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Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Lawudo cave, 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
The Lawudo Retreat Centre, situated high in the Himalayan mountains of eastern Nepal, holds particular significance for FPMT. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, Lama Kunzang Yeshe, who lived and practiced in Lawudo until his passing at age 81.
Lawudo is a greatly blessed place of holy beings and called the Magnificent Cave of Attainments. This refers to a stomach-shaped cave, known to the locals as Lawudo. The Lawudo Lama went to this place and dug out the earth to find the beautifully shaped cave with various auspicious signs. The Lawudo Lama declared that it was a self-created cave given to him by Padmasambhava himself and such a cave was mentioned in a very secret terma (text) of Padmasambhava.
The Lawudo Lama spent thirteen years on one seat inside the cave, without going anywhere, meditating day and night with great energy. He also gave transmissions, commentaries and long-life initiations to his disciples from Khumbu. The Lawudo Lama predicted the exact day of his passing and passed away in meditation inside the cave.
The Lawudo cave still has the relics stupa inside and the purkhang (cremation stupa of the Lawudo Lama) is a ten minute walk from the cave.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the Lawudo gompa, 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In this life, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has done several retreats in the cave and often refers to his time there as a very special experience. His book, The Door To Satisfaction, was conceptualized while he was in Lawudo to oversee the building of the gompa. His plan was to build a monastery where Sherpa boys could get a traditional monastic education. However, this plan changed when it became clear that it was untenable to ferry large groups of young monks between Kopan and Lawudo. So now it is a precious hermitage for those who want to do retreat and stay in isolation.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with his sister, Ani Ngawang Samten, at Lawudo Retreat Centre, 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his brother Sangay and Sangay’s wife, Nyima. March 2021, Kathmanu, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche’s older sister Ani Ngawang Samten, has overseen all of the development at Lawudo and has taken care of the students, teachers and retreaters who have visited Lawudo since the early days of FPMT. Back then, she carried stones and helped build the gompa at Lawudo. For four decades, she has cooked the food and made sure that visitors have what they need. Ven. Roger Kunsang, CEO of FPMT Inc. and Rinpoche’s assistant, has called her the “mother” of Lawudo. Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s brother, Sangay Sherpa, is the current director and has been working hard in maintaining and also developing Lawudo Retreat Centre.
Sangay reported in a recent update, “In my last visit to Lawudo I rebuilt the previous Lawudo Lama Kunzang Yeshe’s, memorial stupa, which was totally damaged by the earthquake. Also, I have widened the space of the Lawudo cave. I built a concrete support wall behind the main monastery. All the ground work has been finished but the concrete work (stone work, iron, beam pillar work) are still remaining.”
From the most recent Lawudo newsletter (with thanks to Frances Howland):
On October 16, 2020 the 86 year-old Tengboche Rinpoche passed away in Namche Bazaar. Many Sherpas from Kathmandu traveled to Khumbu for the 49 days of rituals and shortly afterward news of some people dying of respiratory illness in Khumbu appeared. Medics arrived by helicopter on October 23 to take swab samples of contact traced locals after a 65-year-old man, who was helicoptered to Kathmandu, tested positive and subsequently died. Following this, the Khumbu rural municipality decided to shut down the Everest region for outsiders.
However, since October the number of cases in Nepal has dramatically reduced. The first tranche of vaccines has just arrived, and health and other frontline workers have begun to be vaccinated.
During these past quiet months the cave has been re-decorated, a new entrance gate has been installed, and two big greenhouses are under construction, which will enable the Lawudo family to grow vegetables all year round. This will be especially useful as a food supplement in the winter.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with his brother, Sangay Sherpa, at Lawudo, 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Recently through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered substantial support for the work that Sangay is undertaking for the buildings and renovations at Lawudo, as well as for the repairs for the stupa.
