FPMT Community: Stories & News

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, December 22, 2022. Boudhanath, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Our December e-News is now available!

This issue brings you news, resources, and special announcements including:

• New photo gallery of Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• A teaching by Lama Yeshe
• An update from the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors
• News from FPMT Charitable Projects
• Newly available and revised study and practice materials
• Opportunities and changes in the FPMT 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.

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

Venerable Jangchup Phegey passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 25th 2023.

Venerable Jangchup Phegey.

Written by Jacob Lindsley

Ven. Jangchup leaves behind a life of Dharma practice, friendship, and service. Born Hawkins Mitchell in San Diego, California, Ven. Jangchup earned a PhD in developmental psychology, worked as a clinician, traveled the world, and worked as a writer. He heard the Dharma in the late 1980s, took refuge with Geshe Geltsen and was soon ordained by Lati Rinpoche at Ganden Shartse Monastery in India at 51 years old. 

Ven. Jangchup was known for his humor and generosity. He spent his later years deep in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains at Vajrapani Institute, in a hermitage disguised as an airstream trailer tucked away in a bend of dirt road leading to the ridgeline where Lama Yeshe was cremated. His door was always open to visitors and travelers to Vajrapani Institute, and he made countless friends with his contagious joy and earnest curiosity. He cared deeply about people and animals alike. 

Ven. Jangchup was unconventional, creative, graceful, and filled a room with light. He was a deep thinker and had strong conviction in the Dharma. He was devoted to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and spent many years completing Nyung Na retreats, praying, meditating, writing, and comforting those around him.

Former director of Vajrapani Institute, Ven. Thubten Drolma, shared, “His door was always open for people. For years I’d stop by on my way home and he’d make me a cup of tea. He was one of the best conversationalist I ever knew. His was a generous and warm heart.”

Ven. Jangchup with Ven. Rene Feusi and Ven. Jangchub’s dog, Bodhi.

He is grieved by his family and friends. May our precious teachers take good care of him in all future lives. We hope to meet again, Venerable.

Ven. Jangchup was a frequent contributor to the Vajrapani  blog as well as the San Diego Reader.

Please pray that Ven. Jangchup may never ever be reborn in the lower realms, may he be immediately born in a pure land where he can be enlightened or to receive a perfect human body, meet the Mahayana teachings and meet a perfectly qualified guru and by only pleasing the guru’s mind, achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. More advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche 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 IMI Sangha at Light of the Path Retreat, 2017. Photo by Kalleen Mortensen

We congratulate the International Mahayana Institute (IMI) on its 50 years of existence helping FPMT Sangha! The IMI is an FPMT project, established to serve the community of FPMT students who are living in the monk’s or nun’s ordination vows. IMI Director, Ven. Tendar prepared this inspiring report on the history of IMI and a current review, which we share with great rejoicing! 

December 15 Celebration

On December 15, 1973 Lama Yeshe created the IMI, an organization for the monks and nuns of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). This was Lama’s talk on that day, now included in the book, Advice for Monks and Nuns.

This year, on December 15, the IMI will celebrate this occasion early in the day with a live teaching on YouTube of Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi from Kopan and later in the day with Nick Ribush, who was among the ones who witnessed the start of the IMI. In this way the early teachings will be convenient for those in Australia, Asia, and Europe and for night owls in North America. The later teaching will be organized in the day time for North Americans and evening time for Europeans and Asians.

Bodhgaya January 14, 1974. The first IMI group photo, after ordination. (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s mother, far right, was also ordained on this day.)

History

Around the time of the fifth Kopan meditation course, in November 1973, ten Western Dharma students had requested Lama Yeshe’s permission to get ordained. Lama suggested that they take their ordinations the following January, in Bodhgaya, after His Holiness the Dalai Lama had given the Kalachakra initiation. In December 1973, Lama gathered into his room these ten prospective monks and nuns, together with five or six of his students who had already been ordained.

One of the main messages Lama Yeshe gave was:

Portrait of Lama Yeshe, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 1974. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

“My feeling is that it would be much better if the Sangha were to stay together, communicating with each other, rather than people getting ordained and then going off on their own. If you do go off on your own, worldly conditions will make your life difficult; it will be much harder for you to practice Dharma.

“For example, when Sangha members are here at Kopan, we help them lead a monastic life. There are always lamas present, and as a result, our students get some kind of energy that helps them control their minds so that it is easy for them to keep their ordination. If, instead, they run off and stay in some other place where there are not such good conditions, their lives become very difficult. If, on top of that, they get sick, the coming together of internal and external problems makes their lives even more difficult.

