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FPMT News Around the World
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, University of Portland, May 9, 2013
His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to a sold-out crowd at the University of Portland on the first of his 3-day visit to the state of Oregon on the U.S. West Coast. As part of Maitripa College’s His Holiness the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit, His Holiness took part in a morning interfaith panel discussion on Thursday, May 9, about the environment. In the afternoon, His Holiness spoke on the importance of having a healthy mind as both a way of having a healthier body and also a way of creating a healthy environment.
Maitripa College is the first Buddhist college in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and is affiliated with FPMT. At the end of the day, Maitripa president Yangsi Rinpoche thanked His Holiness for returning for his second visit to Portland, Oregon, and requested His Holiness have a long life.
His Holiness visits Maitripa College and FPMT International Office on Friday, May 10, as the Environmental Summit continues. His Holiness takes part in Maitripa’s graduation program “Life after Life.”
The Oregonian had extensive coverage of Maitripa College prior to the event. You can find all the news and coverage of the 3-day event online, including links to live webcasts. Visit His Holiness’ website for news on all of His Holiness’ events and travels.
Mandala will continue to cover the events of the summit on our blog, Twitter and in the next issue of Mandala.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.
FPMT News Around the World
Ven. Freeman Trebilcock on “Harmony in Diversity,” December 2012
In early December 2012, Ven. Freeman Trebilcock, a 25-year-old Australian FPMT monk and director of Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth, was interviewed on “Harmony in Diversity,” a community television program focused on the issues and activities of Melbourne’s faith communities.
In this two-part interview, Ven. Freeman speaks candidly on being young and Buddhist in Australia:
It can be quite challenging in our society to be someone from a faith such as Buddhism. I think Buddhism has a pretty good brand, generally speaking. I didn’t cop a lot of flak directly for being a Buddhist. I think for most people my age, faith doesn’t really play a big part of their life. To have someone who’s really trying to embody their spirituality as the central focus of their life is quite strange for a lot of people of my generation. For a lot of my friends, I guess I was a bit different than others.
For me, my Buddhist practice and understanding was kind of like a grounding; it really kept me on track. I think, more than anything else, I leaned on my Buddhist-ness in times of crisis, when I was struggling. All teenagers go through a lot of difficulties; it’s just a part of growing up. At those times, I was really, really glad to have this frame of reference, this amazing storehouse of Buddhist wisdom to go to, to find some useful tools to deal with things.
As part of his interfaith work, Ven. Freeman participated in ABC1’s Holy Switch, a three-part television series in which six young people take up the challenge to swap religions and “live a totally different life for two weeks and in the process discover who [they] are.” The series premiers May 12.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.
FMPT News Around the World
Dzambala. Photo courtesy of Animal Liberation Sanctuary.
The Animal Liberation Sanctuary near Kopan Monastery in Nepal cares for animals rescued from slaughter by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Mandala was sad to learn of the death of one of the sanctuary’s resident goats, Dzambala, who we have come to know through reports from the sanctuary. Dzambala’s story is an inspiring example of how much we can do for beings in the animal realm.
Dzambala died in March. He was one of the first goats at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal. He was also perhaps the first goat in Nepal with an artificial limb (and not just a lump of bamboo, but a proper prosthesis.) He was one of the familiar faces that you could pick out in the crowd.
Dzambala was rescued before Lama Zopa Rinpoche announced the Animal Liberation Sanctuary project. He was there when the new land was first purchased in 2006. He was there throughout the years as the search for a larger piece of land went on and the planning for the new shelters and facilities continued. He survived the deadly peste des petits ruminants (PPR) outbreak in 2010 where half our goat population died (indeed, initially due to some confusion, Dzambala was considered to have been one of the victims!)
Dzambala with Rigzin and Tsering. Photo courtesy of Animal Liberation Sanctuary.
As a young goat, Dzambala was as cheeky as any kid. He would have mock battles with other sanctuary residents, and also more serious battles to establish the hierarchy. He was one of the more senior ranked goats.
Initially, the rescued goats only consisted of males. This is because male animals are sent to slaughter more often as they don’t produce kids or milk. One day, three female goats arrived: Tsering, Sangmo and Jampa. We were not quite sure where they came from, and by the time we found out, they were pregnant. Dzambala and Tsering became close friends. Rigzin, who is the “boss” goat, was also after Tsering. But Tsering preferred Dzambala’s company most of the time. The three of them were often found sitting together enjoying the sunshine.
