Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
Die Stiftung zur Erhaltung der Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) ist eine Organisation, die sich weltweit für die Erhaltung und Verbreitung des Mahayana-Buddhismus einsetzt, indem sie Möglichkeiten schafft, den makellosen Lehren des Buddha zuzuhören, über sie zur reflektieren und zu meditieren und auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrung das Dharma unter den Lebewesen zu verbreiten.
Wir bieten integrierte Schulungswege an, durch denen der Geist und das Herz der Menschen in ihr höchstes Potential verwandelt werden zum Wohl der anderen – inspiriert durch eine Haltung der universellen Verantwortung und dem Wunsch zu dienen. Wir haben uns verpflichtet, harmonische Umgebungen zu schaffen und allen Wesen zu helfen, ihr volles Potenzial unendlicher Weisheit und grenzenlosen Mitgefühls zu verwirklichen.
Unsere Organisation basiert auf der buddhistischen Tradition von Lama Tsongkhapa von Tibet, so wie sie uns von unseren Gründern Lama Thubten Yeshe und Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche gelehrt wird.
La Fundación para la preservación de la tradición Mahayana (FPMT) es una organización que se dedica a preservar y difundir el budismo Mahayana en todo el mundo, creando oportunidades para escuchar, reflexionar, meditar, practicar y actualizar las enseñanzas inconfundibles de Buda y en base a esa experiencia difundir el Dharma a los seres.
Proporcionamos una educación integrada a través de la cual las mentes y los corazones de las personas se pueden transformar en su mayor potencial para el beneficio de los demás, inspirados por una actitud de responsabilidad y servicio universales. Estamos comprometidos a crear ambientes armoniosos y ayudar a todos los seres a desarrollar todo su potencial de infinita sabiduría y compasión.
Nuestra organización se basa en la tradición budista de Lama Tsongkhapa del Tíbet como nos lo enseñaron nuestros fundadores Lama Thubten Yeshe y Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A continuación puede ver una lista de los centros y sus páginas web en su lengua preferida.
L’organisation de la FPMT a pour vocation la préservation et la diffusion du bouddhisme du mahayana dans le monde entier. Elle offre l’opportunité d’écouter, de réfléchir, de méditer, de pratiquer et de réaliser les enseignements excellents du Bouddha, pour ensuite transmettre le Dharma à tous les êtres. Nous proposons une formation intégrée grâce à laquelle le cœur et l’esprit de chacun peuvent accomplir leur potentiel le plus élevé pour le bien d’autrui, inspirés par le sens du service et une responsabilité universelle. Nous nous engageons à créer un environnement harmonieux et à aider tous les êtres à épanouir leur potentiel illimité de compassion et de sagesse. Notre organisation s’appuie sur la tradition guéloukpa de Lama Tsongkhapa du Tibet, telle qu’elle a été enseignée par nos fondateurs Lama Thoubtèn Yéshé et Lama Zopa Rinpoché.
L’FPMT è un organizzazione il cui scopo è preservare e diffondere il Buddhismo Mahayana nel mondo, creando occasioni di ascolto, riflessione, meditazione e pratica dei perfetti insegnamenti del Buddha, al fine di attualizzare e diffondere il Dharma fra tutti gli esseri senzienti.
Offriamo un’educazione integrata, che può trasformare la mente e i cuori delle persone nel loro massimo potenziale, per il beneficio di tutti gli esseri, ispirati da un’attitudine di responsabilità universale e di servizio.
Il nostro obiettivo è quello di creare contesti armoniosi e aiutare tutti gli esseri a sviluppare in modo completo le proprie potenzialità di infinita saggezza e compassione.
La nostra organizzazione si basa sulla tradizione buddhista di Lama Tsongkhapa del Tibet, così come ci è stata insegnata dai nostri fondatori Lama Thubten Yeshe e Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Di seguito potete trovare un elenco dei centri e dei loro siti nella lingua da voi prescelta.