Rinpoche still has incredible plans for Lawudo such as building a seven foot Kalachakra statue that will be housed in a small temple that people can circumambulate. Rinpoche also wants to build a Zandog Palri, which is a three-dimensional building based on the Pure Land of Guru Rinpoche. These projects are slowly being worked on and we will update as they progress.
Thank you to Sangay Sherpa and Ani. Ngawang Samten, who have tirelessly worked at Lawudo Retreat Centre. Thanks are also offered to all who support Lawudo Retreat Centre in many ways, past, present, and future.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. All the offerings from the fund are used toward the creation of holy objects and extensive offerings around the world; sponsoring young tulkus, high lamas and Sangha in India, Nepal, Tibet and the West; supporting FPMT centers, projects and services; sponsoring Dharma retreats and events; funding animal liberations and blessings, and many other worthy projects.
You can learn more about Lawudo Gompa and the history of Lawudo.
http://www.lawudo.com/About
Long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, December 25, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On December 25, 2020 a White Tara Long Life Puja was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche on behalf of all FPMT centers, projects, services, and students. For seven days leading up to this puja Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la), Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, thirty-five senior monks, and fifteen senior nuns completed many hours of preparation practices at Kopan Monastery in order to make the long life puja as powerful as possible. There were two sessions of White Tara practice a day during which the forty-five to fifty individuals in attendance recited many White Tara and Tara mantras to eliminate obstacles to Rinpoche’s long life. They also recited a special mantra that combines the White Tara mantra with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s name mantra:
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE OM AH GURU VAJRADHARA MUNI SHASANA KSHANTI SARVA SIDDHI AYUR PUNYE JNANA PUSHTIM KURU SVAHA
For the actual puja, the Kopan gompa was decorated with victory banners, long hanging banners, and smaller triangular banners, along with garlands of flowers hanging between the pillars. The thrones of His Holiness and Rinpoche were covered in garlands of marigolds. Before the puja, the Kopan monks and about fifty to sixty of the older nuns from the nunnery attended and participated in White Tara practice that had been done all week. This was followed by the actual long life puja, during which many offerings were visualized and offered to the guru in the form of White Tara.
Request to the Dakinis was offered, which is part of the usual long life puja when done together with Lama Chopa. During the Request to the Dakinis, Rinpoche was offered the traditional long life offerings of a double vajra, monk’s robes, pandit’s hat, monk’s seat cover, begging bowl, monk’s staff, seven precious royal objects, and eight auspicious signs. He was also offered some very beautiful statues of White Tara, Namgyalma, and Amitayus. Those in attendance also offered part of the short Sixteen Arhats Puja and the Prayer to Amitayus in addition to the various long life prayers and requesting and thanking mandalas.
Ven. Joan Nicell, who was in attendance said, “The whole event was beautiful and went smoothly. Rinpoche seemed very happy with the puja. From my side, it was one of the most special ways to celebrate Christmas that I have experienced since becoming a Buddhist.”
Long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. led by Khadro-la, Kopan Monastery, December 25, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Please enjoy this short video of highlights from this most auspicious event:
https://youtu.be/-juSPvEPU3g
Another upcoming long life puja will be offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the third Tibetan month (actual date still to be determined). This will be an Amitayus Long Life Puja and will also be preceded by seven days of preparation practices at Kopan Monastery, led by Khadro-la.
Ven. Roger Kunsang offering body, speech, and mind mandala to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the long life puja held at Kopan Monastery, December 25, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
All are welcome to participate in this upcoming puja by offering prayers from your heart on the day of the puja or offering any amount towards the puja. We also invite you to rejoice in the completion of the December 25 long life puja, with strong prayers of dedication for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life.
The Long Life Puja Fund always contributes to long life pujas offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You can also learn about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT and discover the many ways the various funds and projects are benefiting others.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la enjoying tea after the Sixteen Arhats puja on Rinpoche’s seventy-fifth birthday, Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
There will be two official annual long life pujas offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche on behalf of FPMT centers, projects, services, and students this year. The first puja will be offered at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, beginning on December 25. It will be a special White Tara Long Life Puja. For seven days leading up to the actual puja on the 25th Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la), with senior Kopan monks, will do many hours of preparation practices at Kopan Monastery in order to make the long life puja as powerful as possible.
