Retreats and Practices

Monks offering puja at Kopan Monastery.

The merit multiplying day of Lhabab Duchen (commemorating Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to Earth from the Realm of the Thirty-Three), occurs on November 22, 2024 this year. On this day, up to ten thousand Sangha will be engaging in powerful prayers and practices for the benefit of all beings and in particular for the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and our FPMT family—all the centers, services, and projects and all the members, volunteers, and kind benefactors.

The Sangha will be reciting the entire Prajnaparamita, offering Medicine Buddha pujas, One Thousand Offerings to Namgyalma, and many other practices. During the pujas, with great respect, a monetary offering will be made to all Sangha engaged in the prayers.

Rinpoche explained during the Four Kadampa Deities Retreat, Institut Vajra Yogini, France, 2003: “The Puja Fund was not revealed for quite a number of years, but then somebody thought that maybe it’s a good idea to let other people know, in case somebody wants to put some donation in the fund. So, then they get this chance to collect all this merit, of having made offerings, even if what the person donated is very little, but it covers all this, offering to the same gurus’ disciples, to all the Sangha in the monasteries. … It’s like putting a drop into the ocean then it gets mixed with the rest of ocean, so until the ocean finishes, the drop that you put in the ocean doesn’t finish. … These pujas will go on forever, for as long as these monasteries last. Even if one is in the hell realm, but the pujas are still going on … even when one is born as ant, crawling on the ground or on the trees, these pujas will still be going on in the human world.”

Rinpoche further explained in 2003: “These pujas  happen on the special days, on Buddha days where you collect one hundred million merits. So, if you offer one rupee, you collect the merit of having offered one hundred million rupees. If you offer one cup of tea to the Sangha, you collect the merit of having offered one hundred million cups of tea.”

Regarding the offerings to the stupas and Buddha statue in Bodhgaya, Rinpoche said: “To do all these offerings. It is unimaginable, incredibly fortunate, so fortunate to be able to do that. It’s such unbelievable merit, to offer to these actual manifestations of the Buddhas and these holy objects.”

Monks offering puja at Sera Lachi Monastery.

Rinpoche explains that he set up the pujas in his gurus’ monasteries, “because if you offer to your guru’s disciple, even if it is just a glass of water or one cup of tea, you collect merit far greater than having made offering to all the numberless Buddhas, numberless Dharma, numberless Sangha, numberless statues, numberless stupas, numberless scriptures, all the holy objects. Making offerings to one’s guru’s disciples or the guru’s dog, giving even one biscuit to the guru’s dog, you collect far greater merit than having made offerings to numberless Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, and the statues, stupas, scriptures.

Therefore, these pujas are arranged in Sera, Gaden, Drepung, Gyudmed, Gyuto and Kopan monastery and nunnery, where there are many, many thousands of Sangha and they are all His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s disciples. By remembering the guru, if you offer to each Sangha, you collect far greater merit than having made offerings to all those holy objects.

It is the same at the center. There are so many people there who are also your gurus’ disciples, so if you offer tea (including to lay people), if you offer food at the center, drinks during puja, or any offerings to them at any time, you collect more merit than having made offerings to numberless Buddhas, numberless Dharma, numberless Sangha, numberless statues, stupas, scriptures, all the holy objects. So therefore, there is an unbelievable, incredible opportunity right at the center where one studies Dharma.

You are most welcome to be part of this vast offering to the Sangha, and to be held within their extensive dedications, by contributing any amount.

The prayers, pujas, and offerings sponsored on Lhabab Duchen:

Robes offered to the main Shakyamuni Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India.

• The monks of Gyudmed Tantric College will be reciting the Prajnaparamita (three versions).
• The monks of Sera Lachi, Ganden Lachi, Drepung Lachi and Gyuto Tantric College will be offering Medicine Buddha puja, One Thousand Offerings to Namgyalma and Namgyalma Long Life puja, Sixty-four Offerings to Kalarupa, and King of Prayers.
• The Sangha of Kopan Monastery and Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery will be offering Medicine Buddha pujas.
• All ten thousand Sangha will recite the Names of Manjrushri for the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
• Offerings will be made to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, such as Jhado Rinpoche, H.E Ling Rinpoche and many others.
• A monetary offering will be made to the ten thousand Sangha, as well as all Sangha residing in the IMI monastic communities around the world.
• New robes will be offered to the Buddha statue in Bodhgaya; and saffron paint, umbrellas, and banners will be offered to Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas, with strong prayers.
• Animals will be liberated and there will be the printing of precious sutras such as The Golden Light Sutra, Arya Sanghata Sutra, Vajra Cutter Sutra, Amitayus Long Life Sutra and Sutra of Great Liberation.

Thank you to all who undertake these practices and those who make the offerings possible. You are welcome to join in all these offerings arranged on Lhabab Duchen and on all the future merit multiplying days.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Ven. Lobsang Tsering displays a page of the Prajnaparamita he has been writing out.

In the heart of Kopan Monastery, nestled in the beautiful hills of Nepal, a quiet yet monumental task unfolds each day. Ven. Lobsang Tsering has been entrusted with a project that embodies the very essence of continuous joyous effort and guru devotion: writing the Prajnaparamita Sutra in beautiful calligraphy in pure gold ink on archival quality paper. This project for world peace has a huge significance for the entire FPMT community and should continue for as long as FPMT exists.

Ven. Lobsang Tsering’s journey of writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra in gold began over two decades ago when Lama Zopa Rinpoche, recognizing his potential and devotion, assigned him this important job. Since then, Ven. Tsering has devoted himself wholeheartedly to this practice with unwavering focus, patience, wisdom and compassion. As of now, he is working on the fifth of twelve volumes, a testament to the magnitude of this task.

In a recent interview, conducted by Yanzhina Bartanova at Kopan Monastery, Ven. Lobsang Tsering shared his life story and the deep sense of responsibility he feels towards this assignment. His humility and dedication shine through as he recounts the moment Lama Zopa Rinpoche entrusted him with this work. His words offer a profound insight into the importance of the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the personal transformation he has experienced over the years. This interview provides a rare glimpse into the heart and mind of a practitioner whose life is devoted to the Buddhadharma.

You can read the full interview below and also watch it on video. 

The Prajnaparamita Sutra contains the highest teachings of the Buddha and is among the most precious texts available in the world today. Due to the power of this text, writing it out is a way to generate tremendous merit, remove obstacles, and create peace in the world. 