“护持大乘法脉基金会”( 英文简称：FPMT。全名：Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) 是一个致力于护持和弘扬大乘佛法的国际佛教组织。我们提供听闻，思维，禅修，修行和实证佛陀无误教法的机会，以便让一切众生都能够享受佛法的指引和滋润。
護持大乘法脈基金會”（ 英文簡稱：FPMT。全名：Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ）是一個致力於護持和弘揚大乘佛法的國際佛教組織。我們提供聽聞，思維，禪修，修行和實證佛陀無誤教法的機會，以便讓一切眾生都能夠享受佛法的指引和滋潤。
We can transform any problem, even death, into happiness. The point is not to stop the experience of problems but to stop the conditions that we call ‘problems’ from disturbing our mind, and instead use them to support the spiritual path that we practice.
The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop and features a vast selection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. These items include homestudy programs, prayers and practices in PDF or eBook format, materials for children, and other resources to support practitioners.
Items displayed in the shop are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from their sale. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, September 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Students can now find the audio recording Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo’s Prayers as an MP3 download bundled with supporting digital materials in the Foundation Store.
In this recording, four audio tracks have been extracted from the video “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).” In this video, which was recorded on March 19, 2020, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offers an oral transmission of three prayers by the great Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo: The Blessed Prayer Known as “Liberating Sakya from Disease,” Words of Truth Pacifying the Danger of Weapons, and A Request to Pacify the Fear of Famine.
Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo’s Prayers by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Mahasiddha Thangton Gyalpo’s Prayers is freely offered by the Foundation Store. The bundle includes the four audio tracks, a PDF copy of each prayer, and a transcript of the teaching and oral transmissions included in the recording, plus an image of Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo.
The four audio tracks total approximately sixteen minutes of listening time. Students can listen to them while commuting, walking, resting, or as part of their practice.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends that students recite The Blessed Prayer Known as “Liberating Sakya from Disease” to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Students should look at an image of Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo while reciting the prayer.
Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo was a great yogi of fifteenth-century Tibet. In addition, he was a skilled engineer and artist, famous for helping the people of Tibet in very practical ways. He is said to have built fifty-eight iron bridges, sixty wooden bridges, 118 ferry crossings, 120 assembly halls and temples, 111 stupas, and many hundreds of large and small statues, and created innumerable paintings.
Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo.
In the audio download, Rinpoche explained the benefits of reciting the Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo’s prayers:
The Blessed Prayer Known as “Liberating Sakya from Disease” Rinpoche said, “One time in Tibet, an epidemic disease happened in Sakya and so many people died. Then the Bonpos and tantric practitioners, ngagpas, did many pujas but nothing helped. So then, I guess, he made prayers to stop all this epidemic disease in Sakya. Then everything completely stopped after he did this prayer. So this prayer is also good for this epidemic disease now to stop it. It is good to recite it to stop it in the world.”
A Request to Pacify the Fear of Famine
“In U-Tsang, a famine happened and so many people died,” Rinpoche said. “He made a prayer in front of the Jowo in Lhasa. Then, those people whose mind was purified, they saw Chenrezig pouring grain, seeds, from the sky. So much happened in the country where the famine happened, so the famine completely stopped. It seems from that time a famine didn’t happen.”
Words of Truth Pacifying the Danger of Weapons
Rinpoche said, “Then there was a fight, so much fighting in Kham, I think. They tried so many ways [to stop the fighting] but it didn’t help. They were unable to bring harmony to the two sides. Then Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo made this prayer [to stop the danger from weapons], then everybody became harmonious and stopped the war.”
Thangtong Gyalpo Prayerathon
Thangtong Gyalpo Prayerathon, August 2020. Graphic by International Mahayana Institute.
This prayerathon was suggested by Rinpoche and will continue until the COVID-19 pandemic declines. It is organized by the International Mahayana Institute (IMI), FPMT’s community of monks and nuns, and hosted by FPMT center Chenrezig Institute in Eudlo, Queensland, Australia.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lhabab Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Buddhist calendar, takes place this year on November 7.
