His Holiness the Dalai Lama giving public teachings in person, McCleod Ganj, H.P., India, September 2022. Photo by Jean-Luc Castagner.

Buddhist students around the world have learned to appreciate technology and the blessings of Zoom since the Covid-19 pandemic halted travel and large events or gatherings for most of us for nearly three years. In September, His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered an in-person teaching in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, at his monastery, Namgyal Monastery.

We are so happy to share two moving reports of these teachings – one from long-time French student Jean-Luc Castagner, who was able to speak to other students from around the world about their experience with His Holiness’s teachings, and one from Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim, on behalf of a group from Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, who attended these teachings together.

Return to McLeod: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Teachings in a Post-COVID World

By Jean-Luc Castagner

His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama has been giving public teachings for decades in the little town of McLeod Ganj above Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh, India), and the flow of Injis (English speakers/Westerners, in Tibetan) that marks the streets here is a constant indicator of the importance and relevance that His Holiness’s message is always touching a wide audience.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, September 2022. Photo by Jean-Luc Castagner.

The pandemic that has put these public teachings on hold is now almost behind us and we are now able to attend in person and be in the presence of His Holiness again. In the mornings of September 15 and 16, 2022, His Holiness gave a two-day teaching on Chandrakirti’s Entering the Middle Way, a prominent text written as a commentary to Nagarjuna’s Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (The Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way). It clarifies Nagarjuna’s Middle Way approach with respect to the lack of intrinsic existence as propounded by the Madhyamika Prasangika school of thought. The auto-commentary was further written to clarify its meaning for Chandrakirti’s students. His Holiness has given similar teachings on these texts many times in the past.

Two and a half years have passed since my return to McLeod Ganj. March 21, 2020 was my last day there. That morning, all the students of the Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translation Program (LRZTP), of which I was a part, formally graduated. I remember that time very clearly because of the commotion that the newly emerging virus, now famously known as Covid-19, was causing havoc all over the planet, and the prospect of being stuck in India for a long period of time, in probably dire circumstances, was daunting to me and many other people. My friend and classmate, Lola, and I decided to travel back to France together quickly, after experiencing a few plane cancellations and delays. It turns out that we were on one of the last planes that were allowed to leave India on the morning of March 22, as all of Indian air travel was to be shut down at 6 am on that day. A handful of my classmates had decided to stay in India, thinking that this situation would not last long, that it too would come to pass. Little did they know about the dreadful duration of the restrictions they would be submitted to during the lockdown, but somehow most of them experienced it with a happy mind and made the most out of it. Had it not been for the then-unknown health troubles that my late father was in a year later, I think retrospectively it might have been better to stay there and continue improving my Tibetan skills, which during the next two years in France took a hard hit.

Indeed, Covid-19 has had a tremendous impact on our lives. However, for those lucky ones like myself who could stay in the countryside during the various lockdowns, it was a very pleasant experience. For others less fortunate, the restrictions impacted not only their physical health but also their mental health.

During the two years of the LRZTP, one of the perks of staying in McLeod Ganj was of course to be able to attend His Holiness’ teachings, during which he put more and more emphasis on climate change and how the Buddhist view articulates the interdependent nature of our existence at a personal, individual level, but also on a global, world scale. This has now become a global phenomenon and will hopefully create some sense of urgency, but the notion of interdependence and responsibility, fused within the framework of a compassionate view of our world, is now needed more than ever.

Attendees of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching, McCleod Ganj, H.P. India, September 2022. Photo by Jean-Luc Castagner.

These teachings were requested by a group of Southeast Asians and the majority of the foreign participants who attended were from Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and China. However, this time there seemed to be less Westerners, as the space on the ground floor outside had plenty of room left for sitting. This was contrasted with the June 2022 teachings for which the doors were shut by 7a.m. as it had very quickly reached full capacity.

For those who had attended the teachings in previous years, not much change is actually visible. Externally of course some improvements have been added in the temple, such as the new elevators that allow His Holiness to access the teaching hall. The video cameras used to stream the teachings are increasing in number it seems, with even a wireless feed that follows His Holiness closely as he slowly makes his way to the temple from his residence.

Mimi is a young teacher from Singapore, who came here to be able to learn and develop insights about herself and others, and also to be as close to His Holiness as possible. The profound impact that these teachings had on her, in her own words, “Really, it’s all about being loving and affectionate. That was mainly something that encouraged me, to be fearless in overcoming selfish delusions and have courage in the heart. Any negative situation is an opportunity to practice more love and affection toward my mind and others, and see the transformation from within. The study of emptiness is to really be able to investigate over and over the cause and effect of an object you have been obsessing about, and then to be disciplined in the mind, to be able to bring reasoning, and not conclude simply.”

Dharma can be understood at many levels and used unconditionally in various areas of our lives. Whether we are full-time at work, have the leisure to travel the world, supporting our family, or living a celibate life; the teachings apply to all situations, because we experience it all with our mind. Alessia, a Russian girl from Moscow who has been studying Tibetan and Buddhist philosophy at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives for five months now, said, “The most important is what is in my mind, if I have bad things from which I suffer, I have to work with myself. So it is not outside of me, it’s only my mind. This is the most important part.”

Change is also an inevitable part of our existence. Personally, my first visit to McLeod Ganj was in 2007, and for sure it was different than now, the number of hotels was considerably lower, eating out was restricted to a few good options, and the garbage situation was very difficult. Since then, McLeod Ganj has banned plastic bags, and there are now a few locations where waste can be left to be disposed of. Compared to then, the town is much cleaner, and the variety of dining options (Tibetan, Indian, Japanese, Italian, Korean, etc.) reflects well its cosmopolitan atmosphere. As a French person, I especially appreciate the famous cakes that made the reputation of a few places such as Coffee Talk near the temple.

