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Charitable Activities
Monks participating in the annual Winter Jang Debate.
This January, monks from various Gelug monasteries participated in an extensive twenty-two day debate on Buddhist logic in Bodhgaya, India, known as the Winter Jang Debate.
This annual debate dates back to the time of Lama Tsongkhapa and was continued each year until 1959. In 1981 the present and former abbots of the three great monasteries met to revive this debate. However, due to costs the monasteries were only able to sponsor about 200 monks to attend. Seeing the incredible importance of this tradition of bringing together the best scholars to hone their understanding of the Buddha’s highest teachings, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund, now sponsors 400 monks from Sera Je Monastery to attend. This expenditure includes: bus rentals to transport the monks to and from Bangalore; train accommodation to and from Bangalore to Bodhgaya; floor mats for the monks; food offering; as well as the expenses associated with three professors, two teachers, and four monitors to attending.
Monks during examination.
The Sera Je Monastery Office sent a sincere letter of thanks to Lama Zopa Rinpoche as well as a request for Rinpoche to remain among us for “hundreds and hundreds of eons” for the sake of “Buddha’s teachings and all sentient beings….Rinpoche’s support of the annual Winter Debate continues to benefit the monks immensely. We are all extremely grateful to Rinpoche for this generous support as well as the continual offering to the top position students who passed their Special Memorization Exam. Tremendous thanks from all of the monks…. Just as we have been blessed with Rinpoche’s kind attention and support in the past please allow us to rquest Rinpoche’s kind support in the future too.”
Additionally this year, annual sponsorship was offered to Sera Je Monastery for 190 monks who qualified and passed the yearly Special Memorization Examination.
- 68 monks memorized Commentary on the Ornament of Clear Realization
- 74 monks memorized The Essence of Eloquence on the Art of Interpretation by Lama Tsongkhapa
- 62 monks memorized Bodhisattvacaryavatara (Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life) by Shantideva
- 9 monks memorized A Presentation of General Meaning
- 3 monks memorized General Meaning (of the) Middle Way
- 2 monks memorized Six Treatises on the Middle Way by Nagarjuna
- 1 monk memorized Five Treatises of Maitreya
A new set of robes was offered to these future teachers who contribute to the preservation the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in the monasteries. The memorization of these monumental works is truly something to rejoice in.
The grants toward the Winter Jang Debate and the Special Memorization Examination totaled US$26,959 this year.
Tremendous thanks to the many donors who support the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund enabling FPMT to sponsor the monks engaging in debate and memorization at this high level for the benefit of all. You are welcome to participate in this offering at any time.
You can learn more about the beneficial activities of the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund or the many Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing respect to a Hayagriva statue on the altar at Idgaa Choizinling College in Mongolia.
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund sponsors the electricity for lotus light offerings to all the holy objects on the altar at Idgaa Choizinling College in Mongolia. The lights are offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Among the holy objects on this altar is an incredible Hayagriva statue (pictured on the right).
Additionally, the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund offers sponsorship of daily lunch for the young monks studying at Idgaa Choizinling; and has recently offered a grant to cover the cost of a complete renovation of the monastery so there are more rooms and accommodation for the monks.
Idgaa Choizinling was established in 2003 through Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling due to the kindness of many benefactors. Idgaa is strongly connected to Sera Je Monastery in India and serves as a focal point of Buddhist learning in Mongolia. Since its inception, FPMT has been offering food to the monks studying there.
The monks of Idgaa Choizinling enjoying lunch.
The annual 100 Million Mani Retreat, which is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions, is also held in the Idgaa Choizinling gompa.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, quoting the Buddha, explains:
Any sentient being who, during the period of my teachings, makes charity well
(even if the material is the size of a hair),
For 80,000 eons there will be great results of great enjoyment:
No pain, no disease, and enjoyment of happiness.
Like that, one will be enriched with the desirable things.
At the end, you can actually achieve the result: the peerless cessation and completion (enlightenment).
Please rejoice in this continuous offering of light to these incredible holy objects, the daily lunches for the young monks, the renovation of the monastery, and the annual 100 Million Mani Retreat in Mongolia.
You can learn more about the many beneficial activities of the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fundor other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Children and staff of Maitreya School.
Maitreya School, a social service project of Root Institute, Bodhgaya, is a free school benefiting impoverished children from neighboring villages.
Students of Maitreya School.
The school offers children living in one of India’s poorest states a precious opportunity. Not only do they engage in a traditional education but, more importantly, they receive life skills in compassion, honesty, and loving-kindness presented through Buddha’s teachings. The core of the training and vision of the school is: making lives meaningful.
For the sixth year, the Social Services Fund, thanks to a kind benefactor, has offered support to Maitreya School. A grant for US$10,000 was offered toward the school’s operating costs.