Lhabab Duchen celebrates Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to Earth from the God Realm of the Thirty-Three after teaching Dharma for several months to the gods, including his mother, Mayadevi, who had died a week after Buddha’s birth and been reborn there. As a merit multiplying day, the karmic results of actions done on this day are multiplied 100 million times. This amazing result is sourced to the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Specific advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for practices to do on merit multiplying days can be found on FPMT.org, including advice to recite the Sutra for Remembering the Three Jewels. (Advice for merit multiplying days can also be found in French.) Students can receive the lineage of the eight Mahayana precepts from a specially created video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering the precepts during the COVID-19 crisis teachings at Kopan Monastery in May 2020.
If you choose to recite the Sutra of Golden Light on this special day, you might like to report your recitations using the facility on FPMT.org, which you can find on the Sutra of Golden Lightreporting page.
Please keep in mind that according to the late Kyabje Choden Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, the observation of auspicious days should be according to the date in India, not the date in one’s home country. Therefore, when Lama Zopa Rinpoche is not in India, Rinpoche celebrates merit multiplying days and other auspicious dates according to the time in India.
On merit multiplying days, the FPMT Puja Fund sponsors a large number of pujas and practices offered by thousands of sangha on behalf of the entire FPMT. These prayers are dedicated to all FPMT centers, projects, and services; all students, volunteers, and those who offer service in FPMT; and to all beings in general.
Specifically this Lhabab Duchen, these prayers and practices will be happening:
Drugchuma (sixty-four offerings to Kalarupa), Medicine Buddha puja, and Zangcho Monlam (King of Prayers) by the 400 nuns at Kopan Nunnery and 370 monks at Kopan Monastery;
Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) by the 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College;
Namgyäl Tong Chö (one thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma) and Zangcho Monlam (King of Prayers) by the 600 monks of Gyuto Tantric College;
Offerings to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and to all of the International Mahayana Institute sangha communities;
Offerings of gold, robes, saffron, and umbrellas to the Jowo Buddha in Tibet, the Shakyamuni Buddha in the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, and Boudhanath and Swayambunath Stupas; and
The printing of the Golden Light Sutra six times, Arya Sangata Sutra ten times, Vajra Cutter Sutra 200 times, Sutra of Great Liberation two times, and Amitayus Long Life Sutra twenty times.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Bodhichitta itself makes us so completely peaceful, so happy. The self-cherishing thought is like putting a sword or knife into our heart; our heart is really hurt, relatively and absolutely! But bodhichitta is something which makes us completely relaxed. I think bodhichitta is unbelievable; it’s the most important thing we can practice in our entire life. It makes us really happy and there’s no room for others to disturb us. Otherwise, everybody is our enemy. The opposite of bodhichitta is feeling that everybody is an enemy.
In the West, people sometimes think, “She is taking advantage; he is taking advantage; you are taking advantage.” People think that everybody takes advantage of them, but it’s not true. I know many people who think human beings take advantage of each other. Do you feel that way? I don’t know. It’s not true! Human beings have always been kind to each other, helping each other. Always. It’s our fundamental nature. So, bodhichitta helps us to relax even when we’re not meditating. Really, bodhichitta makes us content, satisfied. If somebody hits us, if somebody beats us, it’s still OK. If somebody’s criticizing us, it’s still OK. If somebody’s stealing our money, it’s still OK. If somebody does bad things to us, it’s still OK. The mind makes it OK; that’s all it is. And it’s the mind that makes it not OK, isn’t it?
So, I think bodhichitta is the best. In my opinion we all need bodhichitta, especially in Western society. If we have to integrate our practice into Western society’s working life, I think bodhichitta is the best way. Bodhichitta is definitely the best way to integrate our practice. In Western society people have very strong, concrete relationships with each other, for example, “I’m working for you,” or “You and me,” becomes so concrete. You say, “I want you to do this,” and I say, “Yes, I can do this much.” Do you know what I mean? In the beginning we have to talk to make such an incredible relationship, therefore bodhichitta is really, really important.
