Lama Zopa Rinpoche departing from Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 4, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

After completing the Most Secret Hayagriva initiation late at night on May 3, Lama Zopa Rinpoche departed from Kopan Monastery in Nepal on May 4 to begin a worldwide teaching tour. Rinpoche travels first to New Zealand’s Mahamudra Centre, where he is scheduled to teach May 9-10.

The Most Secret Hayagriva initiation at Kopan Monastery had been scheduled for April 27-30. Even after the devastating earthquake of April 25, Rinpoche decided to offer the initiation, which was given in the main gompa at Kopan Monastery, beginning on the evening of May 2. 

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi offering the mandala to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the beginning of the Most Secret Hayagriva initiation, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2, 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Kopan Monastery monks continue to lead emergency relief efforts, going out to offer aid packages to people in villages outside of Kathmandu. They are coordinating their efforts with Losang Namgyal Rinpoche‘s organization and together hundreds of families are receiving emergency aid in a direct and organized way.

On May 1, the first shipment of aid arrived in Thame, the birthplace of Lama Zopa Rinpoche located near Lawudo Gompa in the remote Solu Khumbu district. Five Kopan monks traveled with the supplies, which were flown to Lukla and then helicoptered to Thame. The monks helped organize the distribution of tents for 190 families. Most structures in the area received significant damage making them uninhabitable. 

Emergency relief supplies arriving in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal. May 1, 2015. Photo courtesy of Tara Melwani on Facebook.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered US$50,000 through FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund for emergency relief in Thame. Cherok Lama Sherpa, who is also from the area, is raising money and contributing to this relief effort as well. A second shipment of food is being organized and will be delivered as soon as possible. Cherok Lama Sherpa will be arriving in the area this week to personally offer help and view the destruction.

Relief supplies being distributed in Thame, Nepal, May 1, 2015. Photo courtesy of Tara Melwani on Facebook.

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: 
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

More frequent updates and news can be found on FPMT’s Facebook 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 Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Kopan Monastery monks preparing for more emergency relief work, Nepal, May 1, 2015

As the shaking of the ground in Nepal tapers off and electricity returns to Kathmandu, relief efforts have been moving forward. Ven. Roger Kunsang shared that the first aid shipment to Thame arrived on May 1.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered US$50,000 in initial emergency aid through FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to help families in the Thame area. Thame, located near Lawudo in Solu Khumbu, is Rinpoche’s place of birth and nearly all buildings there were destroyed by the earthquake. (You can find photos of the destruction here.) The location is remote and difficult to reach.

Rinpoche’s brother Sangay Sherpa, who directs the Lawudo Gompa and Retreat Centre, and Ven. Nyima Tashi primarily organized the effort. The first shipment, which included tent material for more than 190 families, was flown to Lukla and then helicoptered to Thame. It arrived safely along with five Kopan monks to help manage the distribution. The flight to Lukla was sponsored by Goma Air. Charok Lama Sherpa, who is a 22-year-old rinpoche studying at Sera Monastery, is also from the area and helping sponsor the relief. He will be traveling to the area next week and will personally oversee the relief activities.

The next shipment to go up is for food supplies for one month for all 190 families. Food will take longer to get up there. Ven. Roger said, “gathering materials and food is very difficult as there are shortages.”

The monks from Kopan Monastery have been very active distributing food and water locally and in the areas around Kathmandu. Some of the young monks got involved, donating their blankets to earthquake victims, according to Ven. Thubten Jinpa. 

Young Kopan monks donating blankets to earthquake victims, Nepal, May 1

“Kopan monks are going to one of the hardest hit places tomorrow,” Ven. Roger said. “It is one day’s drive to get there and back, they are delivering food, blankets and clothing.” Kopan Monastery described some of their relief work from today on Facebook:

“We loaded more than 100 sacks of rice, dal, salt and oil and went to distribute in Chapagaon, ward 7 [a village south of Kathmandu]. Meanwhile another group was set up for cleaning. There’s fear of the spread of disease, which often happens after earthquakes. We cleaned the most affected area of Kopan village.

“We witnessed that normality among the people came much better than other days. Shops are opened, restaurants are opening, normal life is returning slowly in the valley. We know there are still many places outside the valley where people need lots of helps, especially around the Sindupalchok district, where more than 1,800 are dead and around 3,000 missing.