“As you know, just because you’re a monk or nun does not mean that you’ve reached enlightenment. It simply means that you have gained an understanding of the nature of samsara and have decided to work continuously to develop within yourself the everlasting, peaceful path of liberation. That’s all. Getting ordained doesn’t give you immediate control over your mind; it doesn’t mean you are completely liberated. It’s not like that.

“Our minds are uncontrolled. We need to control them. Monastic life allows us to develop our minds in a very comfortable way until we have truly achieved complete control over them and have gained such great knowledge-wisdom that even should we go to some berserk place, we are able to control that berserk energy instead of it controlling us.”

Lama Yeshe continued giving lots of advice on what renunciation really means, on respect, on the conditions which are important (and like paper should stay away from fire, sangha should stay away from situations which potentially break their vows) and the advantages of monastic life. 

He concluded: ‘’Now that I’ve expressed my feelings, you should discuss among yourselves how to create strong Sangha togetherness. It doesn’t matter to me where you live, as long as you maintain strong Sangha togetherness. You should create those kinds of conditions. Think with wisdom, and be strong.”

IMI group at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa with Lama Yeshe after Six Yogas of Naropa teachings, 1982–83. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Goals and Mission Statement of the IMI

The guiding vision of the International Mahayana Institute is to provide people all over the world who want to practice the Buddhist path as a monk or nun with places to be and ways to do that. That means to secure conducive conditions for its family of monks and nuns, its members. The basics should be met: having food, shelter, medicine and education.

IMI’s Mission Statement says: ‘The IMI is an FPMT Sangha specific community that serves sentient beings, and is empowered to respond to, and take care of the needs of its family of monks and nuns through the development of quality Sangha training programs, harmonious monastic communities, effective communications, financial support, and advocacy. The IMI is established for ordained sangha within the FPMT who are not part of monasteries and support systems in traditional Buddhist cultures.

As emissaries of Buddhism (teachers, spiritual caregivers, ritual practitioners, meditators, retreat leaders), IMI members inspire others through their speech and behavior and provide the opportunity for lay practitioners to integrate respect and support for Sangha into their practice of Buddhism’.

A Short Review

We are fifty years further along, and monastic institutions have been established in Nepal, Australia (Queensland and Bendigo), Italy, France, and Spain. Additionally, groups of monks and nuns support each other in and around FPMT Dharma centers and have a sense of Sangha community and support. After Lama Yeshe’s passing, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been an excellent example for the monastics by his behavior. He offered essential advice to the monasteries and the individual Sangha members. Also, Rinpoche inspired the ordained sangha for the general public and during retreats, like this teaching from July 2020: Sangha Are “The Real Heroes.”

In return, many nuns and monks have been instrumental in the development of the FPMT and IMI organization and have been at the start of many Dharma centers. Some later disrobed, others ordained later in life upon having offered a lot of service.

IMI Nuns, Chenreziig Institute, 2019.

Over the years the IMI has had many directors who had the honor to serve Rinpoche and fellow brothers and sisters. Among them are Nick Ribush, Marcels Bertels, Ven. Roger, Ven. Dondrub, Ven. Chantal (two times!), Ven. Tony, Monlam, Ven. Chodron, Ven. Carol, and currently Ven. Tendar. Drolkar McCallum has also served for over a decade as office manager. Over the years many monks and nuns have taken on the  responsibilities of being board members, account holders, IMI representatives, or taken on specific jobs within the monastic communities.

We can rejoice that we were able to serve and contribute to the continuation of the Dharma on our planet. Rinpoche said: “The happiest thing in my life, most fulfilling thing is to work for and to benefit sentient beings. Even just the mere thought to cause happiness to sentient beings, to benefit them, to free them from suffering is the BEST offering to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas. This is the best offering, the best puja; this is what pleases their holy mind most”.

The IMI created the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund (LYSF) in order to secure the basic conducive conditions (having food, shelter, medicine, and education) for its members. A review committee decides on the awarding of the grants. The IMI provides members with pre-ordination courses and has the ambition to extend and develop more material in this area.

Besides that, the IMI regularly organizes activities. At this moment, we have organized  a continuous worldwide recitation in fulfilment of His Holiness’ advice for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s quick return. You can sign up and join your Dharma brothers and sisters all over the world.

Support

As IMI members we are grateful to everyone who has supported us, some of you for decades. We hope that you continue or that you will consider supporting us. You can also read our latest annual report. 