The second long life puja will be an Amitayus Long Life Puja, and this will be offered to Rinpoche during the 3rd Tibetan month (actual date still to be determined). It will also be preceded by seven days of preparation practices at Kopan Monastery, led by Khadro-la.
These pujas are similar to the extensive puja offered in July 2020 by Khadro-la. We are so incredibly grateful to Khadro-la for taking care of Rinpoche in this way, advising, guiding and actually offering these long life pujas so carefully and with so much preparation.
The purpose of the long life puja is for students to purify the mistakes that occur in relation to their teacher, and to create the causes and conditions to continue to receive benefit from that teacher for a very long time.
By maintaining harmony, following the gurus advice and by offering long life pujas, students accumulate the merit needed for our precious guru to stay in the world with us for a long time. Having the continued guidance of the guru depends on the merit of the disciples. We need to create the cause for us to keep meeting with the precious guru in future lives until we attain the highest goal of enlightenment, for the benefit of all.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche also regularly mentions that offering long life pujas is a cause for one’s own long life.
All are welcome to participate in this auspicious event by offering prayers from your heart on the day of the puja, or offering any amount towards the puja.
The Long Life Puja Fund always contributes to long life pujas offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You can also learn about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT and discover the many ways the various funds and projects are benefiting others.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Losang Namgyal Rinpoche visiting Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling and the new statues, September 2020. Photos courtesy of Jyangchub Choeling Facebook page.
Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling is a monastery in Boudha, Nepal, established in 2008 by Losang Namgyal Rinpoche who is also the present director. Losang Namgyal Rinpoche studied at Kopan Monastery and is a highly regarded lama of the Tamang people. Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling is a new Rime monastery in the Mahayana tradition, representing and respecting all the traditions of Buddhism. It will be a center of Buddhist study and spirituality for both the monastic Sangha and the lay community and it will also contain a clinic and be the coordination center for outreach Dharma and social work.
Offerings in Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered grants toward different projects and holy objects, such as large stupas, prayerweels and gompas that Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is building in outlaying areas in Nepal. In 2020 Lama Zopa Rinpoche was also very happy to offer a large grant toward the building of four large Buddha statues that will be in the new gompa of Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling and in September Rinpoche visited the new gompa and blessed the statues, that are currently still being built.
“When you see a holy object you should think: All of these holy objects are my root guru who manifested this to liberate me from the lower realms. You should think of the kindness manifesting in every single holy object. Prostrate whenever you see any holy object because it causes you to achieve Buddha’s holy body, speech, mind, and all qualities. Whenever you are in a place with many holy objects, put your hands together while turning your body toward the holy objects and think, I prostrate to all the gurus.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Thank you to all the donors who make it possible to offer these grants and in this way offer substantial help for the continuation of Buddhism throughout Nepal.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. All the offerings from the fund are used toward the creation of holy objects and extensive offerings around the world; sponsoring young tulkus, high lamas and Sangha in India, Nepal, Tibet and the West; supporting FPMT centers, projects and services and sponsoring Dharma retreats and events.
Special White Tara long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, July 4, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On July 4, under the direction and guidance of Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drolma (Khadro-la), a special White Tara long life puja was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, with Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and about one hundred senior monks from the monastery and twenty nuns from the nunnery. Attendance at this puja was limited due to the current lockdown situation in Nepal.
For three days prior to the actual puja, Khadro-la, with the help of six geshes, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and about one hundred senior geshes and monks from Kopan Monastery, did special preparatory practices in the Kopan gompa for many hours. This was part of the White Tara long life puja, which comes from His Holiness Zong Rinpoche and is a very powerful puja from the lower tantra.