For me it seems like bodhichitta is the real essential. Western people can easily help others, but when we try to teach them indestructible samadhi meditation it is very difficult, because Western life is not made for that, unfortunately. Of course, we still have time. But we can practice bodhichitta so easily; we can see other people suffering, we can see our boss suffering, we can see the workers suffering, we can see so much suffering. Oh, my goodness, Western people have so much suffering, so much conflict. I really have compassion when I go to America. Californian people are sweet, they’re hardworking and physically they’re comfortable, but in their mind they’re going on an incredible trip. The more I stay, the more I have compassion for them. Really, they have so much suffering mentally. I don’t know, maybe it’s my projection, but I’m telling you my experience. I feel that those people have so much mental suffering.
So, in my opinion, bodhichitta is the best way. Bodhichitta makes our heart completely relaxed. In our life we have to deal with other peoples’ difficulties, so this helps. When people give us problems but at the same time we can be satisfied and can help them, this comes from bodhichitta. We should have bodhichitta; it is the best!
Even in a man-woman relationship, bodhichitta is very useful. A man can see the woman is suffering or the woman can see her partner is suffering—when you can see that, how can you add more suffering? Normally in relationships people hurt each other, don’t they? “I’m dissatisfied with him so I will hurt him.” Or he hurts her because he’s dissatisfied. Can you imagine? That’s the way it is. All these relationships are a disaster because they are not getting enough. You definitely decide, “I’m not getting enough from him (or her).” That is selfish—completely, purely selfish. I think that is clean clear. You hurt your partner because you are dissatisfied, because you are not getting pleasure. “I’m not getting pleasure, so I’m leaving!” That’s California style! It’s easy, isn’t it? It’s very easy. “I’m leaving. I’m dissatisfied, I’m not happy, therefore I’m leaving.” I think it’s completely selfish; it’s unbelievable! How can we always be happy with each other? We have so much garbage, so many trips inside.
How can I expect to always be happy with you? I cannot! I cannot guarantee that you people will be happy. It’s true! Therefore, you should accept it: “How can my selfish mind think it’s unfair this way? It’s not true. I should be reasonable. It’s natural that sometimes I get pleasure and sometimes I do not. I’m not happy but still I will try, and I will analyze what is wrong and why.”
This is excerpted from a question-and-answer session with Lama Yeshe during the Sixteenth Kopan Meditation Course held at Kopan Monastery, Nepal on December 8, 1983. Edited by Uldis Balodis. You can read the entire teaching here on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (LamaYeshe.com) and you can find it in the new Lama Yeshe ebook The Enlightened Experience: Collected Teachings, Volume 3.
Through timely advice, news stories, and update, FPMT.org and Mandala Publications share the wisdom culture inspired and guided by the teachings of FPMT founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche on his way to the Kopan Monastery gompa for Yamantaka self-initiation on the 9th anniversary of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup’s showing the aspect of passing away, Kathmandu, Nepal, August 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
This practice text begins with requests to the Medicine Buddhas and follows with recitation of their holy names; recitation of either—or all of—the long, middle-length, or short Medicine Buddha mantra; and recitation of the mantra of Tathagata Stainless Excellent Gold and other dharani-mantras, extracted from the Fifth Dalai Lama’s The Wish-Granting Sovereign: A Ceremony for Worshiping the Seven Sugatas. The practice concludes with prayers, requests, and dedications.
Rinpoche wrote and arranged this Medicine Buddha practice text in 2017, and it was published by FPMT Education Services in 2018. Rinpoche based this practice on a short text composed by Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen.
Rinpoche explains in the recording, “So many years ago [I translated Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen’s text] in my small room in the old Kopan gompa. … On the basis of that practice, I made a new one. I’m going to read that so anyone who wants to practice Medicine Buddha can do this.”
A Brief Meditation-Recitation on Guru Medicine Buddha by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The ten audio tracks total sixty-five minutes of listening time. Students can listen to them while commuting, walking, resting, or as part of their practice. By listening to the audio recordings, students can practice mantra pronunciation and recitation and relax the mind.