By supporting us you help to sustain the Sangha on this planet. There is a lot to rejoice about in terms of what has happened so far, but there are also instructions from Lama Zopa Rinpoche which have not been realized yet, like setting up a monastery in North America. And we have plans to create more levels of ordination courses as well.

Celebration

You are invited to join us on December 15 to listen to the talks of Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi from Kopan and later in the day Nick Ribush: https://imisangha.org/the-imi-turns-50/

We dedicate all our effort and energy to the long life of all our gurus and a quick return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. May we always be able to serve them. May the Dharma flourish on this planet for a long time to come.

Please watch this recent video of Ven. Roger Kunsang sharing, as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration, many intimate (and humorous!) stories about the early days of IMI coming into formation.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Consecration of the Victory Stupa built for Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lawudo, Nepal, November 4, 2023. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.

Our November e-News is now available!

This issue brings you news, resources, and special announcements including:

• 31-foot Amoghapasha above Lawudo
• White Tara oral transmission and visualization from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Daily and Lifetime practice advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Compassion and Emptiness teaching by Lama Yeshe
• Auspicious activities on Lhabab Duchen at Lawudo
• Support to Tibetan elders in 2023
• New materials for your practice
• Changes and opportunities within the FPMT 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.

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

Solar panels installed, September 29, 2023. Photo courtesy of Milarepa Center.

In October 2023 Milarepa Center, situated on 276 acres of land in Barnet, Vermont, on the northeast coast of the US, completed a 500 kW AC solar array project in cooperation with Norwich Solar, a local clean technology company. The project took approximately 16 months to complete. Milarepa Center will host the array on their land for the next 25 years.

Dawn Holtz, the director of the Milarepa Center, who has a background in Renewable Energies and Sustainable Business Management, recognized the potential for solar to be a good use of the open field adjacent to the existing electrical transmission corridor on the property.

Recently many dairy farms in Vermont had to shut down due to rising operating costs and heavy competition with larger commercial producers, as well as lack of successors to take over these farms. The primary benefactors of the solar array placed on Milarepa Center’s land will be some of the remaining struggling farms and dairies. Besides contributing to sustainability and welfare in the local community the project will also afford the center a modest income to help offset regular operating costs as well as fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s visions for Milarepa Center such as building a new meditation hall and holy objects. 

Geshe Tenley leading a ceremony, April 25, 2023, Photo courtesy of Milarepa Center.

Dawn says, “As a donation-based non-profit with a very small local community, hosting the solar array will help the center with meeting its financial goals for the next 25 years, and we’ll still continue to have open meadows available for our use.”

After receiving the Certificate of Public Good for establishing the 500 kW AC solar array in January 2023, Norwich Solar started all preparatory works on the Milarepa Center land. On April 23rd a special ground-breaking ceremony of asking permission and offerings to local spirits and nagas was led by Geshe Tenley, resident teacher of Kurukulla Center in Boston.

Despite the rain, on April 24, which was an auspicious date for starting a new project according to the Tibetan calendar, the ground work began. During Summer the electrical infrastructure was laid and the posts, racks, and panels were installed.

In October, mounting of the system was completed. This new ground-mount system will generate enough renewable clean energy equivalent to powering approximately 135 homes per year, and offset the carbon emission equivalent of almost 150 cars per year!

Ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new solar array at Milarepa Center, October 6, 2023. Photo courtesy of Milarepa Center.

The ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official start of the solar array project was held on October 6.

We rejoice in Milarepa Center’s commitment to a sustainable future!

Please read more about Milarepa Center, current program, and how to help support this center: 
www.milarepacenter.org

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

For twenty-five years, the Liberation Prison Project has been producing a Tibetan calendar to support their work helping people in prison with their Buddhist practice. This calendar is relied on by FPMT students around the world for information on auspicious days for various activities including Buddha Days when merit is especially powerful for practice, as well as appropriate days for performing Medicine Buddha and Tara pujas, putting up prayer flags, doing fire pujas, and other activities.  Also included are favorable and unfavorable days according to a combination of the elements.

The calendar is prepared by astrologer Paksam Ngawang Thartho based on the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institutes calendar, with additional advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Geshe Ngawang Dakpa.

We are pleased to share that the 2024 Liberation calendar is available now! 

This year the calendar is available only as a printable PDF:
shop.fpmt.org/2024-Liberation-Tibetan-Calendar-Downloadable-PDF-_p_4796.html

Learn more about the Liberation Prison Project and the work your purchase of this calendar supports:
liberationprisonproject.org

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, India, 2010. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Our October e-News is now available!

