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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in front of the 169-foot (52-meter) Buddha statue, Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On June 1, 2016, Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Ven. Roger Kunsang, CEO of FPMT, Inc. and Rinpoche’s assistant, described the trip:
“On a mountain above Thimphu is an extraordinary 169-foot (52-meter) statue of Buddha Shakyamuni called Buddha Dordenma. We were fortunate to be traveling with someone who was very much involved in the building of the statue and who had made arrangements for Rinpoche to enter inside the base of the statue, where there is a beautiful gompa, and to meet the head monks and project director.
“Rinpoche led a very extensive seven-limb practice in front of the statue, spending a lot of time on rejoicing in those who had the idea to build the statue, the benefactors, and those who actually built it.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing prayers in front of Buddha statue in Thimbu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
The Buddha Dordenma statue in Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche touring the inside of the Buddha Dordenma statue, Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“Later in the day, Rinpoche went to Tashichö Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and castle reconstructed in 1641 and reestablished as the main seat of the Druk Desi (the secular rulers of Bhutan) and the summer residence of the monastic body headed by the Je Khenpo. It also houses the office of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, the cabinet and the council of ministers. The monastic system and religious institutions run alongside the government, as it was once in Tibet, when Dharma and the political system were fully integrated.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting Tashichö Dzong with Geshe Tenzin Khenrab and students, Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Abbott Lopen Sangay Dorji at Tashichö Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
“Rinpoche was given a tour of Tashichö Dzong, which has over 30 temples. There are some very important and old gompas inside Tashichö Dzong. While in Tashichö Dzong, Rinpoche met the Chief Abbott Khenpo, one of the five lopons (religious scholars and ministers) under the 70th Je Khenpo.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Tashichö Dzong with Geshe Tenzin Khenrab and students, Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
“After that, Rinpoche went to the oldest monastery in Bhutan, Simtokha Dzong, built in 1629. When Rinpoche arrived, the monks were actually doing a puja for Rinpoche that had been sponsored by one student.
“Rinpoche offered pearl necklaces to a number of the very old and important statues in the gompa with prayers. Then, he recited ‘In Praise of Dependent Origination’ by Lama Tsongkhapa and protector prayers in front of the altar for the protectors.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting Simtokha Dzong with Geshe Tenzin Khenrab and Ven. Thubten Tendar, Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Simtokha Dzong at night, Thimphu, Bhutan, June 2016. 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 listening to Khenpo Phuntsok Tashi as he describes the details of the holy site Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
On the May 28, Rinpoche visited Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, a Buddhist stupa-shaped temple in Western Bhutan between Paro and Dopchari valleys, built by Thangtong Gyalpo in 1421 (or 1433 depending on the source) to counteract malevolent spirits.
Thangtong Gyalpo (1385–1464), according to a protection image recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in May 2016 to mitigate the effects of earthquakes, “built in his lifetime 58 iron bridges, 60 wooden bridges, 118 ferries, 120 assembly halls and temples, 111 stupas and many hundreds of large and small statues and innumberable paintings. Also a few life time’s ago he was Guru Shakyamuni Buddha.” Thangtong Gyalpo (also known at Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo) is famous for completing civil engineering projects not only in Bhutan, but also in Tibet.
Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
According to Wikipedia, “In 1433, Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo and his disciples traveled to Pagri in the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, and from there to Paro Taktsang in Bhutan. According to his biography, while performing rituals of Vajrakilaya there, he had a vision of the assembly of the Eight Classes of Heruka (Wylie: sgrub pa bka’ brgyad) meditational deities with Vajrakumara as the central figure.
“It is said that a nine-headed naga spirit, who was the guardian of the sacred place of Paro Taktsang, declared ‘your religious inheritance was concealed here by Ogyen Rinpoche, please make your discovery and reveal it.’ Thereupon Drubchen Thangtong Gyalpo extracted a sacred scroll ten body lengths long from the cliff of Taktsang.
