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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with a birthday cake offered to him, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 2016.
On December 3 we observe the birth date of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. As previously shared, a very large thangka of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) will be displayed and an auspicious 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru Bumtsog) will take place at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery) on this date in honor of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday, to commemorate Rinpoche’s life and fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes.
The event will start early in the morning of December 3, local time in Nepal, at approximately 8 a.m. and will be presided over by H.E. Jangtse Choeje Kyabje Gosok Rinpoche of Sera Mey Monastery.
Students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche are encouraged to rejoice in this auspicious and powerful event and to pray for the swift return of his reincarnation as advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Please also dedicate for all of Rinpoche’s wishes to manifest without delay, and for the success of the FPMT organization.
Please read more about the large Padmasambhava thangka display and the Guru Bumtsog taking place at Kopan Nunnery:
https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/large-padmasambhava-thangka-display-and-guru-bumtsog-offered-on-lama-zopa-rinpoches-birthday/
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Large Thangka display and Guru Bumtsog at Kopan Nunnery, 2023. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
For the ninth year in a row, a very large thangka of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) will be displayed and an auspicious 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru Bumtsog) will take place at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery). This yearly event now takes place in honor of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday, December 3, to commemorate Rinpoche’s life and fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes. Students of Rinpoche are encouraged to attend this extremely joyous annual event when one is able. The event will start early in the morning of December 3, local time in Nepal, at approximately 8 a.m. and will be presided over by H.E. Jangtse Choeje Kyabje Gosok Rinpoche of Sera Mey Monastery.
The thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high and 87 feet (27 meters) wide, depicts in stitched appliqué the Padmasambhava merit field in the center. Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally designed and oversaw the creation of this huge thangka and also raised the funds for it, thanks to the kindness of two generous donors. The thangkha was also blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The incredible weight of the thangka and raising it safely up large scaffolding to display requires tremendous skill and effort. The puja is an incredible undertaking by Kopan monks and nuns as it takes days to set up and arrange, plus lunch offered to all in attendance requires major preparation.
Guru Bumtsog event with the large Padmasambhava thangka on display, December 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.
Ven. Sarah Thresher shares, “The text used [in the Guru Bumtsog] is the Sadhana of the Lineage of Awareness-Holders from the Northern Treasures cycle revealed by the great treasure-finder Rigdzin Godem. It is the same text used for Guru Bumtsog at His Holiness Dalai Lama’s temple each year and it has been translated by Bia Bispo. For those of you who are not aware, the Northern Treasures are widely practiced in Khumbu Thamichowa and this was the main lineage held by the first Lawudo Lama. So it is a wonderful opportunity to pray for a new unmistaken manifestation of the Lawudo Lama to swiftly return in magnificence!”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche prostrating to the giant Guru Rinpoche thangka during the Guru bumtsok at Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery, January 2020.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained that displaying large thangkas is an auspicious way for anyone in the area to make a Dharma imprint and connection to the deity depicted. “You may think that a statue or thangka is just a statue or thangka,” Rinpoche has said, “but it is the transcendental wisdom of dharmakaya, which understands and directly sees absolute truth, as well as conventional truth.”
Rinpoche also expressed that it is his wish for many FPMT centers to have huge thangkas and once a year to display the thangka and have a festival day for the public based around the holy object. During the festival day, Rinpoche requested for there to be many thousands of offerings in front of the thangka, as well as offering banners.
Students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche are encouraged to rejoice in these events occurring on December 3 as a way to honor Rinpoche’s extremely beneficial and inspiring life, and to dedicate the merit for the swift return of his unmistaken reincarnation. Students are also reminded of the practices advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. All swift return prayers have been compiled for ease of use.
Please rejoice in this auspicious yearly event which is fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization, and has profound effects on those in Nepal and the entire world. The costs of offering this yearly event are substantial and will be covered this year by two very kind benefactors.
The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.
This eulogy is also available to read on our website with translations into several languages.
Here we share on chapter from this beautiful tribute, describing Rinpoche’s early life:
“That Is My Home!”
Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche was born at sunrise on December 3, 1945, the last day of the tenth month of the Wood Bird year in the Tibetan lunar calendar, in Thangme, a village in the Khumbu region of Nepal, up in the Himalayas.
It was evident from the time he was two or three years old that he knew what he wanted. One of many children of a Sherpa family — he was called Dawa Chötor then — the moment his mother, Yangchen, turned her back, fetching water, checking on the potato fields, or collecting wood, he’d be gone, determinedly trudging his way up the long, steep, winding path that led to the cave of the Lawudo Lama, the revered local yogi Kunsang Yeshe who’d died a couple of years earlier.
They’d find him asleep in the resting place halfway up the mountain, his sister Ngawang Samten said. When they’d admonish him to “come home!” he’d point up towards the cave and say, “No, that is my home!”
Ani Samten said that somehow he was different from the other children, sitting apart, or sitting on a high box when he ate his meals. And when he’d play games, he’d always play the role of the lama: he’d lead pujas, give initiations, and announce the names of the Lawudo Lama’s benefactors, saying they’d be coming.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a child in Rolwaling. Photo by Tom Weir
When he was three, Rinpoche was delighted when the Lawudo Lama’s attendant, Ngawang Chöpel, came to visit. He cried and cried when he was leaving, declaring that he must go with him. Although soon recognized as the unmistaken reincarnation by many lamas, including the beloved local lama, Trulshik Rinpoche, it wasn’t until years later that the family of Lama Kunsang Yeshe, who was a lay yogi, accepted.
When he was five he was sent over the mountains to Rolwaling, west of Khumbu, to be educated by one of his uncles.
It was here, in 1952, that he first laid eyes on people with “white eyes and yellow hair,” as the Sherpas described Westerners, a group of them camping in a meadow on the other side of the river. Eager to meet them, he crossed the river on the makeshift bridge but fell into the water with his gift of boiled potatoes before reaching the other side. Rinpoche recounted later that while he was struggling to keep his head above water the thought occurred to him that the person known as the Lawudo Lama was about to die, but although he didn’t know anything about emptiness, “there was no fear.”
You can read the full eulogy written by Ven. Robina online, or download the newly available PDF for mobile phones and tablets.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Ven. Roger Kunsang meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, May 17, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
We are happy to announce that we have received new precious advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding practices for creating the causes for the Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. Venerable Roger Kunsang met with His Holiness during his recent visit to Dharamsala, India. His Holiness explained that it is important to continue with practices as previously advised as well as protector prayers and practices outlined below.
All of these practices listed below (except for the Retreat Prayer book) are available as one-click downloads without the need to log into a Foundation Store account. Simply select the “one-click download” link located above the description of each practice.
As Previously Advised:
- To recite Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as much as possible.
New Advice!
- Perform rituals invoking the four activities of the Dharma protectors Mahakala, Kalarupa (i.e. Dharmaraja), and Shri Devi (i.e. Palden Lhamo)
Do the Palden Lhamo kangso and Mahakala kangso if you are able to and have received an appropriate highest yoga tantra initiation, preferably Yamantaka. Kangso is a “fulfillment and amendment” ritual. Copies of the relevant texts, based on self-generation as Yamantaka, are available on request.
As these elaborate rituals may be more difficult to perform, students can recite the following prayers to the three protectors:
- Praise to Six-Armed Protector Mahakala
- Praise to Achieve the Inner Kalarupa (Dharmaraja)
- Torma Offering to Palden Lhamo
- Praise to Palden Lhamo: Requesting the Four Activities
These prayers can be found in the following booklets:
-
- Protector Prayers booklet arranged by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, pages 5–17
- Retreat Prayer Book, English, pages 284–295 | Italian | Spanish | Vietnamese
Additional Kalarupa ritual:
- Drugchuma, Offering of Sixty-Four Parts to Kalarupa (Yamantaka initiation as requirement)
Additional prayers to Palden Lhamo:
- All-Pervasive Sphere of Great Bliss, Free of Elaboration: Requesting Activities of Palden Lhamo by HH Dalai Lama
- A Daily Practice of Pälden Lhamo which contains praises as well as torma and libation offerings (serkyem) English | Spanish (highest yoga tantra initiation as requirement)
As a reminder, Saka Dawa falls on Thursday, May 23 this year, and this is a wonderful opportunity to practice according to His Holiness’s recent advice since karmic results are multiplied by 300 million times as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events, as taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
May all of these collective heartfelt prayers and practices be the cause for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return and continued guidance.
