Goats being cared for at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal.

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.

In his concern for the welfare of all living beings, Lama Zopa Rinpoche initiated the purchase of land near Kopan Monastery for the Animal Liberation Sanctuary to provide shelter and care for animals rescued from being killed, so that they may live out their natural lives in peace and attain a higher rebirth. The sanctuary benefits rescued animals, not only by freeing from impending death, but also by exposing them to Buddha’s teachings. They regularly hear mantras and are led around holy objects. The animals (seven cattle, 46 goats, and one sheep) are receiving shelter, food, veterinary care, kindness, and Dharma. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Shenphen and his brother, Pema, who is the caretaker of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal.

In 2019 the sanctuary’s cow shed floor was replaced. The floor was concreted many years ago to improve cleaning, but unfortunately it has lead to lameness in most cows to varying degrees. Every attempt to soften the floor (mats, straw, new bedding, etc.) had not been successful so a complete replacement was needed.

A few goats were lost to illness in 2019, including the oldest goat, Mahakala, who was the last of the original goats at the monastery from before 2006. The other goats are doing well.

This year on World Animal Day (October 4), His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in a recorded message from his residence in Dharamsala, urged people around the world to move toward more compassionate and sustainable ways of living that rely less on the exploitation of animals. “It is very useful to promote vegetarianism,” His Holiness said. “We should pay more attention toward developing more vegetables [in our diet].” His Holiness likened animals to the ornaments of the world, lamenting the extreme exploitation of animals and the growing consumption of meat from industrial-scale livestock farms in countries such as the United States, which are “environmentally very harmful.” His Holiness also noted that, “In modern times, some people are really showing concern about animal rights. This is very, very encouraging.”

Please enjoy this video of the goats circumambulating the stupas on the sanctuary property:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnIoKRN2XaI&feature=youtu.be

Current goals for the sanctuary include: following up on some more much-needed construction and maintenance, extending the stupa landing area for the goats (to make it easier to circumambulate and providing a dry, leech-free area during monsoon); replace and improve the fencing around the goat shed; fix the internal pens for the safety of the resident animals; and add new fencing to allow the planting of fodder trees and shrubs (to increase locally available food sources, reduce imported food, and improve condition of the land).

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommended that the animals at the sanctuary get more blessings so he gave co-directors Phil and Tania a red bag full of holy items with which to bless the animals. Photo by Ven. Thubten Choying.

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. 

Since 2012, a very kind benefactor has worked with the Social Services Fund to issue annual grants for the ongoing work and care of the sanctuary. In 2020 we were very happy to be able to offer US$9,800, and since 2012 US$69,600 has been granted.

Thank you to all who work for the welfare of animals. May this small support toward the animals in Nepal create the causes for all animals to be free from suffering.

The Animal Liberation Fund supports weekly animal liberations and extensive dedications offered by Sangha at the residences of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, in addition support is offered to the Animal Liberation Sanctuary in Nepal, MAITRI Charitable Trust in India and elsewhere. You are welcome to offer any amount toward this ongoing work. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting MAITRI for World Leprosy Day, 2019.

Since 1989, MAITRI Charitable Trust has been operating as a beneficial example of Dharma in action. MAITRI is a registered charitable trust in India working to support the poor and disadvantaged in the province of Bihar, India. This year, MAITRI continued their hugely impactful program benefiting those with leprosy and tuberculosis, and offering care to mothers and children, as well as animals in need.

Tuberculosis patients receiving their monthly food and supplements from the MAITRI.

42 new cases of leprosy were registered and help was given to 645 people total with this disease including education on self-care to prevent the risk of deformities as well as medical care for ulcers and other conditions. They also continued very important education program to raise awareness in identification and treatment of leprosy, going directly to 2,543 isolated villages, as well as addressing 28,822 school children.

They continued their annual blanket drive with 297 blankets offered to individuals with leprosy and 255 to mothers in need.  