Each year, FPMT allocates over US$50,000 for the pure gold and related expenses. This financial commitment highlights the importance of this project within the FPMT community.

While Ven. Tsering’s contribution is unparalleled in its duration and intensity, he is not alone in this virtuous activity. Jane Seidlitz, working from the USA, has also been writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra in pure gold. Although her involvement has not been for as long or as intense as Ven. Tsering’s, her contribution is equally valued and cherished. Together, their efforts symbolize a huge commitment to preserving the teachings of the Buddha.

Pages of the Prajnaparamita that Ven. Lobsang Tsering has been writing out for over two decades.

This project is a living legacy of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vision, a vision that continues to inspire and uplift those who come into contact with it. Rinpoche asked that the sutra is continually being written out as it is a powerful holy object. 

Interview with Ven. Lobsang Tsering

Gen la, can you please, introduce yourself?

Ven. Lobsang Tsering writing out the Prajnaparamita from Kopan Monastery.

My name is Lobsang Tsering. Actually, my hometown name is Lobsang Tsering, but my gelong name is Thubten Dawa. I’m from Manang Village. It’s a very remote area here in Nepal.

At age of eight, my parents brought me here at Kopan. I grew up here with many children. It was good. I finished my study in 1990. Then I started to serve monastery, working in the office, as a lama gyupa, making sand mandalas. I also got a chance to do some translation work. Then Rinpoche invited me to the United States, I had an opportunity to go there. Rinpoche advised me to write out Prajnaparamita Sutra.

So then I studied again, Rinpoche was showing me caligraphy and the way how to write, how to set up the motivation and the dedication. I was so fortunate. At the beginning of 2002 I started writing out the first volume. It took me 5 years. The second volume took me 5 years. This is the 5th volume I’m working on right now.

So I’m all all the way, 70% of the fifth volume. I was so fortunate that I got this opportunity and I got to carry it on. Still now, my mind is so blessed. I feel like this. I’ve decided I will do it as long as my body supports me, my eyes support me. As long as the gold is supported. I decided I will carry on. Rinpoche has mentioned to me even after His passing away I have to keep writing. Rinpoche mentioned this on a few occasions.

Can you please explain for those who are very new to Buddhism, what is Prajnaparamita Sutra?

Prajnaparamita Sutra is the the wisdom of perfection. The wisdom of perfection was taught by Buddha in Rajgir. It has many different versions, like short, medium, and long versions. Shortest one is very common, well known, is the Heart Sutra, which consists of 25 stanzas, and then when we talk about the short version of the Prajnaparamita Sutra is 8,000 verses. Rinpoche was doing that one, writing in gold letters. And then the middle one is 20,000 verses, which has 3 volumes.

And then the long one is a 100,000 verses, which has 12 volumes. So that’s what I’m working on here right now. I’m on the 5th volume out of 12 volumes. It’s slowly but steadily is going on.

When we’re talking about the Heart Sutra is mainly we’re talking about the interdependent origination and emptiness, and it’s a very crucial teaching of the Buddha. That’s why it’s so important text of the Buddha. It is very important to write with the gold so to collect merit. So all the projects of Rinpoche and the FPMT will come true. As Buddhists we believe in order to fulfill or to accomplish the wishes, we need to have merits. So that’s the main reason why we are writing out Prajnaparamita Sutra to accumulate merit so all projects can be done without any obstacles. That was the main purpose.

Can you please explain what is merits and why we need to accumulate it for those who don’t know?

Merit is some kind of the positive energy. So the more negative energy around, the atmosphere becomes negative and then everything actually becomes negative. So all we need is positive energy around. So then positive energy in, out, everywhere. So more positive energy around, the wish come true. That’s what I understand. Something like a virtue as we say, it’s virtues actions. Also, positive energy.

Can you please advise people who would like to do the same as you do, to collect merits by writing out Prajnaparamita Sutra? What they can do, how they can start, if they want to do the same as you?

To write Prajnaparamita Sutra – anybody can do it, but what I understand for us, we need to have a wish to do. That’s so important. So if we have an eager to do it or wish to do it. To have a wish, we need to understand the benefit of that. If you understand the benefit of writing Prajnaparamita Sutra, then because of that the wish will come true. You have a wish, and then you make an effort, then you need to be trained, you can train, anything can be trained. So as we say once it’s habituated, there’s nothing that cannot be done. So that’s all, we need to make an effort on that.

So to make an effort, we need to have a wish first. Then we can do anything – writing out Prajnaparamita Sutra, writing or reading, with the gold or with the ink. It doesn’t matter. While you are writing, make sure that you set up a bodhichitta motivation, it’s very important. Or fulfilling the guru’s wishes or for the sake of the Buddhadharma or Buddha’s teaching or for the sake of all mother sentient beings.

These are very important motivation that we need to set up at the beginning. And then once we done that and then whatever you do or whatever skill you have, you offer your time. So we can do it for years, keep carrying it on as your own practice. Once you carry on as your practice, gradually, maybe a year after year, after year, you keep doing that. I believe by doing that, we will create a lot of positive karma as well and same time with a lot of purification. The more we purify our negative karma, the more positive karma will raise. It felt to me like that.

So with less negative karma, more positive karma will be naturally there. With more positive karma there, your willingness will increase. Then you will be doing more and more and more. More purification is happening, more and more you turn towards the Dharma. More and more compassion is coming. More and more positive thoughts are coming.

More and more you feel devoted to your guru. You feel more kindness.

So this all automatically comes. So that’s very important. To make an effort with it. And by the way, we were saying that short term effort will make a short result, but we have to carry on.

So seriously, keep carrying on, and the rest will be okay. Since we are beginners we need to make effort without losing a hope. No matter what obstacles you may encounter or the challenge you may encounter, but thing is – it’s Dharma practice for the sake of all mother sentient beings. It’s for all Buddhadharma. So if you’re thinking this way, if you keep it in your mind, recollecting it in your mind, then the energy will come. And then you can carry on year after year, after year, after year. And then finally, after 10 years, 20 years, you will see the benefit, and then you’ll find the peace of your mind. And once you have peace of mind you will see how important Buddhadharma is.

All these are coming to you. But definitely we need to make it long. We have to plan for long term.

You discussed a lot about benefits of writing, reading, seeing Prajnaparamita. What would be the top three benefits if we narrow them down?

