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Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing an elephant in Bodhgaya, India, 2012. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Since 2011 Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, has been covering the cost of food for a large elephant Rinpoche named “Bodhichitta” who lives in Bodhgayga, India. Rinpoche gave one condition to the owner of this elephant: He must circumambulate the elephant regularly around the Bodhgaya Stupa or the holy objects at Root Institute. This, of course, is to help the elephant create merit and ultimately bring to enlightenment.
When Rinpoche met Bodhichitta the elephant for the first time, as Rinpoche was reciting mantras to it, the elephant was observed having tears running down its face. Please enjoy this moving video of an incredible sweet moment.
You are welcome to donate to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund and contribute to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others:
You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering lunch to Choden Rinpoche in Taiwan, February 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kusang.
When Lama Zopa Rinpoche heard that his guru, Choden Rinpoche, was manifesting some health obstacles, Rinpoche immediately sponsored a number of pujas through the Puja Fund.
One puja Rinpoche sponsored, dedicated to Choden Rinpoche’s long life, was the reading of the Kangyur by all the monks at Sera Je and Sera Me monasteries, for this the Puja Fund offered over US$5,000, which included offering tea and lunch to the 3,500 monks during the puja.
Choden Rinpoche’s center, Ananda Center, has an updated list of mantras currently recommend for Choden Rinpoche’s health. Additionally, Ananda Center is requesting that students recite Praises to the Twenty-one Taras a million times, from September 10 to October 10, 2014. Please submit the number of recitations to Ananda Center directly.
A flower from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s garden at Kachoe Dechen Ling, California. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“Choden Rinpoche is a virtuous friend who has pacified his mind by living in the training of moral conduct, who has pacified his mind by the training in concentration, and who is extremely pacified due to the training in great insight,“ Lama Zopa Rinpoche said in an October 2002 teaching at Land of Medicine Buddha.
These pujas and sponsorships are among the incredible services that the FPMT Puja Fund is able to offer under Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s guidance.
You may contribute any amount to the Puja Fund to help ensure these beneficial and important pujas and offerings continue.
You can learn more about the Puja Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Guru Rinpoche statue at Great Stupa of Universal Compassion near Bendigo, Australia. Photo by George Manos.
One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT is to build many large statues of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) around the world in order to create the cause for peace for all beings. To date, 27 statues have been built, one measuring 70 feet [21 meters] high!
The Padmasambhava Project for Peace was established to fund the creation of Padmasambhava statues built in accordance with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes. Please enjoy a photo gallery of some of these amazing statues.
Padmasambhava Statues Completed/In Progress
- Large statue at a Sakya Monastery in Asia
- Large statue at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion near Bendigo, Australia
- Lifesized statue at Milarepa Center in Vermont, USA
- (11 total) 13.5-ft and nine large statues in Lawudo, Nepal
- (9 total) 70-ft statue with two consorts, each 25 ft; includes also Eight Aspects of Padmasambhava over 6 feet (2 meters) high
- 7-ft statue at Chandrakirti Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre, New Zealand
- 9-ft statue at De-Tong Ling Retreat Centre on Kangaroo Island, Australia
- 3 ft statue in Nepal which will go inside a large stupa in India (in progress)
- 6.5-ft statue in Spain at Osel Ling, Spain.
Offer Your Compassionate Support
The Padmasambhava Project for Peace 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 larger donations, wire transfers, or check donations, contact FPMT Donor Services.
For questions about the Social Services Fund activities, please contact the Charitable Projects Coordinator.
Teresa Navarro with Geshe Dakpa in San Francisco.
In June of this year, Teresa Mia Navarro joined the team in the search for a site for the Stupa to Minimize Harm from the Elements. This stupa was recommended by Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) to help minimize the disastrous effects of earthquakes and other natural disasters such as an upcoming earthquake which Khadro-la saw in a vision. The probability of such an earthquake has been prognosticated scientifically.
Khadro-la at Kushi Ling Retreat Centre, Italy, July 2012. Photo by Sirianni.
The area designated by Khadro-la as the most beneficial for the building of the stupa is the northwestern region of San Francisco. Unfortunately, the relevant trusts representing the area have denied the project a site on public land. A variety of alternatives are being explored including for sale parcels and long-term leasing, as well as public and private land.
The search is in full swing and has been expanded to neighborhoods surrounding the initial target area. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has emphasized the need to do more prayers and practices specifically to prevent earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Representatives from each of the bay area centers meet monthly to do the practices. In July, FPMT and the Stupa Team sponsored a Medicine Buddha puja lead by Geshe Ngawang Dakpa, in San Francisco.
As news of the stupa project grows, more and more San Francisco individuals and organizations, including interfaith groups, are demonstrating active interest in the success of the project.
Please check back for news on this project as it develops.
You can learn more about the Stupa to Minimize Harm from the Elements as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Please keep this hugely important project in your prayers. You are also welcome to donate any amount toward this stupa’s completion.
