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Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Phillipa Rutherford, Ven. Kaye Miner and Drolkar McCallum reporting back from group discussion, CPMT 2014, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 14, 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.
After a day of being blessed with many hours of teachings and advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Day 1, participants were geared up for a full day of presentations and small group discussions on Day 2 of the CPMT 2014 meeting. To open the morning session François Lecointre, director of Institut Vajra Yogini gave a summary of the Inner Job Description, sharing his experience working with it and talking about the sections on “Bodhisattva Attitude,” the “Six Perfections,” and “Developing Skillful Communications.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche arriving at the CPMT 2014 on Day 2, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 14, 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.
Next FPMT Inc. board member Paula de Wys spoke during the session “Organizational Structure — Forward Planning.” She offered heartfelt gratitude to three people who recently step down from servicing on the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors: Tim McNeill, who offered more than 25 years of service; Alison Murdoch, whose most recent term was 9 years; and Peter Kedge, who has served on the board since its inception during the time of Lama Yeshe. Paula then outlined a proposal for a new FPMT Advisory Council, which is an idea brought forward by the FPMT Inc. Board.
Center Services director Claire Isitt and FPMT Australia coordinator Helen Patrin gave a brief talk on the FPMT Regional and National Offices and the exciting progress that is being made with the regionalization strategy, which was presented at CPMT 2009. As the group was breaking for morning tea, FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived.
After the break, Rinpoche and participants gathered in small groups to discuss several questions drawn from the morning presentations on the Advisory Council and the Regional and National Offices. Each small group reported back to the large group key points of their discussion, which focused mostly on initial responses to the Advisory Council idea.
Reporting back after small group discussion on FPMT Education Programs, CPMT 2014, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 14, 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.
After lunch, Tom Truty, director of FPMT Education Services, gave a presentation on the work of his department. Tom described FPMT Education Services as having four limbs: translation work, practice materials, training seminars and programs. Rinpoche arrived during the presentation and stayed to participate in the small group discussion that followed, focusing on FPMT Education Programs.
Director of FPMT Education Services Tom Truty speaking at the CPMT 2014, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 14. Photo by Laura Miller.
After a report back to the large group, there was a tea break. It was evident from the ideas shared by the small groups that there are a lot of ideas and energy around the education programs and their further development and implementation.
Next, Lama Zopa Rinpoche had an open discussion, taking questions from participants, which he replied to in his characteristic animated and engaging manner. Questions came about supporting monks, the FPMT Basic Program, Tenzin Osel Hita, advice on bringing money into centers and what students can do to for Rinpoche’s long life.
François Lecointre concluded the afternoon session, leading a reflection on the activities of the day and the Inner Job Description. Following dinner, Paula de Wys gave the evening’s Wisdom Culture talk, describing her experience of meeting Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinoche back in the early days at Kopan. (You can read Paula’s story in our “Road to Kopan” series.)
Mandala will continue sharing updates and photos from the CPMT 2014 meeting as it continues.
Ven. Chonyi Taylor and Ven. Joan Nicell outside of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 14, 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Rinpoche prostrating before offering the body, speech and mind mandala to a photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the throne, Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 2014.
The first day of the CPMT 2014 meeting got off to a blessed start. Representative of the Jaara people, the native Aboriginal tribe of the Bendigo, Victoria, area, performed a smoke ceremony and traditional dances and offered Lama Zopa Rinpoche a traditional sacred gift, representing a connection between the Jaara and the people of the FPMT.
Ven. Gyatso, director of Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery, which is one of the three FPMT centers hosting the CPMT meeting, welcomed FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, who is the present abbot of Kopan Monastery and resident geshe at Amitabha Buddha Centre. Gyatso recalled how Lama Yeshe had been on the property many years earlier and had pointed out where there was to be a stupa, a monastery, a retreat center and other facilities. And now, Gyatso said many of these things have become or are becoming actualized.
Liam Chambers, director of the Atisha Centre, another of the hosting centers, spoke next, inviting participants to envision an organization “where everyone is being the best that they can be.” He then challenged all present to actually be the best that they can be at the meeting and out in the world. He also recognized the 30 years of work and service offered by people to create and sustain Atisha Centre.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering a khata to the Guru Rinpoche statue at the Great Stupa, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.