Lama Zopa Rinpoche working on writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra with Ven. Tsering at his side, Aptos, California, United States, June 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

First, I think is the imprint. The imprint is so important. Sometimes what I do is I play His Holiness Dalai Lama’s teachings. Because I cannot play a song here [laughing], I like playing lamas’ teachings.

So this all comes together. That gives me a lot of knowledge as well. I believe when I first began my writing I can say that I didn’t understand Dharma. I was a monk. I was happy in the monastery. So I carried on like that because of kindness of Rinpoche. But when I look back now, I didn’t understand Dharma at that time.

But luckily, while I’m writing it, I listen to His Holiness’ teachings or Rinpoche’s teachings. Then in between, there are some questions coming up and also negative questions are coming. I’m still a normal human being, so they’re all these nonsense questions are coming. But luckily, because of writing out Prajnaparamita Sutra I got all the answers, which really keeps me strong! So this is how I’m able to carry on still now, after almost 23 years. My mind is still going on maybe because of this. I will say this is the benefit of writing out Prajnaparamita Sutra and listening to teachings. So that’s the first benefit.

The second benefit, definitely, because of doing this, I feel myself very peaceful. Very satisfied with myself. Because of that I can sleep peacefully. Because of that, I can feel my body. So that’s a benefit too. Because as long as we keep our mind in peace our health will be good. Because of that, we could sleep. You can happily live with anybody around. So that’s the second benefit.

The third benefit, of course, it will guide us to the enlightenment. Rinpoche told me one time, “Tsering, because you’re writing out Prajnaparamita, this will guide you to the enlightenment!”. This is so important to me. Wow! There are so many benefits of doing this!

Can you please describe briefly your day at work?

Here at Kopan, I get up around 6 o’clock in the morning, and then I make my water bowl offering. I set up my motivation in the morning. And then do a half part of my prayers, and then go for breakfast around 7:30am. Come back and finish all my prayers.

I finish by 9 or 9:30am. Then I come here and get prepared for my day for the writing out Prajnaparamita Sutra. I prepare everything, like mixing gold with glue, paper. Make a cup of tea. Then again, I set up the motivation here. I’m writing till 11:30am, and then I have a lunch break till 1 o’clock in the afternoon, and then I’m writing from 1 o’clock till 4 o’clock. That is my period of writing Prajnaparamita Sutra. Then after 4pm, I dedicate. That’s so important practice of Dharma. When we’re setting the motivation and at the end we do dedication. If we don’t dedicate at the end, what happens is because we have a lot of delusions inside, such as anger or attachment or something like that. We don’t know when it will arise. So at the moment of anger, they say, that countless, many years of merits will be destroyed. That’s why dedication is so important. I set up dedication, that’s the end of my day. Then I make a cup of tea in my room, get rest. Then I go for a walk. I need to walk because I need to move my body, doing exercise so I will be able to carry on. We need a good health. Without a good health, it’s not possible. That’s very important for the Prajnaparamita project, for the practice of Dharma, whatever activities you are doing the health is so important. So that’s why I go for a walk maybe an hour or so. While I’m walking, I recite the mantras that I need to recite. Then around 6:30pm is dinner, then at the end, again, I have evening prayers to do. Maybe half an hour. And then rest. That is my 5 days a week, 2 days I take days off.

Another question is, you are doing this virtuous activity for more than 20 years. What encouraged you to start this activity?

At that time it was Rinpoche’s power. Rinpoche invited me to America. Rinpoche trusted me. My mind would feel bad, if I didn’t obey Rinpoche. That mind kept me there. Secondly, it’s because Rinpoche is so pure! More we serve him, we want to serve even more.

Maybe Rinpoche’s power. A lot of my friends are saying that I’m the only one who got the renunciation after going to America. Mostly people go to America and they finish their monks life. They want to live a normal life. I think most are like that. Just a few came back still as monks. I am the one of them. So that’s why I feel very blessed.

I would definitely say because of Rinpoche’s power. One reason is I’m in the mandala of Rinpoche. So I need to do well. I’m also a Kopan boy. I need to respect Kopan as well. So this kind of mind helps me to carrying on. Maybe at the beginning I didn’t understand, but because of this kind of mind it helped me. After I’ve been writing for 6-7 years I started to understand. Started to understand maybe 6-7 years after. At the beginning for many of us, we don’t pay attention because we’re young. We just go around or something like that. But once we start to understand, all answers come. Like I said I listened to His Holiness’ teachings and Rinpoche’s teachings. Then I found all the answers to my questions. Then my mind became stronger. I feel very joyous! Now I feel like if I don’t do, if I don’t write one day, I feel like I’m wasting my day.

So important to make sure your day is meaningful. As we say, we have a precious human rebirth, it is so important. If we miss this time, then next life, we don’t know where we will be reborn. As we understand all these things, it’s so important to make sure, while you have this precious human rebirth, you use it in a meaningful way. By thinking that, I’m using it as maximum as possible. So here I am.

You talked about meaningful life, happy life, not wasting your life. So what would be your one advice for people to live happy, meaningful life?

I would say don’t engage in any kind of “happy” negativities. Don’t do that. Live the life positive as much as you can. I think in that way you will definitely find a happy life. Carry on year after year, year after year. You’ll find deep satisfaction, because of your positive actions, positive deeds that you have done in your entire life. If you do some negative action somehow, somewhere you have a regret in your mind. That leading you to the problems, unhappiness, depression. Make sure your day, your month, years are meaningful in the positive way. That’s so important. Then to live in the positive, living with the bodhicitta is the most important. That’s the essence of the Dharma as we say. You live the best way with compassion, with bodhicitta. If not, then at least, restrain from the negative actions as much as you can. Even the small negative action, we have to restrain from it. You have to avoid it.

If you do that, maybe at the end of your life, you will be able to find a deep satisfaction. Then you will definitely be happy. That’s what I believe.

We offer grateful thanks to Yanzhina Bartanova for conducting this extremely moving interview. 

 As we reflect on Ven. Tsering’s journey and the ongoing efforts of individuals like Jane Seidlitz, we may be inspired to support this incredible work. Whether through financial contributions or rejoicing in this achievement, we can all be part of this extraordinary endeavor. In doing so, we create an incredible amount of merit and help ensure that the Prajnaparamita Sutra continues to shine brightly, guiding countless beings toward the path of enlightenment.

You can learn more about the Prajnaparamita Project as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

The Khachoe Ghakyil Ling nuns will be reciting the Kangyur on Chokhor Duchen.