This is a very special issue with many important and inspiring announcements including:

• New advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• A moving obituary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche with photo gallery of 300+ photos
• Updates on two precious stupas being built for Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lawudo and Kopan Monastery
• Recently shared teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• A teaching by Lama Yeshe
• A recent report from the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors
• 458 Buddha statues offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• Health care and essential services offered in 2023
• A report on the 2023 Light of the Path Retreat at Kopan Monastery
• New opportunities and resources for your study and practice

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.

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

Participants in the 2023 Foundation Service Seminar Retreat at Kopan Monastery.

The Foundation Service Seminar (FSS) is the “FPMT immersion retreat.” It provides essential information and nourishment for all serving, or wishing to serve, in the FPMT organization. 

The FSS Retreat explores how to best offer our skills and qualities in service. Participants investigate the purpose and mission of the FPMT organization, what it means to be an FPMT center, project or service: and how that vision translates into action for individuals.

We are so pleased to share this report from participants in the 2023 FSS Retreat held at Kopan Monastery from September 21-26, 2023. 

FSS facilitators Annelies van der Heijden and François Lecointre.

The Foundation Service Seminar held at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, from September 21-26, 2023, was a great success!

Led by experienced FSS facilitators Annelies van der Heijden and François Lecointre, it was more diverse than usual with about forty participants from countries as far spread as Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, France, Hungary, Germany, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, and USA. These included five senior Kopan monks and five senior Kopan nuns, all of whom were attending an FPMT seminar for the first time. Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long-time assistant and FPMT CEO, and two other FPMT Inc. board members, Dale Davis and Karuna Cayton, contributed to some of the sessions.

The initial sessions of the first day set out the purpose of the seminar itself; the FPMT organization in terms of who we are and what we do as well as how we differ from other organizations, and also briefly introduced the Inner Job Description (IJD). The remaining days were structured around the four means of drawing sentient beings: giving, speaking kind words, teaching according to the level of the student, and practicing what we teach. But the main point of the seminar can aptly be summed up in: “Service as Practice—Practice as Service.” We were reminded that guru devotion (serving sentient beings is serving the guru) is the best way to purify our karma and accumulate merit, and that this is exactly what happens when we work as directors, SPCs, and so forth for the FPMT centers, projects, and services!

Participants engaging in one of the FSS exercises following a presentation.

Annelies’ and François’ presentations were peppered with inspiring quotes by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, which participants took turns to read out loud from the screen. After each part of the presentation, participants were divided into small groups or pairs to discuss topics such as how to take karma into consideration when solving problems, how communication works within centers and with the wider community, and how to connect center students with Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. These workshops allowed people working in many different kinds of centers and in many different roles to interact with each other and become aware of the variety of challenges our different realities face. The monks and nuns of Kopan listened attentively and actively engaged in the discussions throughout the seminar, with the nuns in particular often sharing their ideas and thoughts. These interactions, which were much appreciated by all, were a highlight of the seminar.

Participants engaging in an activity following a presentation.

In the section on “giving,” we learned about FPMT Ethical Policy and how we can protect people from abuse, how we can be more welcoming in our centers, and the many ways in which we and FPMT Inc. and affiliates can practice generosity, including by supporting the many charitable projects initiated by Rinpoche. In the section on “speaking kind words,” we looked at how to speak kindly and respectfully so as to embody compassion and wisdom, how to give feedback in a constructive way, and how to create harmony in our center.

In the section on “teaching according to the level of the student,” we learned about the many FPMT courses and programs available to host in our centers, the many prayers and practices that have been published according to Rinpoche’s advice, and the many translations available of all these programs and materials.

A Kopan nun packaging incense at the nunny’s incense factory.

In the section on “practicing what we teach,” we looked again at how our service to Rinpoche and the FPMT is our practice, how seemingly difficult people help us practice Dharma, and how to avoid Immersion Aversion—a negative critical mind that has become averse to people and the Dharma.

Apart from our group practice in the mornings and the extensive light offerings in the stupa garden at Kopan we also attended a wonderful Guru Puja at the Nunnery. Their kindness and hospitality, like at Kopan Monastery, is such an inspiring example for all of us. During the Guru Puja we could recognize Rinpoche’s advice, like pausing at the section of rejoicing.

At the end of the seminar we were again invited to visit the nunnery and see their incense factory. This is an excellent example of the fifth pillar (revenue generating activities) as part of Rinpoche’s Vast Visions.

