receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
Lama Zopa Rinpoche News
A wall painting of the Buddha’s mother inside the Buddha Dordenma statue, photographed during Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s visit to the site, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Can creating art be a Dharma practice?
Lama Zopa Rinpoche discussed this in 2005. Here is what he said:
“The first thing to think about,” explained Rinpoche, “is one’s attitude. The purpose of making the painting or of creating any work of art should only be to benefit others. One should do the artwork to pacify all one’s wrong concepts and disturbing emotional thoughts. While creating, one should keep a motivation of purifying negative karma and actualizing the good heart, loving kindness, bodhichitta, and, in fact, the whole path to enlightenment. By transforming one’s attitude into Dharma, one integrates one’s art with Dharma.”
A photo of a Buddha statue with lights around it taken at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land. Photo by Chris Majors.
Rinpoche continued, “The second thing is the art itself. One should make objects that have a spiritual meaning. One can represent bodhisattvas’ life stories or the Buddha’s life story, showing how they practiced patience and perseverance for the happiness of other sentient beings. One could paint the life stories of great holy beings and present the ways they sacrificed their lives for other sentient beings by practicing renunciation, bodhichitta, and emptiness. One could show how they were always aware of karma. One could use art to show how happiness results from good actions and suffering from negative actions. [This] … is the integration of art with Dharma.”
Ani Wy painting the face of the Buddha during a visit of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Penang, Malaysia, April 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche concluded, “At the beginning of every day, one should pray like this: Due to all my past and future merits, may anyone who sees, touches, or remembers this painting (or other object) never be born in the lower realms. May all disturbing spirit harms and obscurations be purified. May they achieve enlightenment as soon as possible by actualizing the whole path and may they have joy and happiness in their hearts.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche examines a painting of Namtose at the National Museum of Bhutan, Paro, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Find the original teaching here:
https://www.lamayeshe.com/advice/art-and-dharma
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Vens. Sherab and Tendar, attendants of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, make tormas for a puja Rinpoche will preside over, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
What exactly are tormas? The word is Tibetan (the Sanskrit is balingta) and refers to an offering cake used in rituals. There are various different types of tormas for different purposes.
Tormas can be ornamented in many ways, such as with discs molded from butter that represent the sun and moon. More elaborate tormas feature multiple colors. In Tibet, tormas were usually made of tsampa (roasted barley flour), but these days other edibles such as biscuits can also be used. The practice of offering tormas can be a way to accumulate merit and eliminate obstacles.
Elaborate tormas made of tsampa and butter inside the Great Buddha Dordenma, a large Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Bhutan. The photo was taken when Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the statue. Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained the origins and meaning of the word torma during teachings at Shakyamuni Center in Taiwan in February 2007.
“Tor in Tibetan is that which, when the hurricane or tornado comes, the whole city, whole town, after one hour, is totally destroyed, everywhere pieces, all the houses gone, so all the pieces are tor. Or when in a field you plant crops you throw seeds, this is called tor. Or when you give grain, when you give food to birds, you tor, but not so much that, tor is more like the hurricane destroying a city or town, after half an hour, one hour, totally, everything is scattered. Tor is like that, something scattered or destroyed. Tor is more in the sense of destroy. So torma, that which destroys.
A variety of elaborate tormas could be seen on the altar at Satsam Chorten, Bhutan, when Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited there, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“So one meaning of torma is destroying miserliness, your miserliness, so therefore torma are made very rich, the best and richest quality you can make. It means you spend money destroying your miserliness, making a good offering to the deity. So that’s one meaning of tor, that which destroys your miserliness, your attachment.
At Kopan Monastery, monks offer small tormas to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during a long life empowerment. Larger tormas stand on the altar in the background. Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
“Then the other meaning is related also to the maha-anuttara tantric path, where the experience of transcendental wisdom, the great bliss, the voidness, is the real torma. That is the real torma … So then that tor destroys like a bomb; it destroys the root of samsara: the ignorance holding the I, the aggregates, to be truly existent. So the torma is that which destroys that …
A monk offering a red-colored torma as tsog during lama dances at Kopan Monastery, December 2016. Photo by Laura Miller.
