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Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
- Willkommen
Die Stiftung zur Erhaltung der Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) ist eine Organisation, die sich weltweit für die Erhaltung und Verbreitung des Mahayana-Buddhismus einsetzt, indem sie Möglichkeiten schafft, den makellosen Lehren des Buddha zuzuhören, über sie zur reflektieren und zu meditieren und auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrung das Dharma unter den Lebewesen zu verbreiten.
Wir bieten integrierte Schulungswege an, durch denen der Geist und das Herz der Menschen in ihr höchstes Potential verwandelt werden zum Wohl der anderen – inspiriert durch eine Haltung der universellen Verantwortung und dem Wunsch zu dienen. Wir haben uns verpflichtet, harmonische Umgebungen zu schaffen und allen Wesen zu helfen, ihr volles Potenzial unendlicher Weisheit und grenzenlosen Mitgefühls zu verwirklichen.
Unsere Organisation basiert auf der buddhistischen Tradition von Lama Tsongkhapa von Tibet, so wie sie uns von unseren Gründern Lama Thubten Yeshe und Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche gelehrt wird.
- Bienvenidos
La Fundación para la preservación de la tradición Mahayana (FPMT) es una organización que se dedica a preservar y difundir el budismo Mahayana en todo el mundo, creando oportunidades para escuchar, reflexionar, meditar, practicar y actualizar las enseñanzas inconfundibles de Buda y en base a esa experiencia difundir el Dharma a los seres.
Proporcionamos una educación integrada a través de la cual las mentes y los corazones de las personas se pueden transformar en su mayor potencial para el beneficio de los demás, inspirados por una actitud de responsabilidad y servicio universales. Estamos comprometidos a crear ambientes armoniosos y ayudar a todos los seres a desarrollar todo su potencial de infinita sabiduría y compasión.
Nuestra organización se basa en la tradición budista de Lama Tsongkhapa del Tíbet como nos lo enseñaron nuestros fundadores Lama Thubten Yeshe y Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A continuación puede ver una lista de los centros y sus páginas web en su lengua preferida.
- Bienvenue
L’organisation de la FPMT a pour vocation la préservation et la diffusion du bouddhisme du mahayana dans le monde entier. Elle offre l’opportunité d’écouter, de réfléchir, de méditer, de pratiquer et de réaliser les enseignements excellents du Bouddha, pour ensuite transmettre le Dharma à tous les êtres. Nous proposons une formation intégrée grâce à laquelle le cœur et l’esprit de chacun peuvent accomplir leur potentiel le plus élevé pour le bien d’autrui, inspirés par le sens du service et une responsabilité universelle. Nous nous engageons à créer un environnement harmonieux et à aider tous les êtres à épanouir leur potentiel illimité de compassion et de sagesse. Notre organisation s’appuie sur la tradition guéloukpa de Lama Tsongkhapa du Tibet, telle qu’elle a été enseignée par nos fondateurs Lama Thoubtèn Yéshé et Lama Zopa Rinpoché.
Visitez le site de notre Editions Mahayana pour les traductions, conseils et nouvelles du Bureau international en français.
Voici une liste de centres et de leurs sites dans votre langue préférée
- Benvenuto
L’FPMT è un organizzazione il cui scopo è preservare e diffondere il Buddhismo Mahayana nel mondo, creando occasioni di ascolto, riflessione, meditazione e pratica dei perfetti insegnamenti del Buddha, al fine di attualizzare e diffondere il Dharma fra tutti gli esseri senzienti.
Offriamo un’educazione integrata, che può trasformare la mente e i cuori delle persone nel loro massimo potenziale, per il beneficio di tutti gli esseri, ispirati da un’attitudine di responsabilità universale e di servizio.
Il nostro obiettivo è quello di creare contesti armoniosi e aiutare tutti gli esseri a sviluppare in modo completo le proprie potenzialità di infinita saggezza e compassione.
La nostra organizzazione si basa sulla tradizione buddhista di Lama Tsongkhapa del Tibet, così come ci è stata insegnata dai nostri fondatori Lama Thubten Yeshe e Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Di seguito potete trovare un elenco dei centri e dei loro siti nella lingua da voi prescelta.