This MP3 download, freely offered by the Foundation Store, also includes a PDF copy of The Oral Transmission of “A Brief Meditation-Recitation on Guru Medicine Buddha,” which is a transcript of the teaching and oral transmission included in the MP3, and a PDF copy of the practice text itself.
Rinpoche said, “The majority of people think Medicine Buddha is only for healing. No, Medicine Buddha is for all the success. Reciting the Medicine Buddhas’ names and the Medicine Buddha mantra, and making requests, especially requesting to fulfill all your [Dharma] wishes, yes, that is most powerful to bring all your success.”
We invite you to rejoice in this offering produced by a team committed to supporting FPMT students in their practices and studies.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Prajnaparamita Sutra written in gold, Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, US. Photo by Chris Majors.
As the Dharma takes root in the West, clear and accurate translations of Buddhist texts, prayers, and teachings are crucial. FPMT Translation Services oversees the translating, editing, publishing, and updating of translations of sadhanas, prayers, rituals, sutras, and other key texts for FPMT students and Education programs. Joona Repo, FPMT Translation Coordinator for Education Services, shares this report on the team’s work regarding some of their larger ongoing projects.
FPMT Translation Services has several big, long-term translation projects that its currently supporting.
The editing of the Sze Gee Toh’s translation of the Ornament of the Essence, a commentary by Gyaltsab Je on the Ornament of Clear Realization, is underway. Gyaltsab Je was one of the two primary disciples of Je Tsongkhapa, who founded the Gelug tradition, and the Ornament of Clear Realizations is one of five principal works studied in the geshe curriculum of the major Gelug monasteries. Gyaltsab Je’s text is an important commentary on this key Tibetan Buddhist text and part of the FPMT Masters Program curriculum. The translation is gradually being prepared for publication, as a part of our plan to make our rich collection of Masters Program and Basic Program translations available to a wider audience.
Sze Gee Toh is a Singaporean student who graduated from the first Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy. She served as a teaching assistant during the second Masters Program at ILTK on the topic of the Ornament of Clear Realizations while also translating the Ornament of the Essence. Her translation is being updated, annotated, and compared against the original Tibetan text in preparation for eventual publication. Another translation by Sze Gee, Panchen Lozang Yeshe’s Nyurlam, i.e. The Swift Path lamrim, has also been completed and editing on the text has begun.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche taking blessings from the Sutra of Great Liberation, which he started to an give oral transmission of on Saka Dawa, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, June 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
We are also continuing our work on translating a number of rather extensive sutras. These translations have all been requested by FPMT Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche. They include:
The Golden Light Sutra in 31 Chapters, which was translated by Berthe Jansen and is currently being edited;
Kshitigarbha Dashachakra Sutra, translated by Gavin Kilty and also currently being edited;
Golden Light Sutra in 29 Chapters, which Rhonwen Sayer recently began translating; and
Philip Quarcoo’s translation of Tsongkhapa’s Middle-Length Lamrim is going through the final stages of editing in preparation for publication. This is another important text for students within the Gelug traditions and a translation we are very excited about.
The translation work of some of these texts has been supported by several sponsors and we rejoice in their generosity.
Shakyamuni Buddha turning the wheel of Dharma for the first time, Land of Medicine Buddha, Wish Fulfilling Temple mural, Soquel, California, USA
Chokhor Duchen, one of the four annual holy days of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha, takes place this year on July 24. On these holy days, the power of any meritorious action is multiplied by 100 million, as taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Known in English as “Turning the Wheel of Dharma,” Chokhor Duchen commemorates the anniversary of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching. It is said that for seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. Afterward, Indra and Brahma offered a Dharmachakra and a conch shell and requested Guru Shakyamuni Buddha to teach. Accepting, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time at Sarnath by teaching the four noble truths.
Nuns from Kopan Nunnery attending Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings, Kathmandu, Nepal, April 2019. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for practices to do on merit multiplying days such as Chokhor Duchen can be found here. (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice and recommended practices for merit multiplying days is also available in French.)