Thubten Kunkhen, Rigsel Rinpoche’s attendant and also the manager of the big stupa project at the nunnery was so kind to update us about this very impressive and special project. On advise of Lama Zopa Rinpoche a big stupa (similar to the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India) is being built in memory of Khenrinpoche Lama Lhundrup who has been so instrumental, not only for Kopan but especially for the development of Kopan Nunnery. Thubten Kunkhen expects the Stupa project to be finished around 1,5 year from now. Please rejoice in this most wonderful and amazing project!

Teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche shown on the big screen to participants of the 2023 Light of the Path retreat. Photo by Kira Dane.

We are delighted to share the below joyous report offered by Kopan Monastery at the conclusion of the Light of the Path 2023 retreat. Please join the entire FPMT community in rejoicing that students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, old and new, completed this auspicious and profound retreat at the heart of the FPMT organization: Kopan Monastery. 

Originally meant to be a continuation of five teaching events with Lama Zopa Rinpoche that began in 2009 in North Carolina, US, the Light of the Path (LOP) 2023 at Kopan Monastery in Nepal became a retreat for Rinpoche’s students to honor his life and teachings as well as the practice lineage he had so carefully passed on to us over more than fifty years.

Approximately 160 people, including a core group of senior sangha and lay people, from 30 countries attended the retreat which occurred September 4-17 this year. 

Geshe Legtsok, the Light of the Path 2023 retreat leader. Photo by Kira Dane.

Ven. Siliana Bosa translated the entire event into Italian, Ven. Paloma Alba into Spanish, and Meida Cheng into Chinese. Several French speakers, including Ven. Chantal Dekyi, Ven. Tenzin Gendun, and Ven. Tenzin Kunzang, took turns translating for a French monk. Each day began with How to Make Your Lives Meaningful, a short lamrim and lojong practice Rinpoche has specifically compiled to help all his students begin the day with a bodhicitta motivation, followed by the practice of prostrations to the Thirty-Five Buddhas.

Large photo of Lama Zopa Rinpoche overlooking the 2023 Light of the Path retreat. Photo by Kira Dane.

During the second week of the retreat, we met a half hour earlier to take the eight Mahayana precepts dedicated to the pacification of war, famine, disease, and harm caused by the four elements. Geshe Tenzin Legtsok, the LOP retreat leader, and Vens. Amy Miller, Thubten Pema, and Ailsa Cameron kindly took turns leading us in these practices. The entire group then moved to the Chenrezig Gompa where the actual LOP retreat was being held in the presence of a huge photo of Rinpoche, in front of which beautiful offerings had been set out.

Before breaking for breakfast, we did Lama Chopa Jorcho up to and including the extensive bath offering with several groups of three taking turns to carefully enact the ritual offering to the figures in the merit field. Lama Chopa continued after breakfast with more beautiful chanting in Tibetan led by Ven. Thubten Dechen from Malaysia, whose voice was described by many as “heavenly,” while Ven. Joan Nicell lead parts of the practice in English and provided occasional comments on the practice based on Rinpoche’s teachings.

After lunch, retreat participants had time to rest, enjoy a cappuccino in the Kopan café, and spend time in Rinpoche’s room receiving the blessings of his holy body relic before meeting once again for the afternoon meditation sessions. Prior to the retreat, Ven. Joan and Ven. Ailsa Cameron had prepared a booklet of meditations extracted from Rinpoche’s teachings on the topics of bodhicitta mindfulness, guru devotion, perfect human rebirth, the lower realms, refuge, and karma. These written meditations along with short videos of Rinpoche, one of which was shown each day, formed the basis for the three meditation sessions.

Some participants of the Light of the Path 2023 retreat.

Geshe Legtsok began the first meditation session of the day by leading us in a short seven-limb practice and a glance meditation on the whole lamrim, before skillfully setting out the context of the actual meditation. Ven. Rene Feusi led the next two sessions, sometimes taking the opportunity to elaborate on topics close to his heart based on his many years of experience in meditation. Old and new students alike benefitted greatly from his gentle and inspiring guidance.

Ven. Pemba Sherpa during the 2023 Light of the Path retreat. Photo by Kira Dane.

The evening sessions alternated walking meditations based on Rinpoche’s teachings with traditional protector practices led by Ven. Angie Muir, and stories of Rinpoche shared by senior sangha, such as Gen Pemba, Ven. Dondrub, and FPMT board members, including Khen Rinpoche Chonyi, the abbot of Kopan; and Ven. Roger Kunsang, Rinpoche’s invaluable assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc.