Judy Green welcomed participants on behalf of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion. The vast interior of the stupa serves as the venue for the meeting. She also recalled how 33 years ago Lama Yeshe had drawn in the sand his vision for the complex of centers and said, “We’ve done our best to fulfill Lama’s wishes.” She shared how His Holiness the Dalai Lama had blessed the site of the stupa in 2007, saying he saw it as a future gathering place for interfaith and scientific dialogues.
The meeting’s facilitator, Sandra Stubbings, was introduced. Sandra is both a professional facilitator and former SPC of Chang-tong Chen-tong in Tasmania and has completed the 16 Guidelines training (a Universal Education in Compassion and Wisdom program). She has also helped FPMT Australia with its national meetings.
The majority of Day 1 was blessed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, offering inspiration and advice. In the morning session, Rinpoche gave the motivation for the meeting, which can be watched online. After lunch Rinpoche gave a second talk, speaking on the evolution of FPMT and the special qualities of Lama Tsong Khapa’s teachings, among other things.
Ven. Paloma Alba sharing ideas from the discussion she had on preserving the Gelug tradition, CPMT 2014, Australia. Photo by Laura Miller.
The day also had many opportunities for participants to talk to each other, including a lunch-time meeting of the national and regional coordinators attending the meeting, who discussed ideas for how to best share and disseminate the information and experience of the CPMT 2014 meeting. After Rinpoche’s afternoon talk, participants had lively and engaged discussions with partners on how to better learn and practice in order to preserve the Gelug tradition, which was a question suggest by Rinpoche. Before going to dinner, ideas on this were shared with the larger group and everyone seemed to have had fruitful discussions.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi speaking at CPMT 2014, Australia. Photo by Laura Miller.
After dinner, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi talked about his experience becoming a Kopan monk at the age of 12 in 1974. Khen Rinpoche described life as Kopan and how he was part of the first group of Kopan monks to study at Sera Je. After completing his geshe degree, he said that Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked him to become the resident geshe at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in 1999. Khen Rinpoche said that at the time he thought he would “just try it for a year;” the center just celebrated his 15th year as resident geshe.
Khen Rinpoche was asked to become the abbot of Kopan Monastery in 2011, after Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup manifested advanced cancer. Khen Rinpoche shared how Kopan Monastery has grown over the years and what it offers now. There are about 380 monks and 400 nuns at Kopan and its sister nunnery Khachoe Ghakyil. They receive education in English, science, math and other topics as well as a Buddhist philosophy and other traditional topics. Kopan and Khachoe Ghakyil serve as a source of current and future geshes for FPMT centers around the world, with about 15 geshes so far coming from Kopan. To close, Khen Rinpoche said very humbly, that he was speaking “just as an example of how Kopan benefits people.”
Mandala will continue sharing updates and photos from the CPMT 2014 meeting as it continues.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, September 12, 2013. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived for the five-day CPMT meeting at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Australia on Thursday, September 11. The CPMT meeting begins on September 13, and Rinpoche’s opening talk on Saturday will be streamed live over the internet beginning at 10:15 a.m. local time (AEST, click here for time zone conversions). For up-to-date information on webcasts of Rinpoche while at the Great Stupa, visits the CPMT Livestream page.
Presenters preparing for the CPMT meeting while the A/V team test the projector, Great Stupa, Australia, September 12, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
On Friday, September 12, the Great Stupa was aflutter with preparations. Flowers and water bowl offerings were being arranged. Meeting presenters were reviewing their talks. And the A/V team was setting up and testing microphones, cameras, speakers and a projection screen to ensure that all present – as well as anyone with an internet connection around the world – can see and hear Rinpoche.
Pik Pin Goh and Sally Ong from Losang Dragpa Centre beginning to set up water bowls in front of the Guru Rinpoche statue in the Great Stupa, Australia, September 12, 2014. Photo by Laura Miller.