When taking the goats around Geshe Lama Konchog’s stupa at Kopan, we knew that if we took Tsering up, Rigzin would follow, and hence the others too. And if Dzambala was there, Tsering would go too. But Dzambala would often just take himself around. He obviously realized the importance of holy objects! (more…)
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 29, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Khadro-la makes offerings during long life puja, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Senior monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery in Nepal recently requested FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche to accept a special long life puja, out of concern for Rinpoche’s health and in support of other pujas that are being organized. The special long life puja was offered the morning of Monday, April 29. Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) attended the puja and made offerings to Rinpoche.
Ven. Roger Kunsang, FPMT CEO and assistant to Rinpoche, shared more about what happened at the monastery: “Kopan Monastery and Nunnery have taken on to do a lot of the pujas throughout the year for Rinpoche’s good health and long life, [and they are also] regularly saving each month a few goats from the butchers and fish. Some of the pujas, like Tugchuma, will be done daily for the rest of the year.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be traveling to the United States where next week he will welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama in FPMT International Office in Portland, Oregon.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la having lunch after puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
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FPMT News Around the World
Tashi Lhunpo Heath Care Centre. Photo courtesy of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
Two FPMT charitable projects – the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund and the Tibetan Health Services Project – donated US$5,677 (300,000 Rs) towards the Tashi Lhunpo Health Care Centre in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement in South India in February. Founded by Ven. Guge Kachen Lobsang Dhondup with the help of generous Taiwanese donors, the healthcare center has been working to provide quality healthcare to resident monks, visitors, and local Tibetans and Indians since 1992. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was inspired by their work and asked for this donation to be made.
Allopathic doctor giving check-up at Tashi Lhunpo Health Care Centre. Photo courtesy of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
Currently, Tashi Lhunpo Health Care Centre has one doctor in residence and organizes a doctor of Tibetan medicine and an allopathic doctor to visit weekly. In addition to the services provided by staff, the center organizes and covers the costs of visits to outside hospitals during emergencies and for medical conditions requiring intensive treatment, an expenditure which is sometimes over 30 percent of their annual income.
In the future, the center hopes to build consultation rooms and dispensaries for both Tibetan and Western medicine; increase incentives and compensation for visiting doctors and staff; provide medical aid to monks with physical and mental challenges; and continue to cover the costs associated with outside hospital visits.
Young monks wait in line to be seen by Tashi Lhunpo Health Care Centre staff. Photo courtesy of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
Tashi Lhunpo Monstery is the seat of the Panchen Lama and was reestablished in 1972 in South India after the Chinese occupation by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama and His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche. The current 11th Panchen Lama, as recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is Gedun Choekyi Nyima, who in 1995 was taken into custody by the Chinese government at age 6 and has not been seen publically since.
FPMT students and supporters can support health-related projects through the Tibetan Health Services Project, managed by FPMT Charitable Projects.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la made special prayers for world peace at Boudhanath Stupa, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
On April 18, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) and others visited Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu to make special prayers for world peace. For the event, Rinpoche assembled a collection of prayers specifically to stop wars, prevent natural disasters, and to reduce self-cherishing.
While Rinpoche and Khadro-la were making prayers for living beings everywhere, Rinpoche’s assistant and FPMT International Office CEO Ven. Roger Kusang was busy gathering and organizing the extensive details of the prayers and practices students and supporters could engage in to contribute to Rinpoche’s long and healthy life. Ven. Roger writes:
Khadro-la and Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting at Kopan Monastery, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
At the beginning of every year I usually check with one or two high lamas if there are any prayers or pujas we need to do to remove obstacles for Rinpoche’s health and long life. This year I have received the advice to do many prayers and pujas … Khadro-la is advising FPMT centers, projects, services and students to also help. I would like to support Khadro-la’s request for students and centers to do the following as much as you can so that we can continue to have Rinpoche with us for a very long time to come.
Khadro-la specifically mentioned the following: “as much as possible if FPMT centers and students can please do”: liberate many animals; hang Tendil Nyersel prayer flags in all FPMT centers, projects and services; recite Most Secret Hayagriva mantra; and offer long life pujas to Rinpoche with the five dakinis.
