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Supporting our Lamas
Long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Taiwan, March 2013April 2013: Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund offered US$65,187 to the FPMT Puja Fund, which sponsors ongoing pujas at the great monasteries in India and Nepal, with over 9,000 Sangha participating. All the pujas are dedicated for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. Some of this offering was accumulated from what was offered to Rinpoche at the recent long life pujas in Singapore and Taiwan.
Long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Singapore, March 2013Through the sponsorship of ongoing pujas, creating merit through the practices, as well as making offerings to the more than 9,000 sangha who participate in the pujas, the FPMT Puja Fund is very important to the success and removal of obstacles to the whole organization.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 29, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Senior monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery in Nepal recently requested Lama Zopa Rinpoche to accept a special long life puja, out of concern for Rinpoche’s health and in support of other pujas that are being organized. The special long life puja was offered the morning of Monday, April 29. Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) attended the puja and made offerings to Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la having lunch after puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Kopan Monastery and Nunnery have taken on the responsibility to offer pujas throughout the year for Rinpoche’s good health and long life. Each month they are saving a few goats from slaughter and also fish. Some of the pujas, like Tugchuma, will be done daily for the rest of the year.
Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Ladakh, India. April 2013: The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund was very happy to be able to offer US$15,720 for food offered in 2013 to 35 students studying at Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Ladakh, India.
Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh in a small village called Saboo. The campus is spread over 20 hectares of deserted land which eventually will be turned into an oasis of learning.
Students of Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics enjoying food offering. The main aim of this organization is to empower and enrich the poor and needy remote area students by imparting a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom. It was founded by the Ladakh alumni of Sera Jey Monastery in South India. In 2007 Geshe Lharampa Tsewang Dorje was invited to take full responsibility for this project.
Geshe Tsewang Dorje eagerly accepted and began to gather resources needed to start the construction of hostels for girls and boys, a library, and the primary classroom building. Classes are now in session.
There are now 35 children (ages 6-14 years old, both boys and girls) staying in the hostel and attending the school from different parts of Ladakh and the border of Tibet. The Ngari Institute is taking care of all their daily needs, offering free room, board, covering their tuition fees, books and clothing allowances, and access to medical care. The students are following the standard government educational curriculum during the day and learn about Tibetan Buddhism and culture during after-school hours.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche was very happy to support this extremely beneficial project and to be able to offer the entire cost of the food fund for the 35 students and staff, three meals a day for the whole year. In addition, the money is also covering the cost of the students’ shelter, clothing, basic education, and training in nutrition and hygiene.
To rejoice and to learn more about the Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics
Some of the Tashi Chime Gatsal Nuns undertaking 100 Million Mani Retreats.April 2013: Lama Zopa Rinpoche just received this message from the Tashi Chime Gatsal Nuns who are currently doing their 2nd 100 million mani retreat:
The Tashi Chime Gatsal Nuns wanted to send their heartfelt thanks to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and donors who are supporting them and caring for them like their own lovely children.
The nuns wanted to say that they would have no other food or support if Lama Zopa Rinpoche had not requested them to offer the 100 Million Mani Retreats each year and support them during the retreats.
You can learn more about the 100 million mani retreats offered by the Tashi Chime Gatsal Nuns every year.
The Sera Je Monastery Secretary, Geshe Thupten Monlam, explains that the classroom will initially be used for debate classes so the monks won’t be disturbed by rain and or too much sun.
It is a high priority of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s and of the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund to offer support directly and indirectly towards the next generation of Dharma teachers.
This support can be annual offerings toward food expenses or donations toward projects or specific needs, such as contributing to the building of the incarnation’s monastery, labrang (house), geshe degree etc.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche helps in whatever way he can to support the next generation of teachers who will continue to hold the lineages and pass on the Dharma.
Next Generation Dharma Teachers
Lama Zopa Rinopche with Tenzin Osel at Kopan Monastery Dec 2012.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche Kopan Monastery 2012.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Serkong Dorje Chang in Kopan Monastery 2012.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Domo Rinpoche in India Dec 2012.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with His Eminence Ling Rinpoche, Bodh Gaya Jan 2012.
Charok Lama with young tulkus of Kopan Monastery Feb 2006.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with young Sengye Rinpoche.
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhicitta Fund has just offered 4,800 EUR toward the first half of the retreat. The students are now halfway through the 108 Nyung Näs. Nine students registered at various points but several canceled due to various reasons.
Four people did 16 Nyung Näs including Madeleine Maso who is 90 years old.
Five other people did 8 Nyung Näs and about 50 others did one or more Nyung Näs.
In short: 65 participants in total have participated in one or more Nyung-Näs and almost 500 individual Nyung Näs have been accumulated since mid-November!
Please rejoice in the merit created and because this contributes to one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast visions for the entire organization!
You can read about Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice regarding the incredible power of doing Nyung-näs on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive’s Online Advice Book.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche was very inspired by their work and wanted to make this donation.
We just received this kind message from Tashi Lhunpo Health Care Center regarding how the donation is being used:
“First of all we would like to convey our heartfelt greetings and gratitude for your kind support. Because of your financial support we were able to buy sufficient medicine, and also hepatitis syringes which are very expensive.”
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Five dakinis in front of Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 29, 2012. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
A long life puja was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery on December 29, 2012. Mandala Publications reported on this puja.
Light Offering Prayer
Composed by Lama Atisha
May the light of the lamp be equal to the great three thousand
worlds and their environments,
May the wick of the lamp be equal to the king of mountains –
Mount Meru.
May the butter be equal to the infinite ocean.
May there be billions of trillions of lamps in the presence of each
and every buddha.
May the light illuminate the darkness of ignorance of all sentient
beings
From the peak of samsara down to the most torturous hell,
Whereby they can see directly and clearly all the ten directions’
Buddhas and bodhisattvas and their pure lands.
OM VAJRA ALOKE AH HUM
E MA HO
I offer these beautifully exalted clear and luminous lights
To the thousand buddhas of the fortunate eon,
To all the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the infinite pure lands and
of the ten directions,
To all the gurus, meditation deities, dakas, dakinis, dharma protectors,
and the assembly of deities of all mandalas.
From “Extensive Offering Practice,” by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Available through the FPMT Foundation Store.
Photo: Early stages of the construction of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup’s stupa.
From the Sutra Essence of Earth:
While there are the three rare sublime ones
Fulfilling the hopes without any effort
Like the unimaginable wish-granting tree and wish-granting jewel;
[But] believing the method to achieve happiness is something else
All the activities one attempts become only negative karma
And this precious human rebirth with qualified freedoms and richnesses,
Which is rarer than a wish-granting jewel, becomes meaningless and empty;
It becomes only a cause of harm;
This is more foolish than an animal.
Friend, by realizing this body, this life is like a water bubble
And material enjoyments like the dew on the tip of the grass
Attempt the white (virtuous) actions, offer to the three rare sublime ones (Buddha Dharma, Sangha)
And take the essence from this essenceless body and possessions.
Due to this merit may I and each and every sentient being respect
And make offerings to the three rare sublime ones;
By the happiness of the joyful occasion of listening, reflecting, meditating and practicing
May all the transmigratory beings’ wishes be completely fulfilled.
Colophon: Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche regarding having many holy objects. Scribe Ven. Holly Ansett, Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, USA, November 2003. Lightly edited by Ven. Thubten Labdron, May 2004.