The CPMT meeting, which ends on September 19, is followed by a public talk on September 20 and the month-long Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa retreat, September 25-October 23. The public talk as well as the retreat at the Great Stupa will also be live streamed.
Mandala will be covering the CPMT meeting with daily updates and new photos.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Joop van Herk coordinates Cuppa & Company, a new ‘day-stay’ program by Amitabha Hospice Service. Photo from Facebook.
Director Ecie Hursthouse describes the new caregiver respite program at Amitabha Hospice Service in Auckland, New Zealand:
Amitabha Hospice is very pleased to offer our new “day-stay” program to people living with terminal conditions in Auckland. This new program, called “Cuppa & Company” is held once a week in our hospice. It offers companionship and camaraderie, art classes, music, reiki and other complementary therapies to our patients. The families and caregivers of the patients also benefit by receiving a regular break from what is usually 24/7 caring. Our volunteer coordinator Joop van Herk organizes Cuppa & Company.
The Level 1 NZ Buddhist Chaplaincy Course will be held again at Amitabha Hospice September 5-7 and facilitated by Ecie Hursthouse and Kala Dostal. This course, which is accredited by the NZ Buddhist Council, prepares successful applicants to help support practitioners from any Buddhist tradition (Theravada and Mahayana) in a health crisis. Completion of the course gives the qualification of “NZ Apprentice Buddhist Chaplain.”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche helps celebrate the 40th birthday of Chenrezig Institute in the Garden of Enlightenment, Eudlo, Queensland, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Chenrezig Institute was the first FPMT center in Australia, begun in 1974 after a teaching with Lama Yeshe near Eudlo, Queensland. Today, the thriving center offers a packed program of study, practice and retreat.
Releasing butterflies at Chenrezig Institute’s 40th birthday celebration, Eudlo, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Kerry Murphy.
During his recent visit to the center, Lama Zopa Rinpoche joined the 40th anniversary celebration held on September 6. In addition to a public talk, “Purification, Healing and Joyful Living,” Rinpoche took part in a butterfly release with the children of the center. Rinpoche also gave a Great Chenrezig initiation while at the center.
In Mandala July-September 2009, we shared the story about how the center came to be. (You’ll also find how the other oldest FPMT centers around the world took root.)
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving the children little koala bears holding little OM MANI PADME HUM flags during 40th anniversary celebration at Chenrezig Institute, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Dzambala benefited from Animal Liberation Sanctuary until his death in March 2013. Photo courtesy of Animal Liberation Sanctuary.
Animal Liberation Sanctuary co-director Phil Hunt sent Mandala a recent update on the animal-welfare projects taking place in Nepal:
The Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal, has experienced its first monsoon on the new land. Fortunately, there are now several dry areas where the goats and sheep can rest, including one of their favorite places, around the stupas which provides some coolness from the heat (not to mention many blessings!).
We had our first operation in our new treatment room, with Nyingjey, a goat, who has had ongoing urinary problems. It has certainly been much less stressful for the animals to have treatment on the property where they live rather than having to transport them all the way into the city and back. Plus, our facilities are a lot cleaner.
We also have two dogs at the sanctuary now, Poppy and Lhamo, since the Nepali caretakers feel safer with dogs. We were also able to spay Poppy in our treatment room whilst we neutered one of the Kopan cats in a room in the Medicine Buddha Clinic. We thank Tree of Compassion, an Australian animal-welfare organization, for donating sterile instruments and materials for surgery, a rarity in Nepali animal care.
Meanwhile, the cows who remain within the monastery grounds at Kopan have more vegetation to eat since there are no longer any goats in their territory to graze it all away. Several of them have had problems with their feet, wounds which have been exacerbated by the wet and muddy ground. Treating the foot of a 500 kg [1,100 lb] cow is not such an easy task but distracting them with a bowl of food and a good scratch under the chin helps! Meanwhile, Christmas, our crippled cow, has been sporting his “wrap-around shades,” modified horse netting, to keep the ferocious flies at bay.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
The new issue of Mandala magazine, October-December 2014, is in the mail and the supplemental online content is published!
In this print issue, graduates of FPMT’s in-depth Buddhist studies programs talk about transformation and the power of in-depth study. We also share new, unpublished teachings from Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, plus a report on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy.