Ven. Roger Kunsang meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 17, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Novice students and teachers of Sera Je Secondary school gathered at the school assembly ground for the special prayer session arranged at the school on the first anniversary puja of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, April 13, 2024. Photo by Sera Je Secondary School.
April 13 marked the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
At Kopan Monastery, around one thousand participants including high lamas, students, and friends engaged in practice in proximity to Rinpoche’s holy body including His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa; Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche; Mingyur Ripoche; Tsoknyi Ripoche; Abbots from Sera Je, Sera Mey, and Segyud Monasteries; Kusho Tengye; Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi; Yangsi Rinpoche; Namgyal Rinpoche; Kopan Geshes, Lama Gyupas, and many other monks and nuns; as well as Western students, some members of the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors, representatives from FPMT International Office, and many other local and international friends.
High lamas, students and friends offering prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return. Photo courtesy Kopan Monastery.
At Lawudo Retreat Centre, a two-day puja was offered by Thame Rinpoche, Kyarok Lama, and Charok Tenzin Tinley Rinpoche, and other monks and ngakpas.
FPMT centers, monasteries, and various communities around the world hosted events of pujas and prayers, honoring Rinpoche’s incredibly beneficial life and praying for his swift return. The main practice offered was Heruka Lama Chopa with Tsog Offering.
Today we are sharing some photos of the heartfelt and devoted efforts on April 13 commemorating the anniversary of the passing of our most precious guru.
Sera Je Monastery commemorated the first anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche with a special extensive Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering, April 13 2024. Photo by Sera Je Monastery.
The first copy of a special limited edition of 300 copies of the Sutra of Great Liberation, printed in English by Amitabha Buddhist Centre students for the occasion of the commemoration of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, was offered to the holy body of Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, April 12, 2024. Photo courtesy of ABC.
Lama Chopa Tsog and prayers at Chandrakirti Meditation Centre on April 13, 2024. Photo by Chandrakirti Meditation Centre.
Sera Kopan Sangha pays homage to Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the anniversary of Rinpoche’s showing the aspect of passing away with pujas at Sera Jey Tsawa Khangtsen and Osel Labrang and by making extensive light offerings at Kopan House, Bylakuppe, India, April 13, 2024. Photo by Sera Kopan.
Elders of OPH (Old Peoples’ Home), Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement host prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return on the first anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing.
Offering and prayers at Sera Jey Buddhist Culture Center NY, New York, USA, April 13, 2024. Photo by Sera Jey Buddhist Culture Center NY.
Lama Chopa with thousand tsog and extensive light offerings and recitation of the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjusri at Chokyi Gyaltsen Center, Penang, Malaysia. Photo by Chokyi Gyaltsen.
Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics Leh Ladakh held extensive Lama Chopa Tsog, attended by Petuk Monastery monks and Ngari staff and students, April 13, 2024. Photo by Ngawang Yeshi.
Commemorating the first anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing away and with Universal Education school for teachers and Chakma students, Tara Temple, Varanasi, India,. Photo by Yulo Koepa Nunnery – Tara Pure Land.
Tara Institute members offered Guru puja and recited Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri, April 13, 2024. Photo by Tara Institute.
Sera Je Drati Khangtsen commemorated the first anniversary of Venerable Late Lama Zopa Rinpoche with a special extensive Lama Chopa Tsog Offering, April 13, 2024. Photo by Sera Je Drati Khangtsen.
Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa members blessed animals in the ocean on the first anniversary of the passing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, April 13, and organized a day of commemoration to remember his kindness and create causes for his swift return and His vast future actions. Photo courtesy of ILTK Facebook page.
Blessing of animals in the water with Namgyalma board, Naropa Meditation Center, Tahiti, France, April 13, 2024. Photo by Bouddhisme Tahiti – Centre de Méditation Naropa, affilié à la FPMT.
Students filled Amitabha Buddhist Centre’s gompato commemorate the first anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, with Lama Chopa and recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri, April 13, 2024. Photo by Amitabha Buddhist Centre.
May all of this powerful activity be the cause for
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return!
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Image of Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the altar in Kopan Monastery Gompa, April 12, 2024. Photo by Kopan Monastery
The commemoration event at Kopan Monastery honoring the anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away has begun.
Welcoming of one of the many high lamas who have arrived at Kopan for the commemoration honoring the anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away. Photo by Kopan Monastery.
Those in attendance so far include His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa; Abbots from Sera Je, Sera Mey, and Segyud Monasteries; Kusho Tengye; Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi; Yangsi Rinpoche; Namgyal Rinpoche; Kopan Geshes, Lama Gyupas, and many other monks and nuns; as well as Western students, some members of the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors, representatives from FPMT International Office, and many other local and international friends. Many others are expected to arrive tomorrow with an anticipated 1,200 participants joining throughout the commemoration.
Ganden Tri Rinpoche presiding the Yamantaka self-initiation earlier today. Photo by Francois Lecointre.
Westerners reciting prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return at Kopan Monastery, April 12. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.
- Today, April 12, Yamantaka thirteen deities self-initiation was offered in the main gompa along with Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri and supplemental prayers at the Chenrezig gompa, and Guyasamaja root tantra was recited in the main gompa by the Kopan monks and nuns.
- April 13 begins with Heruka Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering puja in the main gompa at 8:30 am which will continue after lunch. Guyasamaja root tantra will again be recited in the evening.
- On April 14 Vajrayogini self-initiation will be offered at 1 pm.
- The Heart Sutra Retreat begins on April 15 with commentary by His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa and meditations led by Ven. Steve Carlier.
Please check the Kopan Monastery Facebook page for any livestreams of events available.
Prayers and practices are available to download here:
We also rejoice that, around the world, FPMT centers and students are organizing prayers and offerings in observation of the anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away. As Rinpoche explained in the foreword of the text, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away, “Making offerings on the death anniversary of a guru is an incredible practice in that it brings about the greatest purification of negative karma and collects the most extensive merit.”
May all of this sincere practice from students and accumulated merit be the cause for the swift return of our most precious guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Preparations underway at Lawudo, painting and filling the life-size Kalachakra statue. Photo by Jane Seidlitz
Ven. Sarah Thresher shares an update from Lawudo on the upcoming preparations for observing the anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
It is nearly one year since the passing of our most precious guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and up at Lawudo preparations for the ceremony are well underway.
Last year, Ven Nyima Tashi, a relative of Rinpoche’s, flew up in a helicopter bringing the magnificent life-size Kalachakra statue that Rinpoche commissioned for the Guru Rinpoche pure land, Zangdog Palri, to be built at Lawudo in the future, and over the past few days monks from Thame Monastery have been rolling the mantras, assembling the ingredients and filling the statue in accordance with the traditional texts. Rinpoche told Merry Colony some time ago that placing this statue at Lawudo would be a cause for the success of the FPMT organization. The statue was consecrated Friday, April 5.
Charok Tenzin Tinley Rinpoche and artist Khapa Pema preparing the substances to fill the Kalachakra statue. Photo by Jane Seidlitz.