One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast visions for the FPMT organization is to sponsor 1,000 Nung-Nä retreats. Upon hearing about Rinpoche’s vision, Institut Vajra Yogini quickly picked up the project of hosting these retreats and has now started a third set of 108 Nyung-Näs, from mid-November 2013 to mid-June 2014.
More than 125 students from 12 different countries took part in one or more Nyung-Näs, accumulating an amazing total of about 1,000 individual Nyung Näs! Four people offered a consecutive year of their lives engaging in these retreats.
The Nyung-Nä retreat is an intensive practice that carries great blessings and is highly praised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a supreme method for transforming the mind. The practice includes taking the 24-hour Mahayana precepts every day, with the addition of complete fasting and silence every second day. One does four – 2 ½ 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.
16 people did more than eight Nyung-Näs, four of them managing to do more than 100 Nyung-Näs. This is something amazing in which to rejoice!
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, sponsored some of these retreatants, as he had done for the two previous sets. The next set of 108 Nyung-Näs is scheduled from the November 18, 2014 to the 20th of June 2015. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is again offering sponsorship for up to 10 people able to commit for 100 Nyung-Näs.
These Nyung-Näs 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, you 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 Nung-Näs or completing one or more yourself is directly contributing to Rinpoche’s wishes.
Nyung-Näs are a most powerful, most beneficial and quickest way for you to develop bodhicitta, 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 in an incredible way to develop bodhichitta.
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche
You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Most precious self-emanating statue of Chenrezig said to be the actual deity itself in Phakpa, Garsha Khandroling, India.
In July 2013 Lama Zopa Rinpoche engaged in retreat with Khadro-la and Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche in the valley of Lahual, India, which is known by meditators as Garsha Khandroling, “Land of the Dakinis.”
The retreat took place in one of the holy places in Garsha, Phakpa (or Triloknath), a small village with an ancient temple that houses a self-emanating statue of Chenrezig said to be the actual deity itself.
During the retreat, Rinpoche committed to offer light to this statue for as long as the statue remains. The light is offered through a giant eighteen-gallon silver butter lamp which is in front of the statue.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, has just paid 27,000 Rs for this offering to continue through 2015. A Kopan monk carried the money offering on the way to attending the Kalachakra Initiation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Ladakh and offered the money to the caretaker to ensure the light continues for another year. This will be an annual offering ensuring that the light never diminishes.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained the importance of Phakpa and this Chenrezig statue to Ven. Sarah Thresher and others. She recalls:
The care taker of the statue and the giant butter lamp.
“Legend tells of a shepherd who came to the valley from Tibet. (Rinpoche says the shepherd was a holy being and Khandrola thinks he may have been an emanation of Tara). The shepherd would take the village goats up to a small lake in the mountains to graze but when the goats came back down to the village they had no milk. The village people began to suspect that the shepherd was taking the milk for himself, but this was not true, and the shepherd decided that the next time he went up the hill he would hide and watch to see what happened. What he saw was that Chenrezig would emerge from the lake and drink the goats’ milk.
“The shepherd approached Chenrezig and explained that he was being accused of taking the goats’ milk. He requested Chenrezig to please come down with him and tell the local people it was not true. Chenrezig agreed and told the shepherd to carry him on his back down to the village. Chenrezig said to the shepherd, “You may hear a noise as we are leaving but whatever happens don’t look back!” Sure enough, as they descended, the shepherd heard a loud sound but, ignoring Chenrezig’s advice, he looked behind and saw seven white men following. When these seven beings saw the shepherd they turned back and transformed into seven nagas or snakes that eventually merged into the hillside. (Rinpoche says that if the shepherd had not turned back these could have been more deities and there would have been more holy objects to liberate sentient beings but due to our karma that didn’t happen.)
“As the shepherd continued walking, Chenrezig became heavier and heavier, and by the time they reached the village, where there was a lot of conflict and fighting, Chenrezig became too heavy to carry. The shepherd then dropped Chenrezig who transformed into pure white marble. For this reason, it is said the statue is actually Chenrezig who has taken the form of a statue for us sentient beings. The shepherd also absorbed to a stone and both images, along with a black stone representation of Four-armed Mahakala with a naturally arising OM MANI PADME HUNG inscription at the back are housed in the small temple.
“Several miracles have been reported in connection with the Phakpa over the years, including the statue speaking and dripping with nectar. These days, a kind and gentle old Gelukpa monk takes care of the temple and pilgrims. He was appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has been there for sixteen years. Rinpoche hopes that in the future more monks will settle and a small monastery will develop, the monks engaging in study and practice—particularly lam-rim—as well as performing pujas for the local people and pilgrims.
“Tibetans and Buddhists from the Himalayan regions come to Triloknath to pray and also to do Nyung-ne, Chenrezig fasting retreat. Rinpoche encouraged us to practice and dedicate as much as possible at the temple, explaining that all the prayers made to the Phakpa and shepherd’s image will be fulfilled. He also advised us to trek up to Omay Tso, the Milk Lake from which Chenrezig emerged. It is a steep and challenging 3-5 hour walk up the mountains and the water in the lake is white. This water descends down in a powerful stream and becomes the water supply for the village. Outside the temple taps also gush with white water. We all drank this and it was fresh, tasty and pure. It is said that even taking a few steps towards the Omay Tso is powerful.”