If you’d like to receive Mandala directly, consider supporting Friends of FPMT, which gives you complete access to Mandala as quickly as possible as well as access to the FPMT Online Learning Center.
Be sure to peruse this issue’s online edition, which includes:
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the benefits of the Golden Light Sutra,
- “Origin and Spread of the Buddha’s Doctrine,” an excerpt from Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron, published by Wisdom Publications,
- An interview with Ven. Thubten Chodron about the new book Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions,
- Ven. Chönyi Taylor’s new Dharma Realities column: “Procrastination,”
- “You Are Not Alone” by Namdrol Miranda Adams and other homilies from Maitripa College students,
- Plus much more.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT activities, teachers and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
Geshe Sopa Rinpoche during long life puja, Deer Park Buddhist Center, Wisconsin, US, July 20, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Geshe Lhundub Sopa Rinpoche passed into clear light meditation on August 28 at Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon, Wisconsin, US. Geshe Sopa was a preeminent scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, a gifted teacher and an embodiment of the qualities of humility, tolerance and compassion.
Born in 1923 in Tsang, Tibet, to poor farmers, Geshe Sopa took novice vows and entered Ganden Chönkhor Monastery at age eight. A decade later, he entered Sera Je Monastery in Lhasa, where he distinguished himself as a devoted and talented scholar. At Sera Je, he taught many important future teachers, including Jangtse Chöje Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, Khensur Jampa Tegchok and Lama Yeshe. Geshe Sopa served as a debate partner for His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ geshe exams. He went into exile in 1959 in India and received his lharampa geshe degree in 1962 while at Buxa Duar.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Geshe Lhundub Sopa in 1989. Photo by Kalleen Mortensen.
In 1963, His Holiness sent Geshe Sopa to the United States, accompanying three young Tibetan reincarnate lamas to learn English. A few years later, he was invited to teach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he went on to become a full professor, retiring in 1997. The long list of students Geshe Sopa taught and advised at University of Wisconsin includes many internationally recognized Buddhist studies and Tibetan language academics.
In 1976, Geshe Sopa Rinpoche established Ganden Mahayana Center in his home in Madison, which later became Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon, Wisconsin. He invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to give the first Kalachakra initiation in the West, which was held in 1981 at Deer Park. In 1996, Geshe Sopa became a trustee of the International Peace Council, an interfaith organization that promotes peaceful resolution of differences. In his last decade, Geshe Sopa oversaw the construction of the impressive large temple at Deer Park, which was consecrated by His Holiness in 2008.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing prayers with Geshe Sopa Rinopche, Deer Park Buddhist Center, Wisconsin, US, July 20, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited Geshe Sopa at Deer Park a month ago and attended a long life puja for Geshe Sopa. “Geshe-la is not talking anymore and always has his eyes closed,” Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant, reported after the visit. “Geshe-la seems to be constantly in meditation.”
In 2012, Wisdom Publications released Geshe Sopa Rinpoche’s autobiography, Like a Waking Dream. In it, Geshe Sopa shares detailed memories of his youth and early days in the Tibetan monastic system and offers a first-hand perspective on exile and establishing Tibetan Buddhism in the West. In coordination with the publication of the autobiography, Mandala published remembrances and essays by more than a dozen students of Geshe Sopa and an excerpt from Like a Waking Dream.
On the evening of August 28, Deer Park Buddhist Center wrote in an email, “For our friends who do not live in the area and would like to recite prayers on their own, it would be greatly beneficial at this time to recite the ‘King of Prayers,’ and the mantra of the Buddha of Compassion, OM MANI PADME HUM.”
UPDATE: The Wisconsin State Journal has published an obituary of Geshe Lhundub Sopa.
Deer Park Buddhist Center offers a concise biography of Geshe Lhundub Sopa. You can find more stories from Mandala on Geshe Sopa online.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
“Aitken, publisher Tim McNeill, editor Andy Francis, and I all attended BookExpo America in June where we learned about the trends and forecasts for publishing.