Dogs being cared for at MAITRI.

The animal care turned shelter program continues to be vital for so many animals that are fortunate enough to find care at MAITRI.

The very important mother care program directly benefited 264 mothers, providing care and treatment and the safe delivery of 165 babies. The child care program helped 275 children with medical check-ups and treatment as well as milk powder. MAITRI also provided support to 71 young sick girls with monthly check-ups.

In a recent newsletter to supporters of MAITRI, director Adriana Ferranti reported:

The pandemic has meant a number of our generous benefactors are no longer able to give what they have in the past, while the demand for our services in Bodhgaya has increased.
 
COVID-19 has made Bodhgaya a deserted place, full of fear and despair. So many NGOs and charities are closed and the poor don’t know where to go. Government services have always been unreliable and inconsistent and the lockdown has exacerbated their ability to respond to the crisis.
 
MAITRI has continued to operate its hospital and animal shelter throughout the long, strict lockdown, as well as distributing food packages to villagers. However, it is clear that MAITRI’s normal programs are more important than ever. Our paramedical workers continue to go into the poorest areas and they report that the need is dire. We are desperate to find ways to meet this humanitarian tragedy. Our staff members are local people and simply bearing witness has never been the MAITRI way. We all want to help where it is most needed.

Please watch this short very moving video about the compassionate work of MAITRI: 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqLTXsodMvo&feature=youtu.be

The annual budget for Maitri Charitable Trust is $189,686 and donations can be made directly through their website. The Social Services Fund was honored to offer US$49,000 to this incredible project this year. Since 2012, thanks to a generous donor and the support of many, we have been able to offer over US$510,100 to MAITRI. 

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to beneficial projects such as this can continue. 

Learn more about MAITRI Charitable Trust: www.maitri-bodhgaya.org/home 

Young monks of Samtenling Monastery.

Samtenling School is part of Samtenling Monastery, providing the young monks of the monastery a modern, progressive, secular education in Kathmandu, Nepal. Out of 140 monks, 120 are age 6-26. The school provides education from kindergarten through eighth grade. Most of the monks are from Nepal and are primarily Sherpa and Tamang, but Tibetan monks also attend the monastery and school.

The school has been operating without classrooms or a debate courtyard. Classes and debates are held under tin sheets which functions more like open space without windows, walls, and doors. Due to these conditions, disturbances of noises are common and students can easily get distracted. Due to the climate, classes regularly have to be cancelled as well.

Students of Samtenling Monastery have been able to continue philosophy classes during COVID-19.

Last year, FPMT Social Services Fund raised a substantial grant for the school to build actual classrooms. They were waiting to receive the permission from the building department for construction and then, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred and these plans were put on hold. The monastery was able to continue Tibetan philosophy and some language classes because those teachers live at the monastery, but the whole program of the school is not currently operating due to the lockdown and restrictions.

We are pleased to report that they have now received the building permission and will start building once restrictions are lifted in Kathmandu Valley.

Students of Samtenling Monastery, outside memorizing.

The school is taking the necessary precautions in response to the crisis such as: closing the main gate and asking other people not to visit and monks not to leave the property at this time and placing soaps and sanitizers in every corner of the monastery for accessible use. 

We look forward on updating you on the progress of the school classrooms as soon as they are able to continue this most important project. 

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to schools can continue. 

FPMT Charitable Projects will continue updating you on how schools supported by FPMT Social Service Fund are navigating these challenging times.  

Students of Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School in Taplejung, Nepal.

Since 2012 the Social Services Fund has been offering substantial support to different schools in Nepal and India that are offering education to students of Tibetan, Nepali, and Indian heritage. Investing in education through schools is one way to help break the cycle of poverty in impoverished areas and we are pleased to offer support to nearly 1,000 children each year at this time.

2020 has been an unusual year for the schools due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the schools were required to temporarily close in March and April of 2020 and have remained closed due to local restrictions. Some of the schools have been able to offer some form of online schooling or direct limited support to older children who will be sitting in on exams in 2020. Some of the schools that have hostels associated remained open and offered restricted classes to the children still living there.