Khadro-la offering the special White Tara long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, July 4, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
FPMT, through the Long Life Puja Fund, and Kopan Monastery sponsored this entire puja. All the extensive preparations were kindly taken care of by Kopan.
This particular long life puja was offered because Ven. Roger Kunsang had checked with Khadro-la about Rinpoche’s health and long life for the upcoming year, which is customary for him to do. Khadro-la indicated there were some obstacles to Rinpoche’s health and long life and this special long life puja was needed. In addition, Khadro-la advised on the need for three to four Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong pujas to be offered at Kopan Monastery before the end of this year. One of these pujas has already been completed—this is a very extensive puja that takes most of an entire day, about fourteen hours, to offer.
Khadro-la leading preparations the day prior to the long life puja. 3.5 days of preparations were needed. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Large effigy of Lama Zopa Rinpoche made for the special long life puja by Kopan Lama Gyupas. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Khadro-la advised that the preparation for this long life puja needed to last at least three days to make it most powerful. During the preparation there was a large effigy of Rinpoche created by the Kopan Lama Gyupas with hand-made robes, hat, and glasses. The effigy was then taken out during the puja.
On the morning of the puja, further preparation occurred until Rinpoche was invited down to the gompa by Khadro-la and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi.
Offering of tsog during the White Tara long life puja. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka offered by Ven. Roger Kunsang to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the White Tara long life puja.
Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the White Tara long life puja. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
One very special offering that was made to Rinpoche during the puja was a new Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka to replace the one that Rinpoche carries with him everywhere. Ven. Roger sponsored the thangka on behalf of the organization and arranged for it to be painted about a year ago. Throughout the process Ven. Roger checked the art, quality and type of brocade, and other details with Rinpoche. Rinpoche was very pleased with the art.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la, Kopan Monastery, July 1, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Following the long life puja Rinpoche and Khadro-la concluded that it was important to also offer Lama Chopa with tsog, starting with Calling the Guru from Afar. This lasted into the early evening.
Every day during the preparation period guided by Khadro-la, Rinpoche and Khadro-la had lunch together, discussing many important subjects. One item discussed at length was the four to six large fire pujas that Khadro-la had advised to do at specific holy places around Kathmandu Valley. These fire pujas will be arranged by different Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug monasteries, including Kopan Monastery. The fire pujas have to be done in different directions and happen simultaneously and are done to help subdue the effects of COVID-19 experienced in Nepal and around the world. These pujas will happen once permission is granted at the various locations; the delays have been due to the situation of lockdown.
Each morning during the preparations, Khadro-la visited Rinpoche for thirty minutes, discussing different signs or indications that she received the night before.
The long life puja itself was very powerful and successful. Rinpoche was very happy and also Khadro-la seemed very pleased.
Following the long life puja Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Khadro-la and Rinpoche walked in the gardens of Kopan Monastery. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On behalf of the entire FPMT organization, we offer the most heartfelt thanks to Khadro-la for taking care of Rinpoche in this way, guiding and offering the entire long life puja so carefully with so much preparation, as well as advising what other pujas are needed. We also want to take this opportunity to thank Ven. Roger Kunsang for offering tireless service to Rinpoche for thirty-five years and for making sure all of these important things happen.
Tremendous thanks to all the centers and students who support the Long Life Puja Fund—please rejoice that your offerings helped sponsor this puja.
Heartfelt thanks are also offered to Kopan Monastery for helping to offer this puja so successfully with so many prayers and preparations.
The Long Life Puja Fund always contributes to long life pujas offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You can also learn about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT and discover the many ways the various funds and projects are benefiting others.
You can watch the video series Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Teachings on Thought Transformation during the Time of COVID-19 and find links to videos in translation, transcripts, MP3s, additional practice advice, and more:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche-for-coronavirus/
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, UK, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund recently issued a grant for US$100,000 to Jamyang Buddhist Center in London, UK, for much needed repairs to the center and a new heating system. As the center is now forty-one years old, repairs and upkeep is a necessity.