“Still it is a little confusing about what really they need. Tents are for sure, because those people whose homes got affected need to stay outside till they get recovered. Maybe they may need food and blankets. So, we’re looking forward to prepare those things as much as we can and will head tomorrow to those areas. We decided to send two groups, one to the Sindupalchok and other one to Rasuwa.”

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche with workers from the Namgyal Rinpoche Foundation and aid to be delivered to Tamang communities, Kathmandu, Nepal

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, a Kopan monk and a lama for the Tamang people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Nepal, has for several years been doing work through the Namgyal Rinpoche Foundation in remote areas, building schools and creating stupas. (This work has been supported in part by Lama Zopa Rinpoche through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.) Their teams are now very active in relief efforts, sending aid to different parts, including as many remote districts as they are able to get to. The Tamang, who are Buddhist, may have experienced devastating losses from the earthquake as they live in very remote mountainous areas and are often very poor. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is also going to help Losang Namgyal Rinpoche with supplies for Tamang people. Losang Namgyal Rinpoche shared on Facebook on May 1 a short report on the situation:

“Now we receive requests for supplies from many villages, but we are still unable to help. Only some has been benefited. We try our best to help all. We are here for long-term helping, so there are many things we have to be aware of as there are terms and conditions from the government. We will continue to assist no matter what. We cannot give out all, it has to be organized. Many are receiving help already. It can three months at least to know the all the casualties. After that, it take from a year to 7 years to complete, so long way to go. ….”

Kopan monks moving feed for the animals at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Kathmandu, Nepal

Phil Hunt, a coordinator of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, which is a project of Kopan Monastery, has been sharing his reports on the work being done to look after animals in the wake of the earthquake on his news blog for Tree of Compassion. The animals at the sanctuary came through the earthquake without injury and have the supplies and care they need. Phil and sanctuary manager Pema have been offering assistance as they can to animals throughout the area.

“We had a request to visit the Bhaktapur area where there was extensive damage from the earthquake,” Phil wrote. “Local vet Dr. Pranav had been virtually sleepless dealing with the many animals in distress. His staff had to all go home to help their families. Half a dozen cows with deep lacerations and injuries were treated and some others died. A festival was imminent meaning many people had goats with them to slaughter. He rescued one from the seventh floor of a severely damaged building at great risk. He has had to stop this kind of rescue as damaged buildings are still coming down due to the rain.

“We gave him what medical supplies we could spare and will work to resupply him and support his valuable work in the area. Once the immediate area has been searched and dealt with, we will join in patrols of nearby villages where there has been no veterinary/animal care support at all.”

At the end of the day, Rinpoche teaches and leads prayers at Kopan. And most still retire to sleep in tents and shelters outside.

Kopan monks delivering aid

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: 
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

You can receive an email daily digest of news from FPMT.org, including our updates from Nepal, by signing up at this address:
https://fpmt.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97e3ebb09472d09e0e699efd3&id=b248a1a45e

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 Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Kopan monks delivering supplies to families in need in the Kathmandu area, Nepal, 30 April 2015. Photo courtesy Kopan Apso on Facebook.

30 April 2015, 10 p.m. Kathmandu time

From Ven. Roger:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teaching was in the gompa due to the rain. Rinpoche taught that the earthquake fear is similar to what we create in Chöd, and that the earthquake came from karma and from our self-cherishing mind. Rinpoche also taught, when someone gets angry at us, we should think this is from our self-cherishing attitude, otherwise we put the blame outside on others; whatever bad things happen to us we should put the blame on our self-cherishing attitude, instead of pointing the finger outside at others. Usually we make friends with our self-grasping and self-cherishing mind and it becomes very hard like stone, Rinpoche said. The three jewels come from sentient beings, all the Buddha came from all the sentient beings.

We are sleeping outside in tents, according to Rinpoche’s observation that this is safer. Day seems OK, but at night, there is still some danger of another aftershock. You still feel minor aftershocks and many people are still nervous. Some shops started to open today which is good because people can buy food.

We received reports and photos from Lawudo Gompa and Retreat Centre today that the quake did do some major damage to the retreat cabins, library and dining area.

Kopan monks loading supplies on to truck for distribution, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 30, 2015. Photo courtesy of Kopan Apso Facebook page.

Kopan monks delivered rice and some essentials to local hospitals there were running out of food. [You can read more about the monks tireless work on FPMT.org.]

We have a plane leaving tomorrow loaded with tent material for Thame. Then we have rented a big Russian helicopter to bring food up to Thame. But it’s in a queue, so the helicopter cannot go immediately — there is quite a delay.