Here we invite you to learn about some of the schools we currently support and also those we have offered grants to in the past.

Students of Sambhota Tibetan School, Bylakuppe, India.

Sambhota Tibetan School, located in Bylakuppe, South India, was established in 1971 to serve the children of refugees living at Dicky Larose Tibetan Settlement. 24 staff help educate 217 elementary, middle, and secondary students.

Since 2015 we have offered sponsorship for daily vegetarian midday meals, salary for one person to help look after the children after school for a year, and sponsorship of new kitchen. In 2020 we were happy again to offer US$6,706 for midday meals for all the children.

Students of Sagarmatha Secondary School, Chailsa, Nepal enjoying a meal.

Sagarmatha Secondary School in Chailsa, Nepal, is located on what was once a Tibetan refugee camp. It currently serves 170 students, including 79 young lay students who live at the school hostel and 25 young monks who live at Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery, which is a branch of Kopan Monastery and shares the school grounds. Eleven teachers and one additional employee support these students.

Since 2015 we have offered annual grants to the school that covers the salaries of teachers in addition to yearly text books and one set of school uniforms per year for the students. Grants are also offered for prize distribution for exams and sports competitions. The grants are offered at the end of each year, and in 2019 we were happy to offer US$30,495 for this purpose.

Students of Maitreya School, Bodhgaya, India.

Maitreya School, which is a social service project of Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, is a free school benefiting impoverished children from neighboring villages. 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. The school has a total of 305 students with 12 full-time teachers including the principal. 

Since 2012 we have offered yearly support toward the operating costs as well as two new buses for transporting students. In 2020 we offered US$39,200 toward the annual costs of the school.

Tara Children’s Home, Bodhgaya, India, was also a social service project of Root Institute, Bodhgaya, but has now closed. The Tara Children’s Home was a small orphanage for about 20 HIV affected children. For six years, starting in 2012, we offered over US$172,290 in grants toward the annual operating expenses of the orphanage. 

Some of the Ngari Institute students, Ladakh, India.

Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics is located in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh, India, in a small village called Saboo. The campus is spread over twenty hectares of deserted land. The Institute helps children in need from different remote parts of Ladakh, and sends them to three different local schools, by covering all the costs for the children to attend the schools. The aim of the Institute is to empower and enrich the poor and remote-area students by offering them a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom. It was founded by the Ladakh alumni of Sera Je Monastery in South India.

You can watch this video of the children of Ngari Institute enjoying breakfast:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWj03fV9Lk8&feature=youtu.be

Since 2014 we have offered lunch every day of the year to the children and staff of Ngari Institute. There are currently 62 school children, including young monks, and 21 teachers who benefit from this offering. In 2020 we were happy to offer support in the amount of US$30,741 toward all the lunch expenses for the year.

Rolwaling Sangag Choling Monastery School educates 15 children from poor families across the Dolakha District of Nepal at the primary school level and provides free boarding, medical attention, clothing and other needs to its students.

The Social Services Fund raised a substantial grant to assist with a desperately needed hostel for the children in 2015. After raising this money, Nepal suffered the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and the school also endured considerable damage. As a result, the grant offered to the school was not only used to assist with the hostel, but also to help with repairs needed elsewhere on the property.

Students of Sangkpa Dechhholing Gonpa School.

Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School in Taplejung, Nepal, was established in 2007 to serve the Buddhist community in the area. Seven teachers currently educate 80 students, starting at age three. The curriculum is taught in English and Nepali and focuses on modern subjects such as math and science, while being grounded in Buddhist teachings and culture.

In 2018 we offered a US$53,587 grant to support the work of this school.