Meanwhile, Rinpoche’s sister Anila Ngawang Samten and the whole Lawudo family are busy preparing for a two-day puja to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing on the 12th and 13th April. Anila takes the future of the FPMT organization very seriously. She has invited the main three Nyingma masters of the Valley—Thame Rinpoche, Kyarok Lama, and Charok Tenzin Tinley Rinpoche, along with other monks and ngakpas, to perform these ceremonies, beginning with a fortune-hooking ritual and followed by the main Vajrasattva puja. These are the same lamas who helped with the consecration of Rinpoche’s new Victory Stupa constructed by Anila and Nyima Tashi last year, as well as the new relic stupa, the renovated Lawudo Lama stupa, and the Amogapasha thangka at White Cliff above Lawudo. The anniversary pujas are being dedicated for the FPMT organization to be of continual benefit to sentient beings and to fulfill all the holy wishes of our most kind and precious guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and especially for us to be able to meet Rinpoche’s new unmistaken manifestation as quickly as possible.
Jane Seidlitz painting the house for Rinpoche’s tooth relic stupa.
In addition to all of this, there is the Lawudo Anniversary Pilgrimage! Following the anniversary ceremonies and Heart Sutra retreat at Kopan in April, a group of over thirty pilgrims from around the world, ordained sangha and lay students, will embark on the first ever Lawudo pilgrimage—visiting holy sites connected with the first Lawudo Lama as well as Rinpoche’s most recent manifestation—rejoicing in the practice, spiritual accomplishments, qualities and enlightened activities of these two great holy beings as well as praying sincerely from the heart for the swift return of a new emanation to continue the work of upholding and spreading the pure Dharma teachings in all ten directions and benefitting numberless sentient beings.
All in all, it will be a very busy, intensive and we hope successful month long celebration of the greatness of our spiritual guide, the Lawudo Lama.
Please join the entire FPMT community in rejoicing in these auspicious activities occurring at Lawudo this week. Please also read about the prayers and pujas happening at Kopan Monastery during this time, and download practice materials for your own use.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal, March 27, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
April 13, 2024 marks the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
As a reminder to students, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away is a short text translated by Rinpoche that explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru. It sets out the benefits of making offerings, how to make the offerings with six remembrances, and how to offer and dedicate the roots of virtue collected. Rinpoche specifically wanted to translate this text for the anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s passing, and it was a text that he wanted available for quite some time. We mention this to emphasize how important Rinpoche felt it was to offer these practices on the anniversary of the guru’s passing, for example, doing Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering as Rinpoche said in the Foreword.
A commemoration will occur at Kopan Monastery on April 13, where they will offer Heruka Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering puja, Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri, and other prayers. The puja is being sponsored by FPMT International Office on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Kopan Monastery reports that this puja will be livestreamed, those interested in joining should pay attention to the Kopan Facebook page for this, and we will also share this information once we have it.
These prayers and practices are available to download here:
In addition to the commemoration, on April 12th, Senior Sangha members and FPMT students will engage Yamantaka self-initiation; and on April 14th, Rinpoche’s students and Sangha members from various centers and organizations will gather for Vajrayogini self-initiation.
As Rinpoche explains in the foreword of the text, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away, “Making offerings on the death anniversary of a guru is an incredible practice in that it brings about the greatest purification of negative karma and collects the most extensive merit.”
Sangha offering prayers in front of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy body, April 21, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
April 13, 2024 marks the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
We want to remind students about a text translated by Rinpoche, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away which is a short text that explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru. It sets out the benefits of making offerings, how to make the offerings with six remembrances, and how to offer and dedicate the roots of virtue collected.
As Rinpoche explains in the foreword of this text, “Making offerings on the death anniversary of a guru is an incredible practice in that it brings about the greatest purification of negative karma and collects the most extensive merit.”
There are six benefits of making offerings on the anniversary of your guru’s passing away. The Hundred Clear Realizations of the Glorious One from Narthang offers the great Kadampa geshe Sharawa’s citation from Guhyasamaja and Vairochana’s Net of Magical Illusion:
- You complete your guru’s holy wishes.
- You purify the negative karmas and obscurations collected in dependence on the guru.
- You achieve extensive merits.
- In future lives, you meet gurus.
- You become an object to be subdued by gurus.
- You quickly cease your samsara.