Written by Ven. Sarah Thresher with input from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the help of Tushita staff and referring to “Garsha, Heart Land of Dakinis” published by Garsha Young Drukpa Association, Keylong, 2011.
You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
You are welcome to contribute to this ongoing offering of light to this most precious Chenrezig statue:
800 young monks of the Serea Je School are offered breakfast daily through the Sera Je Food Fund. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Secondary School Facebook.
The young monks are able to focus on their studies without worrying about where there next meal will come from. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Secondary School Facebook.
In addition to offering three meals a day to all 2,500 monks studying at Sera Je Monastery, the Sera Je Food Fund offers breakfast daily to 800 young monks studying at the Sera Je School. Lunch and dinner are sponsored through another generous source.
The cost is US$29,200 to offer 800 meals per day which is 292,000 meals every year. This is something amazing to rejoice in as these young monks will later enter the Sera Je Monastery curriculum. Investing in their early education is a true investment in the future of qualified Buddhist scholars and teachers.
You are welcome to donate any amount toward this offering:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche reads texts and meditates while flying, November 22, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In addition to the continuous pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, pujas are also often arranged when Lama Zopa Rinpoche travels internationally in order to ensure health and safe flights and for obstacles to be removed. These pujas are often done on the day of actual travel.
For instance, In June the Puja Fund sponsored the recitation of the Prajnaparamita at Tsawa Khangtsen for the occasion of Rinpoche’s trip to Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy.
The Puja Fund is committed to offering this important “travel insurance” for FPMT’s precious spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
You can contribute to all of the Puja Fund activities which includes sponsoring pujas for Rinpoche’s health, long life, safe travels and all the activities of FPMT, for all the students, volunteers and kind benefactors:
8,300 meals are offered every day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery.
Every day, many volunteers at Sera Je Monastery shop, prepare, offer and clean up after each of the three meals offered to all 2,500 monks through the Sera Je Food Fund.
The cost of offering all the food to all the monks is currently $US280,000 yearly. If you would like to contribute to the Sera Je Food Fund, you may offer any amount you are able.
- 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
In this video, you can see thousands of these monks enjoying a meal provided by the Sera Je Food Fund.
There are extensive prayers and dedications made by the monks at Sera Je for those who contribute to the fund. These dedications continue to generate merit for those donating to the fund for as long as the monastery exists.
Please read about the benefits of the Sera Je Food Fund and the benefits of making offerings to the Sangha by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
DONATE
Learn more about FPMT Charitable Projects and all of the beneficial activities which they support. You can find further information about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s webpage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Grounds are prepared for the foundation of the new temple at Ngari Khangtsen.
Ngari Khangtsen, the khangtsen of Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Thegchok in south India, has been making progress on their Temple Project, a project to build a much-needed new prayer hall that can seat 150 monks comfortably.
Earlier this year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, US$100,000 to this project which has an estimated budget of over US$500,000.
Tashi Delek to all the friends of Ngari Khangtsen at Sera Je Monastery, South India.
Today, we have some new and exciting news for everyone.
The Ngari Khangtsen “Temple Project” is underway!
We finally received building approval from the local government and have broken ground. We are preparing the grounds and getting ready to start pouring the foundation at our new temple at Sera Je, South India.
We would like to say a special thank you to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and all the members of the FPMT organization. Because of the amazing kindness and generosity in donating US$100,000, we have been able to start the building of our new temple.
Prayers,
The Monks of Ngari Khangtsen
Please rejoice in this progress!
You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
The Kadampa Center community with the finished stupa which took two years to complete. Photo by David Strevel.
Building a large holy object, like the 18-foot tall Kadampa Stupa now finished at Kadampa Center in North Carolina, requires a tremendous amount of work and dedication from many.
Lead volunteer David Strevel carefully documented every stage of the process of building this stupa. Please enjoy a photo gallery of some of the major milestones along the way to completion.
Learn more about FPMT Charitable Projects and all of the beneficial activities which they support. You can find further information about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s webpage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Members of the Nepal Buddhist Federation including many senior monks from Kopan Monastery.
In 2006, for the first time in the history of the Nalanda Tradition, Nyingma, Kagyü, Sakya and Gelug traditions have formed an umbrella organization called Nepal Buddhist Federation (NBF).
Among many other projects, NBF is organizing a regular broadcast of Dharma teachings on television and radio in Nepal.
Each of the four traditions offered toward this project, the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund was delighted to make an offering to these efforts. Kopan Monastery has been very involved with the various projects of the NBF with many senior monks serving as members.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is committed to supporting the projects of the Nepal Buddhist Federation. Earlier this year, US$6,187 was also offered to the Rime Chirim Tendo Chenmo Monlam, a prayer festival for Saka Dawa dedicated to the healthy and long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the heads of the four Tibetan Buddhist schools, all other great masters, as well as for world peace.