Rinpoche is right now doing the Eight Prayers to Benefit the Dead [which you can find on FPMT.org] with the Kopan monks. Every evening Rinpoche with monks do prayers for the dead and sick and injured

Ganden Yiga Chozing Buddhist Meditation Centre, the FPMT center in Pokhara, Nepal, is the only FPMT center or project in Nepal to not receive any damage. All others have serious damage.

Our Nepal Earthquake Support Fund will be used to assist with rebuilding as well as helping with initial emergency needs. Thank you everyone for your kind donations so far to the fund! We are already using it with the US$50,000 of aid going to Thame.  You can make a donation at: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/ 

Some of the supplies Charok Lama is coordinating for relief efforts in Solu Khumu, Nepal

Rinpoche, through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, has also offered $30,000 to Charok Lama Sherpa, who is coordinating another $50,000 of aid to be taken up to the Solu Khumbu region close to Lawudo. Charok Lama is also from this area and will be traveling soon from Sera Je Monastery in India, where he is studying, to Nepal.

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: 
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

You can receive an email daily digest of news from FPMT.org, including our updates from Nepal, by signing up at this address:
https://fpmt.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97e3ebb09472d09e0e699efd3&id=b248a1a45e

More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found onRinpoche’s webpage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Sangey Sherpa, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s brother and director of Lawudo Gompa and Retreat Centre, and Ven. Nyima Tashi with supplies that are being flown up to Thame, which is near Lawudo in the Solu Khumbu district, Kathmandu, Nepal, April 29, 2015

29 April 2015, 1 p.m. Kathmandu

From Ven. Roger Kunsang:

Emergency relief volunteers, some will be traveling to Thame with food and shelter for families there, Kopan Monastery, April 29, 2015. Photo by Tara Melwani.

So many people have been affected and many seriously. It’s an impossible job to help everyone at the same time.

The government with the support of many overseas and local organizations are prioritizing the worst-affected areas with what resources are available. One of the key issues is the remoteness and high altitude of many of the areas … and being cut off by landslides.

Rinpoche is focusing on Thame, his birthplace [near Lawudo Gompa in the Solu Khumbu district], and some of the other nearby areas to Lawudo, which is Rinpoche’s “local community,” so to speak.

In this area, there are about 100 families (our estimate so far, telephones are not working as yet, so communication is very difficult up there and still also hard in Kathmandu valley) who have lost their homes, and a few have been killed. They are living under plastic sheets huddled together as it is very cold and wet. There are still a few house standing, but people are too scared to go into them in case there is an aftershock. Food is running out.

Today we are organizing 100 food and shelter packages (basic food and a tent for each family). Each package is US$500, so a total of $50,000. This money is the first disbursement from FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.

Thank you for everyone’s support thus far. There is definitely more assistance required. So if you can help, it is greatly needed. And we are now able to directly offer immediate help.

We hope we can get a helicopter (all are commandeered by the government) to make several trips up to Thame, which is remote and at about 4,000 meters [13,100 feet]. This will help them get through the initial stage until, we hope, the bigger agencies and governments arrive with aid.

Kopan emergency relief volunteers, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 29, 2015. Photo by Tara Melwani.

Most of the Kopan monks and nuns are now out helping in the affected areas, especially trying to get water and basic food to people. Some of the Westerners who are staying here are with them helping. The monks and nuns at Kopan are often from remote areas and some are trying to get back to help the older people. A lot of remote areas just have older people living there as the young come into Kathmandu to find work or go overseas for work.

Some of the supplies going to Thame

There has been a lot of confusion and it’s very disorganized. That will improve. In the meantime, lives are lost and others are in need or hurt badly. Especially in difficult to reach mountainous regions, it’s really bad.

In the evenings Rinpoche with the Sangha are doing many prayers and pujas for those who have died and hurt as well as pujas to prevent further aftershocks.

One of the difficulties is getting people back to work. People are too scared to go into buildings in case there are more aftershocks. Shops don’t open and people can’t buy food and other necessities. Or the workers have left to help their families in outlying areas. Still soon they will be forced to open as people mostly live day to day. They have to work to buy food. Still many are living in tents in open areas.

People really got scared due to how violent the main two earthquakes were. Most people who died or were seriously hurt were killed or injured due to badly built buildings or very old buildings collapsing on them. I had a wall collapse on me while having a meeting. And I was lucky to receive just minor cuts and bruises, nothing really compared to many others.