Young monks of Samtenling Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Samtenling Monastery desperately needed classrooms and a school building to provide the young monks of the monastery a modern, progressive, secular education in Kathmandu, Nepal. Out of 140 monks, 120 of them are aged 6-26. The school provides education from kindergarten through grade eight. Most of the monks are from Nepal and are primarily Sherpas and Tamangs, but Tibetan monks also attend the monastery and school. The school has been operating without any classrooms or a debate courtyard and the Social Services Fund offered a grant of US$166,090 in 2019 for the school to be built. The actual building will begin soon.

Sera Je Monastery, India needed new science classrooms and in April 2013 the Social Service Fund offered US$100,000 toward building the new classrooms .The classrooms are used primarily to teach subjects such as science and other fields of knowledge within the monastic curriculum. This offering came as a direct request from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and was a long-term objective of Sera Je Monastery to align with the vision and recommendations of His Holiness to integrate this kind of study into the monastic education.

Since 2012, amazingly over US$1,042,644 has been offered to these schools and institutions. These grants have had a direct effect and changed many children’s lives for the better. All of this is due to the kindness of the donors of the Social Services Fund who make it possible to make these offerings. We hope that more substantial grants can be offered to these and other beneficial schools offering education to youth in India and Nepal in the future.

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to schools can continue. 

Mahabodhi Stupa progress and many Kadampa stupas available for sponsorship. Photo courtesy of Land of Medicine Buddha.

On the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) has been building a 39-foot-tall Mahabodhi Stupa in California for the past six years. This stupa will be the main attraction of the 100,000 Stupa Project in a beautiful garden featuring an area to meditate, thousands of memorial stupas, places to perform prostrations, and areas with spots for reflection and contemplation. 

“Because we can’t see the Buddha now directly, this is something substantial that we can see, a manifestation of Buddha’s holy mind. It becomes so easy for us to purify and create merit with such holy objects. Even insects are able to purify negative karma and collect merit and create the cause to achieve enlightenment. Anyone who sees, touches, dreams of, or thinks of this stupa plants the seed of enlightenment and becomes meaningful to behold. In the Buddha’s teachings, it says that the benefits of making holy objects are like the sky.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The 100,000 Stupa Project progressed over several identified goals over 2019:

• Main Stupa: Master artist Gelek Sherpa continues to apply decorative panels to the main stupa and decorative aspects to the four corner stupas.
• Mandala Wall #1: The construction team built the first of three mandala walls that surround the main stupa. These mandala walls will be adorned with thousands of stupas: large and small.
• Garden: They continued to care for and refine the vision the 100,000 Stupa Project Japanese inspired gardens. Volunteers planted trees that were sponsored by individuals and an automatic irrigation was installed.
• Kadampa Stupas: Following advice received from Lama Zopa Rinpoche in August 2019 they began building Kadampa Stupas (3 ft tall). These large stupas will be placed along the top of the first mandala wall. Sponsorship of these stupas is now open. 

While observing proper protocols for safety of themselves and others due to the COVID-19 pandemic, progress has continued in 2020:

Progress on the impressive Mahabodhi Stupa at Land of Medicine Buddha, CA, USA. Photo courtesy of Land of Medicine Buddha.

• Main Stupa: Gelek Sherpa continues to create and apply decorative panels to the main stupa.
• Mandala Wall #1: They continue with refinements to the first mandala wall, finalizing the finishing plaster work.
• Garden/grounds: More trees were planted this year, dozens of shrubs in the garden; and expanded the drip irrigation system. The team at LMB reports that this year seasonal flowers in the gardens were “brilliant, brimming with colorful flower offerings.”
• Stupas: They are close to placing the first twenty Kadamapa stupas on the inner mandala wall. Efforts have gone into building, painting, and filling these stupas. Many people have secured sponsorships for these large stupas, one person is sponsoring seven for family members. As soon as funding allows, they will place a large order for thousands of smaller stupas to be placed in the mandala walls. These small stupas will be manufactured in Asia and will be available for sponsorship as soon as possible.