These stories made us both laugh and cry as we remembered and celebrated the life and activities of our unique and beloved guru. The retreat concluded with a joyful tsog offering and heartfelt thanks from Ven. Thubten Khadro, SPC and organizer of the event, to all who had contributed to making the retreat a success.

Throughout the two-week retreat, participants remarked again and again how harmonious the retreat was and how they had felt the strong presence and blessings of Rinpoche. Ven Amy Miller said, “I think the blessings of coming together like this and doing the practices that Rinpoche wants, in the style that Rinpoche likes, was fantastic as well as a way to bring Rinpoche back quickly.”

Jim Hagan, who had done the 1973, 1976, and 1978 one-month Kopan courses, said, “The retreat was powerful. For me, Rinpoche was here. This is Rinpoche’s mandala. Everywhere you look, you see Rinpoche’s footprint.” He also urged everyone to come to the next LOP saying: “By coming here, your guru devotion is supporting Rinpoche. Because Rinpoche created this Light of the Path, I think it is important for people to come.”

From all of us at Kopan: We hope to see all those who came this year and many more of Rinpoche’s students at the next Light of the Path retreat at Kopan Monastery which will be held during the first two weeks of April 2025.

The retreat materials, recordings, and photos from the Light of the Path 2023 can be found here. If you would like to support the offering of these resources, you are welcome to make a donation here. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Victory Stupa at Lawudo in process.

Anila Ngawang Samten, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s sister, is constructing an eight level, 12-foot high and 11-foot wide Victory Stupa at Lawudo Gompa, Nepal, for the swift return and success of all Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT’s projects.

We are so pleased to share an update on this stupa from  Ven. Nyima Tashi Sherpa, a relative of Lama Zopa Rinpoche; and Ven. Tsultrim, a Swiss nun who has been at Lawudo since Spring 2022. 

The Victory Stupa at Lawudo Gompa is being constructed according to the profound visionary instructions of Trulshik Rinpoche and carries significant implications for the global FPMT community, as well as for all sentient beings.

Ani Ngawang Samten has been unwavering in her dedication to preserve Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s legacy and fulfilling his aspirations. With a heart full of wisdom and compassion, Ani Ngawang Samten committed herself to ensuring that Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s rebirth occurs swiftly, while simultaneously upholding the visionary goals of FPMT. This extraordinary dedication extends to her ceaseless puja rituals conducted at both Lawudo and Thubten Choeling Monastery in Solukhumbu, and her recent request for a full reading of the Kangyur at Thubten Choeling Monastery to safeguard the construction of the stupa.

Ani Ngawang Samten and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lawudo Retreat Centre, 1976. LYWA collection.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ani Ngawang Samten, Kopan Monastery, 2018. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsag.

Ani Ngawang Samten has consulted with esteemed lamas within the Lawudo area, including Kerok Lama Ngawang Tsultrim Rinpoche, Charok Tenzing Tinley Rinpoche, and Khapa Pema, all of whom have been trained in the instructions for constructing this profound stupa by Trulshik Rinpoche, in order to ensure their support and receive their expert guidance for this monumental endeavor.

Various holy and precious objects which will reside in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Victory Stupa.

The Victory Stupa, as per Trulshik Rinpoche’s instructions, stands as a beacon of spiritual transformation for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s students and the FPMT family. This magnificent structure, adorned in red, black, and white; symbolizes love, the transcendence of ignorance, and the purity of purpose. It is a sanctuary for the perfect practice, equanimity, wisdom, diversity knowledge, and compassion.  This sacred endeavor holds the power to nourish the very essence of these qualities in the hearts of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s devoted students and FPMT practitioners, fostering a radiant transformation that transcends time and space. It houses essential articles, substances, mantras, and potent tsa tsa elements that serve to shield our universe from conflict, scarcity, and natural calamities rooted in the earth, water, fire, and wind elements.

Amitayus statue from Rinpoche’s cave which Anila offered to Rinpoche during a long life puja in Lawudo, which will reside in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Victory Stupa.

In addition, it is Ani-la’s wish that in accordance with the Mahayana tradition of reincarnation, since Lama Yeshe’s mind stream is also so precious to us, that this stupa help dispel ignorance, and protect and preserve the holy mind of Lama Yeshe so that Lama Osel can help to benefit the world.

Holy and precious objects which will reside in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Victory Stupa.

Furthermore, illuminating the sanctity of this project is Rinpoche’s dear childhood friend, Ngawang Nyendak, a Thame monk who has steadfastly performed regular practices, such as incense pujas  for FPMT at Lawudo over the past eight years. His continuous efforts, including the powerful fortune-hooking puja after Rinpoche’s parinirvana, stand as a testament to the profound dedication that supports this sacred initiative.

