Announcements

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with a new friend he met while shopping and to whom he gave a 30-minute introduction to Buddhism, California, US, October 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang

We invite you into the November FPMT International Office E-News, out now.  Enjoy:

• Highlights of Lama Zopa Rinpoche News
• What’s New from FPMT Education Services
• How to Give a Gift that Helps Others
• Opportunities to Rejoice

and more!

FPMT has just launched a new gift-giving program that offers an alternative to buying material gifts for friends and family. Give a Gift that Helps Others enables one to contribute to a compassionate charitable project as a gift for someone else. One then gets to send a special gift card or e-card to the recipient that highlights how their gift will benefit others.

Donations can be made to help liberate animals, offer food to the monks of Sera Je Monastery, build holy objects, or provide for the basic needs of others through the social services.

The gift cards are personalized with names of the giver and receiver and gift amount. The Give a Gift that Helps Others program is beginning now in time for the holiday season, but will be available year-round as a giving option for birthdays and special occasions.

You can learn more and also order a gift for someone here.

We hope you enjoy our October edition of the FPMT International Office E-News!

This month you will find:

• News about the annual Long Life Puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• The latest on Rinpoche’s Teaching Schedule
• News about Living in the Path, and new mantras to download
• How FPMT Charitable Projects are supporting His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• Three new FPMT Study Groups!

and of course much more!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering a mandala during tsog puja, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Subscribe to the monthly International Office News to receive the latest information on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s schedule and advice; new Dharma practice materials; FPMT centers, projects and services around the world; and opportunities to offer service.

Portrait of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, New York, USA, August 2015. Photo by Edward Sczudlo.

Please enjoy the September 2015 edition of International Office News, FPMT International Office’s monthly e-newsletter.

This month, discover:

• Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on “How to Overcome Depression”
• Ways to stay up to date on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s ever-changing schedule
• A newly revised edition of Daily Meditation, a Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s compilation of prayers, practices, and meditations needed to start one’s day
• A recent update from Kopan Helping Hands, Kopan Monastery’s and Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery’s organization to help those affected by the Nepal earthquake
• Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive’s new website
• … and more!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing an incense puja for those who are sick on his first day in Mexico, where Rinpoche was leading retreat, September 6, 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Subscribe to the monthly International Office News to receive the latest information on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s schedule and advice; new Dharma practice materials; FPMT centers, projects and services around the world; and opportunities to offer service.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Eminence Choden Rinpoche, New Delhi, India, August 29, 2015. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Monastery.

We are very saddened to share the news that His Eminence Choden Rinpoche passed away on September 11 at 1:30 a.m. India time at Sera Je Monastery in South India. Choden Rinpoche was a highly respected Buddhist master and a much loved teacher, who taught at many FPMT centers over the years.

Choden Rinpoche was born in 1933 in eastern Tibet and was recognized at age three. At age eight he entered Rabten Monastery, and at age fifteen he went to Sera Je Monastery, where he studied the five main texts. Choden Rinpoche became an expert on the teachings on Vinaya – monastic discipline. He was a highly respected scholar and was chosen as one of two Sera Je monks to debate with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ geshe exams.

During the communist Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959, Choden Rinpoche stayed in Tibet and went into solitary retreat. He never left his small, dark room in Lhasa from 1965 to 1985, and was virtually unknown in his monastery for this reason. In 1985 he was allowed to leave Tibet for India and has since taught for many years at Sera Je Monastery in South India as well as at Dharma centers throughout the world, including many FPMT centers.

On August 29, 2015, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with Choden Rinpoche in New Delhi.  His Holiness told Choden Rinpoche that he remembered the first time that Choden Rinpoche came to his attention. It was many years ago during an audience with monks at Norbulingka, the summer palace of His Holiness in Tibet. His Holiness said that he remembered seeing how the rays of the sun were falling on Rinpoche’s head and how a bee landed on his head. Choden Rinpoche said he had no memory of that. His Holiness said that at the time he thought that Choden Rinpoche was a magnificent lama. [Photos and translated English text provided by Ven. Tenzin Gache and Ven. Tenzin Namdak of Sera IMI House at Sera Je Monastery. Rebeca Cuan Corral provided a Spanish language translation of the meeting.]