Land of Medicine Buddha continues to offer sponsorship opportunities for stupas and aspects of the garden. These directed campaigns are the only fundraising being undertaken by the center in 2020. They have deferred more formal fundraising efforts until the center has recovered financially from the impact of the pandemic on general operating funds. 

“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.”  — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Holy Objects Fund, has been happy to offer over US$187,053 to this incredible project. We invite you to rejoice in the ongoing progress of this beneficial stupa. 

The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world. All are welcome to donate to this fund to ensure grants like this continue long into the future. 

bird’s-eye view of the Thame Stupa and surrounding area.

The Mount Everest region of Thame, Nepal, is a special place for FPMT. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born there and it is located near Lawudo which was the home of Rinpoche’s previous incarnation. Many Kopan monks are also from Thame.

The Thame region was seriously damaged during the 2015 earthquake. Almost all the homes in the area were damaged or completely destroyed and several people died. During the destruction, a large very precious stupa was destroyed. The monks from Thame Monastery requested Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s help to rebuild the stupa, as it was the biggest holy object in the region. Lama Zopa Rinpoche through the Holy Objects Fund was very happy to offer a substantial grant for a new stupa to be built. The new stupa, which stands nearly 46 feet tall with a base measuring 54 feet across, took two years to complete and is larger than the one which previously stood. This impressive stupa features a large prayer wheel inside making it possible for pilgrims and locals to enter the stupa and spin it to create so much merit, even when the area is covered by snow.  

Another grant was recently offered from the Holy Objects Fund toward the stupa project for the filling of the prayer wheel with mantras, and adding the auspicious artwork inside the stupa, which Rinpoche has been providing guidance on.

Enjoy this short video of the impressive Thame Stupa. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd-M6FoQ3B4&feature=youtu.be

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained in a recent thought transformation teaching that one collects incalculable merit from seeing a holy object, even without devotion due to the power of the merit field. And by making offerings to a holy object, one won’t be reborn in the lower realms for 84 million eons. 

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. 

A TVA volunteer feeding stray dogs in Bylakuppe, India. Photo courtesy of TVA Facebook page.

The Animal Liberation Fund recently offered a US$5,450 grant to Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVA) and Social Action Movement for a vehicle needed to rescue sick and injured dogs in and around Bylakuppe, India.

Since 2003, TVA has been a pioneer in treating and rescuing innocent animals, particularly dogs. In addition, they have been offering an educational outreach program to Hunsur, Kollegal and Mundgod Tibetan settlements, along with free anti-rabies vaccination and an animal birth control program.

Due to an increase in the population of a stray dog in Bylakuppe the rise of abandoned puppies has also increased. TVA has taken an active role in rescuing these dogs with the help of the community and monasteries in Bylakuppe with medical treatment given by People for Animals (PFA) in Mysore. Dogs are transferred to one of two small shelters in the area—one which provides medical care, one that houses dogs who are mostly well and ready for adoption.

Previously, TVA has had to hire taxis to transfer injured dogs to PFA Mysore for treatment, which is unstainable for the long run due to cost. Therefore, TVA was in need of a vehicle to not only help transfer the dogs as needed.  

TVA and Social Action Movement are also developing a project called Ngenjey Home for Animals which aims to provide a home for animals including cows, sheep, donkeys, horses, goats, pigs, and hens. These animals will be able to live happily without harm and untimely death.

To learn more about this important work for animals visit the Tibetan Volunteers for Animals website. 

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 around the world are supported, as well as efforts to save the lives of animals at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary in Nepal, MAITRI Charitable Trust in India and elsewhere. You are welcome to offer any amount toward this ongoing work. 

Some of the monks of Shalu Monastery enjoying a meal sponsored by the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund.

For the last three years, the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund has offered a grant to Shalu Monastery, Himachal Pradesh, India, to cover the costs of food for the the 50+ monks who study there. This year, US$12,360.08 was offered. 