For some like Dimitri, who has been living in McLeod Ganj for 10 years now, his take on the evolution of McLeod Ganj is double-sided, “It became more comfortable to live here, I know from before. If you want to study it’s good, but if you want to do practice or meditation, the atmosphere has changed for the worse, because there are a lot of tourists coming, a lot of distractions. Before it looked like a monk’s village, with monks doing prayers and reciting mantras, but now it’s a tourist place and the atmosphere is different. If I want to do meditation or go deeper into my practice, I move from here for a short time and I come back. But before it was not like this”

While staying in McLeod Ganj during the two years of the LRZTP, I remember noticing that the Tibetan community here had become very proactive with various environmental projects and regular demonstrations. If one reflects on the current state of our planet, it appears that mundane interdependence is not even valued nor considered at government levels. His Holiness’s timeless approach of the Buddha’s teachings manages to integrate and support the various issues that affect us all, such as how to deal with anger, stress, climate change, war, and epidemics within our minds. It is our duty as responsible Buddhists, who, like all sentient beings, do not wish to suffer and only wish for happiness, to uphold his message and advice and implement it in our daily lives to the best of our abilities. It is such a precious opportunity to attend these teachings and to see His Holiness directly. If you have the resources and time to visit McLeod Ganj, this will be very worthwhile. But be mindful as the cakes here are atrociously delicious.

Jean-Luc has been a student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche since 1998 and has been volunteering in various FPMT centers over the years, particularly in Institut Vajra Yogini and Nalanda Monastery near Toulouse, France. He recently graduated from the Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program in Dharamsala and is now pursuing his study of the Tibetan language in Nepal.

Southeast Asian group with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, September 2022. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Amitabha Buddhist Centre Students from Singapore Attend His Holiness’s Teachings

By Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim

An air of enthusiasm and excitement accompanied 33 of us on our Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC) tour to attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings for Southeast Asian students in Dharamsala, India. Our week-long trip from September 11-19 was joyfully welcomed by all. In the interim, we had been thankful to be able to receive His Holiness’s precious teachings online and even through Zoom. However, nothing could compare to sitting in the gompa of Namgyal Monastery itself as His Holiness continued teaching from where he had left off previously in Chandrakirti’s Entering the Middle Way.

The majority of the ABC travel group are very new to the Dharma and to ABC, or are engaged with other traditions such as the Chinese Mahayana tradition or another religion. However, the rare opportunity to be able to actually see His Holiness in person was what drew many of them to sign up with our tour. We also welcomed back a father and son duo who were ABC members from 30 years ago!

Some of the attendees for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching, McCleod Ganj, H.P. India, September 2022. Photo by Jean Luc Castagner.

Besides attending the two-day teachings at the main temple, our group had the opportunity for a pilgrimage to Tso Pema at Rewalsar, the sacred lake where Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, is said to have been miraculously born from a lotus. The full-day road trip included visits to three holy caves where Guru Rinpoche had meditated. These included a cave where Guru Rinpoche had planted his footprint. We also sat in the first cave to meditate on Guru Rinpoche, recite the Sampa Nyurdrupma prayers, the mantra of Guru Rinpoche, and dedicate strongly for the peace and happiness of all beings in the world in these troubled times. One of the first-timers later shared that the experience of being able to do these prayers was very meaningful and special to her as she had never performed such prayers before. She was very grateful to be guided in this practice, saying that it was a memorable experience for her.

Another side tour for our group was a visit up to our sister center, Tushita Meditation Centre. Everyone showed themselves to be very good sports in taking the steep hike up the walking trail to Tushita – albiet puffing and panting here and there, but everyone made it! We were warmly welcomed by Tushita Centre’s Spiritual Program Coordinator, Ven. Kunphen. After a comprehensive briefing and tour of Tushita’s holy objects provided by Ven. Kunphen and her assistants, we were treated to a generous and sumptuous buffet that included momos, a variety of cakes and steaming cups of chai.

Other highlights for our participants included an audience with His Eminence Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, observing a post-teaching fire puja at Namgyal Monastery, and a visit to Gyuto Tantric Monastery and Norbulingka. Many also got to view the holy relics of the previous incarnation of Ling Rinpoche in a museum inside His Holiness’s private residence. To celebrate the end of our visit, we all sat down to a dinner together at the newly-refurbished Pema Thang Guesthouse restaurant.

His Holiness giving teachings, McLeod Ganj, H.P., India, September 2022. Photo by Jean-Luc Castagner.

Very positive comments and feedback were heard all round, and there were many happy, beaming faces. One participant who was on her first visit to Dharamsala rated her experience as “5-star” and “A-plus!” It is remarkable that impermanence and our past accumulation of merit brought us over to Dharamsala and back, safe, sound, and filled with special memories and countless blessings. We look forward to receiving the next round of His Holiness’s teachings, so kindly and efficiently organized by Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Singapore.

Camaraderie, open-mindedness, warmth and understanding accompanied us throughout our nine-day tour. Besides the coordination efforts supplied by Executive Committee member Vincent Koh, Sangye Quek and myself, several of our group, older and newer members alike, stepped up readily to help where needed. Everyone contributed to making this a peaceful, happy journey!

Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim is regional representative for IMI Southeast Asia and a long-time member and student at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore.

To view the current teaching schedule of His Holiness, we invite you to please visit the official website of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Most of His Holiness’s teachings offer a live webcast so please check the website regularly for opportunities. 

Group photo from the first meditation course held at Kopan Monastery, April, 1971. Left to right, front row: Zina Rachevsky, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe Thubten Tashi, Age Delbanco (Babaji), Lama Yeshe, Gen Wangyal. Fred Von Allmen is at far left, Claudio Cipullo second from the end on the right, and Mark Shaneman is standing directly behind Babaji. Photo provided by Fred von Allmen, courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said, “Coming to a Kopan Course is the most important education of your Life.” On November 25, 2022, after a two year break due to the COVID restrictions and safety concerns, 175 students started the fifty-third course at Kopan Monastery with Geshe Tenzin Namdak serving as retreat teacher. A more restricted amount of attendees were admitted than usual due to ongoing concerns of contagion and risks.

