Ordained Sangha

Some of the young nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery,

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.

Extensive water bowls offered by the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund will continue to support this nunnery and the nuns residing there. We’d like to invite you to rejoice in some of the Dharma accomplishments of these sincere practitioners which have been completed in addition to the twice yearly 100 million mani retreats:

• Four nuns have completed 1,000 nyung nä retreats
• Two nuns have 700 nyung nä retreats
• Three nuns have completed 500 nyung nä retreats
• Two nuns have completed 200 nyung nä retreats
• Eight nuns have completed 180 nyung nä retreats
• Ten nuns have completed 100 nyung nä retreats
• Thirty-two nuns who have finished all nine preliminary practices
• Three nuns have completed one year deity retreat
• The nunnery has completed the following for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life:
  • Padmasambhava’s mantra was recited 100 million times
  • Twenty-One Praises to Tara was recited 100,000 times 
  • The entire Kangyur was recited twice

Tremendous thanks to all who donate to the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund allowing support to this nunnery to continue uninterrupted. 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.

The monks of Sera Je Monastery will be offered three nutritious meals a day long into the future thanks to an endowment offered in 2017.

2017 was a momentous year for FPMT Charitable Projects. In January 2017 we raised the targeted amount needed to offer Sera Je Monastery an endowment fund large enough to support the daily food offering program at the monastery (known as the Sera Je Food Fund– providing nutritious meals daily to all of the monks studying at Sera Je). The Sera Je Food Fund, an FPMT Charitable Project from 1991-2017, has offered millions of meals since its inception. At the time of this fund becoming self-sufficient it was offering approximately 700,000 meals per year, 2,900 meals per day and the annual cost was US$200,000. 

MAITRI Charitable Trust provides essential education, medical care, aid to mothers and children, animal care, and various forms of charitable service to the destitute in Bodhgaya, India.

Other beneficial grants offered in 2017 from FPMT Charitable Projects include:

• A grant was offered through the Social Services Fund to MAITRI Charitable Trust that will assist with providing essential education, medical care, aid to mothers and children, animal care, and various forms of charitable service to the destitute in Bodhgaya, India.
• The Holy Objects Fund offered grants toward the creation of large holy objects around the world including: a stupa for Tenzin Osel’s teacher Geshe Gendun Chomphel who passed away in 2016, prayer wheels for a Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe, and the 28 ft x 6.5 ft umbrella of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo, Australia, which will contain embossed mantras advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Children of Sagarmatha Secondary School engaged in prayer.

• A grant was offered from the Social Services Fund for the complete rebuilding of Khumjung Gompa, Nepal, after destruction from the 2015 earthquake rendered it unusable. Approximately 4,000 local sherpas live in the area and about 300 households share this gompa for religious festivals.
• A grant was offered through the Social Services Fund to Sagarmatha Secondary School in Chailsa, Nepal for the operating budget of the school which currently serves 120 young students.
• The Puja Fund offers up to US$100,000 annually to 15,650 ordained Sangha who make substantial prayers and perform pujas and practices dedicated to the well-being of all and to world peace. Gold, saffron, precious paint and highest quality brocade are offered to the main holy objects in Nepal, India, and Tibet.

These are just a few examples of the many grants offered in 2017. Please stay tuned for the release of FPMT International Office’s Annual Review which will contain more information on 2017’s incredible year of charitable giving. 

You can keep up on all of the grants being offered through FPMT Charitable Projects and get involved in supporting us in 2018.  

Pema Choeling Monastery suffered severe damage following the 2015 earthquake.

Pema Choeling Monastery has stood above the village of Phakding for more than 500 years. Phakding is a small village in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It is just north of Lukla.

Pema Choeling Monastery has stood above the village of Phakding for more than 500 years.

The monastery suffered severe damage following the massive earthquake and aftershocks of 2015. Rooms, the kitchen, and gompa had to be completely rebuilt. The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund recently offered US$15,000 to rebuild the gompa. 