Chokhor Duchen is also the day on which FPMT celebrates International Sangha Day! You can read more about monks and nuns in FPMT.
Young monks, Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Kopan monks performing Lama Chopa on Saka Dawa, Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, June 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On merit multiplying days, the FPMT Puja Fund typically sponsors a large number of pujas and practices performed by thousands of sangha on behalf of the entire FPMT. Unfortunately, many of the monasteries in South India are unable to host such pujas and practices due to the current pandemic. During this Chokhor Duchen, the FPMT Puja Fund will offer on behalf of the entire FPMT organization and all students, benefactors, and beings:
The recitation of the Kangyur (108 volumes of translated words of the Buddha), offered by 400 nuns of Kopan Nunnery;
Offerings of gold, robes, saffron, and umbrellas to the Jowo Buddha in Tibet, the Shakyamuni Buddha in the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, and Boudhanath and Swayambunath Stupas.
We rejoice in all of the meritorious activities happening around the world on this auspicious merit multiplying day!
Ven. Amy Miller receiving teachings, Institut Vajra Yogini, Marzens, France, May 2019. Photo by Tsanka Petkova.
Please keep in mind: According to the late Ven. Choden Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, observation of auspicious days should be according to the date in India, not the date in one’s home country. Therefore, when Lama Zopa Rinpoche is not in India, Rinpoche celebrates the great holy days of the Buddha and other auspicious dates according to the time in India.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India, August 2019. Photo by Neal Patrick.
On July 6 the world celebrates His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 85th birthday. Enjoy these many resources to praise, learn from, and rejoice in His Holiness!
Great Festival Celebrating His Holiness
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given extensive advice on prayers and practices to do for His Holiness’s birthday, remarking that by doing these prayers and practices, students also benefit their own Dharma practice. You can find Rinpoche’s collected advice in the booklet How to Do the Great Festival of His Holiness’ Birthday in the Best Possible Way.
“Remembering the Kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan People,” composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche especially for the success of His Holiness’s wishes, and in particular for the Tibetan people, and for there to be perfect peace and happiness in the world and for all sentient beings to achieve enlightenment;
“Prayer for Tibet”;
“Prayer to Be Able to Correctly Devote to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Fulfill All His Advice”;
“Song of Immortality,” an extensive long life prayer composed by His Holiness’s late tutors His Holiness Ling Rinpoche and His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche and translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa; and
The FPMT Foundation Store offers a number of books from His Holiness.
New and Revised Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara) Materials
His Holiness is generally considered to be a manifestation of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), the buddha of compassion. We offer these new and revised Chenrezig practice materials.
FPMT International Office wishes His Holiness a very auspicious 85th birthday and sincerely requests His Holiness to live for a very long time and to continue bringing his universal message of compassion to the world.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, January 2017. Photo by Neal Patrick.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche often speaks about solar and lunar eclipses, which are considered auspicious for practice and provide opportunities for accumulating increased merit.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche reminds students that the merit generated is multiplied by one hundred million on solar eclipses and by seven hundred thousand on lunar eclipses, and that the multiplying effect of eclipses occurs regardless of whether the eclipse is partial or full. Also, Rinpoche advises that the merit multiplying effect does not last the whole calendar day and that merit making activities should be carried out during the time of the eclipse itself.
Whether or not an eclipse is visible and its local timing depends on where a student is on Earth. Websites like timeanddate.com can help students determine when there is an opportunity to practice during an eclipse.
Upcoming solar eclipse: June 21, 2020 (This eclipse is at its maximum at 6:41 UTC.)
You can make more offerings or help sentient beings more. Liberate animals or, with bodhichitta, practice charity to people or animals—you can do whatever you can.
Recite OṂ MAṆI PADME HŪṂ with bodhichitta.
Of course, don’t forget that the best practice is bodhichitta, tonglen.
Keep this advice, especially in order to educate and help others, the numberless sentient beings ….
