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FPMT News Around the World
Panoramic view from Lawudo Retreat Centre, Lawudo, Nepal, April 2012. Photo courtesy of Ven. Lobsang Deden.
After her ordination on March 27, 2012 at Kopan Monastery, Christel Hammerby (now, Ven. Lobsang Deden) went on pilgrimage to Lawudo, the site where Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s previous incarnation, Lawudo Lama Kusang Yeshe (biography available in print), meditated and attained profound realizations.
Ven. Lobsang Deden with Ani Ngawang Samten, Lauwdo Gompa, Lawudo, Nepal, April 2012. Photo by Simone Fry.
At an altitude of 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), Lawudo rests in the highest area of Solu Khumbu, the northeastern region of Nepal bordering the Upper Tsang in southern Tibet. Although Lawudo is extremely isolated, active construction at the site meant Ven. Deden was never too far from either Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s brother or sister – Sangay Sherpa and Ani Ngawang Samten – or the other various residents and builders.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s cave was the cover of Mandala’s April-June 2012 issue. Photo by Sirianni.
“Every morning I had the good fortune to spend a few priceless, blessed hours in Lama Zopa’s cave (a very cozy fridge!) wrapped up in several heavy blankets,” Ven. Deden shares. “In the afternoons I talked a lot to Sangay about his and, of course, Lama Zopa’s vision for Lawudo … The vision for the project is to create a small Padmasambhava’s pure land from which concentrated positive energy can spread throughout the world. At present, the old gompa (meditation hall) is being restored and the construction of a new library and an additional gompa has begun. Thereafter, the retreat facilities will be improved and extended. A new building for resident Sangha is also in the works.”
However, Ven. Deden points out that the project is not entirely “spiritual,” but also contains elements of social service in order to “reinvigorate and breathe new life into the whole fragile region, now suffering severely from the consequences of decades of governmental neglect.” Plans include a school for local children to receive a Buddhist education and a home for elderly people in need of care.
This future library and school will provided much needed education to local children in the region, April 2012. Photo by Simone Fry.
The high altitude and harsh environment means that construction in Lawduo is almost impossible (and relatively expensive!) as materials have to be flown in from Kathmandu to Lukla by plane or to Syangboche by helicopter and then brought up to Lawudo on the back of the legendary Sherpa porters.
Local craftsmen restore the old gompa which was in disrepair and threatening to collapse, April 2012. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Deden.
“After a conversation with Tulku Tenzin Sherpa in Munich, who like Rinpoche comes from Thame in Solu Khumbu and was one of the first young monks who received an education at the [now defunct] Lawudo School and then later at Kopan, I asked him, ‘Why is virtually nobody talking about Lawudo and this beneficial project?’ He responded, ‘You know, for Lama Zopa, promoting Lawudo would be similar to asking a favor for himself and his family – that is almost impossible – he is far too humble to do that!’”
Ven. Lobsang Deden welcomes any questions or comments about her travels to Lawudo and her work for Lawudo Retreat Centre.
With 158 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.
Image by Louise Light shared on the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday
July 6 was His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 77th birthday, and in recognition of the day, FPMT North America (FPMT NA), the regional group representing centers, projects, services and students from Canada and the United States, launched Compassion Day, making special effort to remember not only His Holiness’ presence and contribution to the world, but also “to come together and celebrate compassion.”
FPMT centers, projects and services in North America celebrated Compassion Day with gusto. Compassion Day’s Facebook page has dozens of photos and we’re happy to share some of our favorites here for those of you that still haven’t had the chance to get online and start exploring.
Guhyasamaja Center celebrated Compassion Day early by making donations to a food bank and reciting the “Golden Light Sutra” for world peace, Centreville, Virginia, USA, June 30, 2012.
Milarepa Center in Barnet, Vermont, USA hosted an animal liberation, buying all of one store’s bait worms to release in the center’s garden. Later, Ven. Amy Miller led a meditation on compassion. The group also celebrated with birthday cake and prayers, July 6, 2012.
In Austin, Texas, USA, Land of Compassion and Wisdom organized a "hike-and-bike" trail cleanup in addition to hosting a compassion meditation, community potluck, face painting and gift making, July 6, 2012.
Tubten Kunga Center in Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA celebrated Compassion Day with long-life prayers and a Lama Chöpa tsog. Geshe Konchog Kyab distributed $10 pre-paid cards that each participant could use to make a donation to a charity of their choice. The cards were donated by a generous benefactor, July 6, 2012.
Children at Kadampa Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA prepared and offered handmade gifts to His Holiness’ throne. Other events from the day included Ven. Choekyi Lhamo reading a biography of His Holiness and students picking vegetables in the center garden to offer to a food bank, July 6, 2012.
Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, California, USA hosted a contemplation on compassion followed by Chenrezig Guru Yoga, July 6, 2012.
Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, USA had tsog with Yangsi Rinpoche and gathered 130 pounds (59 kilograms) of food for Oregon Food Bank, July 6, 2012.
It seems to us at Mandala that the inaugural Compassion Day was a huge success! Check out Compassion Day’s Facebook page to see the other photos that we were unable to post here.
With 158 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.
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Lama Yeshe, with babies and Italian students, Taceno, Italy, 1976. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. You can find scores of photos like these on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive Image Gallery.
You don’t? Then let’s get you two acquainted.
The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (LYWA) is the organization responsible of collecting, organizing and preserving the works of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the founding teachers of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Since LYWA’s inception in 1996 at the behest of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the archive has collected thousands of hours of digital audio and video, and tens of thousands of pages of raw transcript, and is diligently working to edit the raw material to expand its already robust collection of free (or nearly free) books and DVDs.
The Archive (as they call themselves) also makes available a huge collection of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s spiritual advice, monthly podcasts, ebooks, historic audio teachings, a YouTube channel and an easy-to-navigate image gallery.
And to no surprise, the Archive is already in the works to release more invaluable materials for students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT. In addition to the recently released Bodhisattva Attitude: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others, the second book in the FPMT Lineage Series, How to Practice Dharma: Teachings on the Eight Worldly Dharmas, is being printed and prepped for distribution. Mandala will feature an excerpt out of this collection of teachings in the October-December 2012 issue – keep your eyes peeled!
The Archive also produces an excellent e-letter filled with important announcements about the organization’s progress. Not to sound alarmist, but if you haven’t signed up for it, you probably are missing something you’d be happier knowing.
Mandala has regularly made use of archived materials over the years, a kindness that makes us feel both privileged and indebted.
So it’s with great sincerity that we say, “We’re happy that you’ve finally met.”
With 158 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.
FPMT News Around the World
Today is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 77th birthday and the world is celebrating!
In recognition of the day, FPMT North America (FPMT NA), the regional group representing centers, projects, services and students from Canada and the United States, has launched Compassion Day, making special effort on July 6 to remember not only His Holiness’ presence and contribution to the world, but also “to come together and celebrate compassion.”
Compassion Day encourages people everywhere to participate in a variety of ways: rejoicing in His Holiness’ positive influence in our lives and sharing that with him; meditating on compassion and loving-kindness using instructions developed by Ven. Sangye Khadro; and engaging in compassionate actions for self and others.
Submissions of pictures, writing and videos from Compassion Day’s festivities can be posted on its Facebook page. You can post any time day or night to make a contribution.
With 158 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.
FPMT News Around the World
Delegates at Young Minds conference, Sydney, Australia, June 2012. Photo by Brendan Read.
Vajrayana Institute, an FPMT-affiliated center in Sydney, Australia, is celebrating the success of its recent inaugural Young Minds conference. More than 600 delegates converged on the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre to attend the youth-focused event, held June 19-22. Attendees heard presentations by some of the world’s leading speakers (of all ages) on issues concerning the welfare, potential, minds and hearts of today’s young people.
Young Minds conference, June 2012. Photo by Brendan Read.
Speakers included Dr. Larry Rosen, Professor and Past Chair of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, whose research into the effects of technology on young people shatters some long-held myths; adult and child neurologist Dr. Judy Willis, who explores creative ways to captivate kids in the classroom; teenage sailor Jessica Watson, who captivated the audience with her story of what it took to be the youngest person ever to sail around the world; and Western Buddhist meditation teacher and chant master Lama Surya Das, who hopes to fan into flames the embers of buddha-nature residing in all of us, including our young folk.
Conference organizers received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Young Minds delegates. Attendee comments repeatedly used words like “inspiring” and “affirming,” and “tears” and “laughter.”
Vajrayana Institute has had many past successes organizing hugely popular public events, including the Happiness & Its Causes and Mind & Its Potential conference series.
For the Young Minds 2013 conference, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has accepted an invitation to speak, marking the fourth time that His Holiness has participated in one of the intitute’s events. “We are very blessed!” write conference organizers. Young Minds 2013 is scheduled for June 19-20, 2013, at the Sydney Town Hall. For more information, visit the Young Minds website.
Vajrayana Institute volunteers at Young Minds conference, Sydney, Australia, June 2012. Photo by Brendan Read.
With 158 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.
FPMT News Around the World
His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrapped up his latest European visit on June 28 after five days in Italy. His Holiness taught for three days in Milan, concluding with an Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) empowerment offered to a stadium of 10,000 people, including many representatives from different religions. Fabrizio Pallotti, who served for many years as Ribur Rinpoche’s interpreter and is a familiar name at many FPMT centers, provided interpretation for His Holiness in Milan.
