receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
Puja Fund News
Robes offered to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India, through the Puja Fund. July, 2015. Photo by Andy Melnic.
Every month, on the full moon, the Puja Fund sponsors offerings to Buddha statues in Tibet and Bodhgaya. An offering of robes, made of the most precious material chosen by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to the Buddha Statue in Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India; and gold is offered to the Jowo Buddha Statue in Tibet.
Mahabodhi Temple and grounds at night, Bodhgaya, India, January 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Bodhgaya is where Shakyamuni Buddha reached enlightenment and according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, is “where a thousand buddhas will descend, place their holy feet, display holy deeds, and achieve enlightenment. Guru Shakyamuni Buddha is the fourth of the thousand buddhas. The rest of the buddhas will descend here and will also display the twelve deeds, and the holy deed, achieving enlightenment. There is a place in Bodhgaya called the Vajra Seat. This ground is blessed. Before becoming enlightened, Buddha blessed this ground so it would not be destroyed or cracked, but would stay firm. It is said that there are no earthquakes in Bodhgaya because it is blessed by Buddha, and also that this will be the last place to exist when the world ends.”
You can watch a video of robes being offered to the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya on a full moon.
Also said to have been blessed by Shakyamuni Buddha himself (making it approximately 2,500 years old), the Jowo Buddha statue is one of the most sacred statues in all of Tibet. Originally crafted in India, the Jowo was brought to China, and then brought to Tibet by the daughter of the Chinese emperor, Princess Wenchen Kongjo, upon her marriage to Songsten Gampo. The Jowo Buddha statue resides in the central chapel of the Jokhang, among the most holy temples in Lhasa.
The Jowo Buddha statue in Lhasa, Tibet.
About the power of statues of Buddha, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said, “The benefit we get each time we see a statue of Buddha, a picture of Buddha or a stupa is like the limitless sky. It causes us to achieve all the realizations from guru devotion up to enlightenment and to achieve all the numberless qualities of the Buddha’s holy body, speech and mind.”
Every full moon students around the world can take a few moments to participate in these offerings by rejoicing and mentally offering the precious robes and gold to these two most holy Buddha statues. Thanks to all the donors who make this possible as well as those who are directly involved by engaging in the practice on site or facilitating the offerings.
All are welcome to donate to the Puja Fund and directly support these most precious offerings.
(Left to right) Kontsak Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi during a Guru Rinpoche puja at Kopan Nunnary, Nepal, December 2015. Photo by Bill Kane.
This year on Losar, in addition to the wide array of pujas and offerings, the Puja Fund also sponsored 100,000 tsog offerings by the Kopan monks and nuns and dedicated to the long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and to purify our karma for Rinpoche to show any aspect of illness.
In this way, the Puja Fund has joined in with all FPMT centers, projects and services to help create the karma for Rinpoche’s long and healthy life. All of the tsog offerings completed will be offered to Rinpoche during the upcoming long life puja in Singapore.
The Puja Fund sponsors prayers and practices, offered by up to 15,650 ordained Sangha members, on every Buddha Day, such as Losar, when merit is multiplied by 100 million times.
The official long life puja on behalf of the entire FPMT will be offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore on Sunday, March 13 as part of Rinpoche’s teaching event there. The puja will start at 9 a.m. Singapore time (GMT+8).
All are welcome to contribute to this long life puja by donating any amount to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Long Life Puja Fund.
Robes offered to the Buddha inside Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India. Lhabab Duchen, 2015.
Every month, on the full moon, the Puja Fund sponsors an offering of robes, made of the most precious material, to the most holy Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India.
The offering and prayers and kindly offered by Sangha and students from Root Institute for Wisdom Culture.
In 2014 Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the market in Bodhgaya and personally chose the best quality cloth for the robes as an example for the ongoing offerings.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught extensively on the benefits of offering to statues of Buddha. “If someone offers a small flower or rice to a Buddha statue, a stupa, or scripture then the benefit extends from then up to enlightenment. Amazing, amazing,” Rinpoche has said. “It is said in the sutra Piled Flowers, on top of that benefit, you achieve ultimate happiness, liberation from the causes of delusion and karma, and on top of that full enlightenment, all the realizations and omniscient mind.”