Inside Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, Khenpo Phuntsok Tashi shows Lama Zopa Rinpoche sacred objects, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“The line of mountains where Taktsang is located is shaped like a black snake with its head in the middle of the Paro valley. On the nose of this snake the Drubthob constructed Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, a stupa-shaped temple and pronounced that all diseases caused by evil spirits residing under the ground were suppressed and that the valley would be free from leprosy.”
Rinpoche climbed up the three levels inside the building on very steep ladders in darkness. On each level, the walls are covered in paintings of deities, and on the top level is a statue of Milarepa that is said to have miraculously spoken. Rinpoche spent time doing prayers and making offerings in front of all the statues for the benefit of all beings.
Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
On May 31, Lama Zopa Rinpoche made a special pilgrimage to Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest), a very special temple complex associated with Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) on the steep cliffsides of the upper Paro valley. According to legend, in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress (sometimes considered to be the magically transformed yogini Yeshe Tsogyal) to Taktsang Senge Samdup cave and meditated there for just over three years to subdue obstructive forces and bless the environment.
Many notable practitioners are said to have visited the cave, including Milarepa, the Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön and Thangton Gyalpo. In 1692, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye built a temple complex at the site.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in a palanquin, beginning the pilgrimage to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Twelve men divided into two rotating teams carried the palanquin Lama Zopa Rinpoche needed to make the three-hour journey to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
“Rinpoche had to be carried in a palanquin due to the steep and very long climb from 7,900 feet [200 meters] to 10,800 feet [274 meters], a three hours’ walk one way,” said Ven. Roger Kunsang, Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT, Inc. “We had to make arrangements for a group of 12 strong Bhutanese men to come from Thimbu to Paro to help carry the palanquin. A group of six would carry it and then they would change places every 15 to 20 minutes. The climb was very steep and very difficult in some places, with just a narrow dirt trail most of the way. Sometimes the palanquin would be at more than a 45 degree angle. But, the Bhutanese men were very enthusiastic and joyful in carrying Rinpoche. Rinpoche chanted different mantras and prayers much of the time, blessing the people carrying him and others around. In total, there was about 30 to 35 people in our group.
On the trail to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, pray wheel houses such as these utilize the stream’s current to help the wheels continually spin, blessing the water and surrounding environment, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“More than half way, we arrived at a small tea shop built on the edge of the cliff. There was a small room with a view of Tiger’s Nest across the valley. It was a tsog day so Rinpoche offered Most Secret Hayagriva tsog for about two hours. We had a quick lunch during which a number of Bhutanese gathered around Rinpoche for blessings. Rinpoche blessed a lot of water for them to take back to their homes.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and entourage stop for a short break along the trail to Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It had just started to rain, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche stopped two-thirds of the way to have lunch and to perform a puja in a tea house with a view of Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In a small tea house, Lama Zopa Rinpoche performed a Most Secret Hayagriva tsog in view of Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“It took a further 90 minutes up a steep climb to arrive on the cliff opposite Tiger’s Nest Monastery. By this time, it was getting late. The light was disappearing, rain was coming and Rinpoche felt it was too difficult to complete the last part of the journey to the cave, which he would have had to walk to himself without the palanquin due to the steep and narrow stairs. Instead, Rinpoche did extensive prayers from a place directly opposite the monastery. While doing prayers, a few people went off to make the last part of the pilgrimage to the actual cave and monastery.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe Tenzin Khenrab, the men who helped carry Rinpoche’s palanquin, and others in front of Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
“After this, we made our way as fast as we could down the mountain as it was now raining and the dirt path was getting more and more slippery and dangerous. It took about two hours to come down and we were very fortunate that nobody slipped and fell! Rinpoche chanted mantras and prayers all the way down.
“When we reached the bottom we were greeted by many Bhutanese who had gathered there to greet Rinpoche with tea and cheese momos. They had also quickly erected a tent to keep off the rain.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrives back at the trailhead after three hours in the rain with the assistance of generous volunteers, Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Several local Bhutanese came to greet Lama Zopa Rinpoche when he returned from attempting to visit Taktsang Senge Samdup cave, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
“When everyone arrived and settled and had tea, Rinpoche was so very grateful to those who had carried him that he gave them more blessings, holy objects and a short teaching on the three principles of the path.