“Just one more word, then finish. Why do Tibetans make tormas so beautiful, with decorations and shapes, as beautiful as they can make them? It creates the cause to have beautiful bodies in future lives if you make the tormas very beautiful …”
A special torma is wrapped in straw and burned on the Day of Miracles to symbolize the destruction of all negativities, Kopan Monlam, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 15, 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in front of a thangka of the Buddha in a restaurant in Paro, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave a concise teaching last April at Losang Dragpa Centre in Malaysia on “the kindness of the enemy,” now available in a 20-minute video.
“What is the advice?” asked Rinpoche. “Take the loss on yourself and offer the victory to others!”
“That,” he emphasized, “is the practice of Buddhism, especially Mahayana Buddhism. That is the advice. That is what the Buddha practiced.”
Rinpoche added, “You don’t fight, peace, then practice patience, good heart, peace. In this way, what happens? It looks like you lost, like you are stupid. People in the world think you don’t know anything, you lost, you are stupid. People in the world think that … [But] in this way, offering the victory and taking the loss on yourself now, for many lifetimes, so many lifetimes, wow, wow, wow, hundreds, thousands you win, you win, all the future you win, you win, so many times, not just one time, so many times you win!”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
At the end of the talk, Rinpoche emphasized that through the practice of patience, the enemy who is angry at you “is giving you enlightenment so that you can free numberless sentient beings from oceans of samsaric sufferings, not only that, you bring them to peerless happiness, cessation of all mistakes and completion of all realizations … so the kindness is wow, wow. Their anger is very needed by you … You understand? So the kindness of the enemy, wow, wow, wow!”
Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche share this teaching on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DixeHnan8BE&feature=youtu.be
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Kopan abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi share a smile while watching the performances after the enthronement of Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche. Photo by Bill Kane.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been staying at Kopan Monastery since late February.
Rinpoche first celebrated Tibetan New Year (Losar) at Kopan.
Palden Lhamo puja early morning on Tibetan New Year (Losar), presided over by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, February 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
He also circumambulated and made offerings at stupas in Boudhanath and Swayambu.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche making late night flower offerings at Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
As well, he presided over the enthronement of Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche (the reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, Kopan’s former abbot), a celebration that attracted almost a thousand visitors to Kopan, and he visited the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre in Kathmandu.
Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche at his enthronement, Kopan Monastery, March 6, 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
Rinpoche also met with His Eminence Jangtse Chöje Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, who came to Kopan to attend the Great Prayer Festival (Monlam Chenmo) and teach on mind training on March 14. Jangstse Chöje Rinpoche received a warm welcome when he arrived, with gyalings, cymbals, and banners, and lines of students offering khatas.
His Eminence Jangtse Chöje Rinpoche arriving at Kopan Monastery, March 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche also met with Yangsi Rinpoche, IMI Sangha, and other lamas and dignitaries.
Yangsi Rinpoche participating in the enthronement of Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
While at Kopan, Rinpoche also visited with students doing a three-month Vajrasattva retreat at the monastery, and gave them encouragement and advice.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the Vajrasattva retreatants during their three-month retreat at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On March 7, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave an Amitayus long life initiation attended by Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche and his younger brother, the newly enthroned Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche, among many others.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving a long life empowerment, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 7, 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
Rinpoche later attended a Lama Chöpa with tsog, where he was joined by Jangtse Chöje Rinpoche. The gompa was full for this precious opportunity for both monastic and lay students to celebrate Lama Chöpa with their revered lamas; robes and funds were offered to Sangha, and the tsog overflowed. After the puja, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave a talk about the importance of circumambulation, stressing the need for setting a beneficial motivation and describing how to visualize offering rice to a stupa.