Chokhor Duchen (commemorating Shakyamuni Buddha’s first Turning of the Wheel of Dharma) occurs on July 9, 2024 and is an extremely powerful day to undertake practices, as the merit is multiplied 100 million times.

In honor of Buddhas first teaching, the FPMT Puja Fund has arranged the recitation of the 100 volumes of Kangyur teachings and 100,000 verses of the Prajnaparamita Sutras. These precious teachings are from the direct instructions of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said, “The beginning of the Madhyamakavatara text says that [the perfection of wisdom] is called ‘mother’ because all the numberless past, present, and future buddhas have been born from this perfection of wisdom. Also, the numberless bodhisattvas and numberless arhats are born from this wisdom. This wisdom is what liberates numberless sentient beings from all the oceans of samsaric suffering. It is the real Dharma, the real refuge that liberates us from the oceans of samsaric suffering, whose continuation has no beginning.

“This Prajnaparamita teaching is so precious, unbelievably precious. The Buddha said, ‘Wherever this Prajnaparamita teaching is, I am there.’ The Buddha said to Kunga (Ananda) that even if other teachings are destroyed that is okay, but one should not degenerate or allow even a little bit of the teaching of the Prajnaparamita to be destroyed.”

In addition, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained the unbelievable merits in making it possible to read these holy scriptures by the sangha members. The benefits are explained in The Condensed Jewel Quality:

The merit created by reading, writing, keeping, making offering to, and paying respect to the Mother Prajnaparamita and Kangyur, taught by Buddha, who possesses the Ten Powers, the benefits are infinitely greater than: building a stupa of the sorrowless state, making the stupa from the seven jewels, making as many stupas as to fill many thousands of ten million worlds equaling the number of sand grains in the River Ganges, and infinite sentient being making offerings to these stupas three times a day for eons.

We are dedicating these incredibly powerful recitations and all the practices for the health and long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in honor of His Holiness’s 89^th birthday; the swift return of our incomparably kind Lama Zopa Rinpoche; the entire FPMT organization; all those working in FPMT, the kind supporters and volunteers; anybody who needs these prayers; anyone who is experiencing any kind of obstacles or difficulties; and for peace in the world—for all of the wars, famine, disease, economic problems, torture, the dangers of fire, water, air, earthquakes and tsunamis to be pacified immediately, to pacify all the problems in the world; and for perfect peace and happiness to prevail in our hearts and in the hearts of all sentient beings of this world.

In addition to these most powerful recitations there will also be these other practices happening throughout Chokhor Duchen day:

• One Thousand Offerings to Namgyalma
• Medicine Buddha Puja
• Namgyalma Long Life Ritual
• 10,000 recitations of Chanting the Names of Manjushri dedicated to the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Painting the entire Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas and offering new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles.
• Offering a new set of robes to the holy body of the main Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India.
• Printing the Golden Light Sutra, Arya Sanghata Sutra, Vajra Cutter Sutra, Sutra of Great Liberation and Amitayus Long Life Sutras.
• 1,000 animals will be liberated
• Making tsa tsas of Mitukpa, the three long life deities and Kadampa stupas
• Offerings are made to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and to the 10,000 ordained Sangha who are undertaking these prayers, including those in IMI communities.

Rinpoche often reminded us that these pujas are dedicated for anybody who needs these prayers, and the merit that is created from all these prayers is also your merit, so you can dedicate these merits to having realizations and to achieve enlightenment.

This is the twenty ninth consecutive year that we have arranged these pujas, on each of the four Buddha days. Following the advice of our most kind Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who explained how important these continual prayers are for the success of the organization.

Thank you to all who undertake these practices and those who make the offerings possible. You are welcome to join in all these offerings arranged on Chokhor Duchen and for the future Buddha Days.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Precious Tara statue offered by Lama Zopa Rinpcoche to Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma (Khadro-la).

Saka Dawa falls on May 23, 2024, and is a very special day to create merit and offer prayers and practices*.

On behalf of the entire FPMT organization we have arranged a full day of merit making practices undertaken by 10,000 sangha.

100,000 Praises to the Twenty-One Taras will be recited twice at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery and Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries

In addition, we have arranged for the recitation of the entire Prajnaparamita Sutra, Medicine Buddha pujas, 1,000 Offerings to Buddha Namgyalma, and over 10,000 recitations of Jampal Tshen Jo (Chanting the Names of Manjushri) as well as many other pujas and practices.

Offerings will be made to the 10,000 sangha undertaking these different practices and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.

The stupas of Boudhanath and Swambyunath in Nepal will be freshly painted, and the umbrellas at the pinnacle of each stupa will be replaced and a new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.

My idea is for these offerings and pujas to continue forever or for as long as the monasteries exist. Please if you make offerings, you can also remember on the actual day that the pujas are happening, rejoice, and dedicate. This is the best business, the best way to create the most extensive merit. —Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Twenty-One Tara altar at Longku Center, Bern, Switzerland, 2018. Photo by Lobsang Sherab.

For the last 29 years, through the FPMT Puja Fund, we have been arranging extensive pujas for the whole FPMT organization. The specific pujas and dedications were set up by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to ensure that we are continually creating merit for the organization, by sponsoring the pujas, making offerings to the individual sangha, and supporting the monastic communities and we are committed to fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s request.

All these prayers are dedicated to the swift return of our most precious guru Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, for the success of all the FPMT centers, to all the kind donors, students, and volunteers and specifically for all the supporters of the FPMT Puja Fund.

This is a very special opportunity to be part of these collective prayers and we would like to offer everyone the opportunity to join in the extensive merit from these prayers and pujas, by offering any amount, but also (and most importantly), by remembering that these pujas are happening, rejoicing in the activities, and dedicating the merits.

MAKE AN OFFERING

*All the prayers are happening on Saka Dawa, any merit created on that day is multiplied 300 million times, as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

The incredible thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high and 87 feet (27 meters) wide depicts, in stitched appliqué, the Padmasambhava merit field in the center. Displayed during Guru Bumtsog at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2016. Photo by Charok Lama.

For the eighth year in a row, a very large thangka of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) was displayed and an auspicious 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru Bumtsog) took place at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery) on December 16, 2023, in the presence of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Thame monks and other Sangha, Kopan monks and nuns, and local lay people. The event was even aired on the local news! Prayers were offered for all beings and for the swift return of our precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the actualization of all of Rinpoche’s holy wishes, and for peace in the world. 

Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche receiving attendees of the 2023 Guru Bumtsog at Kopan Nunnery. Photo by Charok Lama.

