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Rinpoche’s Health – Official Updates and Practices
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health is stable and he is very well, and every year we check what practices should be done to create the causes for Rinpoche’s long life and good health.
Rinpoche had a stroke in 2011, and below is an archive of updates dating back to 2011, where you can read about practices and prayers done and updates about Rinpoche’s health over the years since the stroke occurred.
Every year the FPMT organization offers an official long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Nepal, February 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recorded a message to thank all who recited the practices requested for his health and long life.
Listen to Rinpoche’s message, and read the edited transcript:
“This is a message from Mickey Mouse, little one, little Mickey Mouse from Lawudo, expressing from the heart a billion, zillion, trillion thanks for alllllllllllllll your prayers: 15,249.5 recitations of the Diamond Cutter Sutra and 19,265 recitations of Dependent Arising: A Praise to Buddha, that is showing us dependent arising, the subtle one, that which shows exactly what emptiness is unified.
Even if you recited OM MANI PADME HUM, or even recited OM AH HUM, or even recited just OM day and night, or weeks, months and years.
So I thank a billion, zillion, trillion times.
This is also a big puja for yourself, for purification and to collect merits. Therefore, to free yourself from samsara and achieve enlightenment for sentient beings, so that means it is for all sentient beings that you have done this. Thank you very much.
If I stay longer, one year or a month or a week or day or an hour, I will try to benefit the fish, or pigs, or dogs—something simple. OK? Thank you very much.”
Listen to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s message, recorded March 4, 2018, in Nepal:
https://fpmt.app.box.com/s/v6ekdwvz1ttedg44tw1ypo2wwlqimdzg
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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) in Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Every year Ven. Roger Kunsang, on behalf of the FPMT organization, checks with one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus or Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) to determine what practices should be done to help create the conditions for Lama Zopa Rinpoche to have good health for the coming year. Khadro-la has recently advised that some prayers need to be recited, together with the completion of a number of pujas.
The prayers Khadro-la advised are the Vajra Cutter Sutra and the Dependent Arising: A Praise of the Buddha (Tendrel Topa).
We are requesting everyone to join in and keep track of their recitations of these prayers during the rest of this Tibetan year! At the end of the Tibetan year (i.e., just before Losar 2018) we will ask everyone to send us the number of prayers recited and will offer the total number of accumulated recitations to Rinpoche. It would be very beneficial if all FPMT centers, projects, services, and study groups can arrange regular recitations of these prayers.
Please use the following dedication (ideally, in addition to the usual FPMT dedication prayers):
For Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche to always have perfect health and to always be free of obstacles; and for all Rinpoche’s Dharma projects around the world to be highly successful, including all FPMT centers, projects, and services.
Offering tsog at the long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the last day of the Kopan November course. The five dakinis are also shown. Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
The pujas advised by Khadro-la will be offered in a number of monasteries every month until the end of this Tibetan year. Any contributions to help cover the costs of the pujas will be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made to the FPMT Puja Fund.
In addition, there will be an extensive long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, on April 23, 2017. Everyone is welcome to attend!
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.
Message from Ven Roger Kunsang, assistant to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and CEO of FPMT Inc :
“Dear Friends,
This year seems especially important for all Rinpoche’s students to come together in some way to offer practice and prayers for Rinpoche’s long and healthy life. When I asked Khadro-la for her observation, Khadro-la answered with a deep concern and wish that all the students in all the centers, projects and services come together in some way and offer a long life puja to Rinpoche, as well as perform 100,000 tsog offerings.
Khadro-la went on to explain how very important it is for Rinpoche to be present in this world for a long time, teaching and benefiting sentient beings in many different ways. Khadro-la talked about Rinpoche’s many special qualities, impressing how fortunate we are to have Rinpoche with us, guiding us in so many ways.
Please everyone join the Long Life Puja, participate in whatever way you can.”
The Official Long Life Puja on behalf of the entire FPMT will be offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore on Sunday, March 13th (as part of Rinpoche’s teaching event there). The puja will start at 9am Singapore time.
During the long life puja Rinpoche will be requested to give teachings on lojong (thought transformation). These teachings and the long life puja will be livestreamed so that all can participate live (or by video later).
How You Can Participate:
Help your center to offer prayers and practices for the health and long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche with a long life puja, and by performing 100,000 tsog offerings with Lama Chopa.
