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Photo of Medicine Buddhas thangka by Bob Cayton.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches that every activity can be transformed into an opportunity to benefit ourselves and others. FPMT Education Services is pleased to release, as a free PDF, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s translation of Pänchen Losang Chögyen’s Blessing Medicine practice. This practice can be done when taking medicine.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages
The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive brings great news that Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s How Things Exist and How to Practice Dharma are now available as audio books through Audible.com. Please also enjoy the audio versions of Lama Yeshe’s Becoming Your Own Therapist / Make Your Mind An Ocean and Illuminating the Path by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (LYWA) is the collected works of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
You can find more teachings and advice by, as well as news and updates about Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
How Things Exist: http://bit.ly/AudioBook-How-Things-Exist
How to Practice Dharma: http://bit.ly/Audible-How-To-Practice-Dharma
Becoming Your Own Therapist: http://bit.ly/AudioBook-Illuminating-The-Path
Illuminating the Path: http://bit.ly/AudioBook-Illuminating-The-Path
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa
Geshe Ngwang Tenley teaching at Shantideva Meditation Center, New York. Photo courtesy of SMC’s Facebook page.
Shantideva Meditation Center in New York has recently started to offer short online videos to bring the wisdom of its visiting teachers to people outside of its geographic area. Unlike recorded teachings, which could be a few hours long and more likely appeal to seasoned students, these concise clips are designed to engage newcomers who are curious about the fundamentals of Buddhism and how it might benefit their lives.
Following the FPMT’s practical and integrative approach to education, subjects include: How Can We Stay Patient When Dealing With Difficult People? by Geshe Ngawang Tenley and How Does One Begin a Meditation Practice? by Ven. Amy Miller.
Special attention has also been made to create aesthetically pleasing videos to mirror the philosophical beauty of the teachings, invoking the help of students who wish to channel their professional skills as an offering to the Dharma.
Shantideva Meditation Center explains this new series, “In a rapidly developing world where attention spans are short and there is saturation of media fueled by consumerism, the hope is to offer to people all over the world concise teachings packed with wisdom and compassion, so that they may be inspired to discover their inner potential for happiness and cultivate all the positive qualities of an awakened being.”
You can watch more videos, learn about Shantideva Meditation Center or explore other opportunities for Dharma teachings and study from FPMT Education Services.
In 2011 FPMT Translation Services organized “Taking Up the Challenge of Translating Buddhism,” a translation and editorial conference that focused on discussing the future of translation within the FPMT. Since this conference, FPMT Translation Services has been working towards creating a coherent Tibetan to English translation policy for the organization in order to address a number of critical issues ranging from terminology and consistency to translation style.
Geshe Thupten Jinpa with Maitripa College students , staff and President Yangsi Rinpoche. May, 2015. Photo by Marc Sakamoto.
Geshe Thupten Jinpa, PhD, principal translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since 1985, visited Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, USA, May 10-12, 2015. While there, he spoke to Maitripa’s translation students about issues in translating Tibetan. His answers to students’ questions, which range in topic from importance of interpretative-communicative translation, the poetry of translation, as well as suggestions for future focus which are not only relevant to this current work, but also to translation in the more distant future, have been transcribed and edited by Maitripa student and Mandala contributor Donna Lynn Brown.
What are the priorities and opportunities right now for translation?
Twenty years ago there were very few translators, but now there are a lot. Are there enough? I don’t think so. There are still a huge number of texts needing to be translated.
I would like to see a lot more instructional materials out there, including, especially, those of Gelug masters. At the moment, there are many Lam Rim texts, but a lot of Gelug practice texts haven’t been translated. Most of the “instructions on the view” (lta khri) genre still needs to be translated. An important one is Maitriyogi’s Instructions of Three Essential Points; instructions from this and associated texts are, at the moment, not in widespread use in Gelug circles. But if you look at the collected works of Gelug masters of the past, almost every major Gelug master wrote a guide on this particular practice. And it’s all instructions based on Avalokiteshvara, highest yoga tantra, as revealed by the mystical experience of Maitriyogi. These are very moving and powerful practices for the three essential times, which are waking life, bardo, and the point of death. Also, most of the Gelug Mahamudra textual tradition is still to be translated. My own translation focus to date has been more on Tibetan traditions as a whole, rather than Gelug works in particular. But there are specific Gelug instructional texts that need to be done. And some of these are very accessible, very inspiring, and one would be immediately able to practice them.