On March 10, 2021, Rinpoche gave commentary on these points during a teaching from Kopan Monastery, and you can read that commentary starting on page 13 of this full transcript.
A commemoration will occur at Kopan Monastery on April 13. Following the commemoration, Kopan is also hosting a Heart Sutra Retreat (April 15-20). His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa Rinpoche will offer commentary during the retreat and Ven. Steve Carlier will lead meditations. There are still spots available for this retreat, and you can contact Kopan Monastery for more information. We will share more details about this commemoration closer to the date.
Another auspicious opportunity relating to Lama Zopa Rinpoche we’d like to remind about is the Lawudo Pilgrimage happening from April 25-May 9. This is a pilgrimage for students of Rinpoche honoring him as the Lawudo Lama by visiting the main holy places of the area with prayers and practices for Rinpoche’s swift return. There are still spots available in this pilgrimage as well.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Livestream of the prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return with the stupa and bodhi tree lit up and changing color in the distance. Photo by Tukba Akil.
We share this moving account from Ven. Sarah Thresher about the prayers offered for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return during the Fifteen Days of Miracles in Bodhgaya, India.
It’s common to hear chanting at the great place of enlightenment in Bodhgaya; groups travel thousands of miles to pray together at the stupa in Pali and Tibetan. It’s far less common to hear prayers chanted in English—and it certainly turns heads when that happens and is noticed by the many pilgrims from around the world.
It wasn’t till the second or third day of our fifteen days of prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return at the place of enlightenment during the miracle days that I realized this simple fact: coming together and chanting prayers together in English was itself a powerful way to repay the kindness of our precious spiritual guide Lama Zopa Rinpoche. There we were sitting together under the bodhi tree, three nuns—English, Chinese and Indian—along with a small but dedicated team of students from around the world praying together in English—the very language Rinpoche had used to teach us and lead us in prayers and practices; the language Rinpoche had learned from a young age in order to spread the Buddha’s teachings in this world. That simple act was proof of Rinpoche’s unfathomable kindness and achievement and greatness.
Group photo on the final evening of prayers—Chotrul Duchen. Photo by Pratyaksh Sehrawat.
Prayers underneath the bodhi tree at the seat of enlightenment. Photo by Tukba Akil.
All the Buddha merit increasing days are special at Root Institute because it’s a time when many offerings and prayers are made for the incredibly kind sponsors of the Festival of Lights and Merits (FLAM) and of Rinpoche’s projects in Bodhgaya. But this year it was decided to add a special prayer session every evening at the stupa with a selection of prayers either recommended by Rinpoche for the merit increasing days or advised by His Holiness and other holy beings to be recited for Rinpoche’s swift return. We were fortunate to get permission from the Temple management to reserve a place and to livestream the prayers for all fifteen days. We chose to sit under the bodhi tree right next to the only ancient Manjushri image in the stupa precincts—though some days we sat back amongst the smaller stupas so that people could see the stupa and bodhi tree spectacularly lit up and changing color as the prayer session unfolded.
A procession of students led by Rinpoche offering bowls of fruit to the main image of Shakyamuni Buddha in the temple. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
Two nights it rained but we still showed up. Two nights we added extensive offerings of bowls of fruit in procession to the Buddha image following the prayers—something Ven. Roger sponsored as he mentioned it was what Rinpoche liked to do. On the penultimate evening, a monk came up towards the end of the prayers and asked if he could offer a khata to Rinpoche—many people would pay respect, show approval and request blessing when they saw Rinpoche’s photo. We of course happily agreed, only to find out that it was actually H.E. Avikrita Vajra Sakya who had sent the monk to ask and he along with his entourage then approached to offer khatas to Rinpoche’s photo. “That’s Manjushri offering to Rinpoche,” I said, feeling very moved by the gesture. It was as though the Buddhas themselves were acknowledging the prayers and heartfelt longing of us disciples for the return of our precious Lama and offering comfort.
Ven. Dekyong from Singapore, Ven. Sarah from England and Ven. Anshu from India who led the prayers. Photo by Nick Redmond.
