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Education and Preservation
Completed construction on the headquarters for the Geluk International Foundation in South India.
The Geluk International Foundation was established to preserve and promote Buddhist heritage in general and the Gelug tradition in particular. The vision of the foundation is to promote, propagate, develop, enrich and preserve the Gelug tradition established by Lama Tsongkhapa. The foundation seeks to unite and harmonize all Gelug monasteries and Dharma centers throughout the world under a single umbrella in order to improve and maintain coordination, cooperation, development, function, and friendship.
At a meeting held in South India in December 2014, His Holiness the Dalai Lama stressed the extreme importance of establishing offices for the long-term preservation of the Gelug tradition. Lama Zopa Rinpoche immediately responded to this advice from His Holiness and over a few years offered US$421,400 toward the construction of the building needed for this project. The construction of the foundation’s main building is now complete.
His Eminence Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, the 104th Gaden Tripa.
The tradition of the Gaden Tripas (the throne holders of the Gelug tradition) began with Lama Tsongkhapa (1357 – 1419). Before passing away, Tsongkhapa passed the leadership of the newly established Gelug tradition to Gyaltsab Je (1364-1432), who then passed it on to Khedrub Je (1385-1438). Since then the precious legacy established by Tsongkhapa has continued up to this day. His Eminence Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche was appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the 104th Gaden Tripa on June 24th, 2017. The offices of Gaden Tri Rinpoche are located at the Geluk International Foundation headquarters in Mundgod, South India.
Member monasteries include: Gyuto, Tashi Lhunpo, Sera Mey, Sera Je, Rato, Namgyal, Gaden Shartse Norling, Drepung, and Drepung Gomang.
Moving forward, the foundation will establish programs which will include the running of educational centers such as schools, colleges and universities, science education centers, meditation courses, meditation centers, medical centers, hospitals and medical colleges. The foundation will establish publications and engage in research and development in the fields of humanity, religious harmony, interfaith dialogue, relief activities, devotional activities, vocational training, environmental preservation and ecological care.
Activities of the Geluk International Foundation will be extended all over the world through the creation of administrative hubs in different continents and nations.
To support the development of this important foundation, The Lama Tsongkhapa Teacher’s Fund is offering US$40,000 annually for the next two years which is approximately half of the operating budget. This is a tremendous investment in the future and preservation of the Gelug tradition, and an offering of support toward His Holiness’s wishes for a unified Gelug tradition.
You can learn more about the Geluk International Foundation’s important work and future plans.
His Holiness at Tashi Lhunpo, Karnataka, India, January 1, 2016. Photo by Bill Kane.
In December, the Preserving the Lineage Fund sponsored the offering of lunch to 17,000 people during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s anticipated three day teaching event at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery which preceded His Holiness’s Jangchup Lamrim teachings, also held at Tashi Lhunpo.
Due to a schedule change, His Holiness taught for one day rather than three for this teaching event. Fortunately, His Holiness has accepted an invitation to continue teaching at Tashi Lhunpo in the very near future. The funds already offered for the two days of food that were not used will be applied towards offering food to all who attend during His Holiness’s next visit.
Tashi Lunpo Monastery, Karnataka, India. Photo by Bill Kane.
This was such an incredible opportunity to make offerings to so many people attending His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings, the majority who were ordained Sangha.
You can learn more about the Preserving the Lineage Fund as well as the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund to learn more about how FPMT Charitable Projects support monks and nuns around the world.
His Holiness during long life puja offered at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, January 2016. Photo by Bill Kane.
During the 2015 Jangchup Lamrim teachings (18 Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the newly inaugurated Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered tea to 32,000 participants, money offerings to the 18,100 Sangha present, and Rinpoche also composed a dedication which was made during these offerings. The cost of this was US$21,273 and made possible through the Preserving the Lineage Fund. Rinpoche commented that all of the thousands of people present were students of the same guru, including the 18,100 ordained Sangha, so the merit of making these offerings was incredible.
32,000 participants attended His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Jangchup Lamrim teachings this year. Tea was offered to all and a money offering to all 18,100 Sangha in attendance. This is a small section of the entire crowd.
This teaching series began in 2012 and concluded with the 2015 event. The teachings themselves are incredibly precious and rare. His Holiness received the transmission by the former incarnation of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche and in this life, Ling Rinpoche, who was the main organizer of this four-year teaching event, requested His Holiness to offer these commentaries and transmission. This is the only time His Holiness has ever given teachings on 18 Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.
At the conclusion there was a long life puja for His Holiness at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered a silver Dharamchakra on behalf of FPMT and all beings to his Holiness directly (pictured in top photo).