The puja is an incredible undertaking by Kopan monks and nuns as it takes days to set up and arrange, plus lunch offered to all in attendance requires major preparation. This short video captures the energy, joy, and community involvement of this event:

Extensive offerings at the base of the large Padmasambhava thangka during Guru Bumtsog event, Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Photo by Charok Lama.

The thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high and 87 feet (27 meters) wide depicts, in stitched appliqué, the Padmasambhava merit field in the center. Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally designed and oversaw  the creation of this huge thangka and also raised the funds for it, thanks to the kindness of two generous donors. The thangkha was also blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

With great rejoicing we share that this will now be an annual event at Kopan Nunnery on December 3, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday, to commemorate Rinpoche’s life and fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes. Students of Rinpoche are encouraged to plan to come to this extremely joyous and auspicious event. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained that displaying large thangkas is an auspicious way for anyone in the area to make a Dharma imprint and connection to the deity depicted. “You may think that a statue or thangka is just a statue or thangka,” Rinpoche has said, “but it is the transcendental wisdom of dharmakaya, which understands and directly sees absolute truth, as well as conventional truth.”

Guru bumtsog event with the large Padmasambhava thangka on display, December 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.

Rinpoche also expressed that it is his wish for many FPMT centers to have huge thangkas and once a year to display the thangka and have a festival day for the public based around the holy object. During the festival day, Rinpoche requested for there to be many thousands of offerings in front of the thangka, as well as offering banners. 

Young monks receiving lunch during the Guru Bumtsog event at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Lunch was offered to all in attendance. Photo by Charok Lama.

There could be some introduction to Buddhism offered to those in attendance, and then a puja, that is based on the deity of the thangka. Then, people could offer music, dances, and so forth to the thangka (and also for everyone to enjoy). People can also circumambulate the thangka. For example, the center could have a horse and carriage and children can ride along. In this way, even the horse collects merit, as well as any animal that comes on that day and goes around the thangka. This makes their life so meaningful! 

Locals enjoying the Guru Bumtsog event at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Photo by Charok Lama.

Please rejoice in this auspicious yearly event which is fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions and has profound effects on those in Nepal and the entire world.  The costs of offering this yearly are substantial and will be covered by the FPMT Puja Fund. Anyone interested in contributing to this yearly event held on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday may offer any amount to the Puja Fund. 

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.

The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world. 

H.E. Jhado Rinpoche with some of the participants of the 2023 Nyung Na at IVY.

Institut Vajra Yogini (IVY) in France has hosted its twelfth series of 108 Nyung Na retreats from November 2022 to June 2023. One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization was to sponsor people who make a serious commitment in this life to complete 1,000 Nyung Na retreats, and IVY kindly began to host the retreats every year to help fulfill this vision. For the last ten years, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been sponsoring the food and accommodation for a number of people, each year, who undertake the 108 Nyung Na retreats, and in 2023, US$11,522 was offered toward the retreat. We are very happy to continue to offer support each year toward the retreats, in alignment with Rinpoche’s wishes. 

The Nyung Na retreat is a two-day intensive practice that includes taking the 24-hour Mahayana precepts every day, with the addition of complete fasting and silence every second day. There are three sessions of about three hours each day, including meditation, prostrations, and mantra recitation. It is a powerfully effective, experiential practice that can be done by anyone with respect and faith for the practice. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has highly praised Nyung Na retreat as a supreme method for transforming the mind.

Four people completed the full round of 108 Nyung Na retreats this year and around 50 people joined to do one or a few two-day retreats. Like last year, Ven. Charles, the retreat leader, offered the morning sessions online every day as well as one complete two-day Nyung Na retreat online once a month, so more students could participate from home. An incredible 600 Nyung Na retreats have been completed at Institut Vajra Yogini over this period by those practicing on site and at home online, although the exact count is difficult to know with the inclusion of the online retreatants. Please take a moment to rejoice!

There were the times when there were only six participants and sometimes around twenty people joined the retreat. The long-term participants enjoy doing this practice in a bigger group as Nyung Na retreats can be more powerful when more people participate, says Nicolas, the director of Institut Vajra Yogini.

Compared to the previous retreats held during the pandemic, it has been much easier to manage the retreat as the Institute did not need to organize COVID tests and follow the safety protocols. This was time-consuming previously, especially due to the high turnover of short-term participants, according to Nicolas.

This spring was especially difficult for the long-term participants, who used to receive personal advice and guidance from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. They did their practice in the midst of great loss and grief when Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away.

It was a moment of joy when His Eminence Jhado Rinpoche, the former abbot of Namgyal and Gyuto monasteries, visited the Institute on May 4-7, 2023, and over four days conferred the Thousand-Arm Chenrezig initiation and offered a commentary on Nyung Na practice.

To continue fulfilling Rinpoche’s Vast Visions, Institut Vajra Yogini has already begun planning for the thirteenth series of 108 Nyung Na retreats, which will begin mid-November 2023 to mid-June 2024. The retreats are led in French but can be followed simultaneously in English and other languages. 

Please join us in rejoicing in twelve consecutive years of Nyung Na retreats at Institut Vajra Yogini. 

If you would like to support Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish to support these important retreats, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Practice and Retreats Fund

 If you are interested in joining the Nyung Na retreat, please contact Institut Vajra Yogini’s Center Director. 

Puja being offered at Kopan Monastery, April, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab

Chokhor Duchen (commemorating Shakyamuni Buddha’s first turning of the wheel of Dharma) occurs on July 21, 2023. Based on the wishes and advice of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, on that day, we are making a monetary offering to over ten thousand sangha, while they are engaged in offering pujas and prayers for the entire FPMT organization.

The pujas we have arranged on Chokhor Duchen are:

• Recitation of the Kangyur (108 volumes of the sutras taught by Shakyamuni Buddha) by Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery.
• Recitation of the Prajnaparamita Sutra by Gyudmed Tantric College.

As Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained:

Even memorizing four lines of the teachings of the perfection of wisdom has unbelievable, mind-blowing benefits. The Buddha explained that the benefits are equal to the number of worlds equaling the number of sand grains of the river Ganges. Just memorizing four lines – one stanza – of the teachings on the perfection of wisdom collects far greater merit than if you were to fill that many worlds with precious jewels, gold, diamonds, and silver and make offerings of these to the Buddha. Even though the offering is unbelievably mind-blowing, extensive, it is very small if you compare it to the benefits of memorizing just four lines of the teachings on the perfection of wisdom.