The organizers report that the flow has been smooth and things are going well and harmoniously so far. Geshe Namdak has started the teachings with a scientific approach. His teaching manner has been described as relaxed yet enthusiastic. In attendance are a combination of senior students, including eight nuns, three monks, and complete beginners from all around the world, including a large group of Spanish speaking students and a smaller Portuguese group. 

Many of FPMT’s senior students first met Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche attending one of these retreats and over the years, thousands of students have made a connection with FPMT through the education they received at Kopan Monastery. For three years in the seventies, two courses were offered every year, and since then, the November Course—as it is affectionately referred to—was offered every year until 2020. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2017. Photo by Bill Kane

In 2017, Rinpoche told the 200+ attendees of the course, “So it is really of the utmost importance, you coming here to learn not just meditation but lamrim, lamrim meditation. … Only then, you can understand how to live life, how in the past how you live, and how you should live now, in a positive way to benefit not only yourself but all the numberless beings. So I want to say, your coming to Kopan to do meditation course, oh, this is the best! If you want to help the world, to bring peace, your coming here is the best. Your coming here to do the meditation course, to learn, that is the best. You have to bring peace in the world by your mind, by your good heart. You yourself have to have a good heart to bring perfect peace and happiness in the world. That is the best.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught that very first course in 1971 and has offered teachings at the courses almost every year since. In addition to Rinpoche’s teachings, which usually begin a couple of weeks into the course, Rinpoche selects a course teacher to lead the course every year. Geshe Namdak, who was requested this year, is resident teacher at Jamyang London Buddhist Center. Geshe Namdak is a  Dutch senior monk who completed his Geshe Degree at Sera University in India in 2017. Geshe Namdak is the first Westerner to complete the full course of studies at Sera Je Monastery and also to sit for the final geshe examination there, a tremendous achievement.

The 42-foot stupa at Rabagayling Tibetan Settlement in Hunsur, India, October 2022. Photo by Ven. Lhundrup Tsundu.

The Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement in Hunsur, South India is home to the Rabgayling Old Aged Home, a care facility serving approximately twenty residents. FPMT Charitable Projects, through the Social Services Fund, has been supporting this home since 2015, providing grants for annual operation costs, the construction of living accommodations, medical assistance, and a community hall for the elders.

In addition to this critical support for the basic needs of the residents and facilities, Lama Zopa Rinpoche sponsored the construction of a magnificent forty-two foot stupa close to the elderly home at the settlement, which was recently completed. The stupa will provide the elders and all other residents of the Tibetan settlement an easy opportunity to create merit and purify negative karma.

Padmasambhava taught in Instructions on Offerings to Stupas:

“Since all the three-time buddhas and bodhisattvas have actually absorbed into the holy object of the mind and are abiding in it, any request or prayer done to this great stupa will spontaneously and effortlessly succeed, for it is like a precious wish-granting jewel. The benefits received by any transmigratory being with a pure special attitude who does prostration or circumambulation or makes offerings are incalculable and cannot be expressed even by all the past, present, and future buddhas.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche presiding over the consecration ceremony for the stupa at the Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement, joined by the abbott and monks of Gyudmed Monastery, Hunsur, India, October 16, 2022. Photo by Ven. Lhundrup Tsundu.

On October 16, 2022, during his visit to South India, Lama Zopa Rinpoche presided over the consecration and opening ceremonies for the stupa, which included the planting of a juniper tree in front of the stupa. Alongside Rinpoche was the abbot and monks of nearby Gyudmed Tantric Monastery, who oversaw the building and planning of the stupa throughout its construction.

In addition to the consecration, Rinpoche offered blessings to the elder residents of the Rabgayling Old Age Home; a teaching on the benefits of seeing and circumambulating stupas and other holy objects, and the benefits of reciting mantras; plus the oral transmission of some mantras. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the consecration for the stupa at the Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement, Hunsur, India, October 16, 2022. Photo by Ven. Lhundrup Tsundu.

Vast Vision for Building Stupas

One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization includes the construction of 100,000 stupas around the world, including in countries where there aren’t yet any holy objects present. Rinpoche explains, “Since there is unbelievable benefit, such as liberating sentient beings, then I thought we should aim to build 100,000 stupas (minimum size, one story, up to the distance from the earth to the moon) in different parts of the world and for the organization to do this as a whole.”

While this vision will take generations to fully accomplish, many stupas have been completed to date. To support this amazing endeavor, one of FPMT’s Charitable Projects  is the Holy Object Fund which provides grants for holy objects such as this one at the Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement, and the impressive Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, which stands 164 feet (50 meters) high, in Bendigo, Australia.

We invite you to please rejoice in the actualization of this beautiful new stupa which took three years to complete and came through the generous legacy offering of an FPMT nun, and the great benefit the stupa will bring to many beings. We would like to especially thank Geshe Tsundu, who oversaw the whole building of the stupa and beautiful decorations, as well as the abbott and monks of Gyudmed Tantric Monastery, who helped to fill the stupa and participated in the consecration. Please enjoy this short video of the actual stupa consecration with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the abbott, and monks of Gyudmed Tantric Monastery.

To help support to the creation of stupas around the world, we invite contributions of any amount to the Stupa Fund.  We also invite you to read more about all of our FPMT Charitable Projects.

FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 150 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friends of FPMT member, which supports our work.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Ven. Roger Kunsang, Dharamsala, India. November 2, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Our November 2022 e-news is now available. 