- 欢迎 / 歡迎
简体中文
“护持大乘法脉基金会”( 英文简称:FPMT。全名:Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) 是一个致力于护持和弘扬大乘佛法的国际佛教组织。我们提供听闻,思维,禅修,修行和实证佛陀无误教法的机会,以便让一切众生都能够享受佛法的指引和滋润。
我们全力创造和谐融洽的环境, 为人们提供解行并重的完整佛法教育,以便启发内在的环宇悲心及责任心,并开发内心所蕴藏的巨大潜能 — 无限的智慧与悲心 — 以便利益和服务一切有情。
FPMT的创办人是图腾耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。我们所修习的是由两位上师所教导的,西藏喀巴大师的佛法传承。
繁體中文
護持大乘法脈基金會”( 英文簡稱:FPMT。全名:Found
ation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ) 是一個致力於護持和弘揚大乘佛法的國際佛教組織。我們提供聽聞, 思維,禪修,修行和實證佛陀無誤教法的機會,以便讓一切眾生都能 夠享受佛法的指引和滋潤。 我們全力創造和諧融洽的環境,
為人們提供解行並重的完整佛法教育,以便啟發內在的環宇悲心及責 任心,並開發內心所蘊藏的巨大潛能 — 無限的智慧與悲心 – – 以便利益和服務一切有情。 FPMT的創辦人是圖騰耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。
我們所修習的是由兩位上師所教導的,西藏喀巴大師的佛法傳承。 察看道场信息:
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Buddhist meditation doesn’t necessarily mean sitting cross-legged with your eyes closed. Simply observing how your mind is responding to the sense world can be a really perfect meditation and bring a perfect result.
Lama Thubten Yeshe
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The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop and features a vast selection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. These items include homestudy programs, prayers and practices in PDF or eBook format, materials for children, and other resources to support practitioners.
Items displayed in the shop are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from their sale. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.
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FPMT Community: Stories & News
Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing goat that he liberated, November 2010. Photos courtesy of Tania Duratovic and Phil Hunt.
Animal liberation is a practice often recommend to students for removing obstacles and to create the causes for a long life. With animal liberation, special care needs to be taken since the practice involves direct contact with living beings. Mandala has asked experienced animal liberation practitioners Tania Duratovic and Phil Hunt, coordinators of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary at Kopan Monastery, to share some of their practical knowledge of animal blessing and liberation practices for the January-March 2014 issue of Mandala.
Just what is the difference between animal liberation and an animal blessing? In the Buddhist sense, animal liberation is rescuing animals from impending death and then giving them Dharma by undertaking certain Buddhist practices including circumambulation and mantra recitation. It is usually done as a practice for long life and removing life obstacles, the merits being dedicated to someone else with specific obstacles, as well as to all living beings. An animal blessing, on the other hand, will include the same practices of circumambulation and mantra recitation but the animal involved has not necessarily been recently rescued from death, like someone’s pet.
Whichever activity you are undertaking, liberation or blessing, such Buddhist practices to help animals have many benefits. They help the animals, the people doing the practices and those for whom the practices are dedicated. However, there are also risks and with that comes responsibilities.
Of utmost importance is the care of those living beings by practitioners whether temporarily, prior to release into the wild, or long term as pets or at a sanctuary. While Buddhists believe the karmic benefit of doing these practices will be ongoing and perhaps have a greater effect in future lives, the welfare of the animals in this life is also critical. Animals should be handled and cared for as the “kind mother sentient beings” we are taught that they are, and as the fragile living creatures that share our planet and suffer physically, mentally and emotionally. …
From Mandala January-March 2014
His Holiness the Karmapa offers gifts to Maitreya School children, Bodhgaya, India, January 31, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
His Holiness the Karmapa visited Maitreya School and Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India, on January 31. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was also at Root Institute and welcomed His Holiness.
The Maitreya School is a project of Root Institute and offers children a well rounded education that includes instruction in compassion, honesty and loving-kindness as emphasized by the 16 Guidelines, a Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom program.
While visiting the school, His Holiness the Karmapa gave a talk to more than 100 Maitreya School students and teachers and offered the children gifts. His Holiness also gave a talk at Root Institute.
Maitreya School children waiting for a talk by His Holiness the Karmapa, Bodhgaya, January 31, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
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.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the giant Guru Rinpoche thangka, Sera Je Monastery, India, December 29, 2013. Photo copyright Rio Helmi/Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee.
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, under the instruction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, sponsored an enormous Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) thangka stitched in appliqué. During the recent Jangchub Lamrim teachings at Sera Monastery, His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the thangka early one morning before the teachings.
Rinpoche advised on the design of the thangka, which with its brocade board measures 90-feet (27-meters) wide by 70-feet (23-meters) high. The thangka took two years to make and was completed in 2013. It is for the Guru Rinpoche Bum Tsog (100,000 tsog offerings) in Nepal.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessing the thangka, Sera Monastery, India, December 29, 2013. Photo copyright Rio Helmi/Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee.