While in Italy, His Holiness also toured Mirandola, a city in Northern Italy struck by a powerful earthquake in May, killing 17 people, injuring 200 and leaving 14,000 homeless, according to DalaiLama.com. His Holiness also visited Matera in Southern Italy at the invitation of his friend and fellow Nobel Peace Laureate, Betty Williams, who is doing humanitarian work there.
His Holiness now returns to India, where he will teach in Leh (Ladakh) in July and August and Dharamsala for the rest of the year.
For more news on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, visit DalaiLama.com. Photographer Sirianni, whose images regularly grace the pages of Mandala, has shared many beautiful photos of His Holiness in Italy on his Facebook page.
With 158 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.
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la offering khatas to Red Tara statue at FPMT International Office, Portland, Oregon, June 2012. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
FPMT Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la visited Portland, Oregon, USA, from June 22 through June 24. Rinpoche and Khadro-la both offered well attended public teachings at Maitripa College.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche having tea with International Office staff, June 2012. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
Rinpoche and Khadro-la also met with FPMT International Office staff and blessed many holy objects in the building that Maitripa College and International Office share.
This was Rinpoche’s first visit to Portland and first public teaching in North America since manifesting a stroke. Students traveled from near and far to attend the event.
In addition, the FPMT Media Center for the first time streamed a webcast of Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching, which was viewed live by more than 360 people around the world. The video of the teachings is also now available to watch online.
Institut Vajra Yogini in France organized a public showing of the live webcast. Twenty French students attended the middle-of-the-night viewing.
During the public teaching on June 23, Rinpoche gave an oral transmission of Praise to Avalokiteshvara by Songsten Gampo and The Longest Compassionate Buddha Mantra.
Khadro-la gave her first public teaching in North America on June 24. She taught on wisdom and compassion.
Rinpoche and Khadro-la continued their tour of the West Coast of the United States, traveling next to Washington State.
With 158 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Bodhgaya, India, December 2011
On Saturday, June 23, FPMT brings you a live video webcast of Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching from Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, USA.
The webcast is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. PDT (UTC -7 hours) on Saturday, June 23.
Rinpoche will offer a teaching and oral transmission of:
- The short Lam-Rim by Je Tsongkhapa
- Praise to Avalokiteshvara by Songsten Gampo
- The long Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) mantra
Check back here for updates.
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la circumnabulating the stupa at Vajrapani Institute, California, June 2012. Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.
FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche returned to Portland, Oregon, in the United States on June 21. Rinpoche traveled to Portland from California where he had spent the previous 12 days. Khadro-la arrived with Rinpoche in Portland, which is the home of the FPMT International Office and Maitripa College. This is Rinpoche’s first visit to the United States since he manifested a stroke in April 2011.
While in Portland, Rinpoche will be offering a teaching and oral transmissions at Maitripa College the evening of Saturday, June 23. Khadro-la is schedule to give a teaching on “Wisdom and Compassion” on Sunday, June 24.
In California, Rinpoche visited Vajrapani Institute in Boulder Creek and Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, where they held a party welcoming Rinpoche and Khadro-la, who’s visiting the United States for the first time. You can see more photos of Rinpoche’s recent activities on the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Facebook page.
With 158 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.
FPMT News Around the World
From dalailama.com photo gallery: His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the Bishop of Manchester in Manchester, England, June 17, 2012. Visit dalailama.com for more news and photos.
His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama returned to England on Friday, June 15, arriving in Manchester where he gave a series of teachings and public talks. On June 17-18, His Holiness taught on Eight Verses for Training the Mind and Nagarjuna’s In Praise of Dharmadhatu. On Tuesday, June 19, His Holiness spoke in London at Royal Albert Hall on “Real Change Happens in the Heart.”
Jamyang Buddhist Centre had a stall at the Manchester teachings, staffed by many volunteers. They gave out Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive books and leaflets for UK FPMT groups.
His Holiness focused on speaking to young people in Manchester on Saturday, June 16. According to dalailama.com, he told a gathering of leaders from youth organizations, “I belong to the twentieth century, an era that has now passed. It was a time when many people thought that violence was the way to solve our problems. Although the motivation to solve problems was often positive and good, the method, the use of force, was wrong, because invariably violence creates more problems than it solves. What have we learned? that we need to employ non-violence and dialogue to solve our problems.”
Later in the day, the Dalai Lama spoke at the youth-center event “Stand Up and Be the Change.” British comedian Russell Brand introduced and joked with His Holiness and moderated the question and answer period after the talk. More than 10,000 attended the event; tickets were offered free to those 25 and under.
