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Recently Ven. Roger Kunsang accompanied Lama Zopa Rinpoche when Rinpoche met with Geshe Gelong, a Sera Je Monastery monk, in southern India. Ven. Roger made notes of the conversation, in which Geshe Gelong expressed the importance of the Sera Je Food Fund from his personal experience.
There are 2,500 monks benefiting from the Sera Je Food Fund (3,300 for breakfast) and the annual cost is US$280,000.
Geshe Gelong was living and studying at Sera Je Monastery prior to the establishment of the Sera Je Food Fund. He easily recalls stories of the hardships faced by the Sangha members living at Sera Je Monastery before FPMT started offering three healthy vegetarian meals every day. This offering is due to the kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the generous donations of his students and benefactors.
“Monks would have to pay for their own meals before the Sera Je Food Fund started because the monastery couldn’t afford to offer them free food. Many monks arrived at Sera Je having fled from Tibet so they had no, or very little money. They arrived unable to pay for food, some were not eating for up to a week at a time,” recalls Geshe Gelong. A lack of food inevitably led to malnutrition and high rates of TB (tuberculosis) in the monastic community. “I would drive so many monks who had TB, due to poor nutrition, to the local hospitals acting as translator for the many who didn’t speak Hindi. It was a very, very difficult life for many. With the monastery unable to offer free food and the monks unable to pay for it, many had to give up their education and leave, some having to disrobe and risk returning to Tibet. I would like to thank Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the care and opportunity the Sera Je Food Fund has brought to the monastery and the monks.”
There are 2,500 monks benefiting from the Sera Je Food Fund (3,300 for breakfast) and the annual cost is US$280,000.
“Previously thin and malnourished monks are now a healthy size with rates of TB now much lower,” Geshe Gelong explained. “Healthier bodies and minds mean the monks are now able to focus on their studies and practices and are much happier and healthier thanks to the three daily provided by the Sera Je Food Fund.”
Buckets of soup about to be offered to the 2,500 monks of Sera Je Monastery.
A heartfelt thanks goes out to all of the past, present and future donors who make this offering possible. You are welcome to offer any amount to this fund. Here is how your offering will be used:
- US$10: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one month
- US$120: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one year
- US$780: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one day
- US$5,460: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one week
- US$280,000: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all the 2,500 monks for one year
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund, or see details of a typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered to the monks.
This blog post was kindly translated into Vietnamese.
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.
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund offering food to the top scholars who are participating in the recently held Annual Winter Debate.
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is one of FPMT’s longest running charitable projects. Established in 1997 at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, this fund has three main objectives:
- Offering stipends to the 150 most senior teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition
In December 2014, US$20,296 was offered to senior teachers at Sera Je, Sera Mey, Drepung Loseling, Ganden, Gyume, Gyuto, Tashi Lhunpo, and Rato monasteries.
- Supporting the annual Gelugpa Exam
652 students took part in this annual exam. The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund covers the basic expenses for all participants including food.
- Supporting the annual Winter Debate in India and Nepal
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is the primary sponsor of this debate where the best Buddhist scholars gather to sharpen their understanding of the Buddha’s highest teachings. The annual Winter Debate in Nepal also includes debates with nuns.
Preserving the Mahayana tradition is the primary objective of the entire FPMT organization and the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is one substantial way to help continue this work.
Participants in the 2014 Gelugpa Exam.
Tremendous thanks to all the donors who make these offerings possible. You are welcome to offer any amount to the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund to contribute to the support being offered to the current and future teachers of the Mahayana tradition.
You can learn more about the activities of the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund or about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT.
It takes a tremendous amount of food and collective work to offer 8,300 meals every day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery.
Over the past year we have reported details about the incredible amount of food required to offer three nutritious meals daily to all of the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery (3,300 for breakfast, 2,500 for lunch and dinner).
The Sera Je Food Fund thrived in 2014. An incredible 3,029,500 meals were offered . This is due to the kindness of many who contribute to the US$280,000 needed every year to continue this project.
In 2014, interest amounting to 4% of the annual budget was accumulated from fixed term deposits and this interest was put back into the Sera Je Food Fund to help offset 2015 food expenses. Additionally, an annual wealth vase puja was offered and dedicated to the continued success of the project.
In December, 125 monks were not able to attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Mundgod, but dry food was left for these monks so they would still have food even though the typical meal service was not offered during his Holiness’s teachings.
Please rejoice in this incredible offering that is provided every single day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery. You are welcome to offer any amount to this beneficial project.
