Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the long life puja offered at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, in January 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

A long life puja was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery in Nepal in January 2020. A long-time student composed the following prayer and praise for the puja. Of it, Lama Zopa Rinpoche said, “The long life prayer is telling the false and the truth in our life. … This is because this student understands Dharma and is a good writer.”

Long-life Prayer for Kyabje Thubten Zopa Rinpoche

May the incomparable Spiritual Friend,
Who is more precious than a wish-granting jewel,
Have a long, fruitful life and continue guiding us
Along the path he himself has traveled.

Although you have shown us well that the pleasures of samsara
Are nothing more than suffering in disguise,
Still we remain addicted to these transient pleasures,
Grasping onto them as if they were real—

O Guru, please be patient with short-sighted beings like myself
And continue to reveal the truth behind samsara’s lies
Until all of us come to realize that there is no essence at all
In any of the objects of worldly desire.

Although you have shown us well that, despite appearances,
Nothing exists solely from its own side,
And that the hallucination that it does
Is what traps us perpetually in unsatisfactory existence—

O Guru, please be patient with thick-headed beings like myself
Who return empty-handed from the Jewel Island of Dharma,
Having repeatedly heard the words of the teachings,
But have failed to realize their essential meaning.

Although you have shown us well that cherishing ourselves
More than others is the falsest of friends—
It promises us the fulfilment of our innermost desires,
Yet condemns us to perpetual frustration instead—

O Guru, please be patient with slaves of selfishness like myself
Who fail to learn from your perfect example
That service to others is the only source of true happiness,
The only cure for the miseries of the world.

O Guru, who never tires revealing the path to Full Awakening
To those who, like myself, are addicted to sleep,
Please be patient with all our shortcomings
And remain with us until all beings are free.

COLOPHON: Composed in California by the lay devotee Jhampa Togme on January 22, 2020, to coincide with a long-life puja offered to Kyabje Thubten Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, by a gathering of his worldwide circle of fortunate disciples. May all our sincere wishes to be continuously cared for by him be fulfilled!

Find more prayers and praises for Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the new page “Long Life Prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche Composed by Others”:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/prayers-by-others/

Watch the video series Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Teachings on Thought Transformation during the Time of COVID-19 and find links to videos in translation, transcripts, MP3s, additional practice advice, and more:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche-for-coronavirus/

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.

Special White Tara long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, July 4, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On July 4, under the direction and guidance of Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la), a special White Tara long life puja was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, with Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and about one  hundred senior monks from the monastery and twenty nuns from the nunnery. Attendance at this puja was limited due to the current lockdown situation in Nepal.

For three days prior to the actual puja, Khadro-la, with the help of six geshes, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and about one hundred senior geshes and monks from Kopan Monastery, did special preparatory practices in the Kopan gompa for many hours. This was part of the White Tara long life puja, which comes from His Holiness Zong Rinpoche and is a very powerful puja from the lower tantra.

Khadro-la offering the special White Tara long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, July 4, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

FPMT, through the Long Life Puja Fund, and Kopan Monastery sponsored this entire puja. All the extensive preparations were kindly taken care of by Kopan.

This particular long life puja was offered because Ven. Roger Kunsang had checked with Khadro-la about Rinpoche’s health and long life for the upcoming year, which is customary for him to do. Khadro-la indicated there were some obstacles to Rinpoche’s health and long life and this special long life puja was needed. In addition, Khadro-la advised on the need for three to four Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong pujas to be offered at Kopan Monastery before the end of this year. One of these pujas has already been completed—this is a very extensive puja that takes most of an entire day, about fourteen hours, to offer.

Khadro-la leading preparations the day prior to the long life puja. 3.5 days of preparations were needed. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Large effigy of Lama Zopa Rinpoche made for the special long life puja by Kopan Lama Gyupas. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Khadro-la advised that the preparation for this long life puja needed to last at least three days to make it most powerful. During the preparation there was a large effigy of Rinpoche created by the Kopan Lama Gyupas with hand-made robes, hat, and glasses. The effigy was then taken out during the puja.

On the morning of the puja, further preparation occurred until Rinpoche was invited down to the gompa by Khadro-la and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi.

Offering of tsog during the White Tara long life puja. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka offered by Ven. Roger Kunsang to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the White Tara long life puja.

Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the White Tara long life puja. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

One very special offering that was made to Rinpoche during the puja was a new Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka to replace the one that Rinpoche carries with him everywhere. Ven. Roger sponsored the thangka on behalf of the organization and arranged for it to be painted about a year ago. Throughout the process Ven. Roger checked the art, quality and type of brocade, and other details with Rinpoche. Rinpoche was very pleased with the art.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la, Kopan Monastery, July 1, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Following the long life puja Rinpoche and Khadro-la concluded that it was important to also offer Lama Chopa with tsog, starting with Calling the Guru from Afar. This lasted into the early evening.

Every day during the preparation period guided by Khadro-la, Rinpoche and Khadro-la had lunch together, discussing many important subjects. One item discussed at length was the four to six large fire pujas that Khadro-la had advised to do at specific holy places around Kathmandu Valley. These fire pujas will be arranged by different Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug monasteries, including Kopan Monastery. The fire pujas have to be done in different directions and happen simultaneously and are done to help subdue the effects of COVID-19 experienced in Nepal and around the world. These pujas will happen once permission is granted at the various locations; the delays have been due to the situation of lockdown.

Each morning during the preparations, Khadro-la visited Rinpoche for thirty minutes, discussing different signs or indications that she received the night before.

The long life puja itself was very powerful and successful. Rinpoche was very happy and also Khadro-la seemed very pleased.

Following the long life puja Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Khadro-la and Rinpoche walked in the gardens of Kopan Monastery. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On behalf of the entire FPMT organization, we offer the most heartfelt thanks to Khadro-la for taking care of Rinpoche in this way, guiding and offering the entire long life puja so carefully with so much preparation, as well as advising what other pujas are needed. We also want to take this opportunity to thank Ven. Roger Kunsang for offering tireless service to Rinpoche for thirty-five years and for making sure all of these important things happen. 

Tremendous thanks to all the centers and students who support the Long Life Puja Fund—please rejoice that your offerings helped sponsor this puja.

Heartfelt thanks are also offered to Kopan Monastery for helping to offer this puja so successfully with so many prayers and preparations. 

The Long Life Puja Fund always contributes to long life pujas offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You can also learn about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT and discover the many ways the various funds and projects are benefiting others.

You can watch the video series Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Teachings on Thought Transformation during the Time of COVID-19 and find links to videos in translation, transcripts, MP3s, additional practice advice, and more:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche-for-coronavirus/

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, India, January 2020. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

On July 6, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 85th birthday is being celebrated around the world by Tibetans and an international community of students of Tibetan Buddhism. FPMT International Offices joins in the rejoicing and offers prayers for His Holiness’s excellent health and very long life!

Supporting the wishes of His Holiness is a primary aim of the FPMT organization as described in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Vision for FPMT. Rinpoche has explained that “[I would like] for FPMT to offer service to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as much as possible and to be able to fulfill His Holiness’ wishes. This is the highest priority for the organization.” Rinpoche has further said, “This is the quickest and most vast way of benefiting sentient beings.”

Since its inception, FPMT has turned to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for inspiration and guidance and attempted to promote and actualize His Holiness’ vision as much as possible and to create the cause for His Holiness’ long life. This includes offering or being part of offering a long life puja to His Holiness when possible. Rinpoche has also given extensive advice on prayers and practices to be done on His Holiness’s birthday and recently arranged 1000 Buddhas to be offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of FPMT organization.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, India, January 2017. Photo by Neal Patrick.

As the spiritual guide for six million Tibetans, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s guru, as a recipient of the Noble Peace Prize, and as a promoter of each individual’s universal responsibility toward humankind and the environment, His Holiness serves as a living symbol for world peace. 

At 85 years, His Holiness continues to be relevant and tuned into the needs of people around the world, engaging in discussions with young people and participating in dialogues on the environment, science and the mind, and interfaith understanding. During the coronavirus pandemic, His Holiness is offering live webcasts of teachings to continue to connect with students and bring the teachings of the Buddha to the world. 

His Holiness also participates in novel projects, such his new album Inner World, a collection of mantras and teachings set to music that is being releases on his birthday this year. (The tracks “Compassion” and “One of My Favorite Prayers” are available as videos.) The album was created by long-time students of His Holiness wishing to bring benefit to people. Proceeds from the album will be donated to projects carrying out His Holiness’s vision. 

For more on His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his beneficial activities, please visit DalaiLama.com.

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, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s newest book, How to Face Death without Fear: A Handbook by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, was recently released by Wisdom Publications. The 400-plus page paperback book has been compiled from years of Rinpoche’s teachings and carefully edited by Ven. Robina Courtin, an FPMT registered teacher.