Donations to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Long Life Puja Fund are welcome.
More Information for FPMT Centers, Projects, Services and Study Groups
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme), South India, January 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Dear Friends,
Rinpoche is in Sera Je Monastery, South India right now. This morning coming back from the long life puja (offered to the ex-Abbots and Abbot of Sera Je, as well as to the most senior lamas who were around from Tibet and Baxau, and to Lama Zopa Rinpoche) both Geshe Jinpa and Ven Sangpo and I were walking behind Rinpoche and watching with great interest the improvement in Rinpoche’s right leg … the walking action is definitely improving. Then last night I watched as Rinpoche was writing the mantra for putting above the rabbits’ cage here in Osel Labrang. Again you can see improvement. And the rabbits noticed as well.
Rinpoche’s blood pressure and diabetes have been ok the past year… and I think there has also been a little improvement in those areas too, although the blood pressure does have a tendency to go up and down.
We are no longer requesting and counting the specific practices which were recommended for Rinpoche’s health and long life back in April last year.
Thank you to everyone for the extensive suggestions and ideas, and especially for all the prayers and dedication of good karma … to improve our karmic view of Rinpoche.
roger
(Ven Roger Kunsang, assistant to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and CEO of FPMT Inc)
THANKS TO ALL who participated in the practices requested to be done for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life back in April this year. On Dec 9th, an amazing total of practices will be offered to Rinpoche as part of the offerings to Rinpoche during the official long life puja.
Please rejoice!
Rinpoche offered thanks to those offering practices back in August.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Manali, India, July 2013. Photograph by Ven Sarah Thresher
My very very dear friends,
From my heart I would like to express billions, zillions, trillions of thanks, I highly appreciate you doing practices for me. This is also puja for yourself. Even if you don’t think that it naturally happens like that as it is very powerful karma!
I highly appreciate all of you being good human beings practicing the Dharma – not only wanting to achieve temporary happiness in the future but also wanting to be free from the oceans of samsaric suffering and to free all sentient beings from the oceans of suffering and for them to achieve the highest peerless happiness, enlightenment, omniscient mind. This is so important, the utmost need. Generally to live life for others, to bring happiness to others.
Again my deep appreciation to all of you.
With much love and prayer,
Lama Zopa
List of practices specifically recommended for students to do
Dear Friends,
I would like to thank everyone very much for all their efforts in helping to do the practices Khadro-la advised us to do for Rinpoche’s health and long life.
It is very important for us to continue doing these practices especially at this time when we know there are obstacles for Rinpoche in 2014 and 2015. Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) was very clear for students especially to help by doing as much of the practices as possible.
If you take a little time to think of how each of us has benefitted so much from Rinpoche’s teachings and example … such a source of inspiration for practice! It is easy to make a little time with others or alone to generate a good motivation and do one of the practices requested. In fact dedicating any merit created from any virtuous action you do to purifying the karmic view of seeing the Guru as unwell is beneficial.
THANK YOU again,
Love Roger
Practices Specifically Requested for Students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to Do (see links above for more information about these practices):
– Liberate many animals
– Hang Tendil Nyersel prayer flags in all FPMT centers, projects and services
– Recite Most Secret Hayagriva mantra
– Offer long life pujas to Rinpoche with the 5 dakinis
Khadro-la said “The most important is good samaya from the students’ side. Whoever is doing the puja, prayers or practice, it should be done well, with good motivation and meditation”.
Please send your count of practices done at the end of each month to FPMT Center Services
Rejoice at practices done so far!
The prayer flags (one of of the Long Life practices requested for Lama Zopa Rinpoche – for full details see the post dated April 24) are now ready.
The prayer flags are available in strings of 25 flags,(about 8 meter long), or 10 flags per string (about 3.20 long) .
The size of each flag is 30 x 50 cm.
The flags and the shipping charge are free.
Instruction for ordering the flag:
Click on this link to view the flag:
http://monasteryshop.org/tendel-nyesel-prayerflag-344.html
Find a detailed description there on how to order.
Shipping:
Delivery is by normal postal parcel and will take up to three weeks. Please note that to receive the free shipping, you have to click on ‘ Free Shipping’ in the shipping page.