Set of 10-inch statues of the Buddhas of the Five Types which will reside in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Victory Stupa.

In a most auspicious development,  a precious tooth relic of Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be invited to Lawudo Gompa on the merit-multiplying day of Buddha’s return from the deva realm, November 4, 2023, Lhabab Duchen. This auspicious occasion aligns with Ani Ngawang Samten’s decision to consecrate both the renovated stupa of Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe and the stupa of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The construction of the stupa began on July 11, 2023, and is now nearing completion. The stupa is 12-feet high and 11-feet wide, and has eight levels. It is located at Changtang Gombu, 200 meters below Lawudo Gompa on a well-used track and occupies a position where it dominates the landscape and can be seen from around the valley and is in a natural spot for sitting, prayer, and circumambulation.

Central channel of the Victory Stupa surrounded by tsa tsas.

Some of the holy and precious objects which will reside in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Victory Stupa.

Eight levels of the Victory Stupa:

• The first level has different types of weapons to shield our universe from conflict and war.
• The second level has various nutritious grains to save the world from scarcity of food and famine.
• The third level contains the central channel surrounded by 400,000 to 500,000 tsa tsas of different types. Also surrounding the central shaft are various powerful mantras.
• The fourth level is “Rinpoche’s palace.” It contains various precious items that belonged to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, such as a set of complete robes used at Lawudo, a bell, dorje and damaru, a crystal rosary used by Rinpoche during long life retreat at Maratika, etc. There are also texts used by or books with Rinpoche’s teachings. Additionally, there are various offerings in Rinpoche’s palace, including a mandala set and a set of offering bowls containing the eight substances with the conch shell placed first as an auspicious gesture by Anila Ngawang Samten to be able to receive teachings from the Yangsi.

Mantras which will go inside Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Victory Stupa.

• The fifth level contains a 14-inch Amitayus statue from Rinpoche’s cave which Anila offered to Rinpoche during a long life puja in Lawudo.
• The sixth level contains a set of 10-inch statues of the Buddhas of the Five Types from the main Lawudo Gompa.
• The seventh level contain a holy body, speech and mind offering—a 10-inch statue of Guru Shakyamuni, an 8-inch statue of Guru Rinpoche and an 8-inch Enlightenment Stupa from the cave along with a text belonging to Rinpoche from the old library.
• The top level is the symbolic Victory Banner which crowns the stupa.

Ani Ngawang Samten’s constant presence in Lawudo for over 55 years has granted her profound insights into the challenges faced by individuals journeying from all corners of the world. With deep empathy, she ardently wishes for all those who visit Lawudo–whether for retreat, meditation, pilgrimage, or a simple day’s excursion–to be bestowed with the blessings of these sacred objects. Anila envisions Lawudo as a sanctuary where the weary souls of visitors find solace, healing, and relief from the burdens of discouragement, depression, fear, anger, and frustration inherent in the human experience.

Furthermore, Ani Ngawang Samten fervently prays that the serene grounds of Lawudo become a wellspring of compassion, renunciation, and liberation from delusions. The very essence of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s tireless efforts and unwavering dedication to building Lawudo Gompa in 1967/68 is embedded within the mud, timber, and stones that comprise this blessed place. Ani Ngawang Samten believes that Lawudo Gompa is an invaluable haven for devotees of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

May the construction of the Victory Stupa at Lawudo Monastery bring boundless benefits to all sentient beings, while propelling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vision for FPMT toward a future unencumbered by obstacles.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the Kurukulla Center gompa, Boston, US, August 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

This month’s e-news brings you important news, updates, and causes for rejoicing including:

• Teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche from the 2023 Vajrasattva Retreat
• A teaching by Lama Yeshe
• Essential support offered to 1,500 students in India and Nepal in 2023
• New advice booklet: Circumambulating Holy Objects at Home
• FDCW’s Growing Compassionate Hearts Conference
• Opportunities to offer service
• 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.

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

Geshe Thubten Sherab with his newly published pilgrimage book.

A pilgrimage book by Geshe Thubten Sherab, Headmaster of Kopan School, has been published by Lumbini Buddhist University and Kopan Monastery, and sponsored by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This book was inspired by Rinpoche and crafted with his guidance. This recently published edition was volume one of two and covers the sacred sites of the Kathmandu Valley and Lumbini.