This year on Lhabab Duchen, many pujas and offerings were sponsored by the Puja Fund, including the robes offered to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple.
You are welcome to contribute any amount to these ongoing pujas and offerings.
You can learn more about the FPMT Puja Fund and the various activities it supports. You can also enjoy an overview of all the FPMT Charitable Projects which contribute to many beneficial endeavors.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Western Sangha, Mexico, 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
As part of an array of offerings made through the FPMT Puja Fund on Losar, Lama Zopa Rinpoche sponsored 57 sets of robes for FPMT’s touring teachers and resident geshes.
“If you were Sangha but you didn’t wear robes, then people would not know [that you were ordained], but with robes on there is no question.” Lama Zopa Rinpoche once commented to a monk about the benefits of wearing robes. “That is how the robes have such incredible benefit for the mind. It is planting the seed for enlightenment when people show respect to your wearing of the robes, or to the robes themselves: This is planting the seed of liberation, and is a way of benefiting sentient beings.”
Offering robes to these teachers is a gesture of thanks for the incredible service they offer and in recognition of their dedication to upholding the teachings of Buddha.
Thanks to Kopan Monastery for arranging this offering. Please rejoice that these teachers were able to receive new robes and also in their committed service to FPMT.
You can learn more about the FPMT Puja Fund and the various activities it supports. You can also enjoy an overview of all the FPMT Charitable Projects which contribute to many beneficial endeavors.
The monks of Sera Je Monastery offering extensive Medicine Buddha puja.
Please rejoice in the amazing array of pujas and offerings which will be sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund this year on Lhabab Duchen (November 3 this year), one of the year’s holy Buddha Multiplying Days. 15,650 Sangha will participate in this activity.
You can read an entire list of these activities, as well as descriptions of the pujas and offerings sponsored, but here are a few highlights of what will be offered:
- Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) offered by the 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College.
- Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles), Namgyäl Tong Chö (One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma) and Zangcho (King of Prayers) offered by the 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery.
- Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
- Small money offerings made to 15,650 Sangha at the great monasteries of India and Nepal, as well as to Sangha at IMI international Sangha communities.
- Offerings made to holy objects: Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas, the Buddha inside Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple, and to the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang.
All are welcome to join in on these incredible offerings by rejoicing in, donating toward, or mentally offering.
You can learn more about the FPMT Puja Fund and the various activities it supports. You can also enjoy an overview of all the FPMT Charitable Projects which contribute to many beneficial endeavors.
Robes offered to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India, through the Puja Fund. July, 2015. Photo by Andy Melnic.
Every month on the full moon, the Puja Fund sponsors the offering of robes, made of the most precious material, to the most holy Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India.
During the robe offering, students and Sangha from Root Institute offer prayers and practices including verses like this from the Nyung Nä sadhana:
In order to purify my mind, I offer an exquisite precious garment,
Multicolored like Indra’s variegated bow,
That when touched becomes the cause of bliss
May I be adorned with the holy garment of patience.
Please rejoice in this monthly offering that is so precious. You are welcome to contribute to this by offering to the Puja Fund at any time.
You can learn more about the extensive pujas, practices and offerings sponsored by the Puja Fund or about any of the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Twenty years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche established the Puja Fund as a way to sponsor ongoing prayers and practices dedicated to the success and longevity of the entire FPMT organization. One puja that Rinpoche advised was particularly important for FPMT is the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja.
Every month, on the Tibetan 29th day, the Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in the practice of Most Secret Hayagriva, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja (Hayagriva Tsog Kong). This is an all day puja with an elaborate torma offering and extensive prayers and meditation. Please rejoice that twelve months of sponsorship for this monthly puja was just offered to Sera Je.
The Puja Fund makes a small offering to the 40 monks who perform the puja; offers breakfast, lunch and dinner; and covers the cost of extensive torma offerings (pictured above) for the puja.