You can ask for express delivery for the flag – Express Delivery:
Please mention in the comment box of the order For express delivery, please make a donation of a minimum of 20 US$ through the PayPal link on the Kopan web site.
http://www.kopanmonastery.com/donations_payments.html
This will cover the additional cost for express delivery of about 2 rolls of 25 flags or three rolls of 10 flags.
Please add 20 US$ for each additional 2 rolls of 25, or 3 rolls of 10 flags.
With many thanks to Ven Fran and the team at Kopan Monastery.
Dear Friends,
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health still continues to improve very gradually, there is still no interest from Rinpoche’s side to do any exercise but that seems to be the way Rinpoche has chosen.
At the beginning of every year I usually check with one or two high Lamas if there are any prayers or pujas we need to do to remove obstacles for Rinpoche’s health and long life. This year I have received the advice to do many prayers and pujas. These are being organized at Kopan Monastery, Sera Je Monastery, Ganden Shartse Monastery, Jangchup Choling Nunnery, Kopan Nunnery and also Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamsen.
Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) is advising FPMT centers, projects, services and students to also help. I would like to support Khadro-la’s request for students and centers to do the following as much as you can so that we can continue to have Rinpoche with us for a very long time to come.
Khadro-la specifically mentioned the following: “as much as possible if FPMT centers and students can please do”:
– Liberate many animals
– Hang Tendil Nyersel prayer flags in all FPMT centers, projects and services
– Recite Most Secret Hayagriva mantra
– Offer long life pujas to Rinpoche with the 5 dakinis
Khadro la said “The most important is good samaya from the students’ side. Whoever is doing the puja, prayers or practice, it should be done well, with good motivation and meditation”.
Please see the full list of pujas and practices to do below, and then please can you send in what you have done to Claire at International Office at the end of each month and we will offer that to Rinpoche.
These prayers and pujas done sincerely from the heart do make a difference … please help.
Love roger
The full list of pujas and practices to do and which are being done:
- Animal Liberation – do as much as possible, either yourselves or by donating online to Amitabha Buddhist Center, who does substantial animal liberations every two weeks. Text available here and in Essential Buddhist Prayers, vol 2.
- Tendil Nyersel prayer flags should be hung in all FPMT centers, projects and services. Kopan Monastery are kindly making these prayer flags and once they are ready (in about a month’s time) will send out information on how to order the prayer flags.
- Recite Hayagriva mantras as much as possible.
- Offer long life puja(s) to Rinpoche through the 5 Dakinis. FPMT will request Khadro-la to offer a long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Also when Rinpoche visits FPMT centers during the year, good to offer a long life puja with the 5 dakinis.
Practices being done at monasteries (can be done personally too):
5. Read the longest version of the Golden Light sutra x 67
6. Recite 100,000 praises to Tara within Tara pujas
7. Dor.de Kelsang x 67
8. Dukchuma as much as possible
9. Dukka x 1000
10. Mamo Trukung x 2
11. Gyal sod Tsen sod
(Mensaje de Roger, asistente de Lama Zopa Rimpoché.
Traducción al español por Alejandro García)
——
Queridos amigos,
La salud de Lama Zopa Rimpoché aún continúa mejorando muy gradualmente. Rimpoché todavía no tiene ningún interés en hacer ejercicio, peroparece que eso es lo que Rimpoché ha decidido.
Por lo general, a principio de cada año consulto con uno o dos Lamas superiores si hay oraciones o puyas que debamos hacer para eliminarobstáculos para la salud y larga vida de Rimpoché. Este año recibí el consejo de hacer muchas oraciones y puyas. Éstas se han organizado en elMonasterio de Kopan, el Monasterio de Sera Je, el Monasterio de Ganden Shartse, el Convento de Jangchup Choling, el Convento de Kopan ytambién [el Colegio Monástico de] Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamsen.
Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) aconseja que también los centros, proyectos, servicios y estudiantes. Me gustaríarespaldar la petición de Khadro-la de que los estudiantes y los centros realicen las siguientes prácticas tanto como puedan para que podamoscontinuar teniendo a Rimpoché con nosotros por mucho tiempo.