- US$10: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one month
- US$120: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one year
- US$780: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one day
- US$5,460: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one week
- US$280,000: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all the 2,500 monks for one year
You can keep up on all the news from the Sera Je Food Fund or learn more about the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
An amazing assembly of top scholars from Sera, Drepung, Gaden, Tashi Lhunpo, Gyuto, Gyudme, Rato and Dhakpo Shedrup Dhargeyling monasteries participate in the annual winter debate at Sera Je Monastery.
Monks from various Gelugpa monasteries participated in the extensive month-long debate on Buddhist logic at Sera Je Monastery, India, this January known as the Winter Jang Debate.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche enjoyed dinner with the Abbot of Sera Je Monastery during a break from the winter 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 3 great monasteries met to revive the annual winter debate, however due to costs the monasteries were only able to sponsor about 200 monks to attend the annual winter debate.
Seeing the incredible importance of the winter debate, where the best scholars gather to hone their understanding of the Buddha’s highest teachings, due to the kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund, became the primary sponsor for this debate. In January 2015 Lama Zopa Rinpoche was able to attend part of this debate and enjoy dinner with the Abbot of Sera Je Monastery.
Tremendous thanks to the many donors who support the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund and enable FPMT to sponsor this powerful annual debate. This is something very incredible in which to rejoice. You are welcome to participate in this offering at any time.
You can learn more about the activities of the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund or the many Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Lama Jamyang Garpo. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang, September 2014.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, recently made a substantial offering toward the costs associated with a young Mongolian tulku, Lama Jamyang Garpo, said to be an emanation of White Manjushri, entering Sera Je Monastery.
Traditionally, on the first day that a tulku enters Sera Je Monastery, offerings and food and tea are given to all the 2,500 monks of Sere Je. This offering from the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, was put toward those costs.
Please rejoice that this auspicious offering has been made. This is an incredible opportunity for this young tulku to study at Sera Je Monastery.
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.
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Lama Jamyang Garpo. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang, September 2014.
About Lama Jamyang Garpo
Lama Jamyang Garpo’s twenty-first reincarnation, Dorjsuren Dashbaljir, was born August 24, 2005 in Asaat, Jargalant sum, Arkhangai Province, Mongolia.
On April 2, 2014, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized Dorjsuren Dashbaljir as Lama Jamyang Garpo’s twenty-first reincarnation.
You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, the Sera Je Food Fund which supports the monks of Sera Je Monastery every day with three nutritious meals, or the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
8,300 meals are offered every day to all of the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery.
The Sera Je Food Fund offers 8,300 meals every single day to the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery. 3,300 monks are offered breakfast and 2,500 monks are offered lunch and dinner.
65,900 pounds of rice is needed every year to offer lunch and dinner to 2,500 monks.
Amazingly, approximately 65,900 pounds of rice are needed for one year of daily lunches and dinners. Additionally, 1,300 pounds of tea are required for breakfast for one year. An incredible amount of other fruits, vegetables, starches and other ingredients are also required to offer this ongoing commitment o three nutritious meals daily. You can see more details about what the monks are offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The cost of offering all the food to all the monks is currently US$280,000 yearly. If you would like to contribute to the Sera Je Food Fund, you may offer any amount you are able.
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund or the other Charitable Projects of FPMT which offer support to many beneficial activities around the world.
The nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.
Due to the kindness of a very generous benefactor, a full set of robes are being made by tailors in Kathmandu and then will be offered to the 75 nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery and three monks (the abbot, a geshe and a teacher). The robes will be offered during Chinese New Year.
During Lhabab Duchen the nuns offered Guru Padmasambhava Bumstok (100,000 tsog offerings to Padmasambhava). These pujas were dedicated to the good health of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, students of FPMT, the sponsors of the 100 million mani retreats, and all the kind donors of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.
If you were Sangha but you didn’t wear robes, then people would not know [that you were ordained], but with robes on there is no question. That is how the robes have such incredible benefit for the mind. It is planting the seed for enlightenment when people show respect to your wearing of the robes, or to the robes themselves: This is planting the seed of liberation, and is a way of benefiting sentient beings.
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche
The geshe of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery sent the following message to Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently:
“On Lama Tsongkhapa Day, the nuns started seven days of Amitabha Bumtsok here at nunnery. These pujas organized are dedicated to all sentient beings and particularly for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life and members of FPMT.”
Please rejoice in this offering to the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery and also in their amazing practice and dedication to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the students of FPMT.
You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, or about the 100 million mani retreats that the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery have offered in alignment with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Vision for FPMT.