Kopan Monastery and Nunnery have suffered a lot of damage. The engineers will come soon and let us know the extent and seriousness of the damage.

Today Rinpoche is moving back into the main monastery building. Hopefully that means no more serious aftershocks. And overhead there is the constant sound of helicopters shuttling back and forth with injured people or supplies. It’s constant as there are smaller light aircraft doing the same.

Monks receiving donations at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 29, 2015

A collapsed house in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Jimmy Grant.

Jimmy Grant visited Thame not long after the earthquake. Here is his eyewitness account of the area, shared in an email to his father:

Yesterday [April 28, 2015], I went to visit Thame, in the hope of contacting you and spending some time at the lodge. I was absolutely heartbroken by what I saw and what’s worse is that Thame, from what I have seen, has yet to receive any assistance from anyone. I started talking to a young boy named Mingma, who took me to his house. You can see him in one of the pictures attached. I also met the little girl you can see in another picture near her home. The lodge is still standing, but has some serious damage. I wouldn’t stand inside of it, that’s for sure. Oh and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s house is pretty well completely gone.

Young girl stands next to a collapsed home in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Jimmy Grant.

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: 
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

You can receive an email daily digest of news from FPMT.org, including our updates from Nepal, by signing up at this address:
https://fpmt.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97e3ebb09472d09e0e699efd3&id=b248a1a45e

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 Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in garden at Kopan Monastery on the day after the earthquake, Nepal, April 25, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

Phil Hunt, coordinator for the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, a project of Kopan Monastery, was enroute to Nepal when the earthquake struck on Saturday, April 25. He arrived safely in Kathmandu on Sunday, April 26, and traveled up to Kopan Monastery. 

“At Kopan Monastery the monks and international visitors were outside, most gathered at the open stupa garden in a mini tent city,” Phil wrote for the organization Tree of Compassion. “Damage was minimal but several of the older buildings had some serious cracking and slipping and were no-go areas.

“I found Pema the Animal Liberation Sanctuary manager and he confirmed our earlier email notification that the animals were fine and the structures unharmed. I visited the cows, who had just started to come into the shed, including Kalden, the calf who we rescued from the street in January and who had a most amazing recovery from terrible wounds after being attacked by dogs.

“I put my bags away and found a place in a tent for the night ahead. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the founder and spiritual director of the monastery and the international Buddhist organization FPMT, not to mention the rescuer of the majority of the animals at the ALS, was sitting on a chair under a tree talking to visitors and later gave a teaching. …”

Phil shared a short video of Rinpoche and the enlightenment garden at Kopan on the day after the earthquake on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/A1tus0YZdwQ

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: 
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

You can receive an email daily digest of news from FPMT.org, including our updates from Nepal, by signing up at this address:
https://fpmt.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97e3ebb09472d09e0e699efd3&id=b248a1a45e

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 Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in Kopan Monastery’s main gompa, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

28 April 2015, 9 p.m. Kathmandu time

From Ven. Roger Kunsang:

Services have started to come back. Kopan just got electricity and internet just now.

Rinpoche taught this afternoon, but still no initiation. Rinpoche taught mostly on emptiness and how earthquakes and Chöd are similar– they raise fear and you can use that. Rinpoche also taught, “The earthquake came from one’s own self-cherishing mind. … So take all the blame and put it on one’s own self-cherishing. … Don’t blame outside, don’t point the finger outside to others.”

Rinpoche is keen to help Thame, the town where he was born [near Mount Everest in the Solu Khumbu region], in particular, two families he has connections with. And so he sent US$3,500 for both families to help them with a tent and food. Through a lama there who does all the pujas for the dead of the poor families, we are trying to identify the families who now need help with food and tents. (Nobody wants to stay inside buildings.) We are going to try and focus on helping poor families in the area who have lost their homes. [FPMT International Office has established the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to support these efforts.]

Still people are camped out and won’t go into their homes, if still standing. They are too scared another tremor will come. People were really freaked out with the big aftershock quakes and their effects.

I’m inside while writing this and am ready to run if tremors happen. That’s happened a few times and quite freaky as the building really shakes and trembles! And we really don’t know if the building will come down or not!

Lots of commercial flights coming in now to the airport, so I think things should be more settled by the time we need to leave. [Rinpoche’s teaching tour begins in New Zealand next week.]