This issue features news, updates, resources, opportunities, and causes for rejoicing, including:

• Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• Recently published teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• News from the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom
• New blogs and stories from FPMT.org
• Newly available materials to support your Dharma study and practice
• Opportunities within the organization

and much more!

Please read this month’s e-news in its entirety. 

Have the e-News translated into your native language by using our convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page. French and Spanish speakers will find the FPMT International Office News translated each month in the “Bienvenue” and “Bienvenidos” tabs on the FPMT homepage.

Visit our subscribe page to receive the FPMT International Office News directly in your email inbox.

Geshe Thubten Soepa sitting with some friends near Vulture Peak Mountain, Rajgir, India. Photo courtesy of Geshe Thubten Soepa Facebook page.

Geshe Thubten Soepa. 67,  passed away at a hospital in Mysore, India, on November 2, 2022 from a heart attack.

Geshe Soepa was well regarded as a scholar with extensive knowledge about both sutra and tantra, and not only well versed in the Gelugpa texts, but also in those of the Nyingma, Sakya, and Kagyu schools. A cremation ceremony occurred on November 7, 2022. We share a brief account of his life below for rejoicing and inspiration:

Geshe Thubten Soepa was born in Zanskar, India in 1955. As a young child he and his mother were advised by His Holiness Ling Rinpoche and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche that it would be good if he ordained, and he soon followed their guidance. Geshe Soepa began his Dharma studies at age 14 at Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s monastery in Kalimpong, India, where he studied and learned ritual for four years. From there he transferred to Sera Je Monastery in Bylakuppe, India, where he would complete his geshe studies 21 years later, earning the highest honor of Geshe Lharampa, in 1993.

In his first three years serving as a geshe, he taught philosophy and Tibetan grammar at Sera Je and Dzongkar Chose monasteries.  Geshe Thubten Soepa then received a request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche to teach in the West. Geshe Soepa agreed to Rinpoche’s request and moved to Munich, Germany. For ten years he continuously taught at FPMT centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, while also traveling to other centers around Europe to offer teachings. After his time in Europe, the next decade of his life was mostly spent in North America, offering teachings at FPMT centers in Canada, Mexico and the United States. 

Geshe Thubten Soepa meditating at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, India. Photo courtesy of Geshe Thubten Soepa Facebook page.

Recognized as a Tulku

In his short autobiography, Geshe Soepa shared that he was told that he was the reincarnation of a high lama on three separate occasions. The first declaration was made by His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche in 1974, then again by His Eminence Zong Rinpoche in 1978. The last affirmation came from the great yogi Choden Rinpoche, during a public teaching Rinpoche was giving on the Six Yogas of Naropa in Munich, 2004. Geshe Soepa shared his shock and disbelief at hearing the news each time, even asking Choden Rinpoche if he was teasing him. Choden Rinpoche looked at Geshe Soepa and forcefully confirmed it was not a tease! Despite being recognized, Geshe Soepa was never formally enthroned or named after the particular teacher. In 1974, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche shared with Geshe Soepa that a formal enthronement would not be necessary, foretelling that Geshe Soepa would “spontaneously be doing well at Dharma, and that [he] would like it.”

Promoting Vegetarianism and Protecting Life

Geshe Thubten Soepa was deeply passionate about promoting vegetarianism, especially to those living a monastic life. He would go on to write a number of books and articles on the practice of not eating meat, relying on sources such as the Lankavatara Sutra, Great Cloud Sutra, Great Nirvana Sutra, and the Anguli Mala Sutra, to communicate the Buddha’s teachings. His first book was titled Protecting the Lives of Helpless Beings: The Udamwara Lotus Flower, which is now available as an ebook through the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. In 1996, while His Holiness the Dalai Lama was visiting Munich, Geshe Soepa was able to offer His Holiness a copy of his book. His Holiness told Geshe Soepa that he read the whole book, was very pleased by the text, and encouraged Geshe Soepa to continue his efforts on the topic. 

In the years following, he would write four texts on vegetarianism that were translated in five languages and distributed freely. In 2012, Geshe Soepa published a short text on the Hinayana Vinaya teachings on monastics refraining from eating meat. During the 2017 Kalachakra initiation offered by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, India, Geshe Soepa was able to meet with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and offer Rinpoche this short text. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was also quite pleased by Geshe Soepa’s writing. Geshe Soepa told Rinpoche that he was planning to write another text to clarify further points, and Rinpoche expressed that the text should be translated into English, in order to be easily translated into many languages later. Geshe Soepa would go on to publish another text in Tibetan in 2018 for monastics. The text included teachings on performing animal liberations and advice for working to free people who were wrongly imprisoned.

Geshe Soepa concluded the short telling of his life story with the message: “I sincerely wish that all of our mother sentient beings be free from suffering and being killed.”

Geshe Thubten Soepa at the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India. Photo courtesy of Geshe Thubten Soepa Facebook page.

Read Geshe Thubten Soepa’s short autobiography, dictated to Robert Baptist, from which the above obituary was based, courtesy of Land of Compassion and Wisdom FPMT study group in Austin, Texas, who had a strong connection with Geshe Soepa and have hosted him often. 

We invite you to download the ebook, Protecting the Lives of Helpless Beings: The Udamwara Lotus Flower, through the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, and read an article by Geshe Soepa called “Protecting Animal Welfare“. A French translation of his text Heart of Joy, Message of the Buddha, is also available as a free PDF.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche requests that students who read obituaries pray that the person mentioned finds a perfect human body, meets a Mahayana guru, and becomes enlightened quickly, or be born in a pure land where the tantric teachings exist and they can become enlightened.” While reading obituaries we can also reflect on our own death and impermanence prompting us to live our lives in the most meaningful way. More advice from Lama Zopa Ripoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).

To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).