Geshe Thupten Jinpa speaking at Maitripa College, Portland, OR, May 2015. Photo by Marc Sakamoto.
What is necessary to produce a high quality translation?
I actually read the final product aloud, especially if it is a verse text. How does it sound? Because English is a very beautiful language. It is very versatile and has tremendous expressive capacity. And not to be able to use the full resource that is available in English is a real tragedy. In the end you want to give the reader an experience that is joyful. Most of the Tibetan texts are written by good scholars who express themselves well. Especially if you are producing practice material like sadhanas, you really need to bring out that musical quality, because these are something people use on a daily basis. You want them to sub-consciously associate the text with joy. For practice material, you should bring in spontaneity, music and rhythm. That really makes a difference.
Evoking not just the same understanding but also the same emotion as the original might mean being inconsistent with translation equivalents.
That’s OK. Literalness defeats the purpose. I believe in the ability to arrive at a product where you do full justice to the integrity of the original text, yet at the same time respect the reader. You cannot just produce texts saying that this is what I think the author is saying; I don’t care whether you understand it or not. That’s sometimes what happens. It’s very unkind to the reader.
You have to translate some words differently in different contexts. Generally, it makes no sense to equate one Tibetan word with one English word. English has so many more words. If you try to translate one to one, you don’t use the full resource of the English language. For some technical terms, yes, having just one translation is best. But many verbs require several translations, such as bsgom, which can be meditate, cultivate, familiarize, or even ‘form a habit.’ Even within a single text, a word may be used slightly differently. Tibetan is very contextual. English has a broader vocabulary, and meaning depends less on context. Words have shades of meaning, and a good writer chooses the right word in the right context. For example, ‘dzin is to hold, to apprehend, and to grasp, and bdag-‘dzin I translate as self-grasping, because that catches the emotional sense.
How should we work with Tibetan Lamas and Geshes when translating?
I don’t think there is much role for them in a translation, beyond helping with comprehension. That is what their role is really about. People who ground their choices of particular words in instructions from their Lamas face challenges. How can you invoke a Rinpoche’s authority regarding your choice of a particular English word if he doesn’t speak English?
What kind of texts should we work on while learning to translate?
In learning to translate, it’s good to work on sadhanas. They test your ability to do a lyrical translation. They are like movie scripts. Take a look at the Penguin edition of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, for which I was an editor: we tried to get that feel. And then try your hand at verse. Verse writing tests you. When I was doing The Book of Kadam, a large chunk of it in verse, I read Dante to inspire me. It has those long lines and evocative language. I can only read it in translation, but if the translation of Dante speaks to me, then the translation of a poetic work into English should be able to speak to the reader (laughs). I read Dante, Rilke, and Rabindranath Tagore in translation, to get a feel for poetry.
When we practice, we may use translations that are imperfect, or in which the English words have the wrong connotations. How do we practice correctly given imperfect translations?
On the whole there is enough accurate material to eventually point out to you what is correct, unless you are going toward vajrayana practices; then it’s still quite complicated. Most general Buddhist ideas – there’s enough material out there.
Do you manage to find time for practice, along with your translation and other work?
I feel the yearning. But it’s one thing to have the yearning and another to act on it. There are practicalities to consider. At this stage of my life, I have responsibilities for my children, my wife. I’m also in a unique position because of my role and the contributions I can make, so it’s a struggle. But I still hope that at some point in my life I’ll be able to devote more time. The yearning is there.
Geshe Thubten Jinpa is the translator and author of numerous books, including his recently published A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives. Geshe-la is also an adjunct professor at McGill University, Montréal, Canada, a core member of the Mind and Life Institute, and the founder and president of the Institute of Tibetan Classics.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Annabelle Gaillard, OICCC participant, leading a lesson in the Monarch class at our pilot program, Tara Redwood School in Soquel, California, US. Photo courrtesy of CCC.