Also while in England, His Holiness traveled to Leeds to speak to the Yorkshire International Business Convention on ethics and business and lectured at the University of Westminster on “Values of Democracy and Tibet.” In addition, he met with the press, a group of Gurkha soldiers based in Manchester and his old friend Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk, who has been active in promoting Christian meditation. On June 22-23, His Holiness will be in Scotland, speaking in Edinburgh, Dundee and Inverness. Next week, His Holiness travels to Milan before returning to India. For more, visit His Holiness’ website dalailama.com.
With 158 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.
FPMT News Around the World
Jade Buddha in Vietnam, March 2009, at the beginning of its ongoing world tour
The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace continues its world tour in Thailand. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra officially opened the Thai showing of the Jade Buddha, which runs June 15 – July 7 at CentralWorld in Bangkok. Organizers are expecting 250,000 to 500,000 people will see the Jade Buddha during this visit to Thailand. To date, more than 5.5 million people have viewed the statue.
The 4.5-ton (4-tonne), 8-foot (2.5-meter) tall statue of Buddha is carved entirely from gemstone quality jade and modeled on the Buddha inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India.
The Jade Buddha’s story itself offers inspiration and wonder. In 2003, then-FPMT board member Ian Green traveled to British Columbia, Canada, and first laid eyes on the gigantic Polar Pride jade boulder that would become the Jade Buddha. He reported what he saw to Lama Zopa Rinpoche who told him to “turn this giant gemstone into a holy object as an offering to the world.”
In a 2011 interview, Green told Mandala, “My goal is that the Jade Buddha will inspire billions of beings in this universe to follow the peaceful path. And that it will leave a legacy of lasting peace wherever it tours in the world.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Jade Buddha in France, September 2011
The Jade Buddha was completed in late 2008 and began touring the world in March 2009 in Vietnam. Since then, the Buddha has toured Australia, North America and Europe, returning to Asia in 2012.
In May, the Jade Buddha visited Taiwan. Organizers report 80,000 visitors coming to the exhibition, which was hosted by the Chinese Buddhist Temple Association.
From Thailand, the Jade Buddha travels to Sri Lanka and India, visiting Colombo, Kushinagar and wrapping up 2012 in Bodhgaya at the Mahabodi Stupa. Tour organizers hope to bring the Jade Buddha to China in 2013. The statue is scheduled to make return visits to the United States, Vietnam and Australia. Eventually, the Jade Buddha will go to its home at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia, where it will be a symbol of peace to inspire the world for millennia to come.
With 158 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.
Liberated yaks just after their arrival in Rolwaling Valley, Nepal, September 2011
In 2011, more than 108 yaks’ lives were saved in Nepal through the efforts of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Geshe Thubten Jinpa and with the support from FPMT’s Animal Liberation Fund and Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore. In order to document the liberation, Geshe Jinpa brought along a camera crew and has just released an exciting new video called 108 Yaks: A Journey of Love and Freedom.
108 Yaks tells the story of the 19-day journey made by the rescued yaks from Dhudkunda, Nepal, where they were sold to Geshe Jinpa, to their new home in the lush pastures of the sacred Rolwaling Valley in northeastern Nepal, where the foot prints of Guru Rinpoche are said to be. The video takes us along on the stunning trek as a team of 22 herders and porters guides the gentle and peaceful yaks over rugged and treacherous mountain terrain.
“Rinpoche first spoke about his wish to rescue yaks in January 2011. He had heard rumours about the trading of yaks for meat up in the Himalayas of Nepal and expressed his concern,” Amitabha Buddhist Centre’s newsletter Tashi Delek reports. Rinpoche sent Geshe Jinpa to investigate. Eventually, Rinpoche arranged for the liberation of 115 yaks and for their care by the villagers living in Rolwaling.
As Lama Zope Rinpoche has advised, animal liberation is not just about saving animals from slaughter, but making sure the animals receive positive Dharma imprints for the rest of their lives through circling holy objects, hearing mantras and so forth.
Geshe Jinpa explained to Tashi Delek the reasons for rescuing the yaks and making the film 108 Yaks :
My whole point of doing this animal liberation is to dedicate for Rinpoche and the gurus’ long lives. But also it is to promote animal liberation, to tell people what animal liberation is and how it should be done. And also [share] what Rinpoche does to benefit sentient beings, with his words, his teachings and actions. Through that we contribute to the welfare of the animals. I mentioned to Rinpoche, by doing so, maybe this can get some support for Rinpoche’s animal liberation projects – building sanctuaries everywhere to accommodate these animals.
You can order 108 Yaks from The Foundation Store.
Liberated yaks in Rolwaling, Nepal, wearing cords blessed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, September 2011
With 158 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.