To date US$923,822 has been offered to toward rebuilding and disaster relief following the 2015 Nepal earthquakes.

Beautiful and traditional paintwork being offered on the new gompa at Pema Choeling Monastery.

Please rejoice that this historic and important monastery has received the support it needs to rebuild and continue serving as a place of refuge for the resident monks to study, practice, and live in the monastic vows. This grant was made possible due to the kindness of so many people who immediately wanted to offer support after the devastating earthquake. Thank you to all who contributed.

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 initiatives this fund supports or donate any amount to the fund itself. 

751 top scholars participated in this year’s Gelug exam at Drepung Monastery.

Participants enjoying a meal sponsored by the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund.

Each year the foremost scholars from the main Gelug monasteries come together for the annual Gelug examination and the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund offers a grant to cover the basic expenses including food for participants. 

In September of this year 751 monks participated in this annual Gelug exam at Drepung Monastery, South India. 

Monks participating in the yearly Gelug examination.

Yearly stipends were also offered to the 128 current abbots, past abbots and main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition. This small offering of money supports these incredibly precious teachers’ basic needs. This allows them to be able to focus more of their time on transmitting Dharma to their students at the monasteries and strengthening their own practices.  

US$20,778 was offered this year for expenses associated with the exam and for the teacher stipends. 

The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund would like to congratulate all the monks for their commitment and dedication to their studies. Due to this grant each year, all qualified monks are able to participate in the debate and examination, rather than being exempt due to prohibitive costs.

Since its inception, the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund, an extension of the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, has supported up to 150 senior teachers each year of the main monasteries, plus hundreds of monks attending the traditional winter debate and annual Gelug exam. 

Monks of the new Maratika Monastery located adjacent to the holy Maratika Cave.

Due to the kindness of a generous donor the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund issued a grant of US$70,000 to build a monastery in Maratika, Nepal. The small monastery was built adjacent to the entrance of Maratika Cave. This holy site is where Padmasambhava achieved immortality.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has a strong connection with the Maratika Lama, Khenpo Karma Wangchuk, who takes care of the area. The Maratika Lama is the son of Lama Ngawang Chophel, who was a close disciple of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s previous incarnation. (For more on this important pilgrimage site, see “The Caves of Maratika,” published in Mandala June-July 2008.)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Sangha doing practice at Maratika Cave, Nepal, February 2016. Photo by Ven. Losang Sherab.

In 2009, Rinpoche shared the following about Maratika:

“This place, which is called Maratika, is greatly blessed, as the great master Padmasambhava meditated here on Amitayus (the long life deity) and actualized the state of deathlessness (the siddhi of immortal life). Apart from other lamas, the great Kyabje Trulshig Rinpoche [did] long life retreat every year here for His Holiness’s long life, which also greatly blesses the place. Especially, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, due to this accumulation of white virtue, just through seeing, hearing, remembering, and touching this place, the two obscurations of beings will quickly be purified, one will be looked after by the all-knowing one (the great master Padmasambhava) from Urgyen, and easily attain the state of omniscience. This holy place has many more infinite blessings than just explained, and every sick and afflicted being should go there.”

Monks of Maratika Monastery in the new gompa.

During Rinpoche’s 2016 pilgrimage to Maratika, Rinpoche received from Khenpo Gyurme Thegchog Gyaltsen a prayer he had composed called “A Requesting Prayer to Maratika: The Source of an Ocean of Siddhis.” Rinpoche translated this prayer into English.  

His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche included this in his verses of praise, “The Vajra Song Melodiously 
Praising Maratika”

I, an ordinary person cannot express this Place in mere words
No one can deny the truly powerful blessing of this Place
By the prophesy of the all pervading two great Terton Lords
And the prayers from past life karmic connections
Amitayus, Protector of Boundless Life and Wisdom
Shakyamuni, Excellent Refuge Buddha
And Padmasambhava, the Saviour of the Dark Age
Consecrated and established the Maratika Monastery.