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.
- Tagged: his holiness the dalai lama, jangchup lamrim, lama zopa rinpoche, lama zopa rinpoche bodhichitta fund, mandala, padmasambhava, thangkas
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The 8th Khangser Rinpoche helped Choe Khor Sum Ling celebrate its 10th anniversary, Bangalore, India, November 2013. Photo courtesy of Choe Khor Sum Ling.
Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL) in Bangalore, India, celebrated its tenth anniversary on November 17, 2013. To celebrate, CKSL organized a special teaching event about transforming everyday experiences into sources of great joy. The teachings also addressed eliminating stress and obstacles; generating boundless joy by cultivating pure love towards others; focusing less on self; focusing more on benefiting others; and reducing expectations and abandoning the thoughts of results.
CKSL is an active study group offering regular instruction in meditation and Buddhist philosophy, including FPMT’s Discovering Buddhism program. International Mahayana Institute monks studying at Sera Monastery regularly give teachings to CKSL students, who are “a lively group of kind, open-minded Indians, Tibetans and foreigners, both young and old.”
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.
- Tagged: choe khor sum ling, khangser rinpoche, mandala
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Guhyasamaja Center Student Ordains
Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa ordained Guhyasamaja Center student Matt Gausman, now Ven. Losang Dondrub, Fairfax, Virginia, US, October 2013. Photos courtesy of Guhyasamaja Center.
From Fairfax, Virginia, US, Guhyasamaja Center spiritual program coordinator Gabriel Mata shares the exciting news of one student’s transition into monkhood:
On October 11, 2013, Guhyasamaja Center celebrated the ordination ceremony of one of its members and membership coordinator, Matt Gausman. The ceremony was conducted by the center’s resident teacher Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa assisted by some of his own students, Geshe Dargye, Geshe Tashi and other monks. Matt, whose ordained name is Losang Dondrub, studied Buddhism for nearly 10 years and says one of his reasons for ordaining was the understanding that in Buddhism the monastic life presents the best way to take advantage of this precious human life.
“I hope to spend the rest of my life working to actualize the Dharma in this world, and I hope that when people see me, a person with a disability living in ordination, they will see that as long as you are able to develop the mind, you have a precious human life that shouldn’t be wasted,” Ven. Losang Dondrub said.
All friends and families of the Guhyasamaja Center would like to wish Ven. Losang Dondrub a successful journey on the spiritual path!
Ven. Losang Dondrub is ordained by Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa, Guhyasamaja Center, Fairfax, Virginia, US, October 2013.
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.
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Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom Launches New Website
The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) is an FPMT-affiliated project “dedicated to promoting peace in the world through Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom [UECW], a system of inner development that enables people of all ages, cultures and traditions to lead a happy and meaningful life and to be of service to others.” Inspired by FPMT founder Lama Yeshe, FDCW works to carry out his vision for “a new kind of education for the world.”
“The new website aims to present a clear and up-to-date overview of our aims and activities for everyone from seasoned UECW ‘elders’ to people who are encountering Universal Education for the very first time,” wrote FDCW director Alison Murdoch. FDCW programs include the 16 Guidelines for a Happy Life, Seven Steps to Knowledge Strength and Compassion, Transformative Mindfulness Methods for Inquiry and Intervention, Corporate-Based Mindfulness Training.
You can learn more about FDCW by visiting their website and signing up to their newsletter.
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.
A mother and child receiving blessing from relics, Mullumbimby, Australia, 2012. Photo by Andy Melnic, courtesy of Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour.
The Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour has a new name: the Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour. The tour brings the sacred relics of Buddhist masters to Buddhists and non-Buddhists around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people on six continents have viewed the relics, which started touring in March 2001.
In addition to a new name, the FPMT-affiliated project has a new Facebook page and has update their website with news photos from the tours as well as images and biographical information for the Buddhist masters whose relics are part of the tour. Tour dates and locations for the Americas tour and the tour of Europe, Asia and Australia can also be found on the project’s website.
Roadside blessing with relics in Mongolia, 2012. Photo by Andy Melnic, courtesy of Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour.
For more, including tour schedule, photos, video and relic information, visit the Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour 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.
- Tagged: heart shrine relic tour, mandala
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche with European FPMT Center Directors, Osel Labrang, Sera Monastery, India, December 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
The directors of FPMT centers in Europe met with FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche while he was at Sera Je Monastery in December. The directors made a heartfelt request for Lama Zopa Rinpoche to come to Europe and offer teachings. To the directors’ pleasure, Rinpoche said that he would visit.