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in the gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

Damage to Chenrezig gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015

From Ani Fran, who works as a manager at Kopan Monastery:

The damage is heartbreaking [at Kopan], especially the Chenrezig gompa. It is possible it will have to be pulled down and rebuilt. 

But we are so lucky that Rinpoche is here, camping out with everybody else. Can you believe it!

Damage to Chenrezig gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Roger Kunsang in the enlightenment garden at Kopan Monastery, where they have been camped out, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Ueli Minder.

Light offerings at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

28 April 2015, 8 p.m. Kathmandu time

From Kopan Monastery staff:

Updated from day two, mid-day (yesterday)

As on the first day, we saw all the people either on the road or in open places. Most of them are staying under tents that are not waterproof. Most of them are asking for waterproof tents rather than for food and water. The government announced the distribution of tents, but they are still stuck somewhere, and foreign aid tents have not yet arrived. For the time being, food, water and medicine seem OK in the valley. The most relieving thing is that some people started to open their shops so that people can buy whatever they need.

We found some Red Cross rescue teams that are patrolling around. We met the team officer and introduced ourselves as volunteers from Kopan Monastery. They looked so tired but became so excited to hear about our help. We gave them our contact number and told them to call us any time for any help. While we were waiting for others to report at Kopan, Lama Zopa Rinpoche began to give pre-initiation teachings to monks and guests.

Kopan monks involved in emergency relief, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015

After dinner all of us (monks and laypeople) gathered at Ri-gyab to pray for those people who died in this tragedy. Another aftershock came during the puja. Later we found out that it was a 4.5 magnitude earthquake. However, we concluded the session with extensive dedication prayers around 10:30 p.m. Finally, we are learning that the most affected areas are outside the valley, where people can’t get to easily. In these areas, the best help can be provided only with helicopters.

---

 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche accepting body, speech and mind mandala offering from Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, abbot of Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

27 April 2015, midnight Kathmandu time

From Ven. Sarah Thresher:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught yesterday afternoon in the Enlightenment Garden at Kopan. He gave the oral transmission of Daily Meditation. This evening, prayers and light offerings were made for those who have died and all sentient beings. At this time there is so much that is needed in this devastated country. Right now what the monastery can best do is pray for those who have died. There are still aftershocks and still monks and lamas sleeping outside. Kopan will slowly run out of food and water, so they are canceling the next course. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches from under a tent in the Enlightenment Garden at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

VIDEO: Drone Films Bird’s-Eye View of Nepal Quake Devastation from NBCNews.com 

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

Looking down at Kopan Nunnery after the earthquake, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Sangpo Sherpa.

27 April 2015, 10 p.m. (Kathmandu time) 

From Ven.Roger Kunsang:

All at Kopan Monastery are spending the third night sleeping outside. Most people in the area are doing the same. People are very scared to sleep inside the houses as many homes are poorly constricted and damaged.

Today Rinpoche heard that half of the houses in Thame, which is Rinpoche’s birthplace in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal, have been completely destroyed. Rinpoche immediately offered to sponsor tents and food to help the people in Thame.

I have asked FPMT International Office to set up a Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. This fund will begin the task of supporting Kopan Monastery and Nunnery and other affected FPMT centers in the area with any initial emergency needs, and then later on, will offer ongoing support for rebuilding. We will also use these funds to help others, as in the example of Thame.

This evening Rinpoche did prayers for all those who have died or are injured with all the Sangha of Kopan. Rinpoche gave the motivation for Most Secret Hayagriva initiation and is planning to give the initiation tomorrow.

Thank you all for your support of prayers and offering support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.

27 April 2015, 8 p.m. (Kathmandu time) 

From Kopan Monastery staff: 

Nepal chaos by nature (Report from day one)

It’s the biggest tragedy from a powerful earthquake to happen in Nepal in 82 years. It was at 11:54 a.m., just after the lunch here at Kopan Monastery. Afterwards, we learned that it measured 7.9 magnitude, which is considered as very strong. It is officially report that more than two thousands people died within 3-4 hours from the initial quake. Fortunately, it hit during the daytime, otherwise the number of human casualties may be doubled.

Image from Kopan Monastery School Facebook page, Nepal, April 27 2015

At first there’s nothing much to do except stay away from the any building. All the monks moved back to Ri-gyab. Rinpoche started to pray along with monks, while we were looking around trying to find any casualties. We found that Chenrezig gompa and old guest room got pretty bad damages. All the staff members are busy sorting out problems. Tents were prepared for Rinpoche, monks and all the guests.