Shakyamuni Buddha statue at Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre Delhi, India. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

We rejoice in all of the virtuous and merit-multiplying activities happening in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world during this special time of Lhabab Duchen, November 15, when the entire FPMT mandala is creating extensive merit for others. 

Lhabab Duchen celebrates 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.

You can learn more about Lhabab Duchen and practices recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for this auspicious day.

Please also rejoice in the offerings being made to thousands of ordained Sangha engaged in extensive practices for the benefit of the entire FPMT organization and all beings today.

From all of us at FPMT International Office, thank you for all you are doing for others today and every day.

FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 150 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friends of FPMT member, which supports our work.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s essential advice – available as a poster from the FPMT Foundation Store

We’re delighted to announce that the FPMT organization now has a hub for its Universal Education activities!

The development of compassion and wisdom are at the heart of the FPMT organization. We aim to 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 (as described in the FPMT Mission Statement).

The goal of our Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom (UECW) Pillar of Service is to provide secular tools inspired by Dharma for those people who are not drawn to religion. The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) is an FPMT affiliated project which has developed such secular UECW programs and resources.

We are therefore happy to announce that FDCW will now serve as the FPMT organization’s official hub for the UECW Pillar of Service! FDCW will provide guidance and support to centers, projects, services, and students, to help further develop the UECW Pillar of Service, all with a particular focus on developing compassion. This is very much a co-creative process: FDCW and centers sharing ideas to find solutions that can work locally.

FDCW offers collaborative discussions, a wide range of audio, video and downloadable resources, courses, facilitator training, marketing materials, webinars and general support. FDCW will be the global FPMT UE parasol, with the individual UE projects as the spokes in that parasol, connecting these projects, and spreading the compassion at their heart. As the hub, FDCW will track and share successful ideas and initiatives. This will allow us to further build and develop secular resources to benefit more and more people around the world.

The Big Love Summit is an online conference organised by FDCW taking place from November 14-19, 2022. FDCW Director Victoria Coleman says, “You are warmly invited to join the Summit to learn more of what FDCW has to offer.”

To learn more about Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom:
fpmt.org/education/secular/universal-education-for-compassion-and-wisdom

Lama Zopa Rinpoche on a group outing in Singapore, September 19, 2022. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Our October e-News is now available!

This issue features news, updates, resources, opportunities, and causes for rejoicing, including:

• Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent activities in Singapore and India
• Recently published teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Long life puja and gratitude award offered to Rinpoche at Sera Je Monastery
• Opportunity to support 10,000 Sangha on Lhabab Duchen
• New blogs and stories from FPMT.org
• Newly available materials to support your Dharma study and practice
• Opportunities and changes within the organization

  and much more!

Please read this month’s e-news in its entirety. 

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Lama Rinpoche with Ani Chodron at Kopan Nunnery, 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Venerable Ani Chodron was born in the year of the wood bird in 1945 in the village of Tsum near the border of Tibet in northeast Nepal. She is the oldest of four children, all daughters, born to Mingmar Tshok and Mingma Tsewang. Her parents were nomads and farmers, and her uncle Gelong Pasang Tsering was known as the chanting master of Mu-Gompa.

At the age of nine, Ani Chodron ordained at Ranchen Nunnery. She received from His Holiness the previous Chosang Rinpoche the great initiations of Avalokiteshvara, Yamantaka, and Vajrayogini. When her uncle retired from Mu-Gompa to enter retreat in a nearby cave, the senior monks and nuns chose Ani Chodron to be his assistant. There she performed one hundred thousand each of mandala offerings, prostrations, guru yoga recitations, and long mantras of Vajrasattva.

Geshe Lama Konchog at Kopan Monastery, 1985. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

In 1959, Geshe Lama Konchog escaped Tibet via a route revealed to him in a dream which led him across the border to the village of Tsum. After many years meditating in solitude in a cave of Milarepa, he settled in a cave about an hour outside of Tsum known as Gaden Gompa.

Ani Chodron remembers when she heard the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog had moved to a nearby cave. She joined her uncle, three nuns from Ranchen Nunnery, and seven monks from Mu-Gompa to pay their respects and request teachings. The group received from Geshe Lama Konchog profound instruction and were led in a great Vajrayogini retreat. Together they performed four hundred thousand mantra recitations.

When Ani Chodron’s mother died at the age of 39, she moved home to the village in Tsum to help her family. After some time, Geshe Lama Konchog paid the family a visit. He advised the family to arrange a marriage for Ani Chodron’s younger sister so that Ani Chodron could continue her retreat. The family agreed, and Geshe Lama Konchog chose a husband for Ani Chodron’s younger sister, Ami Bhuti. In 1975, in the village of Tsum, Ami Bhuti gave birth to Tenzin Zopa, now Geshe Tenzin Zopa, an FPMT teacher.

Ani Chodron’s first nyung na retreat was led by Geshe Lama Konchog. The intense purification practice is highly praised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a supreme method for transforming the mind. Nyung na involves fasting, meditation, prostrations, mantra recitations, and taking Mahayana precepts each day. In Geshe Lama Konchog’s commentary on nyung na he said, “You should work hard. I have already completed 2,000 sets of nyung na retreats.”

At times the conditions in the cave were so poor it tested Ani Chodron’s faith as to whether she would be able to complete the nyung na retreats. For many years, she would go down to the village to beg for tsampa, rice, fruit, or any food at all just to be able to survive the retreats in the cave. Whenever she questioned whether she had the strength to continue, she recalled Geshe Lama Konchog’s words in order to fortify her resolve. Incredibly, in the end, Ani Chodron was also able to complete 2,000 nyung na retreats.

Over the years, Geshe Lama Konchog became a beloved figure in Tsum village. Ani Chodron’s nephew spent so much time at Geshe Lama Konchog’s feet that as a little boy Tenzin Zopa assumed he was his grandfather. Geshe Lama Konchog taught the local ordained and lay community, and every year he would lead a nyung na retreat that included both villagers and Sangha.

Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the recognized reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog. Nepal, 2006. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Ani Chodron did retreats with Geshe Lama Konchog in the summer and traveled with him to India in the winter to attend teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The walk from Tsum to Kathmandu took sixteen days. In Kathmandu they stayed in Thamel at Katasyambu because they had no money. They would sell Tibetan incense and share what they collected. It took two days of walking non-stop day and night to reach the border of India. In India they received from His Holiness the Dalia Lama initiations for Kalachakra, Yamantaka, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrayogini. His Holiness also gave teachings on the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Each time she returned to Tsum she continued to receive Dharma teachings at Gaden Gompa.

On October 15, 2001 the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away at the age of 84. Ani Chodron’s nephew Tenzin Zopa had long-since been ordained as a monk and become a devoted disciple of Geshe Lama Konchog. He presided over the ceremonies and funeral for his precious guru at Kopan Monastery in Nepal.

In 2006, Ani Chodron came to Kopan Monastery to take care of Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the recognized reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog. She had no hesitation and only joy at being given the opportunity to serve because, as she explains, she understood the power of the opportunity provided for her to purify her negative karma and to accumulate merit. At Kopan, she received many Dharma teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Ani Chodron credits any progress in her practice and on her path to following the guidance of her holy gurus.

This remarkable nun has simple advice for her dear Dharma brothers and sisters, “I only have a humble request [for] you to follow wholeheartedly the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Guru Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.” 

This article was written by Heather Melton Fox based on an interview with Ani Chodron. Thanks to Ngudrup Tsering for translation of this interview. Edited for publication by Carina Rumrill.

If you are inspired to support people undertaking retreats like what you have read about here, please consider offering to the Practice and Retreat Fund which provides grants and sponsorships to students engaged in retreats such as 108 nyung na retreats, 100 million mani retreats, recitations of sutras, and long-term retreat.

If you are interested in learning more about the practice of nyung na, you can find many resources in the Foundation Store.

Jo Marie Galt, 71, died in Santa Cruz, US, on September 1, of cardiac arrest resulting from various contributing health factors.

By Elaine Jackson

Jody Galt with dog Dawa. Photo courtesy of Shasta Wallace.

Jo Marie Galt (Jody) was loved by her Dharma family at Vajrapani Institute where we met in the late seventies and early eighties. She is remembered as always being the first one to volunteer for the hard jobs with a smile and determination. She will be deeply missed.

Jody was born on March 31, 1951, in Missouri, but most of her childhood, which she described as really difficult, was spent in Spokane, Washington. She was fourteen when her mother took her own life. Then, at sixteen, Jody ran away from home making strong prayers for answers.

Traveling in Mexico, Jody met Jim Ezell, her first husband and father of her daughter, Alicia, who was born in May, 1970. After Jody and Jim separated, Jody settled in Selma, Oregon where, together with Andy Robbins, she built a log cabin. It was here that their son, Ben, was born in 1978.

Jody had prophetic dreams. She described one dream where a book fell from the sky with one word on the page: “Vipassana.” She had no idea what that meant but became curious, went to the library, and began to read Dharma books.

In May 1980, Lama Yeshe led a Chenrezig retreat at Grizzly Lodge near Mount Shasta. It was sponsored by Vajrapani Institute. Jody sold her trailer to raise money to attend that course. It was there that she met Diney Woodsorrel and George Galt. After that course, Jody and her family moved to Berkeley.

Judy Weitzner recalled, “When Jody and Andy moved to the Berkeley Dharma House just after Grizzly Lodge, Jody was invaluable in her efforts to keep things organized. She was an exceptionally hard worker and contributed with cleaning and cooking. She attended many teachings and classes. Geshe Thardo was the resident teacher, but Lama Yeshe, Lobsang Chonjor, and Zong Rinpoche, as well as others, also offered teachings. It was at the Berkeley Dharma House where Jody first met Shasta Wallace, who was living at Vajrapani Institute at the time.” When the Dharma House closed in 1981, Jody moved to Vajrapani.

Jody said that Berkeley was too wild for her, so she went to Vajrapani. She and Andy had separated by then, but Andy came to Vajrapani from time to time, and eventually settled in Boulder Creek.

Shasta, a founder and long-time Vajrapani resident, recalls that Jody was always willing to jump in and help no matter how daunting the job. Shasta remembers such a job. It was cleaning and restoring a grease-laden, dilapidated-looking, commercial cookstove bought in San Francisco from an old restaurant in the Mission District. It looked like a wreck, but it needed to be functional for a retreat in one week. Jody told Shasta that not only could it be done, but it would be done. She helped take it apart, soak the encrusted parts and scrub it until it shined. It served as the cookstove in the Vajrapani kitchen for many years.

Initially, Jody and her children, Ben and Alicia, lived at Vajrapani in the “Dzome,” a canvas structure originally built by Rick Crangle and Jacie Keeley in 1978. It had an outdoor shower, an outhouse, and a small separate hut used for a kitchen. Jody was no stranger to rustic living. As she recalled, “Ben was three and Alicia was eight when we moved into the Dzome. That’s where I did my retreats – Tara and Vajrayogini. At 3:00 a.m. I would wake up. I loved it there so much. I wanted to be part of the community. I paid my $40.00 every month, hauled cement bags, and did what I could. In those days, we joked that I was living at Vajrapani, where you pay to work.”

Jody remembered working on the trails around the Chenrezig Gompa, while it was under construction, when Bill Kane came down with a terrible case of poison oak. Since Jody seemed to be immune, it became her job to pull the poison oak, and pull it she did, for two or three weeks. She ended up also getting the worst case of poison oak she had ever seen.