The Tashi Chime Gatsal nuns planting vegetables at the nunnery.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, continues to support the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery (also known as Bigu Nunnery) by sponsoring the 100 million mani retreats which the nuns continue to offer at least two times a year.
The Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery nuns cleaning around the existing and new hostel.
This includes funding for a geshe to teach the nuns lam-rim and there are also funds offered to help the little nunnery grow and improve.
The sponsorship of 100 million mani retreats is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization, something so precious to rejoice in as well as the nuns’ ongoing effort toward the advancement of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast vision.
During the 100 million mani retreats extensive dedications are made for the FPMT organization, all the centers, services and projects, benefactors, students, volunteers and all beings.
The improvements to the nunnery also helps to create a conducive environment in which the nuns can continue to live in and offer their practices.
You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund or about Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s collective Vast Visions for the FPMT organization.
FPMT geshes awaiting the arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 2006 FPMT Geshe Conference, Sarnath, India.
On Losar this year, as a token of appreciation and gratitude for the incredibly kind service offered to the FPMT organization and to the teachings of Buddha, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the FPMT Puja Fund sponsored 49 sets of robes for FPMT’s resident geshes and touring teachers.
This offering was kindly facilitated by Ven. Fran and many at Kopan Monastery, who helped with measurements, making and sending of the robes and also by Center Services Director, Claire Isitt.
By offering these soft, light, divine clothes
With indestructible faith in those
Who have attained the indestructible holy body,
May I (and all sentient beings) also achieve the vajra holy body.
—from Lama Chopa Jorcho
Please rejoice in the kindness of these resident geshes and touring teachers whose service enable us to access Buddha’s teachings around the world. This offering of robes allows them to use their limited resources for other necessities.
You can learn more about the Puja Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund sponsored 673 monks to participate in this year’s Winter Debate.
The Lama Tsong Khapa Teachers Fund was very pleased to offer US$22,570 for the 2013 Winter Debate (Jang Gun-choe). 673 of the top debaters from Sera Je traveled to Drepung Monastery to participate with 8,000 monks from 11 different monasteries. The main participating Institutes were Sera, Drepung, Gaden, Tashi Lhunpo, Gyuto, Gyudme, Rato and Dhakpo Shedrup Dhargeyling monasteries and they met to debate two sessions a day for a minimum of seven hours.
The Lama Tsong Khapa Teachers Fund covered the cost of travel and food for the 673 monks from Sera Je Monastery to attend the month-long debate. Please rejoice in this incredible offering!
The Great Winter Debate has been an integral part Tibet Buddhism and dates back to the time of Lama TsongKhapa. The debate mainly consists of the most earnest and competent scholars from the great monasteries. The primary course of study during the Winter Debate is Pramanavartika (Tsema Namdrel) by Acharya Dharmakirti on subjects such as epistemology, valid cognition, dialectics, and the Art of Liberation.
You can learn more about the annual Winter Debate here.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche received the following note of thanks from the Committee for Sere Je Philosophical Studies for this contribution:
“We are extremely thankful and grateful for your generous help and we pray for your long life of lovely compassion for the sake of all sentient beings in the universe.”
You can learn more about the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Sera Je monks help prepare meals for 2,500 in the Sera Je Food Fund kitchen.
Every day, 8,300 meals are offered to all the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery. 3,300 monks join for breakfast and 2,500 monks are offered lunch and dinner. Every three months, approximately 750,000 meals are offered through the Sera Je Food Fund. An astounding amount of food is required for this ongoing offering.
Just to give a glimpse of the amount of food that is offered over three months to the monks of Sera Je Monastery:
64,300 bananas are offered in a three month period through the Sera Je Food Fund.
Breakfast:
- Butter: 289 pounds
- Flour: 8,433 pounds
- Cooking Oil: 170 gallons
You can read more about a typical day’s breakfast offering.
Lunch:
- Bananas: 64,300 pieces
- Dal: 10,417 pounds
- Rice: 11,217 pounds
- Green Vegetables: 5,570 bundles
You can read more about a typical day’s lunch offering.
Green vegetables being prepared and cleaned for 2,500.
Dinner:
- Cooking Oil: 165 gallons
- Soy Sauce: 115 bottles
- Cheese: 432 pounds
- Potato: 1,000 pounds
You can read more about a typical day’s dinner offering.
Many other ingredients are used for the monthly meals, the above numbers are merely examples of certain foods and ingredients used. Please rejoice in this incredible offering.
You are welcome to offer any amount toward the US$280,000 needed each year for this project:
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.