Khadro-la [also] said that “the most important is good samaya from the students’ side. Whoever is doing the puja, prayers or practice, it should be done well, with good motivation and meditation.”
The full list pujas and practices to do can be found on Rinpoche’s Health – Official Updates and Practices. Also, students can find a complete list of extensive practices being done by Kopan Monastery, Sera Je Monastery, Ganden Shartse Monastery, Jangchup Choling Nunnery, Kopan Nunnery and Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamtsen.
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FPMT News Around the World
FPMT International Office staff and fresh prayer flags on the roof of the building International Office shares with Maitripa College, Portland, Oregon, USA, April 2013
Preparation for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Maitripa College and FPMT International Office are in full swing. With His Holiness arriving in Oregon in two weeks, staff and volunteers are bustling around the Southeast Portland building that is shared by Mandala, International Office, and Maitripa College. This week’s activities span from hanging new prayer flags to finalizing some of the details of three days of events; from talking to reporters to folding 10,000 khatas; and from applying fresh paint to sewing colorful banners for all the windows.
New prayer flags
Carl Jensen, office manager for International Office, describes the scene in the building as calm. “People have settled into their various roles for the preparations and are hitting their stride. They’re doing amazing work,” Carl said.
May 9-11, His Holiness participates in an Environmental Summit hosted by Maitripa College. His Holiness will be joined by interfaith community leaders, noted environmentalists and elected officials. Maitripa College is affiliated with FPMT and is the only Buddhist College in the Northwestern United States.
Mandala magazine recently talked with Yangsi Rinpoche, president of Maitripa College, about the event. Rinpoche is pleased with how the arrangements are coming together. Mandala will offer a first-hand coverage of the events with His Holiness on our blog and in our next issue, which will include Yangsi Rinpoche’s thoughts on why it is important to consider the environment.
If you’d like to receive the next issue of Mandala magazine, become a Friend of FPMT. Mandala is a benefit of the Friends of FPMT program, which supports the work of FPMT International Office, dedicated to supporting the fulfillment of all the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
FPMT News Around the World
Maitripa College President Yangsi Rinpoche on KGW’s Straight Talk
As preparations continue in Portland, Oregon, for the Environmental Summit with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Maitripa College President Yangsi Rinpoche went to the studios of KGW for an interview about the visit and summit. On the local TV program “Straight Talk,” Yangsi Rinpoche discussed His Holiness’ acceptance of Maitripa’s invitation to come to Portland, how His Holiness offers inspiration to people and how Buddhism touches people in our hyper-digital age.
The Dalai Lama Environmental Summit, hosted by Maitripa College May 9-11, 2013, is inviting people to submit a question for His Holiness the Dalai Lama via their website. Maitripa is the first Buddhist college in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and is affiliated with FPMT.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.
FPMT News Around the World
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with interpreter Fabrizio Pallotti giving a public address in Trento, Italy, April 2013. Photo by Sirianni.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Europe last week for a two-week tour. On April 11, His Holiness gave a public talk called “Happiness in a Troubled World” in Trento, located in Northern Italy. Senior FPMT student Fabrizio Pallotti served as an interpreter for His Holiness during the visit in Italy and many teachers and students from FPMT Italian centers were in attendance. Photographer Sirianni, another Italian senior student and regular Mandala contributor, shared photos of the Trento event on his Facebook page.
FPMT resident geshes and children at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public talk in Trento, Italy, April 2013. Photo by Sirianni.
While in Trento, His Holiness also addressed the local government, saying:
“I prefer to begin by greeting you as my brothers and sisters. Why? Because so many of the problems we face today are due to our focusing on secondary differences between us, while neglecting the basic oneness of humanity. As human beings we are all the same mentally, physically and emotionally, and we need to increase our awareness of this.”
Over the weekend, His Holiness was in Fribourg, Switzerland, April 13-14 for public events co-organized by Gendun Drupa Centre, a Swiss FPMT center since 2006. During the two days, His Holiness offered commentary on Atisha’s “Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment,” gave a White Tara empowerment and spoke on “Ethics Beyond Religion.” His Holiness speaks in Lausanne on Monday, April 15, and Bern on Tuesday, April 16.