Any other meritorious activities advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are also good to do on solar eclipses. In the video “Advice for Saka Dawa Duchen,” Rinpoche discusses additional ideas for virtuous activities to complete when merit is multiplied, such as during solar eclipses, as well as the source of Rinpoche’s knowledge about the merit multiplying effects of certain days throughout the year:
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing an incense puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Recently, Lama Zopa Rinpoche described the multiplying effects of the fifteenth day of Saka Dawa, a Buddhist holy day, which this year is on June 5.
Saka Dawa commemorates three of the Buddha’s major life events—the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. Each event is considered to multiply the power of actions done on this day, both auspicious and harmful, by one hundred million. Rinpoche clarified that on Saka Dawa, the power of actions is actually multiplied by three hundred million, not just one hundred million.
During this year’s Saka Dawa, there is also a lunar eclipse. During the actual time of the eclipse, the power of actions is further multiplied by seven hundred thousand, bringing the total multiplying effect of this year’s Saka Dawa to three hundred million seven hundred thousand (300,700,000).
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing incense puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Ven. Losang Sherab.
According to Ven. Choden Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachers, observation of auspicious days should be according to the date in India, not the date in one’s home country. Therefore, when Lama Zopa Rinpoche is not in India, Rinpoche celebrates auspicious dates according to the time in India.
Special thanks to the Liberation Prison Project for preparing a Tibetan calendar with information on holy days and other important dates for avoiding or engaging in various activities.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche performing a puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
An auspicious merit multiplying day, the full moon of the month of Saka Dawa, is coming up on June 5.
The fifteenth day of Saka Dawa is one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan calendar, commemorating Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment and parinirvana. Any actions done on this day, both auspicious and harmful, are magnified in their power. Karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million, as cited by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic. This year’s fifteenth day of Saka Dawa also falls on a lunar eclipse, multiplying karmic results by a further seven hundred thousand while the eclipse lasts.
In November 2019, Rinpoche wrote out this specific advice for merit multiplying days and eclipses:
What are the merit multiplying days? They are the fifteen days of Losar (Chotrul Duchen), Saka Dawa, Chokhor Duchen, and Lhabab Duchen. Also, there are solar eclipses. Once the day starts, then the merit is multiplied by one hundred million times.
So what can you do on these days?
You can rejoice in your, other sentient beings’, and the buddhas’ three times’ merits.
You can make more offerings or help sentient beings more. Liberate animals or, with bodhichitta, practice charity to people or animals—you can do whatever you can.
Recite OṂ MAṆI PADME HŪṂ with bodhichitta.
Of course, don’t forget that the best practice is bodhichitta, tonglen.
Keep this advice, especially in order to educate and help others, the numberless sentient beings.
It is so important also to understand that if one collects non-virtue on merit multiplying days, then that will also increase by that many number of times. One has to be careful to not increase non-virtuous actions during the merit multiplying days, as well as during solar eclipses. (When there is a lunar eclipse, the merit is only increased by seven hundred thousand times!)
The longest period of time when merit is multiplied so much is during the Fifteen Days of Miracles (i.e., the fifteen days of Losar). To know this is unbelievable. During all those days one can create so much merit!
Please help by letting sentient beings know, so that they can achieve full enlightenment soon.
I received this information that the merit is multiplied one hundred million times from His Holiness Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche. It comes from Dulwa Lung (‘dul ba lung). Often in Tibetan calendars it says that the merit is only increased one hundred thousand times, but that is not right. It is one hundred million times.
Written by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, November 2019, United States. Edited by Michael D. Jolliffe for publication on FPMT.org.
Fruit offering, Madrid, Spain, April 2019. Photo by Alexis Roitman.
According to Ven. Choden Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachers, observation of auspicious days should be according to the date in India, not the date in one’s home country. Therefore, when Lama Zopa Rinpoche is not in India, Rinpoche celebrates auspicious dates according to the time in India.