Khadro-la específicamente mencionó que “por favor los centros y los estudiantes realizaran las siguientes prácticas tanto como fuera posible”:
ñ Liberación de animales
ñ Colgar banderas Tendil Nyersel en todos los centros, proyectos y servicios de la FPMT
ñ Recitar el mantra de Hayagriva Muy Secreto
ñ Ofrecer puyas de larga vida para Rimpoché con las cinco dakinis
Khadro-la dijo “Lo más importante es el buen samaya de parte de los estudiantes. Quienquiera que esté haciendo puyas, oraciones o prácticas,debe hacerlo bien, con buena motivación y meditación”.
Hacer estas oraciones y puyas sinceramente y de corazón sí marca una diferencia… por favor ayuden.
Con amor,
roger
La lista completa de puyas y prácticas a realizar y que se están realizando:
1. Liberación de animales: realícenla tanto como sea posible, ya sea ustedes mismos o por medio de un donativo en línea al Amitabha Buddhist Center, donde quincenalmente se realizan importantes liberaciones de animales. El texto está disponible aquí y en el Libro de oraciones, vol. 2.
2. Banderas de oración Tendil Nyersel: deben colgarse en todos los centros, proyectos y servicios de la FPMT. El Monasterio de Kopan amablemente está produciendo estas banderas de oración. Una vez que estén listas (aproximadamente dentro de un mes) les enviaremos información de cómo ordenarlas.
3. Recitar tantos mantras de Hayagriva como sea posible.
4. Ofrecer puya(s) de larga vida a Rimpoché a través de las cinco Dakinis.
La FPMT le pedirá a Khadro-la que ofrezca una puya de larga vida a Lama Zopa Rimpoché. También es bueno que cuando Rimpoché visite los centros de la FPMT a lo largo del año, se le ofrezca una puya de larga vida con las cinco dakinis.
Prácticas que se están realizando en los monasterios (también pueden hacerse de manera personal):
5. Leer la versión más larga del Sutra de la luz dorada x 67
6. Recitar 100,000 alabanzas a Tara dentro de las puyas de Tara
7. Dor.de Kelsang x 67
8. Dukchuma tanto como sea posible
9. Dukka x 1000
10. Mamo Trukung x 2
11. Gyal sod Tsen sod
Cari Amici,
la salute di Lama Zopa Rinpoce continua a migliorare gradualmente pur non esistendo ancora un interesse da parte di Rinpoche di fare qualsiasi esercizio tra quelli prescritti… ma questa sembra essere la via che Rinpoche ha scelto.
All’inizio di ogni anno, di solito controllo con uno o due grandi Lama se ci sono delle preghiere o puje che dobbiamo fare per rimuovere gli ostacoli alla salute e alla lunga vita di Rinpoche. Quest’anno ho ricevuto il consiglio di fare molte preghiere e puje. Queste sono state organizzate al Monastero di Kopan, di Sera Je, Ganden Shartse, Jangchup Choling Nunnery, a Kopan e anche a Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamsen.
Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) consiglia ai Centri, Progetti e Servizi FPMT e anche agli studenti di impegnarsi anch’essi in queste pratiche. Vorrei quindi appoggiare la richiesta di Khadro-la agli studenti e ai Centri di fare quanto è possibile in modo di continuare a beneficiare della presenza di Rinpoche per molto tempo a venire.
Khadro-la ha espressamente detto: “è importante che i centri FPMT e gli studenti possano eseguire il più possibile”:
– Liberazione di molti animali
– Appendere le bandiere di preghiera Tendil Nyersel in tutti i centri FPMT, progetti e servizi.
– Recitare il mantra molto segreto di Hayagriva
– Offrire puje di lunga vita a Rinpoche con le 5 dakini
Khadro la ha aggiunto “La cosa più importante è mantenere buoni i samaya (impegni) da parte degli studenti. Chi sta facendo le puje, le preghiere o le pratiche, dovrebbe farle bene, con una buona motivazione e buone meditazioni “.
Si prega di consultare l’elenco completo delle puje e pratiche da fare al link sotto indicato, e poi per favore potete inviare quello che avete fatto a Claire presso l’Ufficio Internazionale FPMT alla fine di ogni mese in modo da poterle offrire a Rinpoche.
Queste preghiere e puje fatte sinceramente dal cuore fanno la differenza …Vi preghiamo di aiutare in tutto questo.
Con amore
Roger
Francais
Santé de Rinpoché – Dernières nouvelles et pratiques
Le 24 avril 2013
Chers amis,
La santé de Rinpoché continue de s’améliorer très progressivement. Rinpoché ne montre toujours pas d’intérêt pour faire des exercices mais cela semble être ce qu’a choisi Rinpoché.