Rinpoche’s visit to Kopan was honored with a grand thank-you dinner at the Hyatt Hotel in Kathmandu, located near Boudhanath Stupa. The meal was attended by approximately 400 people, including many of the international guests who came for the enthronement of Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche, senior Kopan monks and nuns, IMI Sangha, and local volunteers who helped during the three days of enthronement celebrations. Kopan’s abbot, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and Paula de Wijs-Koolkin, who first came to Kopan in 1972 and attended the November course that year, gave short speeches after dinner. (Three other people who attended the November 1972 course were also present for the enthronement celebrations—Ven. Yeshe Khadro, Luca Corona, and Marcel Bertels.)
Lama Zopa Rinpoche speaking to attendees at the dinner at the Hyatt. Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
After the meal, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave advice again on circumambulation, and close to 200 people followed him over to Boudhanath Stupa. There, Rinpoche led them in seven circumambulations around the stupa, stopping occasionally to give reminders about motivation, offer advice, and, at the end, lead a dedication. The circumambulation ended around midnight, and—tired but joyful—those present said goodnight to each other and to Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche leading dedications late at night after circumambulating Boudhanath Stupa with a group of students, Nepal, March 8, 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving a talk at the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, with spiritual program coordinator Holly Guy listening, Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
On March 2, 2017, Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the new location of FPMT’s center in Kathmandu, Nepal, known as the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre (HBMC). HBMC was established in 1982 by Lama Yeshe and offers teachings and meditation. In recent years, teachings have been given there by Cherok Lama, who was born in 1993 in Nepal, as well as by FPMT registered teachers Ven. Robina Courtin, Ven. Joan Nicell, Jimi Neal, and others.
A year ago, HBMC was forced to move from its old location in the popular Thamel district of Kathmandu to the Naxal area due to damage caused to its building by Nepal’s massive April 2015 earthquake. The center is now located in the loft of an historic old house, one of very few of its type that survived the quake. This particular house, over 100 years old, was originally built by a Nepali king as lodging for visiting royal musicians.
During his visit, Rinpoche listened as the new spiritual program coordinator, Holly Guy, described the program the center currently offers as well as ideas for the future. Rinpoche then offered advice for the center’s further development. He also led those present, who were mostly Sangha, in “Praises to the Twenty-One Taras” for the center’s success.
The shrine at the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Ven. Joan Nicell.
Holly Guy sees much potential in HBMC’s new location. The center is above a pleasant restaurant which also offers several guest rooms. The restaurant, rumored to have excellent food, will help ensure visitors to the center can enjoy themselves over a snack or meal before or after events. The center is also now developing ways to earn income: tours and pilgrimages to holy places in the Kathmandu valley and other sites in the Himalayas.
Before the visit to HBMC, Rinpoche took the Sangha and others for lunch at the popular Yak and Yeti Hotel.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Sangha, and other students lunch at the Yak and Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu after the visit to the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Nepal, March 2017. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Preparing for the enthronement: Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi at the beginning of the ceremony, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 6, 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
Monday March 6—today—is the start of the enthronement celebrations for the reincarnation of Kopan Monastery’s beloved long-time abbot, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup. The official enthronement of Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche took place this morning (Nepal time) in the main Kopan gompa, festooned for the occasion and presided over by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and other lamas.
Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup arrived at Kopan Monastery in 1973. He was “mother, father, teacher, friend” to the monks and nuns of Kopan, as well as to many Western and Asian students, and he oversaw the growth and development of the monastery and nunnery for almost forty years until his passing in 2011.
Monks from Kopan’s tantric college began the auspicious day, blowing their long horns in the early morning. Then Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Kopan’s current abbot, and others escorted the young Tenzin Rigsel Rinpoche up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room for the hair cutting ceremony, when his name was changed to Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche.
The hair cutting ceremony, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 6, 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Morning prayers were followed by the enthronement ceremony itself.
Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche attends morning prayers before the ceremony with, left to right, Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, Ven. Ngodrup Tsering, Ven. Thubten Kunkhen (Khensur Lama Lhundrub’s attendant), Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, March 6, 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
After the ceremony, there was a long khata offering line for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche, and Khen Rinpoche. Many other lamas attended the ceremony, including Yangsi Rinpoche, president of Maitripa College; Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog; Kundol Rinpoche; Cherok Lama Rinpoche; Lama Monlam; the manager of Sera Je Monastery; the manager of Tsawa Khangsten at Sera Je; and representatives from the fifteen Gelug monasteries in Kathmandu, Nepal.
About 300 invited guests are staying at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery for the event, and more than a thousand came for the ceremony. These included large groups from Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong; approximately fifteen IMI Sangha; ten FPMT center directors; and Mandala’s managing editor Laura Miller. The parents of Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche, who is the younger brother of Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, came from Tsum, a remote valley area of Nepal; many Tsumpas (people from Tsum) also attended.
With so many attendees, some people had to sit in the courtyard. A group of Tsumpas sit on the left. Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 6, 2107. Photo by Laura Miller.
After the ceremony, lunch was offered to all, with Kopan’s Enlightenment Garden transformed into a beautiful dining area.
Lunch in the Enlightenment Garden, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 6, 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
In the afternoon, there was an offering of songs and dances in the courtyard in front of the gompa, including performances by singers and dancers and lama dances by Kopan monks.
Young monks dancing during the celebrations, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 6, 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
The entire enthronement celebration will run for three days and include a long life initiation offered by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the arrival of His Eminence Jangtse Chöje Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin, a pilgrimage to Swayambu Stupa, and a special dinner at the Hyatt Hotel.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, who has just offered a khata, Losar celebrations, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, February 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived the night of February 25 at Kopan Monastery in Nepal to join in the Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebrations there. He had traveled from Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India, where he visited briefly. On his arrival at Kopan, monks lined up with khatas to welcome him, and he was also offered khatas by Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Kopan’s beloved Geshe Lama Konchog, who had recently arrived from Sera Je Monastery; Western Sangha members; and Western students participating in Kopan’s three-month Vajrasattva retreat.
Waiting to welcome Lama Zopa Rinpoche to Kopan Monastery, Nepal, February 25, 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche congratulating monks from Kopan Monastery School, February 2017. Photo from Kopan Monastery School via Facebook.
On Sunday, February 26, Kopan Monastery School had its year-end ceremony and celebration, during which exam results were announced and the monks received recognition and awards for their performance during the 2016-7 school year. Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended as well as Kopan’s abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi. Rinpoche spoke to the monks, reminding them how fortunate they were to study the monastic texts and offering them encouragement to work hard on their studies.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended Lama Chöpa tsog on the morning of Losar, celebrating the beginning of the new year with all the Kopan monks and nuns. Rinpoche gave a talk to the monks and nuns in Tibetan during the puja.
At Lama Chöpa puja, Losar celebrations, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, February 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
After the puja, khatas were offered to the rinpoches attending the puja and Kopan’s abbot. Then a big community picnic lunch followed. Tenzin Rigsel Rinpoche, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup‘s reincarnation, who will be enthroned next week at Kopan, also attended the picnic.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche blesses Kopan’s monks and nuns after the picnic, Losar celebrations, February 2017, Nepal. Photo by Bijaya R. Tuladhar via Facebook.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and everyone at FPMT International Office wish all of our readers a big Losar Tashi Delek—Happy Tibetan New Year—to all!
Lama Chöpa offerings at Losar, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, February 2017. Photo by Laura Miller.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche chants blessings to rescued dogs in Bhutan, July 2016. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
In 2016, Lama Zopa Rinpoche heard about a service that rescues stray dogs in Malaysia, and that had cared for more than a thousand of them. He was deeply touched to hear about this rescue effort.
Rinpoche wanted to make an offering of food to help the dogs and also support the woman who ran the rescue service. The local FPMT center, Losang Dragapa Centre, raised money and Rinpoche also contributed. Together, they offered enough money for six months’ worth of food. In addition, Rinpoche asked the center members to put Namgyalma mantras on the ceilings of each of the kennels where the rescued dogs stayed, which they did. Because of this, the dogs now receive purification and blessings from the mantra.