As soon as we came to know about the many tragedies that had happened in the city, we setup an Emergency Relief Team. The first thing that came into our minds to do was to donate blood. We went off to the Red Cross blood bank of Nepal to check. On the way, we witnessed on the roads and heard from the radio that many people were dead. 

At night, all the people across the city are camped either in the road or open places. There is no light. All the medium of communication are jammed. You can feel the fear from people’s faces. Hospitals are full of corpses. Helicopters are flying all over the city. The government announced to stay away from any tall buildings or the like. It was declared five days off for all the schools across the country. It’s so creepy to see the affected area. Many buildings got cracked. Some might go down if it shakes again. People across the country are scared and tense. The government announced relief teams are on the way and international teams are arriving.

Updates from Ven. Roger Kunsang at Kopan Monastery:

27 April 2015, 10am (Kathmandu time) Lama Zopa Rinpoche, all the Kopan monks and nuns (approximately 800) and about 25 foreigners who are at Kopan slept outside for a second night, tremors continued, many people piled in tents and outside, trying to keep dry from the rain. No one wants to stay inside the buildings while tremors are still happening. The situation is unclear, so we are conserving water and food.

Many of the 800 monks and nuns are very young (7-15 years old) so the older sangha are trying to look after them, help them not to be scared and try to answer their questions on why the earth moves.

Please continue to do prayers for all those affected. 

From Ven.Sarah Thresher: From shortly after the earthquake began the main center at Kopan has been the garden of enlightenment where the big stupas of Geshe lama Konchog and Lama lhundrup are built. Rinpoche has been living there, daytime and nighttime, leading prayers, teaching, greeting people who come up, keeping people relaxed and in a positive state of mind. The very first day Rinpoche told us there is no point being worried and afraid, we must pray. So we have been doing prayers to control the earthquake, prayers for the people who have died, prayers to destroy the self-cherishing and self-grasping minds from where the negative karma as arise that cause all the suffering. With Rinpoche always present and the two great stupas as well, it feels like we are in a tranquil oasis of calm protected by all the BUDDHAS.

Last night was cold and wet and many more people slept in the tents. I heard they could hear Rinpoche chanting mantras loudly all night for sentient beings, for all sentient beings. 

Tents around the stupa at Kopan Monastery

26 April 2015,  7pm (Kathmandu time) Lama Zopa Rinpoche and all the monks, nuns and students staying at Kopan are still sleeping outside (some in tents) as there continue to be aftershocks, some as big as 6.7.

There is still no internet, phone lines jammed and no electricity (although once a day generator at Kopan is turned on so phones can be charged). 

Rinpoche is well and has been in the Kopan garden all day doing prayers, right now doing the  King of Prayers dedicated for all those who have died in the earthquake.

Earlier today Rinpoche requested the monks and nuns to recite the Golden Light Sutra many times to prevent the continuing aftershocks and also the recitation of the Kangyur.

There is substantial damage to Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, a number of buildings are seriously damaged.

Ven.Sarah Thresher reports: The earthquake happened yesterday around lunchtime. It was Saturday and a holiday. Many people were gone. We were in the dining room when everything started to shake and most people ran out. In Rinpoche’s room there are many things and they were falling down. Rinpoche was sitting in the main room doing tonglen, taking the suffering of others and giving happiness. Rinpoche said this is the best practice, lojong, using whatever negative situation arises to destroy the self cherishing. After a while the attendants carried Rinpoche down to the stupa garden and everyone gathered around him. For hours Rinpoche led us in prayers. We did the prayers for earthquakes and we did tonglen. As we prayed the earth was shaking, sometimes quite strongly. Then Rinpoche began to teach and also give lungs for thought transformation practice. We were all so fortunate that Rinpoche, Osel and Khen Rinpoche were here along with the senior monks who took full control of the situation. Amongst the damage at Kopan is broken pipes. The internet also became very scarce and electricity off. We were fortunate we could get dinner and then many people slept outside. Rinpoche also was outside.
This morning again people were outside. The monks did prayers and also relaxed a bit. Rinpoche had lunch out in the garden and we listened to chanting and spent time with him. This evening Rinpoche led prayers for all the people who died until it started to rain heavily. There are still tremors and there has been a lot of destruction and deaths. But at Kopan we are all safe. Now it is raining and people are outside. Thankyou all for your concern and prayers.