“The coming months bring the publication of many titles, including Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron in November and Himalayan Passages: Tibetan and Newar Studies in Honor of Hubert Decleer edited by Benjamin Bogin and Andrew Quintman in August. Wisdom continues to add new digital editions of our new and backlist books to our website for direct sale.
“On a more personal note, Wisdom’s production editor, Laura Cunningham, gave birth to a happy and healthy baby girl this June!”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Prayer wheels at the entrance of O.Sel.Ling, 2014. Photo by Ruud van Arhem.
Ven. Fabio Poza, spiritual program coordinator at O.Sel.Ling Centro de Retiros in Órgiva, Spain, sent Mandala some photos of the center’s 11 new prayer wheels, located at the main entrance. “With these 11 prayer wheels, O.Sel.Ling wants to contribute to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish of constructing 100,000 prayer wheels around the world.”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Embossed detail on O.Sel.Ling prayer wheels, 2014. Photo by Ruud van Arhem.
Dr. Steve Line gave a lecture during a death and dying workshop hosted by Heruka Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, July 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
Ven. Thubten Osel, director of Jinsiu Farlin, reported on the events happening at the three centers – Heruka Center, Jinsiu Farlin and Shakyamuni Center – that comprise FPMT Taiwan:
Heruka Center
Buddhist Education – Satellite Program
Last year, Heruka Center expanded its education program to neighboring city Tainan, where we continue to have a steady and thriving group of students attending the weekend class on tenets taught by Geshe Tashi Tsethar, resident teacher of Heruka Center in Kaohsiung.
Together with FPMT Taiwan, Heruka Center launched an annual 100 million Tara mantra marathon from May 24 – July 4, 2014, covering the entire Saka Dawa month, with specific dedications for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. What was originally meant to be just an individual center’s Saka Dawa practice ended up to become an international FPMT endeavor, with more than 900 people from 22 countries and 14 FPMT centers taking part. Together we accumulated 9,780,941 Tara mantras.
Even though what had been achieved was less than 10% of our goal, it still caused goose bumps to think of how more than 900 people from across the globe did the same practice with the same motivation and dedicated for the very same purpose during the auspicious month of Saka Dawa! On behalf of all of us who participated in the Tara mantra marathon, FPMT Taiwan presented a letter to His Holiness on July 6 and another letter on July 7 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, explaining and offering our Saka Dawa practice completely dedicated for them.
Death and Dying Seminar
On July 19, 2014, Heruka Center organized a full-day death and dying seminar in a lecture hall in National Cheng Kung University which was attended by over 150 people. Dr. Steve Lin, chairman of FPMT Taiwan and director of the medical research department in Kaohsiung Medical University, presented the process of birth and reincarnation with plenty of medical data and visual aids which were both informative and entertaining. Geshe Tsethar spoke on the dying process, the intermediate state, taking rebirth, as well as the practice of the five powers. The seminar was so well received that Heruka Center is now planning a second one in October 2014, when both speakers will touch on issues such as terminal diseases, karma and Buddhist healing meditation.
Jinsiu Farlin
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the newly renovated gompa of Jinsiu Farlin, Taipei, Taiwan, April 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
Jinsiu Farlin received news on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s arrival on April 2014 on very short notice. Rinpoche’s short visit was not only a big surprise to everyone, his arrival in the airport – an hour earlier than scheduled – was an even bigger surprise! There were only a few students waiting in the airport at that time. The bouquet to welcome Rinpoche was not there, the car to pick up Rinpoche was not there, and the transport to pick up Rinpoche’s entourage was not there too! News about Rinpoche’s early arrival started to spread, and we began seeing students running toward the lounge from the arrival hall entrances and car park. It reached the point that whenever we saw someone running in the hall, we could be quite sure that that person was coming to receive Rinpoche! There were only about 10 students in the beginning, but slowly as people rushed in, we ended up having nearly a hundred students greeting Rinpoche in the airport.
Vens. Drolkar and Gyaltsen painting the wall during minor renovations at Shakyamuni Center, Taichung City, Taiwan, 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
During Rinpoche’s one week’s stay in Taipei, he met the members of the FPMT Taiwan board, gave Hayagriva long life Initiation, conducted the opening ceremony for the completely renovated center and did a few private pujas for the center. Both the initiation and opening ceremony were attended by nearly 250 people. Many old students returned, and there were many new faces too. Rinpoche was very pleased with the renovations, spending time going through each floor and checking out every corner.