Ven. Sarah Thresher is an English nun who graduated in 1982 and met the Dharma in Kopan shortly afterwards—taking refuge with Lama Thubten Yeshe. She worked many years as an editor for Wisdom Publications and Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and has also taught at centers around the world. She ordained with His Holiness Dalai Lama in 1986. For the past five years she has been living in different locations in Nepal.
Please read about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice for reciting Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Altar of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Bodhgaya, December 31, 2023. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.
In October 2023 we shared the very precious advice we received from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to recite Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri continuously for a few months, for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s reincarnation.
We wanted to take the opportunity to remind students of this advice, particularly with Losar and the Fifteen Days of Miracles approaching when the merit of virtuous actions performed on each of these days is multiplied by 100 million.
We are pleased to share that Ganden Tri Rinpoche, head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and very close to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, will be offering the transmission of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri on February 17, 2024 through Jamyang Buddhist Centre London and this will be available online for all with interest to join.
As a reminder, IMI has arranged continual recitations of this text for Rinpoche’s swift return by students around the world in all the various time zones! Please read about how to sign up to join.
Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri Materials
The prayer is available for all to download: Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.
Additionally, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive also offers Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s own commentary and oral transmission of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri which is available to all.
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.
Prayer session for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Bodhgaya, India, under the Bodhi tree, December 31, 2023. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.
An powerful prayer session was held in Bodhgaya, India, under the Bodhi tree on December 31, 2023 for the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Prayer session for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Bodhgaya, India, December 31, 2023. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.
Incredibly, 2,500 ordained Sangha participated including Ganden Tri Rinpoche, His Eminence Ling Rinpoche, His Eminence Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche, Kundeling Rinpoche, Osel Dorje Rinpoche, Lelung Tulku, Woser Rinpoche from Sera Mey Monastery, Sera Je Abbot Khenrinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsethar, Tashi Lhunpo Abbot Khenrinpoche Zeekgyab Tulku, Segyud Abbot Khenrinpoche Lobsang Wangdu, Namgyal Abbot Khenrinpoche Thamthog Rinpoche, and Drepung Loseling Abbot Khenrinpoche Lobsang Samten.
Ganden Tri Rinpoche at the prayer session for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, December 31, 2023. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.
Prayers recited were Calling the Guru from Afar, Chanting the Names of Manjushri, King of Prayers, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return prayer by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Ven. Roger Kunsang arranged offerings to all the 2,500 Sangha.
The magnitude and beauty of this event is captured in this short video by Ven. Tenzin Michael:
This was an incredibly important and auspicious event. It is said that the merit created from any virtuous activity in Bodhgaya is multiplied eight times due to the blessings that have arisen from all the holy activities accomplished here by numerous holy beings. As Rinpoche has explained:
“Bodhgaya is not only the place where the Buddha showed the holy deed of achieving enlightenment under the bodhi tree but also where all the great pandits such as Nagarjuna and Asanga practised and made so many prayers. Also, many great enlightened beings and yogis from Tibet, China, Nepal and other countries came here and made so many prayers to benefit us sentient beings so there would be unbelievable, unbelievable opportunity for us to purify negative karma and accumulate merit as quickly as possible.
“That is why it is so important to come to Bodhgaya to practice; to circumambulate and make prayers under the tree. Even if you don’t know much Dharma, try to circumambulate as much as possible. It makes your life so special; there is unbelievable purification and it collects so much merit to quickly be free from the oceans of samsaric suffering and achieve enlightenment.
“[The Mahabodhi Stupa] is so precious that if you don’t get to circumambulate it for even one day, it’s worse than losing skies filled with wish-granting jewels or billions of dollars.”
Altar of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Bodhgaya, December 31, 2023. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.
Additionally, with great rejoicing we share that on the first day of the New Year, Kopan Geshes, Lama Gyupas and sangha offered Most Secret Hayagriva tsog in front of Rinpoche’s holy body at Kopan Monastery, Nepal.
May all of these powerful prayers be actualized without delay.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.