In June, we updated you on how the monastery was doing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 7, 2020, they started offering sojong (a bi-monthly confession ceremony), on August 4, they started preparations for yarne (a three-month rains retreat), and gaye (the end of the rains retreat ceremony). These are the three activities that define a proper monastery.

The monks of Shalu Monastery engaged in puja together.

Jhado Rinpoche had previously accepted the monastery’s request to offer teachings for a month during March of 2021, but due to the ongoing pandemic this event will have to be reassessed at a later date. 

Please rejoice in the continued support of this monastery and the Sangha who reside there. Tremendous thanks to all donors who contribute to the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund making grants like this possible. 

If you want to help Sangha, please learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries around the world.  

The beautiful nyung nä altar at Institut Vajra Yogini, France.

One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization is to sponsor people who make a serious commitment to practice such as doing 1,000 nyung näs. Nyung nä practice is an intensive 2-day purification retreat that includes fasting, precepts, prostrations, prayers, mantra recitation, and offerings. Nyung nä is based on the deity Thousand-Arm Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, and is extremely powerful for healing illness, purifying negative karma, and opening the heart to compassion. Lama Zopa Rinpoche highly praises this practice as a supreme method for transforming the mind. One does four 2.5 hour sessions of well-structured practice that includes meditation, prostrations, and mantra recitation each day. It is a powerfully effective experiential practice that can be done by anyone with respect and faith for the practice.

Upon hearing about Rinpoche’s vision, Institut Vajra Yogini (IVY), France, quickly picked up the project of hosting these retreats which take more than nine months to complete. Amazingly, in 2020 IVY completed the nine consecutive year of hosting 108 nyung näs and is now planning the tenth set from mid-November 2020 to mid-June 2021.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IVY had to face a big challenge as the nyung nä retreats were becoming more popular and the wish to continue was strong as these retreats are at the heart of the annual agenda. Before the lockdown, the sessions included 20 to 25 people who had the option to come and practice for a session. Unfortunately, the external conditions forced IVY to announce the end of this option because of the safety measures decided by the government.

Nyung nä retreat leader Ven. Charles with retreatant Diana Secuya at Institut Vajra Yogini.

Everyone was asked to leave the center during the recent set of 108 led by Ven. Charles. In order to not completely stop the retreat, and also because some of the long-term retreatants were not able to go back home due to the airport shutdown, the IVY team offered some of the retreatants a safe place to stay and included them in the lockdown plan. Five long-term retreatants stayed and have continued with three sessions a day during this difficult period in the world, using the time to do this powerful practice practice and pray for all beings. Incredibly, 1,093 individual nyung näs have already been accumulated during this set of 108 that started in mid-November. On average, 10 to 18 people have been participating in each session. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been sponsoring up to ten people each year, and through the Practice and Retreat Fund we have been able to do this for the last nine years.

Please enjoy this video of three retreatants from the previous years sharing their experience about the life-altering retreat hosted by IVY:

The next set of 108 Nyung-Näs is scheduled for November 15, 2020. The Practice and Retreat Fund is again offering sponsorship for up to 10 people who are able to commit to 100 nyung näs through IVY. The retreat will be led in French but people can follow simultaneously in English or any other language.

Everybody is welcome to join for one or more nyung näs and can contact Institute Vajra Yogini to enter any number of these retreats (1-100) when they begin the next set.

Contributing to the sponsorship of these retreats or completing one or more yourself is directly contributing to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Vision.

“Nyung näs are a most powerful, most beneficial and quickest way for you to develop bodhichitta, to collect extensive merit to quickly achieve enlightenment, to become Chenrezig, to liberate sentient beings from the oceans of samsara suffering,and bring to enlightenment. This is an extremely powerful practice, it is an incredible way to develop bodhichitta.” —Lama Zopa Rinpoche

 You can learn more about the news and activities of Practice and Retreat Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting Maitreya School, Bodhgaya, January 2020.