Audio and video of this rare teaching event can be found on the Jangchup Lamrim website: www.jangchuplamrim.org/media/video/2015-video-audio
You can learn more about the Preserving the Lineage Fund and how it has supported His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Jangchup Lamrim teaching event in previous years.
For over eighteen years Wisdom Publications has been working on publishing a series of commentaries, Steps on the Path to Enlightenment, on Lama Tsongkhapa’s Lam-rim Chenmo by Geshe Lhundub Sopa. Volumes, 1 (The Foundational Practices), 2 (Karma), 3 (The Way of the Bodhisattva) and 4 (Śamatha) are currently available through Wisdom’s website and a final volume (5) on emptiness (the perfection of wisdom) will be released in 2017.
Due to a gift from a very kind and generous benefactor, the FPMT Education and Preservation Fund was able to set up a special fund to sponsor this project. To date, over US$300,000 has been offered to this invaluable series.
Here we offer an excerpt from Volume 4 of Steps on the Path to Enlightenment, which, while available now on Wisdom’s website, will not be officially released until next month:
While mindfulness is keeping your focus on your chosen object of meditation, the function of introspection is to constantly check whether excitement or laxity have arisen or are about to arise. This mental spy subtly examines your mental state again and again. “To preserve introspection” means to continually re-engage in examination; this is how you maintain introspection and reinvigorate your mindfulness. These are two different but complementary skills. When you are trying to meditate, you maintain your focus on your chosen object with mindfulness while repeatedly checking for the two obstacles with the vigilant mental spy of introspection. These two techniques work together to keep your mind from coming under the control of excitement and laxity. You must gain facility in both of these skills if you want to be successful in your meditation practice.
You can learn more about the Steps on the Path to Enlightenment series by Geshe Lhundub Sopa: www.wisdompubs.org/author/geshe-lhundub-sopa
Jangchup Lamrim teaching event, December 2013, Sera Je Monastery. Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be seen with his teacher, the late Choden Rinpoche in the fourth row of this photo. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained, “Making offerings to the Sangha is a way of collecting unbelievable merit because all the sangha are the pores of the guru. They are all disciples of the same guru – His Holiness the Dalai Lama. By offering to pores of the guru one collects more merit than offering to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, as well as numberless statues, stupas.” 17,000 students of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be offered food during a three day teaching event at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery this December.
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Bylakuppe, India, will be welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to their monastery December 19-29, 2015. During the visit, His Holiness will inaugurate the monastery’s new assembly hall and give teachings on Dharmakirti’s commentary on Pramana-samuccaya over the course of three days. Following this teaching event, His Holiness will continue his teachings on the Jangchup Lamrim (18 Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. This teaching series began in 2012.)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the 2014 Jangchup Lamrim teaching event, South India. Photo by OHHDL.
To support this visit from His Holiness, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered, through the Preserving the Lineage Fund, to cover the cost of food for lunch for the more than 17,000 people attending the three days of initial teachings with His Holiness. This is an incredible offering as all 17,000 attendees are also students of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained:
“Making offerings to the Sangha is a way of collecting unbelievable merit because all the sangha are the pores of the guru. They are all disciples of the same guru – His Holiness the Dalai Lama. By offering to pores of the guru one collects more merit than offering to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, as well as numberless statues, stupas. If you offer with the recognition that they are the guru’s pores then that is an unbelievable way to collect merit. When you offer to many Sanghas who have the same guru then you are making offerings to that many pores of the guru. So this is the easiest way to collect skies of merit by offering. By offering even just one candy, flowers or even one grain of rice to a statue of Buddha or even a visualized Buddha you collect skies of merit but here it is much more powerful than offering to the three jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) as well as all the statues, stupas and scriptures existing in all directions, so no question if offering to really the same guru’s disciple. These benefits should be understood so that when you make offerings to the guru’s pores you think correctly. This is the best business.”
Please rejoice in this offering of food to more than 17,000 pores of the guru.
You can learn more about the Preserving the Lineage Fund and how it has supported His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Jangchup Lamrim teaching event in previous years.
Geshe Jampa Gyatso, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 1979. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
The Masters Program (MP) is the FPMT’s most advanced study program. Based on Lama Yeshe’s unique vision for a comprehensive education, inspired by the traditional geshe studies at the great Gelugpa monastic universities, it was developed with the help of Geshe Jampa Gyatso. Integrating behavior, training and service components, the program offers in-depth study of five great texts and extensive retreat experience, providing a thorough grounding in sutra and tantra.
Due to the kindness of a generous benefactor, the Education and Preservation Fund recently offered US$54,625 to Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa for their latest Masters Program in Buddhist Studies of Sutra and Tantra which commenced in March.
The full-time residential program consists of just over six years of study (nine months per year) and a total of one year of retreat after the conclusion of the studies. The study portion of the program will conclude in mid-2021.
In addition to teachings with the geshes, students will be supported by review classes with tutors, in which they will deepen their understanding through debate and discussion of the material. Students’ progress is measured by a combination of written and oral exams, research projects, and presentations, and they will also receive instruction in meditation and develop the skills to guide meditations and lead retreats.
Students will also have opportunities to study the classical Tibetan language as well as to participate in seminars by visiting Western Buddhist scholars and academics. Talks by practitioners with extensive retreat experience will also be arranged in order to provide guidance and support for contemplative practice.
To provide opportunities for integrating the teachings into practice and for students to acquire retreat experience in preparation for the final one-year retreat, students will have regular opportunities to engage in lam rim retreats during the program at the end of each of the principal subjects. They will also be required to participate in regular meditation sessions during the week, and will receive instruction in leading meditations for others.
This grant from the Education and Preservation Fund will enable the current program to be offered successfully. You are welcome to offer any amount to this fund so that grants such as this can continue in the future.
https://fpmt.org/support/educationandpreservation/
The Masters Program Online (MPOL) offers the opportunity to study the MP to those who are unable to join the residential program, making use of the latest online educational tools available, in an online learning environment.
http://www.iltk.org/en/online-course
Lama Yeshe with children and students in California, 1983. Lama Yeshe’s proposal for education was to draw on the “heritage of wisdom” that resides in the great religious and philosophical traditions of the world to create a new kind of Universal Education. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
FPMT’s founder, Lama Yeshe, established what he called “Universal Education” which was an education of human hearts focusing on the universal language of compassion and wisdom, rather than emphasizing a strictly Buddhist approach.
Lama Yeshe’s view was that the aims and methods of many modern education systems over-emphasize intellectual achievements and are too limited in their scope. As a result, they fail to enable children, young people and adults to fully develop their potential, to lead a fulfilled and meaningful life, and to play their part in creating a more peaceful world.
Lama Yeshe’s proposal was to draw on the “heritage of wisdom” that resides in the great religious and philosophical traditions of the world to create a new kind of Universal Education.
You can watch a video of Lama Yeshe discussing the purpose of Universal Education in 1982.
The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDWC) brings Lama Yeshe’s message of Universal Education forward through programs and resources which promote:
- mindfulness and self-awareness
- emotional intelligence and resilience
- empathy, kindness and social responsibility
- harmonious and caring relationships
- a greater sense of well-being and purpose
The Education and Preservation Fund was pleased to recently offer US$50,000 toward the incredible ongoing work and annual budget of FDCW.
You can learn more about the work of FDWC, get involved, or explore the resources available to you.
The Education and Preservation Fund supports Dharma study and contributes to the development of homestudy programs, online Buddhist education programs and the preservation of the Dharma through the publication of Dharma practice materials and translations.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with senior monks on his arrival at Gaden Monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka, India on December 22, 2014. Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL.
At a meeting held in South India in December 2014, His Holiness the Dalai Lama stressed the extreme importance of establishing the Geluk International Foundation and offices for the long term preservation of the Gelug tradition. Lama Zopa Rinpoche immediately responded to this advice from His Holiness and pledged to offer US$100,000, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, toward the construction of the building needed for this project. This offering was sent out in February. Specifically, this donation will be used for:
- Office of Gaden Tri Thog Khang – the headquarters of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism
- Office of Gaden Tri Thog Khang – secretary and other staff quarters
- Office of Geluk International Foundation
- Training and research center
- First floor – assembly hall
- Second floor – photang for the Gaden Tri Rinpoche
Please rejoice in this incredible offering. May it create the causes for Buddha’s teachings to be accessible to all, far and wide, through the preservation of the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa.
You can learn more about the beneficial activities sponsored by the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund or about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Texts distributed for the 2012 teachings on the 18 Great Lam-Rim Commentaries. The Preserving the Lineage Fund sponsored 50,000 copies of five different texts needed for the teaching event. Photos courtesy of the Jangchup Lam-rim Teachings website.
In November 2012, on the very auspicious occasion of the 610th Anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s composition of his masterpiece Lam-rim Chen-mo (The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) and the 600th Anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teaching of this text at Gaden Monastery for the first time, His Holiness the Dalai Lama began offering teachings and transmissions on eighteen classic Lam-rim commentaries at the request of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche. His Holiness is continuing the incredibly rare teachings and transmissions this year. The teaching event will take place December 25, 2013 – January 3, 2014 at Sera Je Monastery. More details can be found on the event’s website.