The eight Mahayana precepts are a set of special and powerful vows taken for twenty-four hours. You can take the eight Mahayana precepts from a specially created video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering the precepts. “Taking the eight Mahayana precepts is a way to make life meaningful, to take its essence all day and night, by taking vows,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught. “It is so simple. It is just for one day. Just for one day. It makes it so easy.”
Special thanks to the Liberation Prison Project for preparing a Tibetan calendar with information on holy days and other important dates for avoiding or engaging in various activities.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
“When an animal or person is dying—now, this hour, today, or in several hours, whatever—the first thing to recite is [the name of Buddha Rinchen Tsugtor Chen,]” Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught in August 2017 at Thubten Norbu Ling in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the United States.
Rinpoche continued with a recitation of the mantra and additional advice:
“CHOM DÄN DÄ DE ZHIN SHEG PA DRA CHOM PA YANG DAG PAR DZOG PÄI SANG GYÄ RIN CHHEN TSUG TOR CHÄN LA CHHAG TSHÄL LO To Bhagavan, Tathagata, Arhat, Perfectly Complete Buddha, Precious Ushnisha, I prostrate.
“Then after that, you do a short Medicine Buddha practice. If you recite it to an animal loudly, if a person or animal hears it, they will never get born in lower realms. You must write that down in your ‘diarrhea’ [diary] book.”
“In one of Buddha’s past life stories, it says that tens of thousands of fish were dying due to their pond having dried out. He brought water from very far away and chanted this buddha’s mantra to the fish: CHOM DÄN DÄ DE ZHIN SHEG PA DRA CHOM PA YANG DAG PAR DZOG PÄI SANG GYÄ RIN CHHEN TSUG TOR CHÄN LA CHHAG TSHÄL LO. Due to this, they were all reborn in the Deva Realm of the Thirty-Three. Then they all came down to thank him together with a rainfall of flowers. There are quite a few stories about this verse.
“It is very good to learn it and to write it down because if an animal or a person is dying, this is the very first thing to recite to them. But don’t recite it like you are reciting it for yourself, so the other person doesn’t hear it. The other person has to hear it! Don’t mumble; you have to recite it loudly. Since the person who is dying has to hear it, get near their ear and recite it loudly. Even if there are many other practices you are going to do for the dying person, phowa, Medicine Buddha puja, or any other practice, the first thing to do is to recite CHOM DÄN DÄ DE ZHIN SHEG PA DRA CHOM PA YANG DAG PAR DZOG PÄI SANG GYÄ RIN CHHEN TSUG TOR CHÄN LA CHHAG TSHÄL LO. If the other person is able to hear that, it is impossible for them to be reborn in the lower realms. Therefore, it is very important. It is also very short (Rinpoche snaps his fingers) and it is done. Whatever else you are going to do, first do that. Also, even if you cannot be sure when the person is going to die, [you can recite it because] if the person or animal hears that verse, they will never get reborn in the lower realms. Even for animals and insects, it is unbelievably powerful.”
For more practices and resources for the dead and dying, please visit: https://fpmt.org/death/
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche watching a teaching with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on a tablet. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Dharma practitioners around the world have been advised to isolate themselves from others as much as possible to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. This can be a challenge to those wishing to study without access to their local centers.
We are offering several FPMT Online Learning Center programs to any student or center who would like to use them. (Please note: Students who are new to the Online Learning Center will need to create an account. For details, see “Getting Started Guide.”)
Living in the Path
We have made this entire program available for free. Find the enrollment keys for the individual modules here.
Living in the Path (Spanish)
This program is also in Spanish and is available for free. Find the enrollment keys for individual modules here.
Discovering Buddhism (French)
All of the modules of Discovering Buddhism in French are available for free and do not require enrollment keys.
Additionally, students are welcome to access complete teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via Rinpoche Available Now. Find video of recent and archive teachings from Nepal, Russia, Singapore, Latvia, France, and many other teaching events.
Please also visit the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for freely available teachings by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in a variety of digital formats.
We hope that students will take full advantage of these opportunities during this isolating time of uncertainty.
Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.
receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