The Buddha said, “Wherever this Prajnaparamita teaching is, I am there.” The Buddha said to Kunga (Ananda) one should not degenerate or allow even a little bit of the teaching of the Prajnaparamita to be destroyed. The Buddha asked Kunga to look after and protect the teachings of the Prajnaparamita. Sponsoring the recitation of the Prajnaparamita is also a service to the teachings of the Buddha – to preserve and spread them. It is a very important service to the Buddha – this is what Buddha cherished so much, the teachings on the Prajnaparamita.

Monks offering puja at Sera Lachi Monastery.

In addition to these two incredible sutra recitations there will be:

• One Thousand Offerings to Namgyalma and Sixty-Four Offerings to Kalarupa by Sera Lachi Monastery and Gyuto Tantric College
• Medicine Buddha puja and Sixty-Four Offerings to Kalarupa by Gaden Lachi Monastery
• Namgyalma long life ritual and Sixty-Four Offerings to Kalarupa by Drepung Lachi Monastery
• Offerings will be made to the ten thousand sangha who are undertaking these pujas, to all the IMI sangha communities, and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• The stupas of Boudhanath and Swambyunath in Nepal will be freshly painted, and the umbrellas at the pinnacle of each stupa will be replaced with the best quality cloth.
• A new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.
• Sangha will also be printing various sutras, making stupas and Buddha tsa-tsas, and liberating animals.

All these practices are dedicated to the swift return of our most precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, for the success of the whole FPMT organization, and to all the kind donors.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this advice during a FPMT Board Meeting in September 1990:

There is nothing compared to making offerings to the sangha in these monasteries, because all these sangha are disciples of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other gurus. Offering tea to one disciple is better than making offering to all the Buddhas.

“Since these pujas are to be performed for as long as the monasteries exist, somebody can, if they want to participate, put in one dollar in the fund. The fund is then used to benefit all the monasteries and nunneries engaged in the pujas, including Kopan Monastery and Nunnery. I thought that setting up these things might help to create good karma for success.

Thank you to all who make this possible and especially the Sangha who undertake these prayers and practices on behalf of us all.  To join in the offerings taking place on July 21.

“The merit that is created from all these pujas is also your merit. So, you can dedicate all these merits to having realizations and to achieve enlightenment.” —Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Nuns offering Cittamani Tara Puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return, Kopan Monastery, April 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On Saka Dawa*, June 4, there will be two different recitations of the 100,000 Praises to the Twenty-One Taras, recited by over 4,000 sangha, at Sera Je and Sera Mey monasteries and Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery. This is the thirty-third consecutive year that 100,000 Praises to the Twenty-One Taras have been offered and arranged.

In addition, we have arranged on Saka Dawa:

• The recitation of the entire Prajnaparamita Sutra, Medicine Buddha puja, One Thousand Offerings to Buddha Namgyalma, and other pujas and practices offered in many monasteries in India and Nepal. 
• Offerings will be made to the ten thousand sangha who are undertaking these pujas, and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• The stupas of Boudhanath and Swambyunath in Nepal will be freshly painted, and the umbrellas at the pinnacle of each stupa will be replaced with the best quality cloth.
• A new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.
• Sangha will also be printing various sutras, making stupas and Buddha tsa-tsas, and liberating animals.

All are dedicated to the swift return of our most precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, for the success of the whole FPMT organization, and to all the kind donors.

So far, these offerings and pujas have not been publicized much, but I would like to make it known so that other people can participate in making these extensive offerings. The offering to all these monasteries happens continuously, every year, every month. My idea is for these offerings and pujas to continue forever or for as long as the monasteries exist. Please if you make offerings, please think in this way, and dedicate and you can also remember on the actual day that the pujas are happening, rejoice, and dedicate. This is the best business, the best way to create the most extensive merit. —Lama Zopa Rinpoche

From our heart we are committed to continuing to fulfill this request. Many times Rinpoche reminded us how important these pujas are for the overall success of the whole FPMT organization so it will be most beneficial to all beings.

 We would like to invite anyone who wishes to, to join in these collective prayers and offerings being made to the holy objects and sangha on such an auspicious day.

The merit that is created from all these pujas is also your merit. So, you can dedicate all these merits to having realizations and to achieve enlightenment. —Lama Zopa Rinpoche

*All the prayers are happening on Saka Dawa, any merit created on that day is multiplied 300 million times, as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Gyudmed Monastery monks in puja.

Beginning on Losar (February 21) and during the Fifteen Days of Miracles (through March 7), when the merit is multiplied 100 million times each day, The FPMT Puja Fund has arranged for an array of pujas and activities, as well as offerings to ten thousand Sangha who are so kindly undertaking these practices.

The main puja that will be offered during this incredibly auspicious time is the recitation of the three different Prajnaparamita Sutras (100,000 verses, 25,000 verses and 8,000 verses). This is an all day puja that will be undertaken by the monks of Gyudmed Monastery and dedicated to all the FPMT centers, projects, and services; all students, volunteers, and all beings.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that in the beginning of the Madhyamakavatara text says that The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras (Prajnaparamita) is called “mother” because all the numberless past, present, and future buddhas have been born from this perfection of wisdom. Also, the numberless bodhisattvas and numberless arhats are born from this wisdom. This wisdom is what liberates numberless sentient beings from all the oceans of samsaric suffering. It is the real Dharma, the real refuge that liberates us from the oceans of samsaric suffering, whose continuation has no beginning.

This Prajnaparamita teaching is so unbelievably precious. The Buddha said, “Wherever this Prajnaparamita teaching is, I am there.” The Buddha said to Kunga (Ananda) that even if other teachings are destroyed that is okay, but one should not degenerate or allow even a little bit of the teaching of the Prajnaparamita to be destroyed. The Buddha asked Kunga to look after and protect the teachings of the Prajnaparamita.

Rinpoche also reminds us that by hearing this sutra, writing it down, reading it aloud, or memorizing it, you create unfathomable merit and from life to life and you crush the oceans of samsaric suffering and all the delusions. That is how profound this sutra is, it enables you to reach enlightenment. 