Please rejoice in the Supporting Ordained Sangh Fund supporting the building of this small monastery in such a precious place. This monastery will benefit the monks residing there as well as pilgrims visiting the area for years to come.

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries. 

Sera Lachi Sangha participating in the long life puja offered to Lama Zopa earlier this year.

Earlier this year when Lama Zopa Rinpoche was in Bangalore, he was requested to help with a desperately needed new sewage system at Sera Lachi.  Sera Lachi is made up of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries in southern India. 6,000 monks study between the two monasteries. 

Rinpoche immediately said he wanted to help and then during a long life puja which Sera Je Monastery offered to Rinpoche after, Rinpoche offered all of the cash offerings made to him which totaled about US$2,988. Recently an additional US$2,156 was offered toward the completion of this project which has an estimated total cost of US$71,112.

The Sera Lachi monks. Photo courtesy of the Sera Lachi Facebook page.

This grant contributes to making the environment at Sera Lachi clean, hygienic, and conducive to thoughtful study for the Sangha on the grounds. The monasteries are still raising money for this important project. Grants such as this are just one way the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund is working to care for monks and nuns. 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries. 

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.

Some of the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

Young nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

Since 2009 sponsorship has been offered to the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal, to complete two 100 million mani retreats (100 million recitations of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM). In addition to the 100 million mani retreats, funds are offered to cover the cost of food to all the nuns for this period as well as the cost of a very qualified geshe to stay during the retreat in order to give lamrim teachings. With the help of donors, we are hoping to offer this again in 2017. US$14,000 is offered each year for these two retreats.

Progress on the new accommodation continues at Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

Nuns planting a garden on the grounds.

In 2014 a grant was offered for new accommodation needed for the resident nuns. Progress is being made on on the housing and the last row of rooms is now finished and the nuns have moved in. Construction is still in progress and the nuns quarters is expected to be finished by the end of the year. 

In a recent note of thanks, Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen passed on the following from the nunnery: “Thank you [Lama Zopa] Rinpoche all FPMT members who kindly support the nunnery. Our sincere prayers and dedications are offered for the long lives of our gurus and good health for all friends, benefactors, donors, and well-wishers.” 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.

Some of the work in progress on the new construction at Kopan House at Sera Je Monastery to accommodate the monks of Kopan Monastery who study there.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, issued a grant for US$85,400 to assist with much needed construction, maintenance, and repairs at Kopan House at Sera Je Monastery, India. Kopan House is occupied by sixty monks from Kopan Monastery including incarnate lamas (Charok Lama, Lama Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, Lama Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Lama Lobsang Rigzin Rinpoche, and Lama Kundrol Rinpoche), geshes, monks who are part of the Geshe Studies Program, and younger monks who attend the school there and will eventually enter the Geshe Studies Program. Kopan House is part of Tsawa khangtsen. Generally, the monks reside at Kopan House until they finish the Geshe Studies Program which extends over a period of twenty-six years.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at  Kopan House Tsawa khangtsen at Sera Je Monastery. January 20016.

Kopan House was built in 2000. At that time there were about thirty monks in the hostel. Over time the number of monks residing in the hostel doubled and the capacity of the residential building needed augmentation. There are currently forty-nine rooms including sixteen new units that are in the process of being built. 

The cost of this expansion and improvements will be approximately US$156,130 and will include expenses incurred from painting the premises, relaying of electrical wires, installation of a new electrical transformer necessitated by the increase in the projected consumption of electricity by the addition to the hostel’s capacity, relocating of the generator to a new generator room, maintenance of the lawn and garden.

To date a total of thirty-six geshes have graduated from Kopan House including Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, Geshe Lobsang Sherab, Geshe Thubten Gyurmey, Geshe Lobsang Yeshe and Geshe Lobsang Jamyang.