“Creating Compassionate Cultures (CCC) recently celebrated the completion of its inaugural Online Institute for Creating Compassionate Cultures (OICCC) certificate program,” reported CCC team member Mer Stafford in May 2015. “Thirty-six students from 10 countries participated in the course.”
Developed by CCC founder Pam Cayton with the help of colleague Amanda Bauscher, OICCC was designed to support educators, parents and guides in a deep study of the “Seven Steps to Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion,” a curriculum inspired by Lama Yeshe’s vision of a secular education based on universal wisdom and developed over the course of 20 years in the classrooms of Tara Redwood School in California. The curriculum itself starts with “Mindful Intention” and proceeds in a systematic way, each step building on the preceding one.
“The training was very helpful to transform my mind,” said student Annabelle Gaillard. “It created a lot of tolerance, much more tolerance in me, much more wisdom and much more compassion. And I think it helped me a lot with my family also, with my child, with my parents, with my environment. So that’s why I think that it could be very helpful for everyone, because I see just how it transformed my life within one year.”
“The OICCC certificate program offers 12 interrelated modules that lead participants through the Seven Steps pedagogy, providing the opportunity for deep personal and professional growth, as well as practical application of the Seven Steps methodologies,” Mer explained. “Participants in the program spend one year studying concepts via dynamic audio and video lessons provided on the OICCC portal. This is followed by a two-week internship at our pilot project, Tara Redwood School. Finally, a portfolio project is completed that requires research, serious reflection, and application of course materials.”
Several students from the inaugural class of OICCC have traveled to Soquel, California, to take part in the internship as part of the OICCC certification program. “The guidance and skillful presence of Pam (and all the staff) are so precious. Never judgmental, always teaching by being and working together as family,” shared Nicolas Brun from Toulouse, France.
Mary Webster, from the Netherlands, is already implementing her studies in the classrooms at the International School where she has been teaching for the past 17 years. “The main way that my teaching has been transformed by the study is that it comes from a different starting place,” Mary said. “So the curriculum is the same, the children are the same, but the starting point is the Seven Steps. That very subtly shifts the dynamics in the class and shifts everyone’s perspective in whatever we are studying. That has created a really positive learning situation in the class, and a really positive social situation, which is what supports the learning
Mary Webster leads a drama exercise in the Evergreen class at our pilot program, Tara Redwood School in Soquel, California, US. Photo courtesy of CCC.
The next OICCC Certificate Program begins August 3, 2015. For more information, or to register, please visit our website: http://www.oiccctraining.org. An early bird registration special discount runs May 19-June 16.
Creating Compassionate Cultures is a Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) recognized learning program.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
This 400+ page book, compiled and edited by Ven. Robina Courtin, takes much of the material in FPMT’s Heart Practices for Death and Dying and Heart Advice for Death and Dying (both published in 2008), but radically restructures and reorganizes it into an easy-to-use manual.
As Ven. Robina explains in the introduction:
“For a Buddhist, the ideal way to die is to die gradually, contrary to an often-stated view that it’s best to die in our sleep so that we don’t know about it. And the reason is clear: given that most of us live in denial of this natural event, our loved ones need time to get ready for death, at peace and unafraid, so that they can, indeed, go happily to their next rebirth, either a precious human rebirth in which they can continue to practice their spiritual path or rebirth in a pure land, such as Buddha Amitabha’s, in which they can easily become a buddha and thus be qualified to perfectly help others.
“As Rinpoche says in the Prologue: ‘When suddenly one day one of your loved ones dies and you don’t know what to do to help, you’ll feel so confused, so lost. Knowing how to help others at the time of death is such important education to have.'”
Wisdom Publications will be publishing this material as a book entitled Preparing for Death: How to Meet Life’s Final Challenge without Fear in 2016.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given extensive advice on preparing for death and caring for others at the time of death. You can access all of this advice and practices on fpmt.org/death.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Root Institute, March 2015. Photo by Andy Melnic.
During February and March of this year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught in Bodhgaya at Root Institute. FPMT International Office is happy to make these teachings available to the public as videos and MP3 downloads via Rinpoche Available NOW.