The new Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds building. Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.
Also issued from the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund was a grant for US$100,000 to Jamyang Buddhist Center Leeds, UK, for their new 33,000 square-foot center. The new center will have a cafe, book store, meditation hall, and library. Community groups and charities will also be able to rent office and warehouse space at the center. This is a wonderful expansion for this twenty-three year old center.
Please rejoice that both of these centers have offered decades of service to the UK and will continue to thrive and benefit their communities (and all who visit) for many years to come.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. All the offerings from the fund are used toward the creation of holy objects and extensive offerings around the world; sponsoring young tulkus, high lamas and Sangha in India, Nepal, Tibet and the West; supporting FPMT centers, projects and services; sponsoring Dharma retreats and events; funding animal liberations and blessings, and many other worthy projects.
Ven. Roger Kunsang offering a mandala to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during a long life puja, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, May 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
The official annual long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, offered on behalf of the entire FPMT organization will take place on January 22 at Kopan Monastery, Nepal. All are welcome to participate in this auspicious event by offering prayers from your heart on the day of the puja, or offering any amount toward it that you are able.
Ven. Roger Kunsang, assistant to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the CEO of FPMT, Inc. also consulted Rinpoche’s gurus about prayers and practices that should be done for Rinpoche’s long life in 2020 and those recommended pujas were immediately arranged in Nepal.
Long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Bendigo, Australia, May 2018. Photo courtesy of Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim.
The purpose of the long life puja is for students to purify the mistakes that occur in relation to their teacher, and to create the causes and conditions to continue to receive benefit from that teacher for a very long time.
Rinpoche also regularly mentions that offering long life pujas is a cause for one’s own long life.
The Long Life Puja Fund always contributes to long life pujas offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You can also learn about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT and discover the many ways the various funds and projects are benefiting others.
Bird’s eye view of the progress on the Compassion Wheel at Vajrapani Institute.
In December 2016, Vajrapani Institute, an FPMT retreat center in Northern California, launched the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel Project. The prayer wheel, called the Compassion Wheel and standing 7 ft x 10 ft when completed, will contain 5 trillion (5,000,000,000,000) copies of OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of Chenrezig, the Buddhist deity who embodies universal compassion. This request came from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund recently disbursed a final grant of US$40,000 for this project.
Ven. Gyatso from Nalanda Monastery is helping to fill the Compassion Wheel.
Director Heidi Oehler reports:
“It’s quite a sight to see the Compassion Wheel come to life as this magnificent vision starts to become a reality. This special prayer wheel will be spun at the heart of the land at Vajrapani Institute, blessing all who visit the center, as well as the surrounding area.
“The basic structure has been framed out by our amazing carpenters. Engineers have designed, built and installed a new structurally reinforced frame and bearings system to hold the weight of the mantras and spin it with the force of one hand. We are now focused on putting together the wheel and getting it filled. As fortune would have it, a past staff member and current Nalanda monk who has been studying the Basic Program and helping Nalanda to fill it’s statues and prayer wheels recently returned to help us here! We are so grateful to Ven. Gyatso for helping to take on the project of filling the amazing compassion wheel.
Geshe Sherpa painted the painted the sky and earth mandalas which will go inside the wheel. Sky mandala is pictured here.
“Gelek Sherpa from Land of Medicine Buddha, painted the sky and earth mandalas which go inside the wheel. Ven. Tsering from Kachoe Dechen Ling will paint the mantras on the center poll. Microfilm with the OM MANI PADME HUM mantra are being printed and gradually shipped to Vajrapani now.”
Rinpoche has explained that every time you rejoice in an offering, the construction of the prayer wheel, and in the effort of all those who are working to actualize it, the merit doubles. When you rejoice the second time, the merit is multiplied by four. The third time, it is multiplied by eight. Lama Tsongkhapa said that to collect merit, the best way is through rejoicing.