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.

New robes were offered to 213 scholars who memorized texts.

For seventeen years the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund sponsors an oral examination of Sera Je Monastery’s top scholars who have shown a propensity for memorization. This year, 213 monks were awarded new robes for their successful memorization of particular texts. Please rejoice in these incredible accomplishments!

• eighty-nine monks memorized Commentary Clarifying the Meaning by Haribhadra
  
• seventy-three monks memorized Essence of the Good Explanation by Lama Tsongkhapa
• thirty-six monks memorized Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds by Shantideva
• seven monks memorized The General Meaning of the First Chapter by Lama Jetsunpa
• five monks memorized The General Meaning of the Middle Way by Lama Jetsunpa
• two monks memorized Six Scriptures on Reasoning by Nagarjuna 
• one monk memorized Five Treatises of Maitreya’s Doctrine

Please rejoice in the offering of robes to these future teachers who contribute to the preservation the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in the monasteries. Supporting the Sangha of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition is the main objectives of the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund.

As Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains: “The continuity and spread of Buddhadharma throughout the world depends upon highly qualified teachers. The three great monasteries are the only place in the world where the entire, complete teachings of the Buddha are studied and practiced with deep logic.”

All are welcome to join in on this offering by contributing any amount to the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund. 

You can learn more about the many activities of the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund including support given to the most senior teachers of the Tsongkhapa tradition, the annual Gelugpa Exam, and the annual Winter Debate in India and Nepal. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche enjoying reading about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund in the recent issue of Mandala magazine.

The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund was established to support monasteries, nunneries, and individual monks and nuns with food, accommodation, health care, education and Dharma practice. Supporting monks and nuns is one of the highest priorities for the FPMT organization, because the preservation of the Buddhadharma is dependent on the existence of Sangha.

We invite you keep up on all the beneficial projects that this fund supports. Recent grants have been released or are soon to be given toward the following initiatives: The rebuilding of Maratika Gompa in Nepal; the renovation and expansion of Iggda Chozing Monastery in Mongolia; food offered to monks in Mongolia and Thame, Nepal; support to nuns in Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal; the health of various khangtsen in Sera Je Monastery, India. 

All are welcome to support these beneficial grants offered to Sangha. 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche prostrating to a precious Guru Rinpoche statue during visit to Chailsa. Rinpoche sponsors the butter in the butter lamp in front of this statue 365 days a year.

Chailsa is in Solu Khumbu, north-eastern Nepal, the district where Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born. Chailsa is in the southern part of the district.

In May, Lama Zopa Rinpoche stayed at Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery for a month and visited the Sagarmatha Secondary School which is located there. More than two years ago, the Social Service Fund took on the commitment of sponsoring this school which has about 120 students and is managed by Kopan Monastery.  

While in the area, Tsipri Lama approached Rinpoche about the need of these retreat houses in the area, specifically for geshes from the monasteries of Kopan, Sera, Drepung, and Ganden who have completed their studies and then wanted to engage in retreat. Rinpoche was very inspired by the project and immediately wanted to help actualize it and Rinpoche now has offered the full amount to complete this project: US$80,000. 

The sloping land below the buildings is where the new retreat area will be located. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Tsipri Lama was once a Kopan monk and is also the recognized reincarnation of a lama from the Tsipiri region of Tibet. Tsipri Lama fled Tibet and settled in the Solu Khumbu region in Nepal. The offering is to fund the building of retreat huts and a gompa for geshes who have finished their studies and want to meditate on the path in isolation. There are currently five geshes on the property who are engaged in retreat, occupying very temporary and inadequate housing. 

Providing the conditions needed for sincere practictioners to actualize the path to enlightenment is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization. 

Please rejoice in this offering which will enable many precious geshes to engage in retreat in a meaningful way in a blessed place. 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries, nunneries, and individual ordained Sangha.