The Preserving the Lineage Fund sponsored 50,000 copies of five different texts needed for the teaching event. Photos courtesy of the Jangchup Lam-rim Teachings website.
In 2012 the Preserving the Lineage Fund sponsored the printing of the 50,000 copies of five different texts needed for the teaching event, as well as the bags for all the texts and a sound system for the event. The texts will be utilized again this year.
These incredible teachings are being streamed via live webcast.
You may also download the texts used in the event.
Please rejoice in this incredibly precious and historic event. Sincere thanks to all who have contributed.
50,000 participants attended this event in 2012 including many high lamas. Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be seen with Choden Rinpoche in the fourth row of this photo.
His Eminence Ling Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, India, 2012. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is continuing teachings and transmissions on the 18 Great Lam-Rim Commentaries at the request of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche. This year’s teaching event will take place December 25, 2013 – January 3, 2014 at Sera Je Monastery. For more details on attending this incredibly rare event please visit the Jangchup Lam-rim Teachings website.
In 2012 the Preserving the Lineage Fund was one of the main sponsors for the event and in 2013 we are very happy to be able to sponsor the sound system for the entire event.
If you missed the 2012 teachings, all the videos can be viewed here. It is expected there will be a live webcast for the 2013 teachings, please check back closer to the time.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with His Holiness the Dalai Lama November 2011.July 2012: On the very auspicious occasion of the 610th Anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s composition of his masterpiece Lam-rim Chen-mo (The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) and the 600th Anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teaching of this text at Gaden Monastery for the first time, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will bestow teachings and transmissions on eighteen classic Lam-rim commentaries at the request of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche.
Beginning November 30, 2012 and continuing for 10-15 days, these teachings and transmissions will take place at Gaden Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Doeguling Tibetan Settlement, Mundgod, South India. In the latter part of 2013 His Holiness will continue these teachings and transmissions at Sera Monastery in Lugsung Samdupling Tibetan Settlement, Bylakuppe, South India.
As part of FPMT’s mission to preserve the Mahayana tradition, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered for FPMT to support these rare and precious teachings in various ways, including:
- Funding a sound system for the event.
- Printing 50,000 copies of five different texts needed for the teaching event.
- Providing bags for all the texts being offered.
To provide these offerings we need to raise $425,000. Can you help?
July 30, 2012 UPDATE:
Tremendous and heartfelt thanks to all who participated in raising funds for this precious teaching event. We are delighted to report that due to the kindness of many, we have been so far able to raise $350,000!
It has now been confirmed that His Holiness will continue these teachings and transmissions in 2013 at Sera Monastery in Lugsung Samdupling Tibetan Settlement, Bylakuppe, south India (exact dates to be announced).
Also there will a live webcast of the teachings available, for those unable to attend. The website address for the webcast will be announced in the future.
Heartfelt and tremendous thanks to everyone who contributed to raising all the funds needed for the 2012 sponsorship of this event.
Please visit the official website of this event for more information.
How Can I Make a Donation?
To make a tax-deductible donation:
Or simply send your check in US dollars payable to FPMT Inc. and write “Eighteen Great Lam-rim Commentaries Sponsorship” on the memo line.
FPMT Inc.
1632 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214-4702
USA
The Preserving the Lineage Fund is a project of FPMT Inc. and is administered by FPMT International Office located in Portland, Oregon, United States. All donations made to this fund are tax-deductible within the United States in accordance with IRS Code article 501(c)(3) to the extent allowed by law.
For more information please contact: Charitable Projects Coordinator.
This is the fifth year of a series of initiations given by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin at his monastery in Dehradun, India. This is a rare and utterly precious opportunity to receive the entire collection of initiations from His Holiness the Sakya Trizin called Wangya Norbu Tangwa (Garlands of Jewels of Hundreds of Initiations).
The Preserving the Lineage Fund offered breakfast, lunch and dinner to more than 800 Sangha (including about 65 Gelug lamas) attending these most critical initiations, as well sponsorship of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin’s household and attendants.
An elaborate long life puja for His Holiness the Sakya Trizin is part of the event and offered at the end of the teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Preserving the Wangya Norbu Tangwa has become a matter of urgency as the lineage of the initiations had completely died out in the Gelug tradition. Initially, Rinpoche with other Gelug lamas, including Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, received the first half of these initiations from His Eminence Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche in 1991, but age and poor health stopped him from giving the transmissions in their entirety.