Every Tibetan 29th day, you can remember that there are over 40 monks performing the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja as they have for over twenty years. You are welcome to contribute to this ongoing offering which benefits the entire FPMT mandala of centers, projects, services, students, volunteers, benefactors, and all beings.
You can learn more about the ongoing activities of the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
The monks of Sera Je Monastery offering puja.
Each year on Chokhor Duchen (commemorating Lord Buddha’s first teaching) the Puja Fund sponsors pujas and offerings all over the world dedicated to success of the entire FPMT organization. The practices are offered by up to 15,650 monks and nuns. This year Chokhor Duchen falls on Monday, July 20.
The Prajnaparamita (short, medium and long versions) will be recited by the monks of Gyurme Tantric College, the entire Kangyur will be recited by Kopan Nunnery, extensive offerings will be presented to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities, prayers and pujas which have been advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Some of the 15,650 Sangha who will be doing prayers on Chokor Duchen.
You are welcome to participate in all of this beneficial activity by mentally offering or rejoicing in these practices on July 20 and rejoicing that 15,650 monks and nuns will be doing these prayers, remembering that they are all “pores of the guru” and thus extensions of our teachers. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained:
Making offerings to the Sangha is a way of collecting unbelievable merit because all the sangha are the pores of the Guru. They are all disciples of the same Guru – His Holiness the Dalai Lama. By offering to pores of the Guru one collects more merit than offering to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, as well as numberless statues, stupas. If you offer with the recognition that they are the Guru’s pores then that is an unbelievable way to collect merit. When you offer to many Sanghas who have the same Guru then you are making offerings to that many pores of the Guru. So this is the easiest way to collect skies of merit by offering. By offering even just one candy, flowers or even one grain of rice to a statue of Buddha or even a visualized Buddha you collect skies of merit but here it is much more powerful than offering to the 3 jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) as well as all the statues, stupas and scriptures existing in all directions, so no question if offering to really the same Guru’s disciple. These benefits should be understood so that when you make offerings to the Guru’s pores you think correctly. This is the best business.
If you would like to make a donation toward the meritorious activities being sponsored by the Puja Fund on Chokor Duchen, you can do so by offering any amount you are able.
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 Sangha performing the pujas recommended for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.
Every year, Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s faithful assistant for 29 years and CEO of FPMT Inc. checks with high lamas about any pujas that are needed to be done for the health and long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
In March Ven. Roger Kunsang checked for 2015 and based on the advice received a number of pujas were arranged such as:
- Sixteen Arhats Long Life Puja
- Namgyäl Tong Chö (One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma)
- Dartok Sersum
- Tse Drub
Extensive offerings carefully arranged for the pujas offered for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life.
These pujas were sponsored by the Puja Fund and the Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Long Life Puja Fund and offered on behalf of the entire FPMT organization.
Thanks to the Kopan Sangha for offering these pujas.
May these pujas create the cause for Lama Zopa Rinpoche to have perfect health and a very long life.
All are welcome to participate in the offering of these pujas by donating any amount to the Puja Fund or the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Long Life Puja Fund.
You can learn more about the Puja Fund the activities of the Long Life Puja Fund or any FPMT’s Charitable Projects.
Shakyamuni Buddha with offerings, Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, USA. Photo by Chris Majors.
Each year on Saka Dawa (Day 15 of Month 4: Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana), the Puja Fund sponsors an extensive array of offerings and pujas.
Please rejoice that today, on Saka Dawa, 15,650 ordained Sangha members are offering prayers for the entire FPMT organization. The Prajnaparamita and 100,000 Praises to Tara are both being recited, pujas are being offered, extensive offerings are presented to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities which have been advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
You are welcome to participate in all of this beneficial activity (which is multiplied in virtue by one hundred million during Saka Dawa month, according to the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic) by mentally offering or rejoicing in these practices.
You can also think of all the offerings (water, lights, fruit) that are being made in all the FPMT centers around the world, as well as all the practices that are happening over Saka Dawa. For example, the Kopan nuns are currently doing four nyung näs, outside, due to the aftershocks that are still happening in Nepal. There is so much to rejoice in today. Happy Saka Dawa!