Directors from FPMT centers in Europe making request to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Sera Monastery, India, December 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
- Tagged: fpmt europe, lama zopa rinpoche, mandala
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11 Years Writing the Prajnaparamita Sutra in Gold
Ven. Tsering writing the Prajnaparamita sutra in pure gold
According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, one of the main ways to create the causes needed to build the Maitreya Buddha statue in India, is to write out the Prajnaparamita Sutra in pure gold. FPMT’s Prajnaparamita Project has undertaken this project and just shared an interview with Ven. Tsering who has spent the last 11 year working on writing the 12,000 verse Prajnaparamita in pure gold.
“I have a strong wish to do this — perseverance — and this comes from understanding why I am doing it and the reasons,” Ven. Tsering explained. “Once you know this you develop sincere interest, then the handwriting comes out because of the wish to make this effort. So you take it as your practice. … So in this way, I don’t have to do retreat, but just having one project you receive from your guru, you take it as your project and carry on. Then if you have an attitude like that, I think that is one reason to be able to carry on.”
Another FPMT student, Jane Seidlitz, is also working on writing out the 12,000 verse Prajnaparamita in pure gold. “[Jane is] working on the 2nd volume. I’m on the 4th volume [and] completed the 3rd. So we are working on the same project but on different volumes,” Ven. Tsering said. “If I had to do it by myself, this would not be possible in this one life. … When finished it will go into the heart mandala of the Maitreya statue.”
Read the complete interview with Ven. Tsering on the FPMT Project News blog.
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.
- Tagged: mandala, prajnaparamita project, ven. tsering
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting the gathering as he arrives at the Sera Lachi Temple in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India on December 24, 2013. Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL; courtesy dalailama.com.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama taught the first session of the current round of Jangchup Lamrim teachings at Sera Monastery in South India on December 25. The teachings can be viewed on streaming video, available in six languages, and will continue through January 3. The first series of teachings by His Holiness on Jangchup Lamrim — the 18 Treaties on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment — took place in late 2012 at Drepung and Gaden Monasteries. His Eminence Ling Rinpoche is the main organizer of the event.
On December 24, His Holiness arrived at the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, where Sera Monastery is located. Many important lamas, including FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and several thousand monks from Sera are attending the teachings as well as monks and nuns from Kopan Monastery. In addition, many FPMT geshes, registered teachers and students from Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe are also present.
Visit the Jangchup Lamrim website for more information and to view streaming video and photos of preparations for the event. More photos from the event and news are available on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website, dalailama.com.
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.
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An Update on Tenzin Ösel Hita
Tenzin Ösel Hita is doing very well and continuing his college studies in California.
Ösel offering long life words of praise to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Rinpoche’s long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, California, September, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
While Lama Zopa Rinpoche was in the United States this year, Ösel visited Rinpoche at his residence many times. In September, Ösel participated in a long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche on behalf of FPMT, Inc. board members and FPMT North American centers. Ösel offered moving long life words of praise to Rinpoche which can be viewed on video or read in their entirety.
In November, Ösel participated in the FPMT, Inc. board meetings in California.
In 2014, Ösel plans to travel to India and take teachings from his teacher at Sera Je Monastery, Geshe Gendun Chompel, following the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Supporting Ösel, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT’s founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, is of great importance to the FPMT organization. The Big Love Fund was set up to provide financial resources which support the educational endeavors of Ösel. The fund currently covers all of his educational expenses related to attending college in California as well as the cost of Ösel to travel to India so he can receive teachings from his teacher.
Tremendous thanks to all of the kind donors who have already been supporting Ösel and his education. It is greatly appreciated.
- Tagged: tenzin osel hita
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche being greeted upon arrival at the ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.
By Ven. Gyalten Samten
The Maitreya Project is an FPMT project to build a very large statue of Maitreya, the future buddha, in Kushinagar and Bodhgaya. Just last week, the project took an enormous step forward, receiving land upon which to build from the Uttar Pradesh state government. Ven. Gyalten Samten was part of a team overseeing aspects of the foundation stone laying ceremony held on Friday, December 13, 2013. She shared with Mandala her experience of the historic event.
On December 13, 2013, history of sorts was created in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. On that misty morning, what unfolded could be a scene from a Bollywood potboiler. A helicopter lands, interrupting the peaceful quiet. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, accompanied by Maitreya Project trustee Sanjeev Chaudhry, emerges. We were all in tow, welcoming them in the traditional Tibetan style, with the monks chanting, playing cymbals and gyalings.