Afterward, Rinpoche sent the center the following letter of thanks.
Auntie Mee Fah’s Dogs’ Shelter, Malaysia
My most dear, most precious, most kind wish-fulfilling one and everyone,
Thank you very, very much billion, zillion, trillion times, to all the students and all the friends. Please tell everyone my billion, zillion, trillion on and on thanks for the support for the dogs.
Buddha said:
Any sentient being, who during the period of my teachings,
Makes charity well (even if the material is the size of hair)
For 80,000 eons there will be great result of great enjoyment.
No pain, no disease, and enjoyment of happiness.
Like that, one will be enriched with desirable things.
At the end you can actually achieve the result—the peerless cessation and completion (enlightenment)
After hearing that there is the great result—who wouldn’t want to collect merit?
Please pass on this quote and my thanks to everyone. Also please give it to the lady who has the dogs, telling her it is from me.
With much love and prayers,
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Transcribed by Ven. Holly Ansett. Lightly edited by Ven. Holly Ansett and Mandala.
Auntie Mee Fah’s Dogs’ Shelter, Malaysia
Benefiting animals is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/#animals
Watch a short video about the benefits of the Namgyalma mantra:
https://fpmt.org/mandala-today/the-benefits-of-the-namgyalma-mantra-video/
For more about FPMT’s activities to benefit animals see:
https://fpmt.org/tag/animals/
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Jane Seidlitz. Lama Zopa Rinpoche led groups of students to circumambulate this stupa many times while he was in Bodhgaya.
During his recent travels in Nepal and India, Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited stupas over and over.
In the book, Benefits and Practices Related to Statues and Stupas, he explains why: “Every day, when sentient beings see stupas and statues, this plants the seed of enlightenment. It is said that even dreaming of a stupa plants the seed of enlightenment.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching on how to circumambulate a stupa, Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
He adds: “Enlightenment doesn’t happen by a click of the fingers; but seeing holy objects plants the imprint to actualize the path and achieve enlightenment. Once you have holy objects, then every day they work for sentient beings, naturally, all the time. For beings such as animals or insects who merely touch a stupa with mantras inside—even if they are touched by just the shadow of the stupa—the negative karma in their minds of having killed their father or mother is purified. When water or rain touches the stupa, it becomes holy water. The rainwater that touches the stupa becomes blessed. So when it rains and the rainwater runs from the stupa and soaks into the ground, any insects, worms, any being living in the ground—whomever it touches—all their negative karma gets purified. They receive a higher rebirth and become liberated. It is the same with the wind. When the wind blows over and touches a stupa, it becomes blessed and then has the power to purify. When the wind then touches sentient beings—whomever it touches, animals or flies or insects or human beings—it purifies their negative karma … It is so unbelievably powerful!”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and others visiting the stupa (under construction) of Sakya master Kyabje Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In summary, Rinpoche teaches that the main purpose of building stupas is to make the lives of all beings, young and old, meaningful. For those who see them, stupas will:
- help purify their minds,
- help collect merit, which is the cause of all happiness and all success,
- help heal their bodies and minds through purification; and
- help to preserve Tibetan Mahayana culture.
Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
To learn more about practices related to stupas, visit Stupas: A Resource Guide:
https://fpmt.org/education/practice/holy-objects/stupas-resources/.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Maitreya School children and teachers in front of the school, Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Root Institute via Facebook.
Rinpoche’s extensive activities in Bodhgaya, India, in January and February have left students overwhelmed with gratitude. Rinpoche recently left Bodhgaya, and Ven. Paldron, director of Root Institute for Wisdom Culture, the FPMT center and guesthouse in Bodhgaya, India, reports on his activities while there:
It was an honor and a privilege to have Rinpoche visit Root Institute for just over a month. Rinpoche’s kind, wise, and compassionate presence has been wonderfully healing for all of us during this time.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche dines with dignitaries, including Tenzin Ösel Hita and Richard Gere, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
During the two weeks of Kalachakra teachings and initiations from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rinpoche gave his time and energy without reservation to attend to the needs of visitors from around the world. He also visited with many lamas and dignitaries, and kindly found time to circumambulate the Mahabodhi Stupa with students on several occasions.