For the past nine years, due to the kindness of one main benefactor, the FPMT Social Services Fund has been offering substantial grants toward the amazing projects of Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, which directly benefit underprivileged individuals in the area. In 2020, US$$53,900 total was offered to Maitreya School (US$39,200) and Shakyamuni Buddha Health Clinic (US$14,700). 

Maitreya School is a free school benefiting impoverished children from neighboring villages. In 2019, 70 new students entered the school, bringing the total to 306 with the addition of two new teachers. The school continued to offer free education to all the children as well as transport them to and from the school, provide education supplies and uniforms, healthy snacks, and classes on meditation and mindfulness.

Due to COVID-19, all schools in Bihar state were closed starting on March 25 of this year. Since that time the students were mostly learning through online classes, but as Root reports: “It is quite difficult to develop proper and creative learning programs for our children who mostly belong to less affluent rural families, or who live in remote villages where people rarely even use a basic phone.” To help address this, some teachers have made their homes available for up to ten students who live near them to receive coaching and classes. 

Please enjoy this short video of a snapshot day at Maitreya School (before COVID-19):

Shakyamuni Buddha Health Clinic began in 1991 as a home for the destitute and has evolved into a diverse community health program encompassing a wide range of medical and rehabilitative services and health promotion activities.

The clinic continued to do important work in the community in 2019, serving 3,500 patients each month. A new medical vehicle was purchased and they started classes for girls on women’s health.  These workshops are helping to bring an end to early marriage, domestic violence, help with long-term family planning, and teach the value of education. The clinic continues to help the community of Bodhgaya by running programs on homeopathic & allopathic medicines, a dental clinic, as well as physiotherapy and speech therapy. The clinic combined with the mobile outreach units offered free medical treatment to 42,000 patients in 2019.

Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic has been temporarily closed due the COVID-19 pandemic situation in India, but will open again as soon as allowed.

Please enjoy this short video of a glimpse into the work of the clinic as well as life at Root Institute (pre COVID-19). 

We invite you to rejoice in the ongoing beneficial work of the social service programs of Root Institute which are benefiting so many in need of this most precious care. 

During this time when the regular social service activities has been limited or shut down, Root Institute has engaged in inspiring community service by offering food the most needy in the area.

Thank you to all the kind supporters of the Social Services Fund who make it possible to offer donations like this. These grants have a very real and direct effect, changing lives and benefiting extremely poor children and those who are sick and have no other means of support. 

Support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants such as this can continue; or make a donation directly to one of Root Institute’s social service projects.

Rinpoche giving oral transmission of OM MANI PADME HUNG and explaining the benefits of reciting it at Lugsung Samdupling Home for the Aged and Disabled, one of the homes supported by the Social Services Fund.

The Need for Support

Tibetans have been living in exile since 1959 when Communist China invaded Tibet, forcing 100,000 Tibetans to flee to India, Nepal, Bhutan and eventually elsewhere around the world. Many of the Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal are now elderly and many are rendered destitute and in desperate need of care at this critical phase of life. Tibetan families traditionally provide for the elderly and sick among them. However, when a family itself is in deep poverty, or if the elderly individual is alone and without family support, help is needed.

Support Offered

A resident of Dhondenling Elderly Home, Kollegal, India, one of the homes supported by the Social Services Fund. 

Since 2016, the Social Services Fund has offered US$1,224,085 support to over 350 Tibetan elders living in different elderly homes in India. In 2020 we were so happy to offer US$379,309 to five such homes taking care of this most precious and vulnerable population of Tibetans. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has encouraged us to not only address residents’ physical needs, but also their spiritual ones. With this in mind, we’ve also sponsored holy objects such as stupas and prayer wheels on the premises of some of these homes as well as a community hall for pujas and group prayers at two Tibetan settlements. 

Over the past few months we have reported on how the individual homes have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and we were happy to hear that all of the elders in the homes we support were safe from danger of this virus and we were pleased that each home took the necessary precautions and ongoing safety measures needed to protect those in their care and the surrounding communities. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting an 82 year old Tibetan lady during teachings in South India, 2015.