Habituellement, au début de chaque année, je vérifie avec un ou deux grands lamas s’il y a des prières ou des pratiques à faire pour lever les obstacles à la santé et la longue vie de Rinpoché. Cette année, ils m’ont conseillé que soient faites de nombreuses prières et poujas. Celles-ci sont organisées dans les monastères de Kopan, Séra Djé et Ganden Shartsé, dans les nonneries de Jangchoup Choling, Kopan et également à Ganden Jangtsé Samlo Kamsèn.
Khadro-la (Rangjoung Néljorma Khadro Namsél Drönme) conseille également aux étudiants, centres, projets et services de la FPMT d’apporter leur aide. Je souhaite exprimer mon soutien à la demande de Khadro-la d’effectuer les pratiques suivantes aussi souvent et autant de fois que possible afin que nous puissions garder Rinpoché près de nous pendant encore très longtemps.
Khadro-la a spécifiquement mentionné les pratiques suivantes « autant de fois que possible si les centres FPMT et les étudiants veulent bien le faire » :
– libérer de nombreux animaux,
– accrocher les drapeaux de prières Tendil Nyersel dans tous les centres, services et projets FPMT,
– réciter le mantra d’Hayagriva Extrêmement secret [HRIH VAJRA KRODA HAYAGRIVA HOULOU HOULOU HOUM PÈ],
– offrir à Rinpoché des poujas de longue vie avec les 5 dakinis.
Khadro-la a dit : « Le plus important est un bon samaya du côté des étudiants. Quelle que soit la personne qui les fait, les prières et pratiques doivent être bien faites, avec une bonne motivation et une bonne méditation. »
Vous trouverez ci-dessous la liste des poujas et pratiques. S’il vous plaît, veuillez indiquer chaque mois à Claire, au Bureau international, celles que vous avez faites et nous les offrirons à Rinpoché.
Ces prières et ces poujas faites du fond du coeur font vraiment une différence. S’il vous plaît, apportez votre aide.
Avec amour,
roger
From Kopan Monastery
Dear Friends
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health is good. The doctors seem satisfied with the blood pressure and sugar levels. Over the past couple of months Rinpoche hasn’t exercised as much (due to the busy schedule) so that has been disappointing and so not any noticeable improvement in the walking action. Now in Nepal Rinpoche has started again to do circumambulations of the stupa, which is very good and I hope this continues regularly while here.
While in India Rinpoche attended an Ayurvedic clinic for 7 days, this seemed to help his health in a general way. The doctor wanted Rinpoche to attend a full treatment program which would be for 21 days. Rinpoche was very reluctant to do for that length of time. The doctor there and the staff were very good. Maybe sometime in the future this can happen.
Rinpoche’s speech in Tibetan is very clear, His Holiness Ling Rinpoche made this comment as well as other Lama’s. English language is also clearer.
Thank you,
roger
From Nalanda Monastery:
Yesterday we have finished 1020 times the sixteen arhat pujas (about 920 were done by the monks).
We started immediately after the Chenrezig retreat with Khadro-la, and it took us almost two weeks of mostly five daily sessions.
We recited the Panacea of Pure Nectar and long life prayers for His Holiness and Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche after almost every session.
It was very nice and an honour that we could do it for Rinpoche’s health.
Hope Rinpoche will fully recover very soon, and we hope He might be able to teach again as much as He wants, in the way that He wants and wherever He wants.
And of course we hope He will have a very long life, and that we may be able to fulfil all His wishes.
Dear Friends,
Rinpoche is doing well, progress is still slow but seems normal for this situation. The main thing is that there is still progress. Rinpoche is more independent, using the right hand more and the right leg is stronger we just need to focus on getting the action more correct. Rinpoche’s speech is very clear when speaking Tibetan, in English if he doesn’t make effort there is a slight slur. But when teaching and Rinpoche focuses on the pronunciation it is clear. Blood pressure and sugar levels are good for Rinpoche’s situation, and the doctors are pleased. Long term Rinpoche doesn’t want to have to take western medicine if possible, so in the long term we have to find other methods combined with a good lifestyle!
Thank you everyone for all your support and kindness.
roger