Topics covered by Rinpoche in these talks include:
- the importance of practicing patience
- definitions of Dharma
- precious human rebirth
- emptiness
You are welcome to explore all that Rinpoche Available NOW has to offer. You will find many archived teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche freely available to you.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
The following prayers and practices are recommended in response to the devastating earthquake (and subsequent aftershocks) which hit Nepal April 25, 2015.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche leading prayers for all those affected by earthquake. April 26, 2015
Prayers & Practices for Controlling and Preventing Earthquakes
Kshitigarbha mantra y Buddha’s name mantra en Español
Prière de Kshitigarbha et mantra du nom du Bouddha en français
Kshitigarbha mantra and Buddha’s name mantra in Chinese
Prayers & Practices for Those Who Have Died Due to the Earthquake
You can also keep up on news related to the Nepal earthquake disaster or donate to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.
Le Editions Mahayana est heureux de vous proposer d’étudier en ligne sur le les modules de Découverte du bouddhisme.
Découverte du bouddhisme est un programme d’étude de la FPMT composé de 14 modules. Chaque module est composé de fichiers audio et vidéo d’enseignements, de méditations guidées (audio et PDF), de lectures, de forums de discussions (entre étudiants et avec un aîné) et d’une évaluation.
Ce programme n’est pas destiné à offrir une simple étude académique du bouddhisme mais vise à vous aider à transformer votre vie.
Nous sommes heureux de vous proposer les modules français sur la base d’une donation libre.
Un nouveau module vient d’être créé : n° 6 “Tout sur le karma”. Apprenez ce qu’est le karma et comment fonctionne la loi de cause à effet. Découvrez des solutions pour vivre votre vie de la façon la plus positive possible!
Les autres modules sont en cours de développement et seront progressivement mis en ligne.
Découvrez les autres activités et ressources offertes par Editions Mahayana: Site internet, Liste de diffusion, Facebook, Twitter.
Prayer wheel with 64 billion OM MANI PADME HUM mantras at Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, January 2015. Photo by Laura Miller.
When someone tells you a prayer wheel contains so many millions or billions of mantras, do you ever stop and think, “How can they all fit in there?”
In the latest online feature from Mandala, Donna Lynn Brown shares the inside story on printing mantras on microfilm, which is not quite as simple as it sounds. FPMT student Tai Vautier, working with FPMT Education Services, has been involved for many years making high quality microfilm mantras accessible to Dharma students. Here’s an excerpt from the story:
“… Getting as many mantras as possible on the film, while keeping them legible, was Tai’s aim. At first, using an old Ditto machine, she copied mantras from Lorne Ladner’s book, Wheel of Great Compassion: The Practice of the Prayer Wheel in Tibetan Buddhism, but shrinking made these illegible. She then got the original of one set of Lorne’s mantras, which had come from the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This she scanned and edited in Photoshop. She managed to get an astonishing 880,000,000 manis onto a 2,000-foot (610-meter) roll of microfilm. But although the mantra remained readable, the master, due to the shape of the Tibetan letters, was too fragile to withstand the constant duplication needed to fill large orders. While this master is still available for small jobs, a sturdier one was needed. Tai worked long hours in Photoshop to thicken some parts of the Tibetan letters and spread others apart, in effect designing her own font in order to create mantras that were readable after reduction, and didn’t cause the film to weaken with heavy use. …”
The microfilm printed from master copies that Tai helped create fills prayer wheels and stupas all over the world. Read more in “The Inside Story: Microfilm, Holy Objects, and the Passion of Tai Vautier.”
More information on mantra microfilm, including ways to order it for stupas and statues is made available by FPMT Education Services on FPMT.org.
Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (LYWA) is in the midst of publishing a four-volume set of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings at the 24th Kopan meditation course, 1991. LYWA editors Gordon McDougall and Sandra Smith have adeptly conveyed the feeling of receiving the teachings directly from Rinpoche, and for the first time LYWA is publishing in an eBook-only format to bring you these precious archival teachings more efficiently. Practicing the Unmistaken Path is the first volume and explores topics such as compassion and universal responsibility, the view of emptiness and the disadvantages of the self-cherishing mind. The second volume, Creating the Causes of Happiness, includes clear discussions of karma, reincarnation and a spirited debate on whether or not past and future lives exist. Please enjoy these intimate teachings from Rinpoche and watch for the third and fourth volumes coming soon.