Students can use How to Face Death without Fear: A Handbook to help loved ones prepare for the end of their life with courage, acceptance, and a mind free of fear. Rinpoche explains how to think about death and reincarnation, how we go from one life to the next, what to do before death, in the moment itself, after the breath has stopped, and after the mind has left the body. Much of the advice included in the book can be adapted to benefit non-Buddhists and animals too.

How to Face Death Without Fear: A Handbook by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

As Rinpoche says in the book’s introduction, “When suddenly one day one of your loved ones dies and you don’t know what to do to help, you’ll feel so confused, so lost. Recently a Buddhist student of mine told me that this is what happened for her when her father died unexpectedly. That made me think that knowing how to help others at the time of death is such important education to have.”

Rinpoche provides the mantras, prayers, and meditations appropriate for each stage of the dying process. This new edition of Rinpoche’s 2017 book How to Enjoy Death makes it easy for the reader to find the right practice at the right time.

Ven. Robina Courtin explained in the preface, “Because for most of us death is a difficult thing to come to terms with—our loved one’s or our own—working out which practices to do can be daunting. Therefore Rinpoche’s actual advice, the things to do—contained in parts 3, 4, and 5, the heart of the book—have been identified as eighty-seven distinct practices, numbered and structured chronologically to help us know what to do when.”

How to Face Death without Fear: A Handbook is an invaluable resource not only for Tibetan Buddhist caregivers, hospice workers, and chaplains but for all of us.

Liberation Box, Protection Tools for a Fortunate Rebirth

The FPMT Foundation Store continues to offer the Liberation Box, which is a collection of tools to be used at the time of death assembled according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice. It contains powerful methods for ensuring a fortunate rebirth for those who have died or are in the process of dying, including a stupa, hardcopy booklets and cards, MP3 audio files, a phowa pill, and a blessed cord. The Liberation Box can compliment the practices in Rinpoche’s book How to Face Death without Fear. The Foundation Store also offers a French and Spanish hardcopy version of the Liberation Box, as well as a digital version. 

For more information, visit Wisdom Publications’ page for How to Face Death without Fear: A Handbook by Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/how-to-face-death-without-fear/

You can also find links to many resources for time of death on FPMT.org/death.

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and senior Kopan monks during Padmasambhava incense puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and senior Kopan Monastery monks performed a Padmasambhava incense puja to benefit beings affected by COVID-19 and to help mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche consulted with Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) about what pujas to do to help the pandemic, and it came out that the Padmasambhava incense puja was best at this time.

The coordinated incense puja was done by about ten high lamas around Kathmandu. Originally the puja was planned to be done in various holy places in Nepal, but due to the current situation, it was changed so that the puja would be done by each lama at the same time in their respective monasteries. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and senior Kopan monks during Padmasambhava incense puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

During the puja at Kopan, prayers and practices were offered in the four directions.

Rinpoche continues to discuss with Khadro-la other practices that can be done to help people who are sick and stop the spread of COVID-19 and for the benefit of beings who are affected by the coronavirus.

Watch a short video of scenes from the Padmasambhaba incense puja at Kopan Monastery:
https://youtu.be/pyXORzZ_rmU

For detailed advice on the practices recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic, please visit the page “Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for Coronavirus.”
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche-for-coronavirus/

Additional resources, including Dharma study-from-home opportunities, can be found on the page “Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic.”
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/

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, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Due to the risk from the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa Retreat at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo, Australia, has been postponed. Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s other teaching events in Australia in March and April 2020 have also been postponed.

The postponement of the retreat is the result of observations by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) on the implications of the coronavirus.

In these observations it was repeatedly noted that:

• The coronavirus is moving fast.
• The coronavirus is easily transferred.
• There is at present no cure for the virus.
• There is a danger for the group to gather at this time at the retreat.

We regret that this postponement will cause financial and logistical difficulties for many people. The organizers of the retreat at the Great Stupa have already reached out to those who have booked for the retreat.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has indicated that the retreat, and other teaching events in Australia, will be rescheduled as soon as the risk from coronavirus is under control, and as soon as a suitable alternative time can be found in Rinpoche’s teaching schedule.

We know that many other centers are affected by the spread of coronavirus and encourage you to continue to take all sensible precautions to help ensure the safety of those using FPMT centers, projects, services, and study groups.