Later in the week, His Holiness travels to the United Kingdom where he visits Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland for events organized by Children in the Crossfire and then travels to Cambridge to give a talk at the Global Scholars Symposium discussing Nonviolence for Conflict Resolution. For more news and information on His Holiness’ schedule visit dalailama.com.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes
FPMT News Around the World
Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup memorial stupa (left) nearing completion, Geshe Lama Konchog stupa (right), Kopan Monastery, March 31, 2013. Photo by Daryl Dunigan.
“The main method to achieve enlightenment is bodhichitta, the altruistic aspiration towards enlightenment generated out of the mind of compassion,” Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, former abbot of Kopan Monastery, taught on the 18 root bodhisattva vows in 1987. “Bodhichitta, the altruistic mind seeking solely the welfare of others, needs to be enhanced limitlessly. It is not enough just to habituate our mind, and generate or cultivate the altruistic mind in our meditation – besides generating the altruistic mind, we also need to actually venture into the deeds of such a mind.”
In late March 2013, the Lama Lhundrup memorial stupa was almost complete, Kopan Monastery, March 31, 2013. Photo by Daryl Dunigan.
In May 2013, Kopan Monastery hosts a special program in conjunction with the consecration of the recently completed memorial stupa for Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, who passed away in September 2011. Lama Zopa Rinpoche will perform the opening ceremony of the stupa on May 3. The program is scheduled to run May 1-5 at Kopan Monastery. Contact Kopan Monastery for booking information during the stupa consecration events.
You can read Lama Lhundrup’s short teaching on the 18 bodhisattva vows, given during the twentieth Kopan Course in December 1987, on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
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FPMT touring teacher Geshe Thubten Soepa is well known for his advocacy of vegetarianism and is a familiar teacher to students at Land of Compassion and Wisdom in Austin, Texas, United States, and Aryatara Institut in Germany.
In Mandala’s April-June 2013 online edition, we feature an video interview with Geshe Thubten Soepa in which he shares a bit about his background and his deep interest in animal welfare.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.
FPMT News Around the World
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking at Kurukulla Center, Massachusetts, U.S., October 2012. Photo by Kadri Kurgun.
In May 2013, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will participate in an Environmental Summit hosted by Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, U.S. His Holiness will be joined in panel discussions by religious leaders and politicians to talk about spirituality and the environment and universal responsibility.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been advocating publicly for the environment for several decades. In 2006, Mandala reported on the impending climate crisis, a topic that both His Holiness and Lama Zopa Rinpoche have addressed. In 1988, in a speech entitled “Humanity and Ecology,” His Holiness said:
“Peace and the survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities that lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed, and lack of respect for the earth’s living things. … Just as we should cultivate gentle and peaceful relations with our fellow human beings, we should also extend that same kind of attitude toward the natural environment. Morally speaking, we should be concerned for our whole environment. … This, however, is not just a question of morality or ethics, but a question of our own survival. … We must now help people to understand the need for environmental protection. We must teach people to understand the need for environmental protection. We must teach people that conservation directly aids our survival.”
In the article “What Does Al Gore Know that Everyone Should Know?” Mandala shared Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s perspective on the environment. When Rinpoche saw the movie An Inconvenient Truth, Rinpoche commented that former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who helped create the movie, knows something everyone should know: We are in an environmental decline of global proportions … Action must be taken. Rinpoche said:
People in business who think only of personal profit without consideration for others and the environment are causing great danger to all of us – the country we live in and this whole world.
Al Gore is making us aware of so many things that harm us and our environment. Your happiness depends on others, and others’ happiness depends on you. We all have to live in this world, so we need to be harmonious and happy in a healthy way. No matter who you are or where you are, we all have a responsibility to protect this world.
Maitripa College is the first Buddhist college in the Pacific Northwest and is affiliated with FPMT. Yangsi Rinpoche, Maitripa’s founder and president, extended the invitation to His Holiness to come to Portland and has been closely involved with the development of the summit. Mandala will offer ongoing coverage of the summit and His Holiness’ visit to Portland.
Read more about Buddhism’s environmental roots in “What Does Al Gore Know that Everyone Should Know?” from Mandala October-December 2006.
With more than 160 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
It’s not too late to become a Friend of FPMT at the Basic level or higher and receive the April-June 2013 issue, featuring the complete “Skies of Benefit” article!