During the opening ceremony, Rinpoche emphasized the importance of the existence of a center. “There is a BIG difference between working in a center and working in a company,” Rinpoche began. “When you work in a company, even though you make money, it doesn’t become purification unless you work with compassion. But, when you work in a center – the center gives teaching, educates people about reincarnation, karma, taking refuge, avoiding negative karma, practicing good karma, abiding in vows, keeping precepts, or gives Mahayana teachings, like generating compassion for sentient beings, practicing bodhichitta and so forth. When you work in a center, which educates sentient beings by giving teachings, it purifies the past negative karma to be born in the lower realms. It purifies that. And it makes serving sentient beings and serving the teachings of Buddha with compassion happen. So through the center, it helps to create morality and practice; it helps to achieve higher rebirth.”
Even though it was a short visit, Rinpoche’s presence itself rejuvenated and inspired everyone to want to practice Dharma and attend Dharma classes and prayers. These days we continue to see more members attending the center’s activities and more people are inspired to serve the center.
Shakyamuni Center
Geshe Gyatso leads lam-rim meditation at Shakyamuni Center, Taichung City, Taiwan, 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
In March 2014, Shakyamuni Center in Taichung thanked its outgoing director, Ven. Gyalten, a Taiwanese monk ordained by Choden Rinpoche, for his two years of service. During his stay, he did a minor renovation and adorned the main prayer hall with newly framed thangkas of the 16 Arhats and Pandits.
The center then welcomed on board its new director Ven. Drolkar, a Taiwanese nun ordained by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1995. Ven. Drolkar recently initiated a monthly lam-rim meditation weekend retreat led by the resident teacher, Geshe Ngawang Gyatso, and commenced yarne (summer retreat) with three other nuns in the center.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Geshe Sherab blessing a kangaroo, Australia Zoo, Brisabane, Australia, March 2014. Photo courtesy of Langri Tangpa Centre.
“Langri Tangpa Centre near Brisbane, Australia has had a feast of amazing international teachers and events this year,” reports student Carolyn Mason. “Maybe it is the blessing of the center’s wonderful new altar put in last year, carefully following advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on design and statues, which has been much appreciated by all attending these activities.”
Ven. Robina Courtin teaches to 130 at Langri Tangpa Centre, June 2014. Photo by Kerry Murphy.
“Ven. Robina Courtin was here in June and presented to a packed gompa – over 130 on her first night. Her directness, compassion and humor on practicing in everyday life was appreciated by many who had come to the center for the first time. Attracting new people, many of who are younger, is a very encouraging trend noted this year.
“There were very young people in the gompa for the center’s first ever Family Pageant to celebrate Saka Dawa. There was storytelling and rejoicing at the birth of the Buddha and bath offering to the baby Buddha by the children.
“The center’s baby Buddha had been blessed by Khadro-la [Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme] on her visit in April when she spontaneously provided special advice on how to do the water offering ceremony. Her visit and one-evening teaching was followed by Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering giving a Great Chenrezig initiation and then Ven. Thubten Chodron giving a one-night teaching at the center, all within the space of six days!
“In late March, Geshe Sherab provided the center with the opportunity to offer the eight Mahayana precepts from a qualified lama for the first time. His teachings, including on the four immeasurables, were given to audiences of over 100 people. The director took him on a visit to Australia Zoo, founded by the late Steve Irwin, where Geshe Sherab made new friends (see photo above).
“In mid-March the Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour was very well attended and the talk on the nature of the relics provided a wonderful perspective on their significance and power. In mid-February the artisan Tibetan monks from Tashi Lhunpo monastery created a spectacular Medicine Buddha sand mandala, commencing with a Medicine Buddha puja.
“After a short mid-year break, the center will then contribute to the Australian visit of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, with the Great Chenrezig initiation at our sister center, Chenrezig Institute, and then teachings and initiations in Bendigo.”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.