There will be many other pujas sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund during this time as well, such as:

• One Thousand Sets of Offerings to Buddha Namgyalma, Namgyalma long life ritual, Medicine Buddha Puja and Sixty-four Offerings to Kalarupa.
• Offerings to over ten thousand Sangha (including those residing in IMI Sangha communities), and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• A new set of robes are offered to the precious Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.
• New parasols are offered to the top of the Boudha and Swayambhu stupas, as well as offering new paint to the both stupas.
• There will be the printing of holy texts such as The Golden Light Sutra , Arya Sanghata Sutra, Vajra Cutter Sutra, Amitayus Long Life Sutra  and Sutra of Great Liberation.
  
• Up to 1,500 animals will be liberated and the making of many tsa tsas, including Kadampa stupas which will also be filled and consecrated.

Please take a moment to rejoice in all these incredible practices and offerings that have been arranged. You can also participate in any of these pujas and offerings by contributing any amount.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Kopan monks and nuns offering puja at Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On the merit-multiplying day of Lhabab Duchen (which falls on November 15 this year), ten thousand ordained Sangha will be engaging in powerful practices for the benefit of all beings, such as reciting the Prajnaparamita, Medicine Buddha puja, One Thousand Offerings to Namgyalma, and many more. During the pujas, with great respect, a monetary offering will be made to the ten thousand Sangha engaged in the practices.

You are most welcome to be part of this vast offering to the Sangha, and to be held within their extensive dedications, by contributing  any amount: https://fpmt.org/support/pujafund/

Any donation made will be for the offerings to the Sangha undertaking these precious practices on Lhabab Duchen, when the merit is multiplied 100 million times, and for future pujas and offerings arranged by the Puja Fund.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The merit generated from these practices is for everyone and Lama Zopa Rinpoche often reminds us that this is an incredible opportunity for all of us to rejoice in, dedicate, and remember all the pujas and offerings that are being undertaken throughout the day on November 15.

The prayers, pujas, and offerings happening on Lhabab Duchen:

• The monks of Gyudmed Tantric College will be reciting the Prajnaparamita (three versions).
• The monks of Sera Lachi, Ganden Lachi, Drepung Lachi and Gyuto Tantric College will be offering Medicine Buddha puja, One Thousand Offerings to Namgyalma and Namgyalma Long Life puja, Sixty-four Offerings to Kalarupa, and King of Prayers.
• The Sangha of Kopan Monastery and Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery will be offering Medicine Buddha puja, Sixty-Four Offerings to Kalarupa, and King of Prayers.
• Offerings will be made to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, such as Jhado Rinpoche, H.E Ling Rinpoche and many others.
• An incredibly vast offering will be made to the ten thousand Sangha who are engaged in these pujas, as well as all Sangha residing in the IMI monastic communities around the world.
• New robes will be offered to the Buddha statue in Bodhgaya; and saffron paint, umbrellas, and banners will be offered to Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas, with strong prayers.  

Thank you to all who make these offerings possible and to the Sangha undertaking the pujas and practice.

May all these prayers being offered throughout the day be actualized for the benefit of all beings.

You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and attendees during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche on September 11, 2022. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On September 11, 2022, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, offered a moving long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche who has been teaching at the center since August 1. The proceedings involved the traditional five dakini dance, a procession bearing an array of the traditional offerings, long life prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Rinpoche by ABC’s choir, Mudita, with musical accompaniment, and also a composition of praise written by long-time student Cecilia Tsong. 

Rinpoche offered a powerful teaching on emptiness at the end of the puja. “You have to know how to meditate on emptiness to deal with your problems,” Rinpoche said. We invite you to enjoy, and rejoice in, this beautiful praise by Cecilia Tsong which was offered to Rinpoche. 

Cecilia Tsong offering her beautifully composed praise to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the September 11 long life puja. Photo courtesy of ABC Facebook page.

Long Life Praise of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Composed by Cecilia Tsong

This is a miracle.  Having the privilege once again of offering a long life puja to our most precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche even as the world is imploding with wars, famines, natural disasters and rampant violence. Still rocked to its very core by a virus invisible to the naked eye. So, this is a miracle.  

Your presence here now makes us realize how much we have taken for granted over the years: The annual visits, the sessions that often go into early hours of the morning. Rinpoche has no concept of time, we would mutter to ourselves! But of course Rinpoche has the keenest, clearest realization of the value of time. How every single millisecond not spent practicing the Dharma is time lost and wasted, time gone forever!

And now, Rinpoche uses his skillful means to show us the value of time in a different way. Rinpoche is now meticulous in his time keeping, constantly checking if time is up. Reminding us that there will be a time when time is up for all of us, a time when the Dharma – an unbearable thought – will no longer be heard. So every word, every syllable is ever more precious than before.

Rinpoche, in composing this praise, we recognize that no matter how effusive our words may be, there is so much of Rinpoche’s qualities we are still too obscured to see. So, we rely on scriptural authority.

In the Vajra Cutter Sutra, when Subhuti asked the Buddha if that Sutra can ever be taught in the future, the Buddha reassured him there will be teachers who are “bodhisattva mahasattvas, endowed with morality, endowed with qualities, endowed with wisdom,” who will have made homage and roots of virtue to not just a single buddha but to many hundred thousands of buddhas.”  The Buddha must have been referring to one such as you, Rinpoche.

From the Golden Light Sutra, hundreds of thousands of bodhisattvas praised the Tathagata Suvarnaratnakarachhatrakuta with these words. But surely, they were talking about you too, Rinpoche?

O Conqueror, through revealing the nectar of the Dharma
You usher in the deathless city;
An abode of peace,
You are the source of everything serene.

O Conqueror, you free migrating beings from suffering
And liberate creatures from the ocean of misery
You place them well upon the path to peace
And give happiness to every being.

Nothing can be found that is comparable
To the sage’s ocean of virtue and wisdom
Possessing compassion for beings laden with life,
You have the powers of love, perseverance and skill.

There is none among beings, even among gods,
Who in many thousands of millions of eons
Can fully explain merely one drop of virtue
From the ocean of your supreme qualities.

So, what can we see?

We should be reminded Rinpoche was originally here for a medical procedure and recuperation. At the airport, with no consideration whatsoever for his own safety, Rinpoche greeted each of us, fully unmasked, so that we can all see that wonderful smile, hear that joyful laughter. Even as Ven. Roger tried vainly to mask up Rinpoche time and again!

Within two days of the procedure, Rinpoche attended our celebration of His Holiness’ 87^th birthday. The only concessions Rinpoche made to his condition were to do a standing prostration and sit in a chair. Rinpoche then graced Khen Rinpoche’s 60^th birthday celebrations and Guru Puja on Wheel Turning Day where Rinpoche, like an indulgent father, treated us to Magnum ice cream.