“Each time you rejoice you collect skies of merit, making it such an easy way to achieve enlightenment.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Please join us in rejoicing about the progress of this one-of-a-kind prayer wheel that will benefit Vajrapani Institute, all who visit, all beings in the area; contribute to world peace and compassion; as well as bless and benefit anyone who helps make it a reality or even cultivates a warm thought about the project.
Supporting the creation of prayer wheels and other holy objects is part of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/#pw
Find out more and give your support to the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel Project:
http://www.vajrapani.org/prayerwheel/pw/index.php
To help ensure grants like this continue toward holy objects, all are welcome to offer a donation of any amount to the Holy Object Fund.
Director of Vajrapani Institute Heidi Oehler, Director of Tara Redwoods School Pam Cayton, and Osel at Lama Yeshe’s cremation Stupa at Vajrapani Institute. August 4, 2019. Photo by Jacie Keeley.
This Summer Tenzin Osel Hita (the recognized incarnation of Lama Yeshe) gave a number of Dharma talks in FPMT centers and study groups in the United States. Starting in August Osel visited and spoke at Vajrapani Institute, Land of Medicine Buddha, Gyalwa Gyatso, and Tse Chen Ling, in California; and then traveled to Florida where he spent time at Namdrol Ling, in Miami, and Thubten Kunga Ling, in Deerfield Beach.
Osel Hita has long had the ambition to create intentional ecovillage communities fostering a sustainable lifestyle where community living is valued and practiced.
Osel speaking at Thubten Kunga Ling in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Photo by Jacie Keeley.
Land of Medicine Buddha, which has established itself as an environmentally conscious meditation and retreat center, was chosen as the host site for Osel to pilot some of his signature concepts in August. A four-day event (August 4-7) that Osel called “Being Your True Nature: A Being Experience and Habit Alignment” was a balance of personal reflection and renewal through connection with nature, meditation, Dharma talks, body movement, and healthy eating. Each participant was encouraged to connect with their true nature and innate wisdom in order to be of greater benefit to the whole world, or what Osel calls “collective consciousness.”
Osel was able to connect to hundreds of students while on this tour in the United States, and reports from those in attendance shared a common theme of transformation and elevated energy.
Osel is offering the following talks in England:
- November 28, 7pm-9pm: “Creating a Better Future” at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, England.
- December 1, 2pm-4pm: “A Chat with our Virtuous Friend” at Land of Joy, Northumberland, England.
- December 4, 6:30pm-4pm: “We are Bigger than our Problems” at Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, Leeds, England
Please enjoy this public talk Osel gave at Gyalwa Gyatso in August:
The Big Love Fund was established to provide financial resources to support the educational endeavors of Osel. All are welcome to contribute any amount to this fund.
1,000 tsa-tsas of Lama Tsongkhapa when in progress at Chenrezig Institute’s art studio, Garden of Enlightenment.
Lama Tsongkhapa Day commemorates the anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s parinirvana. It is observed on the 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar and, this year, which marks the 600th anniversary, falls on December 21. The Geluk International Foundation has proclaimed 2019 to be the International Year of Tsongkhapa.
Finished tsa-tsas of Lama Tsongkhapa.
In 2018 the Executive Director of the Geluk International Foundation requested Lama Zopa Rinpoche to arrange the creation of 1,000 Lama Tsongkhapa tsa-tsas to be offered to Ganden Tripa Rinpoche to offer to others.
Rinpoche happily accepted this and due to the kindness of some sponsors was able to completely cover the cost of the materials, gold leafing, and shipping of the 1,000 small statues.
The Ganden Tripa or “throne-holder of Ganden” is the head of the Gelug school. Before passing away, Lama Tsongkhapa gave his robe and staff to the first Ganden Tripa to preside over Gaden Monastery which was originally founded by Tsongkhapa in 1409 in Tibet and destroyed in 1959, then re-established in Karnataka, India, in 1996 by the Tibetan population in exile.