“Rinpoche plans to visit one more time while in Bhutan to actually compete the journey and visit the cave of Guru Rinpoche.”
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.
Medicine Buddha statue at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, USA.
When Lama Zopa Rinpoche heard about the June 12 attack on a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, USA, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 50 people and injuries to at least 50 more, he began offering prayers immediately.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche always advises to make strong prayers to Medicine Buddha for anyone who is dying, sick, injured or has already passed away. These prayers can also be dedicated to anyone who needs protection, support, strength and love.
The short mantra of Medicine Buddha is recited as:
TADYATHA OM BHAISHAJAYE BHAISHAJAYE MAHA BHAISHAJAYE [BHAISHAJAYE] RAJA SAMUDGATE SVAHA
With full trust in Medicine Buddha, recite this mantra and know that Medicine Buddha will completely take care of you and heal you and whomever you name in your dedications. With full trust know that Medicine Buddha is always with you, in your heart, on your crown, in front of you. There is not one second that Medicine Buddha does not see you or have compassion toward you and all beings.
We offer all of our prayers to everyone killed, injured, and traumatized in this tragedy, the friends and family members, and to all beings affected.
FPMT Education Services has compiled some resources for students around the world who either suffer from physical or mental obstacles to their health or want to help others facing these challenges.
- Medicine Buddha Puja
- Medicine Buddha Sadhana (short)
- Medicine Buddha Mantras
- Benefits of Medicine Buddha Mantra and Practice by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
- More Medicine Buddha resources can be found on the FPMT Foundation Store.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught on having compassion for others, even those who harm us. This can be extremely hard to do because the wish to harm back and express anger at those who commit wrongdoing can be very strong. But as we area able, cultivating compassion toward all involved, including the person responsible, brings the most benefit to our own minds and the entire situation.
More Medicine Buddha resources can be found on the FPMT Foundation Store.
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 doing naga torma puja by the river, Taiwan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In May 2016, Lama Zopa Rinpoche made a private visit to Taiwan. While there, Rinpoche found plenty of time to benefit others. Rinpoche, with the assistance of Sangha members, preformed naga torma puja near the river next to Shakyamuni Center where he stayed. The puja is meant to benefit the beings in the immediate area and the entire country.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing naga torma puja by the river, Taiwan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Over his short stay, Rinpoche converted the rooftop veranda where he was staying into a beautiful practice space for circumambulation. A table with a large main stupa and many tsa-tsas was set up and Rinpoche went out a few times to shop for offerings, including potted flowers and trees. Rinpoche circumambulated the table a few times each day.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche shopping for flowers, Taiwan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche circumambulates rooftop veranda altar at night, Taiwan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Also, Rinpoche found time to meet with the board of FPMT Taiwan before departing for Bhutan.
Rinpoche meets with board of FPMT Taiwan, May 2016. 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 and Khadro-la enjoying lunch together on Rinpoche’s first day in Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In May, Lama Zopa Rinpoche traveled to Bhutan, a Buddhist country located in the Eastern Himalayas. On his first day there, he was joined by Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) and they had lunch and visited the holy temple of Kyichu Lhakhang, in the Paro district of the Bhutan. “The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, originally built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsän Gampo. It is considered to be one of the four border taming temples he built. In the 8th century the temple was visited by Padmasambhava and it is believed he concealed many spiritual treasures here,” according to Wikipedia.
Rinpoche and Khadro-la offered butter lamps, did tsog offering in the temple and gave blessings to people during their visit to Kyichu Lhakhang.
Khadro-la and Rinpoche blessing people with texts at Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Rinpoche and Khadro-la offering a butter lamp at Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche and Khadro-la doing tsog at Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche and Khado-la offering butter lamps at Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Prayer wheels at Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche and Khadro-la at Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Outside Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, May 2016. 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with attendant Ven. Sangpo Sherpa at Maitreya Instituut Loenen, July 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
While Lama Zopa Rinpoche was at Maitreya Instituut Loenen in July 2015, he gave a short impromptu talk during lunch on offerings. Rinpoche talked about the incredible merit that one can collect making offering to different beings from parents up to numberless buddhas and gurus.