Janet Brooke recalls, “I met Jody when she arrived at Vajrapani in early 1981 following Lama Yeshe’s course at Grizzly Lodge. We were both mothers at the time. Her son Ben was a year older than my infant, Lise. There were many other children at Vajrapani who were close in age at the time, so Jody and I inevitably shared a lot of time around children.

“Jody and I also connected with the hard work needed to build this wonderful retreat center. We shared a love of gardening. Jody was very knowledgeable and experienced in this area. I learned so much from her. Together we had the opportunity to plant and create the garden beds around the stupa and surrounding the Vajrapani Gompa. This was all done under Jody’s expert guidance and skill and with great joy at being able to make such a wonderful offering. It was fun and, when working with Jody, it was guaranteed that somewhere along the way, no matter how hard the job, there would be a lot of laughter. Jody had a great sense of humor, and we shared a lot of laughter. There was hard work and there was laughter, and there were difficult times too. It was during the most difficult times in my life that Jody did her best, despite her own difficulties, to be there for me, as much as she was able, and I will be forever grateful.”

Jody had started a landscaping business and employed a few Vajrapani women who needed to make some money. Bev Gwyn remembers that two of Jody’s clients were Dick and Ramona Andre, who bought Lama Yeshe’s house in Rio del Mar (Santa Cruz), after Lama’s passing. Ramona loved Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Jody and maintained a relationship with Bev and Jody until her passing this year. Dick still lives in Lama’s house.

Following torrential rains, Jody’s beloved Dzome became unlivable when the roof collapsed. The family moved to Boulder Creek. Jody refers to Tom Waggoner as her “guardian angel,” who built her a house on Vajrapani land so she could move back about a year later. As she said, “It was the biggest gift of kindness.” Then, as luck would have it, that new house was irreparably damaged by a mudslide the following winter. Jody and the kids had to climb out a bedroom window to escape. They moved back to Boulder Creek.

In 1983, Lama Yeshe gave his last teaching a Vajrapani Institute when he taught the Six Yogas of Naropa. It was attended by so many of his beloved students, including Diney, George, and Jody. Diney was soon diagnosed with terminal cancer and died at the end of that year. Jody helped George as caregiver for Diney and also his three children, Shyela, Bodhi, and Sanje.

In October 1988, George and Jody were married. Jody continued to work in landscaping and engaging in other creative projects. She attributed her creativity to her mother who was an artist. Her parents had lived in Japan and her mother was greatly influenced by her time there. When Jody was living in the Berkeley Dharma House, she was quilting. Judy Weitzner shared that she gave Jody her old dresses which were cut up and returned to Judy in the form of a quilt with the Tara mantra on all four sides. Judy said it was the most heartfelt gift she ever received. Jody responded, “It was because of how much I treasured the gift of Dharma you gave me.”

Lama Yeshe at a family gathering at Vajrapani Institute, California, 1983. Photo by Carol Royce-Wilder.

Jody once shared, “Lama told me it was always going to be really difficult for me to see him. I was very shy and had such low self-esteem that I felt I should not be bothering someone for whom I had so much respect. At Grizzly Lodge, on the last day, Lama said that anyone could come in to talk with him. I told myself, ‘OK this is it.’ I was intimidated, but Lama said, ‘I think you have something you wanted to ask me.’ I said, ‘Lama, if you appear in my dream and give me teachings, is that what I should take as the truth?’ Lama replied, ‘Whenever I appear to you, you can believe what I’m telling you, even in a dream form.’ That was so encouraging to me.”

Judy explains, “Vajrapani is a miracle. It is magnificent. Lois (Greenwood) and I were talking about how when Lama spoke, people heard different things. People often took different pieces of his vast vision to make real.”

For the last many years of her life, Jody lived in pain from a degenerative spinal disease which led to half a dozen surgeries. Additionally, Jody’s immune system was attacking her nervous system leading to pain, numbness, and loss of motor control, for which she endured ongoing medical procedures.

About this period, Jody once shared, “Twice when I was in the hospital, very sick, Lama and Rinpoche and Chenrezig appeared in my room. I was delusional. I didn’t know where I was. When I saw them, they weren’t just figures. They were glowing, sparking, alive entities that I could feel radiating love out to me. Then, I knew they were there, whether I could see them or not. I thought, ‘OK, I gotta trust you.'”

Jody continued, “Once when I was in the hospital, they thought I had meningitis in my spine so I was in isolation. The man next to me was dying. I started saying prayers. I asked the nurse if he was going to make it. She told me it was doubtful. When they called a code blue I just said prayers. Ten minutes later he was OK. The nurse said, ‘I don’t know what kind of prayers you are saying, but they are sure powerful.’”

Jody found the practice of tonglen helped her the most. About this practice she said, “Thinking about the suffering of others almost always takes me away from focusing on my own pain and my own problems. I have other meditations, like Tara, but my go-to constantly is tonglen. Rinpoche is always sending me so much energy. He sends beautiful chants and prayers for when the pain gets very bad.”

Once while Rinpoche was visiting Jody in her home and offering advice, Jody asked Rinpoche what karma she had to have so much suffering. Rinpoche told her that by suffering that pain, she was taking it on so Rinpoche did not have to suffer it. Jody relied on Rinpoche’s words for inspiration and consolation.

When asked what practices she did during the difficult times, she said, “It is hard, but I think, if in any way I could take on the suffering of others and relieve them, how great that would be. Every two weeks I go to the hospital. I remember that the blood I get comes from others, and I see others sick with cancer, so I hold that in my mind. I bear the pain for others.”

Jody died peacefully in the hospital surrounded by George, her daughter, Alicia, and Shasta. Often in her decline,  Tom Waggoner was also at her bedside. The practices from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice were followed. There was a stupa at her crown, a prayer wheel at the bend of her left arm, a Namgyalma mantra over her heart, and the prayers Rinpoche designed, with all the important mantras to be recited, gently resting on her chest. Breathing evenly and peacefully, when the last breath left her body, Rinpoche was notified, prayers were recited, including Medicine Buddha, The King of Prayers, and many mantras. Medicine Buddha puja was also done at Vajrapani Institute that evening and will be continued every seven days until the forty-ninth day.