Khongla Rato Rinpoche (one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus), Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Khen Rinpoche Nicholas Vreeland, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Rinpoche’s foresight had led him some time ago to request Dee Chandrashekhar, a student at Choe Khor Sum Ling in Bangalore, India, to come to Root Institute to teach the children of FPMT’s Maitreya School the Heart Sutra in Sanskrit. As a result of the students’ diligence in learning this, they had the incredible opportunity to recite it in front of His Holiness at the Kalachakra initiation. His Holiness was so pleased that he offered funds for all the children from the school to go on a picnic!
Maitreya School students recite the Heart Sutra in Sanskrit to His Holiness, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
Due to Rinpoche’s great kindness the holy Maitreya land was blessed when Rinpoche requested the Sera Je monks to offer a long life puja there instead of at the Mahabodhi Stupa, as initially proposed. Rinpoche also advised the Kopan monks and nuns to offer Lama Chöpa tsog at the Maitreya land, thus providing immense blessings to help remove obstacles affecting the Maitreya Projects.
Long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Maitreya Project land, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Rinpoche kindly focused much attention on Root Institute and its projects. He blessed the Stupa Garden of Compassion first.
Root Institute’s new Kadampa stupa, blessed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in January 2017. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Then he visited with the children of Maitreya School and Tara Children’s Project, giving them an opportunity to recite the Twenty-One Tara praises in Sanskrit, and also blessing them with his holy speech. He distributed much needed shoes and socks to the children.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Maitrey School, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017, Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche also kindly spent time at the Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic uplifting the patients with his sage advice and distributing funds and blankets to children with cerebral palsy. The staff of Root Institute, Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic, and Tara Children’s Project were all privileged to listen to Rinpoche’s teachings and advice and to offer him khatas. Our resident geshe, Lharampa Geshe Rabga, and the students of Root Institute’s Basic Program were also fortunate to receive Rinpoche’s blessings and words of wisdom.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visits a patient at Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic, Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
We at Root Institute were blessed to receive a feast of teachings from Rinpoche each day for almost two weeks—on emptiness, on the importance of guru yoga, and on the bodhichitta motivation. Rinpoche stressed over and over again the importance of serving and benefiting others and working on eliminating the self-cherishing ego.
Rinpoche also kindly bestowed a Multicolored Garuda initiation, as well as two great initiations, the Great Chenrezig and Great Medicine Buddha initiations. Thanks to a request from two Nyingma monks, we also received the White Dzambhala oral transmission. Finally, at the request of our resident geshe, Rinpoche also gave the oral transmission of the seven-point mind training composed by Geshe Chekawa, along with a commentary. We were also fortunate to offer Rinpoche Lama Chöpa tsog on two occasions in our main gompa.
We truly rejoice from the bottom of our hearts for all that we received!
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Root Institute workers. Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) in Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Bill Kane.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited some of Buddhism’s most important holy sites in January 2017, including Bodhgaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment; Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first teaching; and the ruins of the ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda, where many of the great Buddhist teachers of the past studied, such as Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Chandrakirti, Shantideva, and Atisha. Nalanda is also considered to be the place of the birth and nirvana of Shariputra, a famous disciple of the Buddha.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche consecrating the new Kadampa stupa at Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo from Root Institute via Facebook.
In Bodhgaya, Rinpoche led students in circumambulating the Mahabodhi Stupa, marking the spot where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, and consecrated the very beautiful new Kadampa stupa in the Stupa Garden of Compassion at Root Institute for Wisdom Culture.
On pilgrimage with Rinpoche, India, January 2017. Photo by Jane Seidlitz.