“If you offer to one bodhisattva who has generated bodhichitta, you collect … [much, much] … more merit than offering to numberless arhats,” Rinpoche explained, while making one of his trademark gestures for incredibly huge amounts of merit.
“If you look at a bodhisattva, you look with a calm, devotional mind, you make more merit than giving your eyes to three realms sentient beings. … Why? Because having generated bodhichitta and completely abandoned self-cherishing, they cherish numberless sentient beings, numberless animals, numberless sentient beings in the ocean, on the ground, in the grass, the sky, the trees, numberless hell beings, numberless pretas, numberless humans, numberless suras and asuras. They cherish everyone – no one is left out.”
Watch the video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche talking about making offerings on YouTube.
You can find this video and more video clips of Rinpoche on FPMT.org at:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/videos-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/
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 the assistance of Osel Dorje Rinpoche, departing from Maratika Caves, Nepal, Febraury 2016. Osel Dorje Rinpoche is a famous Nyingma lama and teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On May 2, Ven. Roger Kunsang shared on his Twitter page this very brief teaching from Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
Lama Zopa ; quoting HHDL [His Holiness the Dalai Lama] … If you follow delusion only suffering follows, if you follow the good heart only happiness follows.
Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc., shares Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pith sayings on Ven. Roger’s Twitter page.
Video recordings from Rinpoche’s recent teaching tour in Southeast Asia are now freely available on FPMT.org’s “Rinpoche Available Now” page:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to receive FPMT News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing rabbits at Sera Je Monastery, India, January 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
While staying at Osel Labrang at Sera Je Monastery in January 2016, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave blessings to the rabbits there.
You can watch a video of the blessings on FPMT.org’s “Lama Zopa Rinpoche Videos” page, where short videos of Rinpoche teaching and giving blessings are collected and shared:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/videos-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage on FPMT.org. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT via email, sign up to FPMT News.
“Lama Zopa Rinpoche enjoying a very funny moment!” May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang via Twitter.
On May 20, Ven. Roger Kunsang shared on his Twitter page this very brief teaching from Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
Rinpoche was asked “what does rest mean to you?” Rinpoche replied “abiding in virtue!”
Video recordings from Rinpoche’s recent teaching tour in Southeast Asia now freely available on FPMT.org’s “Rinpoche Available Now” page:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/
Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc., shares Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pith sayings on Ven. Roger’s Twitter page.
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to receive FPMT News.
The Thang Thong Gyalpo protection PDF can be downloaded and printed.
“Rinpoche uses the example of a place in Solu Khumbu where all the houses were destroyed after the April 2015 earthquake except one house that had this protection on the walls,” Ven. Holly Ansett said about the protection. “Rinpoche has all the FPMT centers in Nepal displaying it.”
In related news, the website Pacifyearthquakes.org announced on May 17 that 1.6 million of the 1.8 million recitations of the Kshitigarbha long mantra have been accumulated to pacify earthquakes in California and around the world. Based on specific advice from Rinpoche, California Bay Area FPMT centers organized an effort to fulfill Rinpoche’s advice, which also included Tengyur recitations, Medicine Buddha pujas and eight Mahayana precepts accumulations. Students are still invited to recite the Kshitigarbha long mantra and contribute to the mantra count.
For more advice from Rinpoche on this topic, please see the page “Tsunami and Earthquakes”:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/tsunami-and-earthquakes/
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage on FPMT.org. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT via email, sign up to FPMT News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Mahayana Buddhist Association, Hong Kong, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On May 16, Ven. Roger Kunsang shared on his Twitter page this brief teaching from Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
“Lama Zopa; the real holiday is keeping the mind free of the eight worldly dharmas.”
Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc., shares Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pith sayings on Ven. Roger’s Twitter page.
Video recordings from Rinpoche’s recent teachings at Mahayana Buddhist Association (Cham Tse Ling) in Hong Kong have just been added to the “Rinpoche Available Now” page on FPMT.org:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to receive FPMT News