Please continue to do prayers for all those affected.

Some of the damage at Kopan, 26 April 2015

Lama Zopa Rinpoche leading prayers at Kopan

Emergency relief set up at Kopan

26 April 2015, 10.30am: Last night everyone slept outside, there were many aftershocks. There is substantial damage to a number of buildings at both Kopan Monastery and Nunnery (the Chenrezig gompa, guest house, Norbalinka, Nunnery old gompa and kitchen) exact details will come later. Kopan Monastery and Nunnery will need our support soon. Currently there is no electricity, no internet and limited lines open for calls.  So this is just a short update.

25 April 2015, 4pm: Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Tenzin Osel Hita and all at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery are fine after the strong earthquake that hit Nepal today. There has been some damage in Kopan (to buildings). Rinpoche’s sister –  Ani Ngawang Samten and those in Lawudo are also fine (also some damage).

Please hold all those who have been affected by the earthquake in your prayers.

Prayers that can be done:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given advice on practices to do after earthquakes and also always recommends Medicine Buddha practice, Golden Light Sutra and King of Prayers.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Root Institute, Feb 2015. Photo by Ven.Thubten Kunsang

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, February 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche was at Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India, during February and March 2015.  On March 20, Ven. Roger Kunsang shared this on his Twitter page: 

Lama Zopa; we need to cherish the one who is causing us most difficulties, see as most kind! … practice patience!

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. (You can also read them on Ven. Roger’s Facebook page.)

More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s homepage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya, India, February 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

When Lama Zopa Rinpoche stays at Root Institute in Bodhgaya he frequently goes to circumambulate the Mahabodhi Stupa. Long-time student Ven. Sarah Thresher recounts an excursion to the stupa in 2014 when Rinpoche’s actions taught an important lesson.

“The day before Losar we had a lot of rain on and off all day. Rinpoche mentioned in the early morning that he would like to go to the stupa to offer robes,” Ven. Sarah wrote. “Twelve hours later when the driver and everyone else had given up on the trip, Rinpoche got up and started walking to the car. With just over an hour till the stupa closed and everyone caught by surprise, we drove off.

“Rinpoche gave a teaching to the driver, who is Spanish, about how to solve the problems in Spain – people have to change their minds and realize happiness does not come by changing things outside but from the mind, by changing the mind.

“When we arrived, Rinpoche took a few steps towards the stupa and then began to teach on the importance of generating a bodhichitta motivation. By this time it was raining again, but a small group began to gather around Rinpoche standing in the middle of the walkway still a short walk from the stupa entrance. Rinpoche gave a beautiful and inspiring teaching on how we simply do not realize how amazing bodhichitta is, how amazing it is to take responsibility for the happiness of every single ant, mosquito, fly, bug, etc., for all living beings. Not just saying blah blah blah, but really feeling this bodhichitta in the heart.

“Then Rinpoche moved to the subject of emptiness and the correct view according to the Prasangika school. Then back to bodhichitta again as more people joined to listen – Tibetans, Westerners, Indians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolians and so on, monks, nuns and lay people.

“As the talk continued I had the feeling we were not actually going to do any korwa (circumambulation); the bodhichitta motivation and intention were more important. But with 20 minutes left till the stupa closed, Rinpoche began walking towards the main gate, which by now was closed. A Vietnamese nun asked the security guards to let us in for five minutes. Miraculously they pulled back the gate. We walked in at high speed and around the stupa with Rinpoche pausing from time to time in the prayers to lead us in chanting or give some more teaching.

“As we finished the korwa and Rinpoche stood by the gate to dedicate, Tsoknyi Rinpoche appeared and came up to greet him. They chatted for a while and walked out together. Tsoknyi Rinpoche accompanied Rinpoche and entourage to the car and then watched as they all drove off.”

Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lawudo, Solu Khumbu, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave the Amitabha long-life initiation to about 1,000 Sherpa people at Lawudo Gompa and Retreat Centre on Tuesday, April 21. Before the initiation, Sherpa women offered a dance to Rinpoche. Lawudo is in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal, which is home to the Sherpa, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born not far from Lawudo. Rinpoche’s previous incarnation Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe meditated in a cave at Lawudo for 20 years. Rinpoche’s last visit to Lawudo was in 2008.

Sherpa women offering dance to Rinpoche, Lawudo, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

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 Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.