Within days, an intense series of lojong teachings started, Zoomed around the world and the extremely rare and precious Heruka Five-Deity and Body Mandala initiations were conferred. And for the very first time at ABC, Rinpoche officiated at the extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja that lasted for over 10 hours!

It must be abundantly clear by now that to rest, to look after his own health and recovery is a concept that is not only alien but completely repugnant to Rinpoche. It is totally unbearable to Rinpoche not to teach and not to benefit when there is the opportunity to do so. 

Astoundingly, Rinpoche genuinely sees himself only as a Mickey Mouse lama, the Lawudo comedian, who knows nothing about the Dharma, who describes his own extraordinary teachings as “garbage talk,” who constantly asks himself whether he is truly benefitting sentient beings, bemoaning that he is “so lazy” and “not doing enough!”

Let us have a look at what this “not doing enough” looks like.

Rinpoche has made supporting the sangha a key priority of the FPMT organization.

• The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund regularly offers grants for food for sangha in monasteries in India, Nepal, and Mongolia and has most recently offered US$900,000 to the newly created Food Fund of Gyumed Monastery, an extremely important monastery that provides the highest education to top Buddhist scholars and teachers, including our very own Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi.
• Over US$400,000 has been offered to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery to help build a new 27,000 sq. feet debate courtyard that will enable its monks to debate uninterrupted throughout the year.
• Monthly stipends are offered to all senior teachers of the Gelug lineage and travel and food expenses are sponsored for hundreds of monks attending the winter debates and the annual Gelugpa exam.

Part of Rinpoche’s Vast Vision is to populate the world with holy objects for world peace.   

• The Holy Objects Fund supports this vision with the aim of creating 100,000 stupas and prayer wheels, 1,000 Maitreya statues, and many, many huge Guru Rinpoche statues.
• The FPMT family are all encouraged to commission giant thangkas to be displayed on special occasions. Prior to the pandemic, ABC has been displaying its own magnificent 50 feet high Amitabha Buddha thangka at the Vesak Day celebrations.

No one teaches the vital importance of generating the good heart, compassion, and bodhicitta quite like Rinpoche. Rinpoche also frequently reminds us of the suffering of animals.

• Put into action, the FPMT Social Services Fund offers grants to projects in India, Nepal, and Mongolia targeted at disadvantaged children, the elderly, the sick, and very poor and supports schools, hospices, health clinics, soup kitchens, and elderly homes.
• The Animal Liberation Sanctuary at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, soon to be further expanded, houses animals such as goats and cows, many saved by Rinpoche himself from the butcher’s shop.

These are only the tip of the tip of the iceberg of Rinpoche’s projects. So when it says in Rinpoche’s long life prayer, “Sustaining, preserving, and spreading the Manjunath’s victorious doctrine;/ Who masterfully accomplish magnificent prayers honoring the Three Rare Sublime Ones,” these are not empty words of praise but actually describes Rinpoche’s enlightened activities.

There are many new students gathered here today but new or old, we are truly the most fortunate of the fortunate, for during these troubled times, when there are so many wayward but charismatic teachers leading their students astray, Rinpoche is the guru who truly possesses and surpasses all the ten qualities of the valid guru. Rinpoche is the real deal!

So, Rinpoche, this is our heartfelt commitment to you:

You are our guru, you are our yidam,
You are our dakini and Dharma protector.
From now until enlightenment,
We shall seek no other refuge than you.

For the sake of your students, old and new, Rinpoche, please, please live long. 

And for countless others, desperately seeking but yet to meet the fully qualified guru, you who are that perfect guru, let them quickly, quickly find you. For their sake, Rinpoche, please, please live long. 

Our collective prayers have tremendous power and even if you were unable to attend the long life puja in person or online, we invite you to generate your own prayers for Rinpoche’s health and long life.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

You can learn more about the various charitable activities of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the many funds which support Rinpoche’s vision. 

A practice session during one of the 108 Nyung Na retreats at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, June 2022.

The Nyung Na retreat is a two-day intensive practice that includes taking the 24-hour Mahayana precepts every day, with the addition of complete fasting and silence every second day. There are three sessions of about three hours each day, including meditation, prostrations, and mantra recitation. It is a powerfully effective, experiential practice that can be done by anyone with respect and faith for the practice. Nyung Na retreat is highly praised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a supreme method for transforming the mind.

Institut Vajra Yogini (IVY) in France has hosted it’s eleventh series of 108 Nyung Na retreats from November 2021-June 2022. One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization is to regularly sponsor 1,000 Nyung Na retreats, and Institut Vajra Yogini kindly began to host the retreats every year to help fulfill this vision.

Like last year, the pandemic created some new challenges and restrictions, including an outbreak in the group earlier in the year. To follow government safety protocols and help reduce the risk of outbreak, IVY had to remove the option for students to join for single sessions, which it had offered in years before the pandemic. To help accommodate more students, Ven. Charles, the retreat leader, offered the morning sessions online every morning as well as one complete two-day Nyung Na retreat online once a month, so more students could participate from home.

This year, three people have completed the full round of 108 Nyung Na retreats, please take a moment to rejoice in their practice: 

• Venerable Charles
• Valentino Giacomin, from Alice Project
• Jean Marie Tanpi de Campanema, from France

An incredible 1,188 Nyung Na retreats have been completed at Institut Vajra Yogini over this period by those practicing on site and at home online, although the exact count is difficult to know with the inclusion of the online retreatants. 

Participants during one of the 108 Nyung Na retreats being held at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, June 2022.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund. has been sponsoring the food and accommodation for up to ten people, each year, who undertake the 108 Nyung Na retreats. This year, the fund offered US$14,541 in support of the 108 retreats completed. 

Institut Vajra Yogini has already begun planning for the twelfth series of 108 Nyung Na retreats, which will be held from November 15, 2022 to mid-June 2023. The retreats are led in French but can be followed simultaneously in English and other languages. If you are interested in joining, or would like to help sponsor the retreats for others, please contact Institut Vajra Yogini’s Center Director. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is again offering sponsorship for up to ten people to commit to 108 Nyung Nas.

“Nyung Nas 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 samsaric suffering and bring to enlightenment… This is an extremely powerful practice, it is an incredible way to develop bodhicitta.” —Lama Zopa Rinpoche

You can learn more about the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Find resources on the practice of Nyung Na in the Foundation Store.