Then another helicopter lands and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, enters the scene. More greetings. And a crowd of over 100,000 farmers and locals, Buddhist monks and other dignitaries has gathered, eager to see the holy guru and the chief minister.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav arriving at the ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.
Kushinagar, a small non-descript town, is popularly known as the place of the last leg of Shakyamuni Buddha’s journey before he passed into parinirvana. Innumerable precious relics were found after the Buddha’s cremation, which were divided amongst eight kingdoms. The Mallas of Kushinagar built a stupa to store the precious relics of Buddha.
Starting in the 1980s, Lama Yeshe had a grand vision of building a large Maitreya statue in India. Lama Zopa Rinpoche took this vision forward and the project has developed to build a 500-foot (152-meter) statue. One of the first things to do was to acquire land to carry out this mammoth task. The chosen place was Bodhgaya. Due to many factors, the Maitreya Project struggled for 13 long years. Lama Zopa Rinpoche sought advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding the project, having watched it face many obstacles for many years. It was confirmed to build a Maitreya Buddha statue in Kushinagar as this was the place of parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Obstacles to acquiring land continued to arise in Kushinagar, and after another 13 years of planning and waiting, when everyone had nearly given up hope, the trustees sent a letter to the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, withdrawing the project. But the chief minister took notice and approved 200 acres (81 hectares) of land to be given to the Maitreya Project immediately.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.
The Uttar Pradesh state government and Maitreya Project trustees agreed on December 13 for the formal laying of the foundation stone – a grand event that was to be organized in less than a week. Since the chief minister was going to attend, the event assumed a political flavor, which meant arrangements needed to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.
Andy Melnic, Ven. Labdron, Ven. Samten and District Magistrate Rigzin Samphel, Kushinagar, India, December 2013. Photo courtesy of Rigzin Samphel.
A team of three people – director of Root Institute Ven. Thubten Labdron, photographer Andy Melnic and myself – were sent to oversee the arrangements and coordinate the cultural and religious aspects of the event. A team of a dozen monks from Kopan Monastery, a replica of the Maitreya Buddha statue from Root Institute in Bodhgaya and a dance troupe from Dharamsala were en route to Kushinagar as well.
This was an alien ground for all of us. Even before we could get our bearings, we were in the thick of meetings with the local dignitaries, the commissioner and the cultural director.
The district magistrate of Kushinagar, Rigzin Samphel, turned out to be our knight in shining armor. Rigzin Samphel is a Ladhaki and is very devoted to this cause and to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. When we arrived in Kushinagar, he took us to the new Maitreya Project land of which 40 acres (16 hectares) was being turned into the event site, including two helipads, two stages, a green room, a rest area for dignitaries and a parking lot for the siren-blaring vehicles of politicians.
During our first visit to the site, I asked sheepishly how big the land given to the Maitreya Project was. “For as far as your eyes can see, Samten-la, is Maitreya land,” Rigzin Samphel replied. “Incredible,” I murmured, overwhelmed with the sight of lush green farmland and the thought of all the hardships everyone associated with the project has faced to acquire it and realize a profound dream of the holy guru. Rigzin Samphel further remarked that all the farmers were compensated suitably for the land.
Amongst much fanfare and great aplomb, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav laid the foundation stone for the Maitreya Project.
Laying the foundation stone, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo courtesy of Rigzin Samphel.
Rinpoche addressed the audience, profusely thanking the farmers who gave up their land and all in attendance for their support and enthusiasm. Rinpoche also explained the great benefits of building the Maitreya Buddha statue and that the FPMT will commence work on the project very quickly, starting with setting up a health clinic for the local residents, and that the project will bring prosperity for the people by eventually employing many hundreds of people. Ven. Kabir Saxena simultaneously translated Rinpoche’s speech into Hindi.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav emphasized the profundity of the project and how it will give a great boost to the tourism and economy of the state during his speech. Moreover, he urged the trustees of the Maitreya Project to start the work quickly.
This is just the beginning of a dream unleashed on the holy land of Kushinagar. Maitreya Buddha will manifest in ways far beyond our imagination, all we need to do is to continue to create causes for this and never give up.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all the trustees of the Maitreya Project and all the devotees who have believed in the vision of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Ven. Gyalten Samten is an Indian nun. Before ordaining, she had an active career as an actress in Bollywood movies and once held the title “Miss India.”
For more, read Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s remarks made at the foundation stone laying ceremony and Ven. Thubten Labdron’s report on arranging the big event in only five days.
Mandala’s ongoing coverage of the Maitreya Project can be read online.
Part of the cultural program at the ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.
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.
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