We cherish our memories and pray; may Jody be free … at last.

We offer grateful thanks to Elaine Jackson and all of Jody’s dear friends and family who contributed to this obituary.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche requests that students who read obituaries pray that the person mentioned finds a perfect human body, meets a Mahayana guru, and becomes enlightened quickly, or be born in a pure land where the tantric teachings exist and they can become enlightened.” While reading obituaries we can also reflect on our own death and impermanence prompting us to live our lives in the most meaningful way. More advice from Lama Zopa Ripoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).

To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with flower offering at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, August 26, 2022. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Our September e-News is now available!

This issue features news, updates, resources, opportunities, and causes for rejoicing, including:

• Recent teachings and advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Thanks to all for their prayers for Ven. Roger
• News about stunning images of the Sixteen Arhats now available to all
• Rejoicing in eleven years of Nyung Na retreats at Institut Vajra Yogini
• New blogs and stories from FPMT.org
• Newly available materials to support your Dharma study and practice
• Opportunities and changes within the organization

and much more!

Please read this month’s e-news in its entirety. 

Have the e-News translated into your native language by using our convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page. French and Spanish speakers will find the FPMT International Office News translated each month in the “Bienvenue” and “Bienvenidos” tabs on the FPMT homepage.

Visit our subscribe page to receive the FPMT International Office News directly in your email inbox.

Two of the images of the Sixteen Arhats now available in the Foundation Store.

With the project almost three decades in the making now completed, we are happy to share with you beautiful images of the Sixteen Arhat statues which are housed at Nalanda Monastery, France, for your own home and practice.

Nalanda Monastery’s Assistant Director, Ven. Kalden, shares some background on the statue project:

“In order to develop and make everything possible for Nalanda Monastery to flourish, almost 30 years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised that it would be very beneficial to have statues of the Sixteen Arhats in our altar. All the great teachers say that this is very auspicious to have those statues in the monastery as it creates the causes to attract new monks and to keep the vows purely. As the primary goal of Nalanda is to preserve the monastic tradition, those statues are of a high importance.”

Arya Gopaka, one of the Sixteen Arhats now at Nalanda Monastery.

The Sixteen Arhats (Foe Destroyers) are also known as the Sixteen Sthaviras (Elders) and have destroyed their inner enemy, the delusions, and attained liberation from cyclic existence. At the time of the Buddha’s parinirvana, they vowed to remain in the world to preserve the Dharma until the time of the future buddha, Maitreya.

These sixteen statues were sculpted by artist Jonathan Partridge in Australia, and brought to Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India in 2006. Ven. Yonten, an IMI monk from Nalanda, was tasked with shipping the statues safely from Dharamsala to the monastery in France. The local monsoon climate at the time was making the clay brittle, and the already fragile statues, which have varying and unique sizes, called for some inventive and meticulous packing and shipping.

With all the care and precautions, they arrived to France mostly intact, but needing repair. Jonathan was asked to come to Nalanda and repair them and also to finish the amazing Buddha statue in the main gompa of Nalanda Monastery and all the intricate artwork surrounding it. Following the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Bertrand Cayla then created molds of all statues with the help of the late Ven. Tsultrim and Cai Martinez and Losang Rabten from Spain. These molds can now cater to FPMT centers, who would like to receive a set of these statues themselves.

The masterful painting of the statues was offered by Sonam Sherpa, a talented Nepali artist who has completed many large projects for Nalanda, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and other FPMT centers. A short documentary of Sonam’s work on the statues was filmed in 2015.

Once the statues were fully completed, the monastery offered a consecration puja, and the statues now reside on the main altar. Earlier this year, Nalanda was awarded a grant through the Merit Box Project to help fund the creation of the altar to hold the statues.

Please enjoy this short video on the making and history of these statues:

Images of the Statues Available to Download and Print

Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested the statues be photographed so the images could be available to others. A collection of professionally-produced images of the statues, complete with beautiful backgrounds, is now available for download in the FPMT Foundation Store.

Arya Rahula, one of the Sixteen Arhats now at Nalanda Monastery.

The images can serve to inspire and be an object of offerings, and accompany practice of the Sixteen Arhats puja. Here are some of the benefits of making offerings and prayers to the Sixteen Arhats:

• All the victorious ones (buddhas) are pleased.
• Anyone who correctly practices it will have no obstacles.
• One will be able to abide in pure morality.
• It increases one’s scriptural understanding and realization.
• One will have perfect inner and outer conditions to practice Dharma.
• One will not be overwhelmed by untimely death and will have a long life.
• The community of Sangha will be increased.
• The study and practice of the Tripitaka (Three Baskets) will increase.

Artist Sonam Sherpa composed the following dedication. We invite you all to join us in rejoicing in the completion of this incredible project and the availability of these auspicious images for all:

Order the complete set of images of the Sixteen Arhats statues through the Foundation Store.

Don’t miss also Nalanda’s upcoming program for 2023: The Sound of Many Hands Clapping Debate course, led by Geshe Tenzin Losel and presented in English. In February they begin a new program, Stepping out on the Path, also led by Geshe Losel in English. A five-month course for those who wish to dive deeper into the following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s book: Becoming Enlightened. Parallel to this, resident teacher Geshe Gyaltsen, will give teachings on Arya Nagarjuna texts, enriching one’s understanding of emptiness and dependent arising. And to finish the year a precious commentary, group sadhana practice, and the approximation retreat with fire puja of Solitary Hero Yamantaka will also be guided by Geshe Gyaltsen.