It was released on September 11 in the presence of Kopan’s Khenrinpoche with more than 150 people in attendance including Nepal government officials, Culture Minister, members of parliament, representatives from the three yanas, professors from Lumbini University, and representatives of various Nepali communities. The event was held at the Hyatt Hotel, where Rinpoche wanted it, and according to those in attendance it was joyous, featuring a generous feast for all to enjoy.

Invited guests of the book launch holding their copies of Geshe Sherab’s new pilgrimage book.

This volume is almost 200 pages and took three years to complete. Rinpoche’s wish was for it to be published in both Tibetan and Nepali. The Tibetan version had 500 copies printed and 1,000 copies were printed in Nepali. This work will also be translated into English.

With around 45 different sites covered in this volume—all of which Geshe Sherab has visited—the book includes photos of each site, an extensive bibliography, and index including all sources and references.

The book is divided into three sections: the sites related to the Buddha (those from Lumbini and surrounding), those related to the Bodhisattvas (Sutrayana), and the Tantrayana sacred sites. Geshe Sherab explained, “The reason for the divide in this way was very significant. This will allow people to have a clear understanding of these categories and those sites with the history.”

The history of the book project dates back to the early 2000s. Geshe Sherab was in Bodhgaya with his brother’s family and they visited some pilgrimage sites. They knew nothing about many of these places and Geshe Sherab felt he was not able to help them fully understand the history and significance of these places. He looked for a book to help guide their exploration and could not find one, so the thought occurred to him that he could write a book about Buddhist sites in India.

He began to research, visiting libraries and going on pilgrimage when he had the opportunity. He finally published a book in 2004, Gyakar Nangpi Neshed Rabsal Donmye and offered a draft copy to Lama Zopa Rinpoche who was very inspired and carried it with him afterward. He told Geshe Sherab, “Now we need to do a book on Nepali pilgrimage sites, too.” Rinpoche showed a bit of concern that many sites were vanishing and there was no real reference book and the history was hard to find. Due to these concerns, he asked Geshe Sherab to write this book.

Having just been appointed the headmaster of Kopan School, he didn’t have much time. At the end of 2019, Rinpoche offered to sponsor the printing, so initially, Geshe Sherab began to collect all the sites in Nepal and found there were around 52 sacred Buddhist sites in the country. Geshe Sherab shared, “When I showed it to Rinpoche, he was laughing and laughing and finally he said, ‘OK, first finish Kathmandu Valley.’ So, I did Kathmandu Valley along with the Lumbini areas.” He consulted both Nepali and Tibetan sources which makes the book really unique as it’s the first of its kind. He combined both sources, trying to fill gaps in the timelines and to reconstitute the history of each place by taking from both sources. He researched in many different libraries and some archeological departments. As a result, the book not only provides stories like you would find in a travel book, it also contains all the references to the various sources.

From time to time, Geshe Sherab would consult and discuss his work and progress with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In particular, the book draws from Rinpoche’s advice on what to do in these various places, what practices to engage in, etc.  

At the end of 2022, Geshe Sherab passed a draft copy to Rinpoche. Geshe Sherab shared, “One day Rinpoche called me up. When I went to see him, I was a little scared. As I entered his room and he looked very happy, I felt so relieved! Rinpoche said, ‘This is wonderful that the book is finished but what is this cover photo?’ It was an old historical photo of the Swayambunath Stupa. Rinpoche said we need to change it and asked Sherab (Ven. Lobsang Sherab, who serves as a photographer for FPMT) to provide me a nice Swayambunath Stupa photo. Which you’ll see on the cover of the book.”

Rinpoche told Geshe Sherab that it is good to translate into other languages but emphasized the importance of having it published in Nepali, sharing that until now we have been focusing more on the West but now, we also need to focus on local areas in Nepal and promote the Dharma here.

Rinpoche also advised that now we have to organize, “a grand release for the book.” Geshe Sherab explained, “I was thinking maybe we could do it when Rinpoche’s book on non-smoking releases at the Kopan nunnery. But Rinpoche had another plan. He said, ‘We’ll do it at the Hotel Hyatt and we will invite all like-minded scholars and government officials!’ I was just scratching my head.”

During the event on September 11, Geshe Sherab shared the story of the book and a professor from Lumbini University gave a talk about the book in Nepali. Additionally, Dr. Khenpo Jorden, a teacher of IBM Center from the Sakya tradition, who received his PhD from Harvard, gave a talk and praised the research.

The event was very successful and people were very happy, “All because of the blessings and kindness of Rinpoche,” says Geshe Sherab.

Geshe Sherab is projecting about three years to complete the second volume. When the English translation of this first volume is available, we will share this news. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.