A US$30,000 was also offered to cover the 2018 operating costs of Tara Children’s Project, another social service project of Root Institute. This orphanage, which unfortunately closed in June 2018, was a children’s home caring for HIV-affected orphaned children in the state of Bihar. Root released a heartfelt statement explaining this closure: “Over the years and despite our ongoing efforts, we have continuously struggled to gain sufficient cooperation from the local and state government to receive the support needed to ensure professional quality care to work effectively with the children. We ultimately realized that the most compassionate way we could benefit these children was to explore other highly-qualified and well-established homes who have the professional skills, expertise and compassion to serve and care for the children.”
Please rejoice in another year of support offered to the education needs of at-risk children in Bodhgaya, India.
If you would like to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants such as this can continue, you can read more about the charitable projects this fund supports, or donate any amount to the fund itself.
Extensive torma offerings during Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja offered monthly at Sera Je Monastery on behalf of the entire FPMT organization.
Twenty-three years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche established the Puja Fund as a way to sponsor ongoing prayers and practices dedicated to the success and longevity of the entire FPMT organization. One puja that Rinpoche advised as particularly important for FPMT, due to the organization’s close connection with the deity Hayagriva, is the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja.
Every month, on the Tibetan 29th day, the Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in the practice of Most Secret Hayagriva, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja. This is an all-day puja with an elaborate torma offering and extensive prayers and meditation.
The Puja Fund makes a small offering to the 40 monks who perform the puja, sponsors tea, and covers the cost of extensive torma offerings for the puja. In this way, the puja not only benefits all FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way; it also benefits the monks of Sera Je Monastery.
Please rejoice that this powerful puja is done every month for the entire FPMT organization. All are welcome to participate in this monthly puja by offering any amount to the FPMT Puja Fund.
You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Participants in the seventh round of nyung näs completed at IVY in June.
Institut Vajra Yogini (IVY), in the south-west of France near the city of Toulouse, successfully completed its seventh round of 108 nyung nä retreats at the end of June. One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization is to sponsor others to complete 1,000 nyung nä retreats. Upon hearing of this incredible vision of Rinpoche’s, IVY immediately started hosting 108 nyung nä retreats a year.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Practice and Retreat Fund, is very pleased to sponsor ten people with food and accommodation for each round of this 108 nyung nä retreat at IVY. Support is also provided by IVY and kind private donors.
At the end of this round of nyung näs, IVY reported: “119 different participants in total have participated in one or more nyung näs from mid-November to the end of June. 27 of these participants did more than eight nyung nâs and if we add up everybody: 1,098 individual nyung näs have been accumulated. On average, we have had about ten people participating in each single session of the nyung näs.”
Nyung na retreat in session at IVY.
Practitioners came from at least a dozen countries including four people who came from Vietnam especially to do several months of nyung näs. Three of them did not speak a word of English or French but did follow in Vietnamese.
About this retreat practice Lama Zopa Rinpoche commented, “Nyung näs take such a short time, but bring strong purification. So many eons can be purified in this life; it makes it so easy to have attainments.”
This is the seventh round of 108 nyung näs to be completed at IVY with the compassionate and dedicated guidance of retreat leader Ven. Charles Trebaol.
This year, seven people had started the nyung näs with the intention of doing the whole set but due to various obstacles, only three of them, including Ven. Charles, managed to stay until the end and complete the retreat. The retreat ended as usual with a Dorje Khadro fire puja and the Vietnamese participants insisted on cooking dinner that day to thank the whole community for supporting the retreat during all these months. Auspiciously, about 200 people were at IVY that same evening for an interfaith event with sacred chants from the Sufi, Vedic, and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. That same day, two Tibetan monks from Sera Je Monastery completed a beautiful Chenrezig mandala.
Please join us in rejoicing in the ongoing nyung nä retreats held at IVY under the leadership of Ven. Charles. This is an incredible offering that the IVY community has so enthusiastically taken on for the organization and toward actualizing Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes.
IVY’s team is already preparing for its eighth round of 108 Nyung Näs which will start on November 2018 and will end June 2019. Sponsorship is still available for people wanting to commit for the whole set and it is possible to attend anytime during these seven months for one or more nyung näs. The practice is led in French but people do follow along in their own language. If you cannot come in person, all are welcome to rejoice by thinking about the efforts involved.
The Practice and Retreat Fund provides grants and sponsorships for students engaged in retreats such as 108 nyung nä retreats, 100 million mani retreats, recitations of sutras and long term retreat.
The outstanding students of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery received prizes in recognition of their achievements.