Advice from Rinpoche on Coronavirus

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered the following advice to protect from harm by the novel coronavirus:

• Lama Zopa Rinpoche Offers Advice to Protect from the Coronavirus, posted January 25, 2020
  
• Additional Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche to Protect from the Coronavirus, posted January 28, 2020

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 doing Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

On Monday, March 2, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, joined by the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery, did a Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong puja to remove the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as to remove all obstacles for the year and to bring success to the entire FPMT organization and its projects, and to all sentient beings.

Hayagriva is the wrathful manifestation of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. The puja done by Rinpoche and the Kopan Sangha is regarded as very powerful and can be performed to remove large obstacles (such as heavy illness), to repair damage to commitments, and to increase merits.

Rinpoche has given advice and additional advice on practices to be done to protect from the coronavirus.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Sangha of Kopan Monastery doing Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Find Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice on the coronavirus (COVID-19) and other illnesses on Rinpoche’s advice page under the category “sickness”:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/

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 blessing a turtle at the animal blessing organized by Ganden Tendar Ling, Moscow, Russia, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Wherever Lama Zopa Rinpoche travels in the world, he is sure to do practices that benefit animals. While in Russia recently, Rinpoche attended two animal blessing events.

When Rinpoche first arrived in Moscow in late September, he attended an animal blessing day organized by students at Ganden Tendar Ling. About 700 people and pets came to the event with Rinpoche. Before Rinpoche’s arrival, information had been shared on how to benefit and provide Dharma care for animals.

Dog at animal blessing organized by Ganden Tendar Ling, Moscow, Russia, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and altar created for animal blessing organized by Ganden Tendar Ling, Moscow, Russia, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

At the Ganden Tendar Ling event, Rinpoche gave a Dharma talk and blessed food and water for animals. Pets and their people circumambulated around an altar that had been created for the event. Rinpoche also recited many mantras for the animals to hear. 

Rinpoche did another animal blessing event while he was in Kalmykia, Russia, on October 19. In addition to many pets, Rinpoche also blessed farm animals. The next day Rinpoche traveled to the Capsian Sea and blessed the animals in the water.

Rinpoche blessing sheep in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

A girl and her cat at the animal blessing event with Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Rinpoche has said that our animal friends are relatives from this life and past lives and that we need to care for them in the best way. Rinpoche has recommended many practices for benefiting animals. Some recommendation are as simple as playing recordings of mantras, sutras, and prayers for your pets at home. 

Listen to and watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting mantras to bless animals:
https://youtu.be/wTGpef4WQb4

FPMT Education Services has collected Rinpoche’s advice and practices to benefit animals. Students can learn more online:
https://fpmt.org/education/prayers-and-practice-materials/benefiting-animals-practices-and-advice/

See more photos from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s visit to Russia:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/gallery/russia-september-october-2019/

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.

Khadro-la, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and the monks and nuns of Kopan doing the 1,000 offerings to Namgyalma puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday, Kopan Monastery, December 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Kopan Monastery, in Nepal, honored Lama Zopa Rinpoche by offering Rinpoche a birthday celebration on December 3.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and cake offered during the birthday celebration, Kopan Monastery, December 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Rinpoche’s birthday celebration began with the monks and nuns from Kopan Monastery doing the 1,000 offerings to Namgyalma puja for Rinpoche. Then, outside in the courtyard, Rinpoche was offered a birthday cake along with a program of music, drama, and dance.

Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) and Kopan abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi attended the celebration events. In addition to the Kopan monks and nuns, students from the month-long Kopan course and local community members were also at the celebration in the courtyard.

Ven. Lobsang Sherab created a 23-minute video of the celebration. The video captures the joyousness of the occasion, which includes scenes from:

• the 1,000 offerings to Namgyalma puja in the main Kopan gompa,
• the offering of a body, speech, and mind mandala to Rinpoche,
• Rinpoche’s advice about how to think when offering and cutting a birthday cake,
• young monks singing “Happy Birthday” and offering khatas to Rinpoche,
• the chanting of Rinpoche’s long life prayer composed by Khadro-la,
• a Dharma play offered by the monks,
• song and dance offered by the Tamang community from Namgyal Jangchub Choeling, and
• song and dance offered by the Thamichhowa Sherpas.

Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday celebration at Kopan Monastery:
https://youtu.be/eKb20697o3k

Find links to recordings of Rinpoche’s recent teachings from Nepal, Russia, Singapore, Latvia, France, and more:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-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 students attending the month-long lamrim course at Kopan Monastery in the newly rebuilt Chenrezig gompa, Nepal, November 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday is celebrated on Tuesday, December 3. This year Rinpoche is at Kopan Monastery, where he is giving teachings to more than 250 students from around the world as part of the month-long lamrim course there. 

Last year, Rinpoche sent out a video message to students on his birthday. In the video, Rinpoche gives advice on how to best see one’s birthday and the practices that can be done that become the causes for total and complete enlightenment for oneself and for all sentient beings.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with a birthday cake offered to him, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 2016.

Rinpoche’s teachings at the course are being webcast live at approximately 3:30 pm local time (GMT+5:45), although the time may be subject to change. Teachings are being streamed in English and French, and a live transcript will also be available.

Links for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s live teachings at Kopan Monastery:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/

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.

Find links to recordings of Rinpoche’s recent teachings from Russia, Singapore, Latvia, France, and more:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/

Learn about Kopan Monastery and the courses on Buddhism offered there:
https://kopanmonastery.com/

Watch Lama Zopa Rinopche’s Birthday Message from 2018:
https://youtu.be/ajT7srFuHw8

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, November 2019. Photo by Bill Kane.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived at Kopan Monastery in Nepal on Tuesday, November 26. Rinpoche is giving daily teachings now as part of the month-long lamrim Kopan course, which takes place every November. This is the fifty-second Kopan month-long lamrim course. It is taking place in the newly rebuilt Chenrezig gompa, which had been significantly damaged by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal and had to be completely rebuilt.

Rinpoche’s teachings at the course are being webcast live at approximately 3:30 pm local time (GMT+5:45), although the time may be subject to change. Teachings are being streamed in English and French, and a live transcript will also be available.

Links for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s live teachings at Kopan Monastery:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche being offered a mandala during the month-long Kopan course, which is taking place in the newly rebuilt Chenrezig gompa, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, November 2019. Photo by Bill Kane.

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.

Find links to recordings of Rinpoche’s recent teachings from Russia, Singapore, Latvia, France, and more:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/

Learn about Kopan Monastery and the courses on Buddhism offered there:
https://kopanmonastery.com/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche during visit to Maitreya Statue in Lagan, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

After the 100 million mani retreat concluded in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, in October, Lama Zopa Rinpoche made a day trip to Lagan, Kalmykia, near the Caspian Sea. Rinpoche when to visit the largest Maitreya Buddha statue in Europe and to make offerings to it. The golden statue is 12.5 meters (40 feet) tall and had been officially unveiled and consecrated in September 2019.

Rinpoche created a special condensed 1,000 offerings to Maitreya puja to be done at the local temple in Lagan near the statue. Students arrived at the temple a day early to set up the extensive offerings. Two bus loads of retreat participants went from Elista to Lagan for the offering puja, which was the morning of October 20. Hundreds of local people also attended. After students completed the puja, Rinpoche offered a teaching to them. Then after lunch, Rinpoche did a consecration practice in front of the statue with the abbots from the Elista monastery and the local monastery. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with abbots from temples in Elista and Lagan consecrating Maitreya statue, Lagan, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

After the leaving the Maitreya statue, Rinpoche was taken to the Caspian Sea. The previous three weeks, while Rinpoche was staying in Elista, he blessed jugs of water. Three small speed boats took Rinpoche and the blessed water deep into the Caspian Sea, where Rinpoche offered the blessed water to all the sentient beings in the water. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche pouring blessed water into the Caspian Sea to bless all the beings in the water, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The 100 million mani mantra retreat in Elista was a great success. Organizers and the monastery in Elista prepared for a year and a half for the retreat, which was held at the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha. Telo Rinpoche, who is the spiritual leader of the Kalmykian people, was key to the preparations. More than 1,000 students participated and recited more than eighty-one million OM MANI PADME HUM mantras. One organizer wrote on her Facebook page, “It was a very special experience to be in retreat with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Geshe Tenzin Zopa.” She then went on to thank Telo Rinpoche and the abbot of the monastery, several local geshes and teachers, the ordained Sangha there, the Kalmykian minister for culture, the translators, the temple’s secretaries, and the local volunteers for all of their “time, effort, and hard work.”   

Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Teaching in Lagan, Kalmykia, Russia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMXF9PCzMHU

Find links to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent teachings from Russia:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/russia-2019/

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.