His Holiness also said that since arriving in India, Rinpoche has done his best in many ways such as giving teachings, imparting philosophy lessons to the monks and sharing the Buddhadharma with students throughout the world. His Holiness said that it is important to rejoice in this work.

If you would like a more detailed description of the event of his transition, as well as the collection of prayers that were advised by Choden Rinpoche himself before he showed the aspect of passing away, for all of his students to offer at this time – please click here.

Read updates on the Facebook page set up for this.

See “The Life of a Hidden Meditator: Choden Rinpoche” from Mandala July 2000 to read more about Choden Rinpoche’s experiences in Tibet at Sera Monastery and in Lhasa after 1959. The complete multi-part feature “The Life of a Hidden Meditator” is available as a PDF. You can also read more recent stories about Choden Rinpoche on FPMT.org.

Mandala will have a complete obituary for His Eminence Choden Rinpoche in the January-June 2016 issue.

We hope you enjoy the August edition of the FPMT International Office E-news – out now!

This month we bring you:

• Highlights from Lama Zopa Rinpoche News
• Recent Grants Offered by our Social Services Fund
• Newest Online Feature from Mandala magazine
• Celebrating FPMT’s International Sangha Day…with pizza!

and of course more…….

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Khyongla Rato Rinpoche, New York, USA, July 2015. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been receiving oral transmissions from Khyongla Rinpoche. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

We invite you to read the July edition of our FPMT International Office E-news!

In this month’s e-news, you’ll find:

• Celebrating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday
• News from the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund
• New Materials from FPMT Education Services
• Merit Box Grants have been Awarded
• Foundation Store New Products

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in Moscow, Russia, July 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

We hope you enjoy our June FPMT International Office E-News.

In this month’s e-News you’ll find:

• Highlights of News, Activities and Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Introducing the just-published Mandala magazine
• New mantra card from FPMT Education Services
• Update about our Work a Day for Rinpoche campaign

…and more!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with koalas, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, June 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang

We hope you enjoy the May FPMT International Office E-News.

In this e-News we bring you:

• An overview of the resources available following the earthquakes in Nepal
• Highlights from our blogs about Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• News from FPMT Charitable Projects
• New opportunities to offer service

and more!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the way to consecrate the stupa at Mahamudra Centre, Colville, New Zealand, May 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang

Kopan monks distribute aid to villagers after earthquake, Nepal, May 1, 2015. Photo via Ven. Nawang Thinley’s Facebook page.

FPMT.org makes available a variety of resources to help concerned students and supporters stay abreast of the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake.

Learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, a fund offering initial aid in some of the most remote areas and helping to rebuild Kopan Monastery, Kopan Nunnery and Lawudo (https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/).

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice regarding “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal” to help prevent earthquakes and benefit those who have recently died (https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/).

For FPMT.org’s coverage of Nepal after the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page (https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/).

Consider receiving an email daily digest of news from FPMT.org, which includes our updates from Nepal (https://fpmt.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97e3ebb09472d09e0e699efd3&id=b248a1a45e). 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in Kopan Monastery’s main gompa, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

28 April 2015, 9 p.m. Kathmandu time

From Ven. Roger Kunsang:

Services have started to come back. Kopan just got electricity and internet just now.

Rinpoche taught this afternoon, but still no initiation. Rinpoche taught mostly on emptiness and how earthquakes and Chöd are similar– they raise fear and you can use that. Rinpoche also taught, “The earthquake came from one’s own self-cherishing mind. … So take all the blame and put it on one’s own self-cherishing. … Don’t blame outside, don’t point the finger outside to others.”