Since 2009 sponsorship has been offered to the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal. Funds have been offered to complete two 100 million mani retreats (100 million recitations of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM) every year. In addition to the 100 million mani retreats, offerings are made to cover the cost of food for all during this period as well as an offering for a qualified geshe to stay during the retreat in order to give lamrim teachings. Additionally, a grant was offered to the nunnery for much needed new accommodation in 2014.
During Saka Dawa the nuns engaged in eight sets of nyung nä retreats for universal peace and for the long lives of our their teachers, friends, and supporters. They have recently completed the first 100 million mani retreat of the year and are now engaged in the second. Over the past nine years the nuns have completed seventeen 100 million mani retreats. Please rejoice!
You can read more about the incredible achievements and dedication of these nuns.
By offering any amount to the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund you enable support to this nunnery to continue.
You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.
The young monks of Idgaa Choizinling Dratsang.
The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund offers sponsorship of daily lunch for the young monks studying at Idgaa Choizinling Dratsang in Mongolia. Recently US$9,000 was offered to cover May 2018 to April 2019.
Idgaa Choizinling was established in 2003 through Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling due to the kindness of many benefactors. Idgaa is strongly connected to Sera Je Monastery in India and serves as a focal point of Buddhist learning in Mongolia. Since its inception, FPMT has been offering food to the monks studying there.
The monks of Idgaa Choizinling Dratsang.
The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund supports ordained monks and nuns as well as monasteries and nunneries by providing sponsorship for food, accommodations, educational needs, and health care for Sangha.
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently commented, “By offering even to one Sangha, whatever you can — even one dollar, one cup of tea, one piece of bread — there is much merit. And when it is to larger monasteries where there are several thousand monks, it is unbelievable merit.
“Also thinking that they are the disciples of same guru, the pores of the guru, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, then you collect the highest merit, the most extensive merit.”
Please rejoice in this offering of daily food to these earnest monks who study and practice so sincerely to keep Buddhism alive in Mongolia.
You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the monks of Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Each year on Chokhor Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, The Puja Fund sponsors pujas and offerings all over the world dedicated to the success of the entire FPMT organization. This year Chokhor Duchen takes place on Monday, July 16. The practices are done by up to 15,650 ordained Sangha and offerings are made to each in appreciation of their time and service. On these holy days the merit of any action is multiplied by 100 million — so this is not only an incredible support to the individual monks and nuns, it also is a way to invest in the monasteries and nunneries where the pujas and practices are offered.
Recently Lama Zopa Rinpoche commented, “Remember, all these monks are disciples of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, so if you have received teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, because all these monks are disciples of the same guru, for you they are the pores of the guru.
“‘Pores of the guru’ does not only refer to the body, it refers to the disciples of the same guru. It also refers to the neighbors of the guru and, if the guru is lay, it refers to the guru’s husband, wife and children as well, and even the guru’s horse, dog, and belongings. ‘The guru’s pores’ refers to all these things.
“So think: ‘I am making offerings to the same guru’s pores.’ Then, no matter how many monks there are, no matter how much money-offering you make, or offerings of tea, bread, or lunch, you will get the same merit as actually having offered to numberless Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha. You collect the same merit as having made offerings to them.
“It’s unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable!”
Robes offered to the Shakyamuni Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India, through the Puja Fund on every Buddha holy day. Photo by Andy Melnic.
All are welcome to participate in these incredible offerings including: Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (short, medium and long versions) by the monks of Gyurme Tantric College, recitation of the entire Kangyur by the nuns of Kopan Nunnery, extensive offerings for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities, prayers and pujas which were advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Even offering one dollar to the Puja Fund for Chokhor Duchen (July 16) means that you are offering toward all of the activities being sponsored. Additionally, all are welcome to participate by rejoicing in the many pujas, practices, and offerings which will be offered.
The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Goats at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary receive blessings from holy objects .
Every day around the world millions of animals are killed and mistreated needlessly. In countries like Nepal, the care and management of animals is very poor and animal sacrifices are common creating tremendous suffering for the animals and those involved.
Animal Liberation Sanctuary, near Kopan Monastery, was established to provide shelter and care for animals who have been rescued from being killed, so that they may live out their natural lives in peace and attain a higher rebirth through exposure to the Dharma. The animals (nine cattle, fifty goats, and one sheep) regularly hear mantras and are led around holy objects.
The sanctuary has a main animal shelter designed to provide a healthy environment throughout Nepal’s seasons, it has facilities to separate weaker animals from the main flock, and it is designed to reduce water use and waste. The sanctuary has an animal shed, treatment and isolation building, quarantine area, and caretaker house.