Rinpoche invited the Kopan monks and nuns, as well as Western students staying at Root Institute, to join him on pilgrimage. Tenzin Ösel Hita; the abbot of Kopan Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi; and Kopan’s umdze (chant leader) Geshe Sherab also went on the trip to Sarnath. Several busloads of lay students, monks, and nuns accompanied Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and others circumambulating Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
In Sarnath, Rinpoche led the group in circumambulating the massive Dhamek Stupa, which commemorates the Buddha having given his first teachings in the area. Rinpoche led prayers and a seven-limb practice there, and gave a short talk. He also was offered a long life puja by nuns and sponsors at Tara Temple in Sarnath, a project of Kopan Nunnery, and visited Alice Project, a school run by long-time FPMT student Valentino Giacomin.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the ruins of the ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda. In the background is the stupa of the Buddha’s disciple Shariputra. India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
While waiting for Rinpoche to arrive at Nalanda, several Kopan monks gave a demonstration of their debating skills—a very suitable pastime given that Nalanda was once a famous center for debating Buddhist philosophy.
Kopan monks debate near the ruins of the ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda, India, January 2017. Photo by Kunchok Gyaltsen.
At Nalanda, Rinpoche toured the extensive ruins and gave an oral transmission from The Panchen Lama’s Debate Between Wisdom and the Reifying Habit by the renowned first Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen (1570-1662). In addition to several hundred people receiving this, a large group of crows gathered in the trees above, seemingly to take in the transmission!
Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving an oral transmission from a Mahamudra text by Panchen Losang Chokyi Gyaltsen, Nalanda university, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Rinpoche recommends that students go on pilgrimage to Buddhist holy places, and has given the following advice:
“Pilgrimage needs faith. The more faith, the more happiness. Otherwise, you are just like a tourist looking at ruins … When you go to these holy places it reminds you of impermanence. Once these places were great cities but now there are just stones. A thousand years ago these places were quite different. But even though there are just stones now these stones are so precious. Amazing. Can you imagine how blessed these places are? They are places where the Buddha was … So do different lam-rim prayers at these holy places and make prayers to have realizations. At the beginning do prostrations. You can recite the preliminary prayers that we do traditionally at Kopan Monastery, which include prostrations by reciting Buddha’s name. Then do the seven-limb practice. Then recite the different praises to Buddha and lam-rim prayers. If you have time, you can carry the story of the holy places with you and read that story to the people who are doing pilgrimage in the different places. If you are going on pilgrimage, read a book describing the holy places. Read about what the Buddha did in those places … “
Mahabodhi stupa, Bodhgaya, India, February 2017. Photo Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Get the FPMT Retreat Prayer Book, containing many prayers for retreat, daily practices, and pilgrimage from the Foundation Store and support FPMT International Office:
https://shop.fpmt.org/FPMT-Retreat-Prayer-Book-PDF-_p_1371.html.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving a Great Chenrezig initiation, Bodhgaya, India, February 1, 2017. Photo from Root Institute for Wisdom Culture via Facebook.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been in Bodhgaya, India, since late December, attending the Kalachakra initiation offered by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and himself offering teachings and initiations, as well as going on pilgrimage to many of Buddhism’s holiest sites, meeting with students and other lamas, and visiting FPMT social projects: Maitreya School, Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic, and MAITRI Charitable Trust.
During the last few days of January and the first few days of February, Rinpoche gave teachings at Root Institute for Wisdom Culture and offered students a Great Chenrezig initiation and a Great Medicine Buddha initiation.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche preparing to prostrate prior to giving a Great Chenrezig initiation, Bodhgaya, India, February 1, 2017. Photo from Root Institute of Wisdom Culture via Facebook.
Rinpoche has also met with people in Bodhgaya, including His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, the supreme head of the Khon Sakya lineage and one of Rinpoche’s gurus.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting with His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, Bodhgaya, India, February 2017. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche also spent time with catching up with actor Richard Gere and visiting holy sites in Bodhgaya with him.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Richard Gere share a laugh, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is 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.