Garrey Foulkes and the amazing volunteer artists at Chenrezig Institute’s, art studio, Garden of Enlightenment in Australia, took on this tremendous task over the last year. First they cast the 1,000 14-centimeter tsa tsas, repaired, rolled the required mantras, filled them, painted them, applied gold-leafing to the hats of each, and then packed and shipped them.
We really thank Garrey and all the volunteers for this incredible effort and offering.
Please rejoice in the creation of these 1,000 holy objects in celebration of the 600th anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s parinirvana.
FPMT Education Services recently published a list compiled by Lama Zopa Rinpoche of various prayers authored by Lama Tsongkhapa or written in his honor to help students engage in this most auspicious celebration as meritoriously as possible.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. All the offerings from the fund are used toward the creation of holy objects and extensive offerings around the world; sponsoring young tulkus, high lamas and Sangha in India, Nepal, Tibet and the West; supporting FPMT centers, projects and services; sponsoring Dharma retreats and events; funding animal liberations and blessings, and many other worthy projects.
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Bylakuppe, India. Photo courtesy of Tashi Lhunpo Facebook page.
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, located in Bylakuppe, Southern India, and seat to the Panchen Lama, has been growing significantly over the last few decades. A courtyard was added in 2012, a new prayer hall was completed in 2015, and construction of a new expansive library began in 2016.
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund offered US$36,412.50 toward the completion of this library which will be equipped with the latest computer technology in order to educate, encourage, and inspire monastic community as well as the needs of the Bylakuppe region in general. The mission of this library is to emulate the legacy of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery of Tibet which was once a leading center for learning. You can read more about this monastery’s rich and extensive history.
Please rejoice in the completion of this library which will benefit the monks of Tashi Lhunpo as well as the entire area.
You can learn more about the many beneficial activities of the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fundor other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
Water bowls and extensive offerings at Ganden Do Ngag Shedrub Ling Center, Mongolia, offered by a dedicated group of elderly volunteers.
Since 2000, a group of very dedicated volunteers have been offering over a thousand water bowls plus extensive offerings of flowers, incense, candles, and food daily at Ganden Do Ngag Shedrub Ling Center, Mongolia. In August, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered these volunteers lunch to thank them for their incredible kindness and perseverance.
Most of the volunteers are retired women who have been providing this service every morning for a number of years. The average volunteer is 60-75 years old and there are two ladies who are 86. Despite hardships of weather (temperature lows can reach -20 °F) or physical challenges, the volunteers complete the offering practice daily. If 10-15 people participate, they finish in approximately 1.5-2 hours; if just a few participate, they need 2-3 hours to complete. At the conclusion of the daily offering activity, they all enjoy breakfast together. This is remarkable dedication on the part of these extraordinary volunteers.
Volunteers enjoying lunch offered by Lama Zopa Rinpoche as thanks for their dedication.
This is one of a few places in the world where extensive offerings like this are happening every day. The only other locations are at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, (in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s rooms); Root Institute, India, (in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room); Kachoe Dechen Ling, CA, USA; and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington State, USA. Extensive light offerings occur at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore; and Chokyi Gyaltsen Center, Penang, Malaysia.
“We are not aware of the limitless skies of benefits we achieve from the practice of offering, what we can achieve and enjoy from life to life. Even while you are in samsara, you enjoy good rebirths, wealth, and every happiness. Even just the samsaric perfections are amazing, without adding all those incredible realizations that allow us to offer deep benefit to sentient beings, liberating them from oceans of samsaric suffering and its cause, delusion and karma.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Please rejoice that these daily offerings are occurring in Mongolia and the other locations mentioned around the world. Lama Zopa Rinpoche often advises students, whenever making offerings ourselves, to visualize places around the world where extensive daily offerings are made, in order to greatly increase our own effort. In this way, all are welcome to participate. Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally makes these offerings daily in his prayers before meals.
Thanks to each of the dedicated volunteers who have committed to offering in this way daily despite external complications or obstacles. Truly amazing!