For the sixth year, a very kind benefactor has worked with the Social Services Fund to issue a substantial grant for the ongoing work and care of the sanctuary. We are delighted to report that a US$10,000 grant has recently been issued which will be used for ongoing food and care expenses, as well as for urgently needed bars over the windows of the goat shed. In 2016 one of the dogs was taken by a leopard during the night and in 2017 a female goat was taken in broad daylight by a leopard with two cubs. The staff were too late to chase the leopard away and the goat was killed. Unfortunately habitat loss has forced leopards closer to the urban fringe. The window bars will hopefully make the shed secure at night and vigilance from the caretakers will prevent future attacks during the day.
You can donate to the Animal Liberation Sanctuary or learn more about the work being done for animals in Nepal: http://kopanmonastery.com/charitable/animal-sanctuary-nepal
The Animal Liberation Fund supports weekly animal liberations and extensive dedications offered by Sangha at the residences of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. When funds allow, additional animal liberations conducted in Singapore and Hong Kong are supported, as well the Animal Liberation Sanctuary in Nepal, MAITRI Charitable Trust in India and elsewhere. You are welcome to offer any amount toward this ongoing work.
Residents of the Dhondenling Elderly Home.
Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement, located in Kollegal, India, is the most remote and underdeveloped Tibetan settlements in southern India. The settlement consists of twenty-two villages, and an elderly home. The elderly home has a capacity for thirty-two elderly Tibetans residents.
Residents of the Dhondenling Elderly Home.
The residents are provided nutritious food and medical treatment but the facilities and services cannot expand due to lack of funds. The Social Services Fund was very happy to offer US$10,114.47 toward this home’s 2018 operating budget, which was going to finish the year in a deficit.
A residents of the Dhondenling Elderly Home.
Supporting Tibetan refugees is a one of the FPMT Social Fund’s key objectives. In recently years, due to the kindness of donors, we have been able to really offer support to elderly homes in India caring for Tibetan elders who have access to no other means of support. Offering grants to these homes is one way that FPMT can help repay the kindness and bravery of the Tibetan people. Thanks to all who continue to contribute to the Social Services Fund enabling support such as this to continue. To date, US$524,516.94 has been offered toward the care of elderly Tibetans in need of support. Thanks to all of the kind benefactors who have made this possible.
If you would like to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants such as this can continue, you can read more about the charitable projects this fund supports, or donate any amount to the fund itself.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama visiting Ngari Institute.
Since 2014, the Social Services Fund has been supporting the school children and staff of Ngari Institute in Ladakh, India. This year, a grant for US$29,192.50 was offered to cover the costs of daily meals for eighty-three students and staff members, a substantial increase from $13,102 for 35 students in 2014.
Ngari Institute is located in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh in a small village called Saboo. The campus is spread over 20 hectares of deserted land. The main aim of this school is to empower and enrich the poor and needy remote-area students by imparting a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom.
Students of Ngari Institute enjoying a meal together.
The students, who come from different parts of Ladakh and the border of Tibet, stay in a hostel while attending the school. The Ngari Institute is taking care of all the students’ daily needs, offering free room, board, tuition, books clothing allowances, and access to medical care.
The school was founded by the Ladakh alumni of Sera Je Monastery in South India. A number of monks at Kopan Monastery come from this region in Nepal and FPMT also helped sponsor the building of Ngari Khangtsen at Sera Je monastery.
Investing in education through schools is one way we can invest in the future and help break the cycle of poverty in disadvantaged areas, particularly in India and Nepal. The Social Services Fund currently offers over US$73,000 annually to four schools providing education to children of Tibetan, Nepali, Sherpa, and Indian heritage. The grants cover daily food for operating expenses for over 500 children.
The Social Services Fund has sponsored the food for Ngari Institute for the fifth year in a row and hopes to be able to continue long into the future. If you are inspired by grants such as this, you are welcome to contribute to the Social Service Fund and help ensure that work like this can continue.
Jangchup Stupa project in progress at Shalu Monastery.
Shalu Monastery was founded by Chetsun Shetsun Jugney in 1027 A.D at Shalu Village near Shigatse town in Tibet and was consecrated by Atisha. The number of the monks studying there reached 7,700 at the peak of its opulence. During the Chinese invasion of 1959, this precious monastery was destroyed. It was re-established at Tibetan Cholsum Settlement, Bhuppur, India, and was consecrated by Sakya Trichen Rinpoche in March 2005. Currently there are 30 monks practicing and studying at this monastery.
The Holy Objects Fund recently issued a grant for the building of a 15 ft x 11 ft Jangchub Stupa which will be surrounded by prayer wheels that the resident monks and visitors can utilize for circumambulation.
Stupa work in progress.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained, “Building stupas helps develop so much peace and happiness for numberless sentient beings. As a result, wars, disease, and desire will all be pacified. Instead of feeling hopeless, people will gain courage. This is about peace – for the beings who see it, for the whole country, for the entire world, for all sentient beings.”
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels and statues.