Rinpoche is keen to help Thame, the town where he was born [near Mount Everest in the Solu Khumbu region], in particular, two families he has connections with. And so he sent US$3,500 for both families to help them with a tent and food. Through a lama there who does all the pujas for the dead of the poor families, we are trying to identify the families who now need help with food and tents. (Nobody wants to stay inside buildings.) We are going to try and focus on helping poor families in the area who have lost their homes. [FPMT International Office has established the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to support these efforts.]

Still people are camped out and won’t go into their homes, if still standing. They are too scared another tremor will come. People were really freaked out with the big aftershock quakes and their effects.

I’m inside while writing this and am ready to run if tremors happen. That’s happened a few times and quite freaky as the building really shakes and trembles! And we really don’t know if the building will come down or not!

Lots of commercial flights coming in now to the airport, so I think things should be more settled by the time we need to leave. [Rinpoche’s teaching tour begins in New Zealand next week.]

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in the gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

Damage to Chenrezig gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015

From Ani Fran, who works as a manager at Kopan Monastery:

The damage is heartbreaking [at Kopan], especially the Chenrezig gompa. It is possible it will have to be pulled down and rebuilt. 

But we are so lucky that Rinpoche is here, camping out with everybody else. Can you believe it!

Damage to Chenrezig gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Roger Kunsang in the enlightenment garden at Kopan Monastery, where they have been camped out, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Ueli Minder.

Looking down at Kopan Nunnery after the earthquake, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Sangpo Sherpa.

27 April 2015, 10 p.m. (Kathmandu time) 

From Ven.Roger Kunsang:

All at Kopan Monastery are spending the third night sleeping outside. Most people in the area are doing the same. People are very scared to sleep inside the houses as many homes are poorly constricted and damaged.

Today Rinpoche heard that half of the houses in Thame, which is Rinpoche’s birthplace in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal, have been completely destroyed. Rinpoche immediately offered to sponsor tents and food to help the people in Thame.

I have asked FPMT International Office to set up a Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. This fund will begin the task of supporting Kopan Monastery and Nunnery and other affected FPMT centers in the area with any initial emergency needs, and then later on, will offer ongoing support for rebuilding. We will also use these funds to help others, as in the example of Thame.

This evening Rinpoche did prayers for all those who have died or are injured with all the Sangha of Kopan. Rinpoche gave the motivation for Most Secret Hayagriva initiation and is planning to give the initiation tomorrow.

Thank you all for your support of prayers and offering support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.

27 April 2015, 8 p.m. (Kathmandu time) 

From Kopan Monastery staff: 

Nepal chaos by nature (Report from day one)

It’s the biggest tragedy from a powerful earthquake to happen in Nepal in 82 years. It was at 11:54 a.m., just after the lunch here at Kopan Monastery. Afterwards, we learned that it measured 7.9 magnitude, which is considered as very strong. It is officially report that more than two thousands people died within 3-4 hours from the initial quake. Fortunately, it hit during the daytime, otherwise the number of human casualties may be doubled.

Image from Kopan Monastery School Facebook page, Nepal, April 27 2015

At first there’s nothing much to do except stay away from the any building. All the monks moved back to Ri-gyab. Rinpoche started to pray along with monks, while we were looking around trying to find any casualties. We found that Chenrezig gompa and old guest room got pretty bad damages. All the staff members are busy sorting out problems. Tents were prepared for Rinpoche, monks and all the guests.

As soon as we came to know about the many tragedies that had happened in the city, we setup an Emergency Relief Team. The first thing that came into our minds to do was to donate blood. We went off to the Red Cross blood bank of Nepal to check. On the way, we witnessed on the roads and heard from the radio that many people were dead. 

At night, all the people across the city are camped either in the road or open places. There is no light. All the medium of communication are jammed. You can feel the fear from people’s faces. Hospitals are full of corpses. Helicopters are flying all over the city. The government announced to stay away from any tall buildings or the like. It was declared five days off for all the schools across the country. It’s so creepy to see the affected area. Many buildings got cracked. Some might go down if it shakes again. People across the country are scared and tense. The government announced relief teams are on the way and international teams are arriving.