Elderly Homes we Supported in 2020

Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala, provides food, shelter and medical services to 156 residents. US$96,282 was offered in 2020 for shortfall to the annual operating budget.

Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe, looks after 46 elderly individuals who are living in extremely modest conditions, many with health issues due to the advanced age. US$14,025.24 was offered in 2020 for shortfall to the annual operating budget.

Some of the elders of Lugsam Elderly Home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doeguling Home for Elderly and Disabled, located in the Doeguling Tibetan Refugee Settlement in Mundgod, cares for 103 elderly residents. US$65,463 was offered in 2020 for the following:
US$32,793 for an ambulance to transfer the elderly extremely sick and close to passing to the hospital; US$19,585 for annual medical expenses fund due to many of the elders now requiring cancer treatment and kidney dialysis etc; US$13,085 investment toward a corpus fund the home has already set up. The interest of the corpus fund is already covering some of the home’s annual expenses.

Rabgayling Tibetan Family Welfare Association, Hunsur, has an elderly home serving 20 residents. US$22,812.77 was offered in 2020 toward the annual budget shortfall. 

Dhondenling Old People Home, Kollegal, is in one of the most remote and underdeveloped Tibetan settlements in southern India. The elderly home has a capacity for 32 elderly Tibetans residents. US$21,983.83 was offered in 2020 to cover 70% of their annual operating budget for 2020. Additionally, US$180,725.64 was also offered to this settlement. This money was raised separately from UBI in Italy and is to be used toward a multi-purpose hall that the elders would be able to use for religious group practices as well as cultural events.

In the future we’re eager to provide similar support in Nepal and we have already started the process of assessing needs and opportunities to offer support in this way. Thank you to all the donors who make this most urgent and critical support possible. Please rejoice in the US$379,309 offered to these homes in 2020. 

If you are inspired by grants such as this which support elderly Tibetans, you are welcome to contribute to the Social Service Fund and help ensure that work like this can continue long into the future. 

Ven. Gyatso has filled 300 billion mantras into the magnificent prayer wheel at Vajrapani Institute, CA. 5 trillion mantras will fill this prayer wheel when it is completed. Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.

In December 2016, Vajrapani Institute, in California, US, launched the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel Project. The prayer wheel, called the Compassion Wheel and standing 7 ft x 10 ft when completed, will contain 5 trillion (5,000,000,000,000) copies of OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of Chenrezig. This holy object was requested by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

5 trillion mantras will be filled in this unique and incredibly beneficial prayer wheel.

Rinpoche has explained that when you turn a prayer wheel one time, you receive the same benefit as having recited that many mantras and that this is like having done many years of retreat.

We are pleased to provide you with an update of progress on this truly extraordinary holy object.

The prayer wheel is now filled with a third of the first trillion of the mantras, decorative painting of the ceiling is complete, and cladding of the steel structure is underway. Progress on the roof has been paused due to the pandemic, but once restrictions are lifted the roof fabricator will come and take measurements for the penny-colored metal roof (copper). The molds for the ornamental design for the four pillars have been completed in France, and a shipment of ornaments from Nepal, which are decoration for the prayer wheel roof, have arrived in the US. Vajrapani is just now awaiting delivery.

Please enjoy this video showing how the prayer wheel is being filled: youtu.be/ih77kIVWZpo

There is currently no estimation on the completion date of this project but the team hopes to have the prayer wheel filled with the first trillion mantras over the next few months. As others are experiencing around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down progress on some aspects of production and completion.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Holy Objects Fund, has offered US$40,000 toward the construction of this incredible holy object. 

“Each time you rejoice you collect skies of merit, making it such an easy way to achieve enlightenment.”  – Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Supporting the creation of prayer wheels and other holy objects is part of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT: 
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/#pw

Find out more and give your support to the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel