode features Buddhist scholar and author Elijah Ary, a Canadian recognized at the age of seven as the first Western reincarnation – tulku – of a Tibetan lama in the Gelug lineage. Elijah describes the process of being recognized; how his unique position allows him to act as a bridge between Western and Tibetan culture; and his new book Authorized Lives: Biography and the Early Formation of Geluk Identity (see Mandala July-December 2015 for an excerpt).
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: audio, elijah ary, his holiness the karmapa, podcast, wisdom publications
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Tara Children’s Project in Bodhgaya, India, is the only orphanage for HIV-affected children in the state of Bihar and provides medical care and educational opportunities to over 20 children whose communities are unable or unwilling to support them.
“Saurabh’s Story,” a short promotional video from Tara Children’s Project, introduces Saurabh, rejected at the age of three by his village and remaining relatives after both of his parents passed away from AIDS. Watch the video to learn how Tara Children’s Project helped Saurabh to thrive.
Watch now: http://bit.ly/saurabhs-story
Canadian FPMT student Ryan Wright recently launched Anye, a non-profit organization dedicated to having a direct positive social impact, particularly on young people. By offering “suffering-free” and fashionable graphic t-shirts and tank tops, parts of Anye’s profits go to Tara Children’s Project.
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: tara children's project, video
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“Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL) in Bangalore, India has started a new Liberation Prison Project (LPP) initiative,” shared CKSL student Sadhana Nagendra, “where a few members guided by visiting teachers from Sera Je Monastery go once a fortnight to Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bangalore to conduct study and meditation sessions simultaneously in English and Kannada for the prison inmates. It is being attended by 20-40 inmates and interest is growing.
“Since the mind is fundamentally pure, it is possible to transform it. Sessions thus far have touched on refuge, karma, the four noble truths and suffering. Most importantly, we’ve lead sessions on anger, which are so relevant to the inmates, where one moment of anger has lead to a lifetime of suffering. We taught methods for how to control it and generate love. Sessions are interspersed with meditation to develop concentration and reflection. Also, a session on lo-jong was conducted by Longsten Rinpoche.
“The response has been very enthusiastic. Members of CKSL’s LPP initiative have been able to generate in inmates a sense of hope and the sessions are much looked forward to by the inmates.”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: choe khor sum ling, liberation prison project
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Marina Brucet, the spiritual program coordinator at Tushita Retreat Center, sent us this update about the wonderful opportunities for practice in this peaceful Catalan retreat center.
Twenty years have passed since Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited this beautiful and quiet place in the Montseny Natural Park, near Barcelona in Spain, and gave it a name: Tushita. Since then, we have been organizing courses and retreats with the aim to be of the maximum benefit to all.
According to several lamas who have visited us here, Tushita is an ideal place for meditation. And because of this, we are trying to open the center to the world, to offer the opportunity to people, not only from Spain but also from afar, to come and join group retreats here. We are putting special emphasis on introduction to meditation and on preliminary practices, which are so crucial for seriously advancing in the path.
This year we have a Vajrasattva retreat, a vipassana retreat and a nyung nä retreat, among many others. In October 2015 there will be a water bowl marathon retreat. Yangsi Rinpoche commented that the region where Tushita is located is ideal for doing water bowl offerings. We are also organizing a lam-rim retreat (2015-2016) and a 3-month Vajrasattva retreat (2016) — the third being organized at the center and a great opportunity to do such a retreat in Europe. We also expect that Dagri Rinpoche will come to Barcelona in January 2016, before the retreat, to give the Vajrasattva initiation.
In the future, we are thinking of organizing a Dorje Khadro retreat as well, among others.
Tushita Retreat Center is a small place and we are just a few people, working on a volunteer basis. We do our best to be of good service to others and to give people the opportunity to come and enjoy a conducive place for meditation.
Visit Tushita Retreat Center online at http://www.tushita.es. For more, see Mandala‘s “Spain’s Tushita Retreat Center Celebrates 20 Years.”
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: tushita retreat center
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16
In preparation for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to the United Kingdom, a group of FPMT students has been working with the office of Tibet and the local Tibetan community to ensure that His Holiness gets the warmest possible welcome when he arrives in the UK. Calling themselves, Open Arms 2015, they have organized a social media campaign to welcome His Holiness with khata offerings.
UPDATE: FPMT student Alison Murdoch writes:
“Following an overwhelming response to the Open Arms 2015 initiative www.openarms2015.net, we are now inviting friends and supporters in any country to post an image of themselves offering a khatag (offering scarf) to The Dalai Lama.
“Every image received by midnight UK time on Friday 18th September will be presented to The Dalai Lama, as a joyful international expression of support for his message of peace, compassion and universal responsibility in his 80th birthday year.
“Please encourage friends, colleagues and family of any age, culture or walk of life to join us in creating the world’s largest katag offering.
“The easiest way to upload your photos is via the Open Arms 2015 Facebook page. Alternatively, for those who don’t use facebook, you can send them to info@openarms2015.net.”
For more information, visit Open Arm 2015’s website (http://www.openarms2015.net/) and their Facebook and Twitter pages.
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read here, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: his holiness the dalai lama
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11
His Eminence Choden Rinpoche Passes Away
We are very saddened to share the news that His Eminence Choden Rinpoche passed away on September 11 at 1:30 a.m. India time at Sera Je Monastery in South India. Choden Rinpoche was a highly respected Buddhist master and a much loved teacher, who taught at many FPMT centers over the years.
Choden Rinpoche was born in 1933 in eastern Tibet and was recognized at age three. At age eight he entered Rabten Monastery, and at age fifteen he went to Sera Je Monastery, where he studied the five main texts. Choden Rinpoche became an expert on the teachings on Vinaya – monastic discipline. He was a highly respected scholar and was chosen as one of two Sera Je monks to debate with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ geshe exams.
During the communist Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959, Choden Rinpoche stayed in Tibet and went into solitary retreat. He never left his small, dark room in Lhasa from 1965 to 1985, and was virtually unknown in his monastery for this reason. In 1985 he was allowed to leave Tibet for India and has since taught for many years at Sera Je Monastery in South India as well as at Dharma centers throughout the world, including many FPMT centers.
On August 29, 2015, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with Choden Rinpoche in New Delhi. His Holiness told Choden Rinpoche that he remembered the first time that Choden Rinpoche came to his attention. It was many years ago during an audience with monks at Norbulingka, the summer palace of His Holiness in Tibet. His Holiness said that he remembered seeing how the rays of the sun were falling on Rinpoche’s head and how a bee landed on his head. Choden Rinpoche said he had no memory of that. His Holiness said that at the time he thought that Choden Rinpoche was a magnificent lama. [Photos and translated English text provided by Ven. Tenzin Gache and Ven. Tenzin Namdak of Sera IMI House at Sera Je Monastery. Rebeca Cuan Corral provided a Spanish language translation of the meeting.]
His Holiness also said that since arriving in India, Rinpoche has done his best in many ways such as giving teachings, imparting philosophy lessons to the monks and sharing the Buddhadharma with students throughout the world. His Holiness said that it is important to rejoice in this work.
If you would like a more detailed description of the event of his transition, as well as the collection of prayers that were advised by Choden Rinpoche himself before he showed the aspect of passing away, for all of his students to offer at this time – please click here.
Read updates on the Facebook page set up for this.
See “The Life of a Hidden Meditator: Choden Rinpoche” from Mandala July 2000 to read more about Choden Rinpoche’s experiences in Tibet at Sera Monastery and in Lhasa after 1959. The complete multi-part feature “The Life of a Hidden Meditator” is available as a PDF. You can also read more recent stories about Choden Rinpoche on FPMT.org.
Mandala will have a complete obituary for His Eminence Choden Rinpoche in the January-June 2016 issue.
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As a way to encourage and expand the practice of mindfulness, Wisdom Publications is promoting Mindfulness Day. Celebrated annually on September 12, Mindfulness Day “aims to raise awareness in the general population about the value and benefit mindfulness brings,” Wisdom Publications wrote.
For ways to celebrate MIndfulness Day with “friends, family and even strangers,” Wisdom offers these ideas:
- Set aside time during the day to unplug and meditate — even if it’s only for a few minutes, breathing deeply while acknowledging and releasing your thoughts can help calm your nerves and relax your body and mind.
- Take a yoga or meditation class.
- Hold a “mindfulness flash mob” or “meditation flash mob” in your community.
- Invite your neighbors over for a “mindfulness party” where you sit in quiet contemplation, prayer, or meditation.
- Attend a retreat.
- Hold a special prayer or meditation circle with your spiritual community.
- Join together with your family for a special meal to reconnect with relatives.
- Organize a quiet commute or moment of silence with your car pool, bus, or train.
- Start reading one of the many books on mindful living, follow a mindfulness blog, or join an online mindfulness forum.
For more information, visit Mindfulness Day on Facebook.
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read here, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: mindfulness, wisdom publications
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Spiritual program coordinator Annie Green from Centre de Méditation Naropa in Tahiti shares news about the center’s recent July visit from FPMT-registered teacher Sixte Vinçotte:
Sixte Vinçotte is living now in Italy where he is studying the Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, so the members of Centre de Méditation Naropa are more than grateful that he offers us his holidays to come to the other side of this planet to share his teachings on lam-rim.
Since 2013, with compassion, patience and perseverance, Sixte has taught four Discovering Buddhism modules a year. This year, he taught on “Samsara and Nirvana,” “How to Develop Bodhichitta,” “Transforming Problems” and “Wisdom of Emptiness.” He also taught on the four noble truths on Chokhor Duchen and other subjects like “Happiness Is Inside,” “Change the World by Changing Yourself,” “Let It Go” and “Renunciation.”
In a country with a lot of natural beauty, where the culture emphasizes the beauty of the body, of singing, dancing, playing music, surfing, rowing – usually called “enjoying life” – it is a big challenge for a teacher to make people really understand in their hearts that all of this is in the nature of suffering. In particular, it is difficult in July, when the teachings are given during the Heivā, which is the greatest competition of the year between the dancing and singing groups from each town or island.
It is also another feat to keep a group sitting for six day, taking precepts, remaining silent, and trying to experience mahamudra in a such beautiful place as Fare Mahora in Teahupo’o on the Tahitian peninsula just before the start of the Billabong Pro, a world surf competition.
Thanks to Sixte for the way he tirelessly spreads he Dharma with all his heart, every year, despite our great ignorance and our very slow progresses. His way of life has inspired us to initiate a one-year learning plan to review 12 Discovering Buddhism modules. We hope that Sixte will come back in 2016 and find us more prepared for the remaining modules.
Thanks to André Mamet, director of Centre de Méditation Naropa, and the board members for their work. Thanks also to student Hinatea and her family for their warm welcome and sharing their home with retreatants.
Centre de Méditation Naropa is working on building a prayer wheel in the sea to fulfill the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. We will let the FPMT community know about the developments of this wonderful project.
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
- Tagged: naropa meditation center, tahiti
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“Amitabha Buddhist Centre gave a warm welcome to His Eminence the 7th Ling Rinpoche as he visited the center for the very first time on August 2,” reports Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim. “Rinpoche kindly made time for the brief Sunday morning visit in the midst of his busy schedule in Singapore.
“The previous 6th Ling Rinpoche was the senior tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and widely regarded as a foremost scholar, lineage holder and guru to a generation of scholars and high lamas.
“During the hour-long visit, a mandala offering was held, led by our resident teacher Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi. Rinpoche got to meet our members, distribute blessed pills and cords to everyone, and tour our premises. He also agreed to visit again and to teach at the next opportunity. Rinpoche was in Singapore at the invitation of Gaden Shartse Monastery’s Dro-phen Ling Centre.”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
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“It’s exhausting,” Ven. Gyalten Yarphel told Mandala in a phone call on Thursday afternoon, August 27. “Breathing all the smoke, it’s hard to be energetic.” Ven. Yarphel (John Jackson) was speaking from Buddha Amitabha Pure Land (BAPL) in North Central Washington state in the United States, where wildfires continue to burn out of control.
On Thursday, August 20, fires came through the valley where Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s retreat house and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land are located. According to Ven. Yarphel, the fire came up to and burned around the structures — Rinpoche’s house and the retreat cabins — and the two large statues — Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha — leaving small unburned islands on the land. Sadly, their close neighbor’s house was burned to the ground.
The current residents of the 500-acre retreat property had evacuated their homes the night before, but had to stay with neighbors as the road out of the valley was blocked by fires and did not open up until early on Thursday morning, when they got out. They stayed with friends who lived about 40 miles away and returned to the BAPL on Tuesday, August 25.
On Wednesday, August 26, the winds came up and blew an ember into the trees near one of the retreat structures on the land (not Rinpoche’s house). The trees caught fire and caused the structure to combust and burn to the ground.
On Thursday 27, the winds picked up again, and those staying on the property were told to again evacuate. While most of the ground at BAPL is charred, Ven. Yarphel said there is still a lot of fuel for fire in the trees, although he added that Rinpoche’s house seems to be safe. Fires continue to burn in the surrounding areas and across the valley. Spot fires could flare up on the property depending on the wind and other conditions. There is also very dense smoke, which prevents air assistance with the fires.
Ven. Yarphel said the firefighters are doing all they can, but simply don’t have enough resources. The Okanogan Complex fire, which is the fire affecting BAPL, is currently covering 302,224 acres and is threatening to merge with another large fire burning to the east, the North Star fire, covering 179,834 acres. In addition, wildfires fueled by drought and a very warm summer are burning throughout other parts of the Pacific Northwest.
The residents at BAPL hope to return to the retreat land on Friday, August 28. Early reports on Friday said that no new structures were burned. The residents staying on the retreat land are without electricity, but there is one generator, which provides internet access, some light at night and runs a pump for water. They also have food and can cook on a camp stove. Gelek Sherpa, who has been staying there painting the large Amitabha Buddha statue, will be returning to California next week as it’s become too difficult to continue his work because of smoke and swarming wasps and yellow jackets. Ven. Yarphel is looking forward to getting out of the smoke, too. He’ll be leaving for Mexico next week to attend the retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
For now, fires continue to threaten Buddha Amitabha Pure Land. Some rain is forecast for the area over the weekend, however if it is accompanied by wind and lightning, which was the cause of the current fires, it might not help. Students may do prayers and practices to dispel fires as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This advice can be found in last week’s post “Wildfires Threaten Buddha Amitabha Pure Land and Pamtingpa Center.”
You can see a short video after the August 20 fire of Buddha Amitabha Pure Land on Facebook.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
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