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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing puja at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore.
Each year on Saka Dawa (Day 15 of Month 4: Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana), the Puja Fund sponsors an extensive array of offerings and pujas. The practices are done by up to 15,650 ordained Sangha and offerings are made to all of them. This year, Saka Dawa will take place on June 2.
Over Saka Dawa, the Prajnaparamita will be recited along with 100,000 Praises to Tara among many other practices. Even after the devastation experienced in Nepal from the recent earthquake, Kopan Monastery and Nunnery are still doing all the practices on Saka Dawa and offerings will also be made to all the Sangha.
Pujas and Practices During Saka Dawa
By 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College
- Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions)
By the 400 nuns of Kopan Nunnery
- 100,000 recitations of Praises to 21 Taras
By 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries
- Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
- Namgyäl Tong Chö (One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma)
- Zangcho (King of Prayers)
By 3,400 monks of Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monastery
- Medicine Buddha Puja
- Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
- Zangcho (King of Prayers)
By 4,200 monks of Drepung Gomang, Loseling and Deyang Monastery
- Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
- Namgyäl Tsechog (puja offered to Buddha Namgyälma)
- Zangcho
By 600 monks of Gyuto Tantric College
- Namgyäl Tong Chö (One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma)
- Zangcho (King of Prayers)
By 370 monks of Kopan Monastery
- Medicine Buddha Puja
- Druk Chu Ma Puja (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
Offerings to Gurus and Sangha
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- His Holiness the Sakya Trizin
- Kyabje Choden Rinpoche
- Dhakpa Rinpoche
- Jhado Rinpoche
- Khongla Rato Rinpoche
Small money offering to 15,650 Sangha of:
- Sera Je, Sera Mey
- Gaden Jangtse and Shartse
- Drepung Gomang, Loseling and Deyang
- Gyuto and Gyurme Tantric Colleges
- Kopan Monastery and Nunnery
Small money offerings are made to the Sangha at IMI international Sangha communities:
- Nalanda Monastery, France
- Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia
- Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy
- Chenrezig Institute, Australia
Offerings Made to Holy Objects in India and Tibet
Gold is offered on Sakadawa to the precious Jowa Buddha statue in Lhasa, Tibet.
- Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple: Offering a new set of robes of the most precious material
- Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang: Offering gold to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha
- Making and filling of stupas and lunch offering to participants at Chenrezig Institute, Australia
You are welcome to contribute toward these incredibly beneficial activities which are multiplied in virtue by one hundred million during Saka Dawa month, according to the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
The precious Jowo Buddha statue is offered gold every month on the full moon.
Every month, the Puja Fund offers gold to the most precious Jowo Buddha statue in Lhasa, Tibet. US$3,000 was just sent to cover this offering for the next year. The gold is offered on the full moon and all are welcome to join in by mentally offering or rejoicing in this incredible commitment that Lama Zopa Rinpoche started a number of years ago.
The Jowo Buddha statue is one of the most sacred statues in all of Tibet.
Said to have been blessed by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, the Jowo Buddha statue is one of the most sacred statues in all of Tibet. The Jowo Buddha statue resides in the central chapel of the Jokhang, among the most holy temples in Lhasa.
Every time we see holy objects it purifies so much negative karma, so many defilements. This is because of the power of the holy object. Holy objects have so much power. It’s like an atomic bomb—even though it is small it can bring so much harm and cause so much destruction. That example is negative but what I am saying is that the material has power, like electricity. The material of an atomic bomb has the power to harm and destroy the world. The material of holy objects—statues, scriptures and stupas—has the power to affect our mind, to leave a positive imprint.
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche, “Why Holy Objects Are Precious and Wish-Fulfilling
You can learn more about the Puja Fund, learn more about FPMT Charitable Projects, or get involved in this monthly offering of gold to the Jowo Buddha statue by mentally participating, rejoicing, or contributing any amount to the Puja Fund.