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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News
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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
New photographs of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s worldwide travel are shared in photo albums on FPMT.org. You can see where Rinpoche has been and many of his beneficial activities.
Albums from Rinpoche’s visits to France, Latvia, the United States, and Singapore have been posted over the past few months. New albums of Rinpoche’s travels and teaching events are regularly added.
See more photos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/gallery/
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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in Moscow, Russia, May 2017. Photo by Renat Alyaudinov.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches on “How to Develop Bodhicitta in the Modern World (a commentary on Khunu Lama Rinpoche’s The Jewel Lamp: A Praise of Bodhichitta)” this weekend. Rinpoche’s teachings in Moscow, Russia, begin on Friday, October 25, and continue through Sunday, October 27.
The planned schedule of teachings, which can be watched live, is as follows in local time (GMT+3):
- Friday , October 25 teachings with Lama Zopa Rinpoche begin at 19:30
- Saturday, October 26–Sunday, October 27:
11:00 – 12:30 – practice session with Geshe Tenzin Zopa
12:30 – 14:00 – lunch time
14:00 – 15:30 – review and Q&A with Geshe Tenzin Zopa
15:30 – 16:00 – tea break
16:00 – 17:30 – Lama Zopa Rinpoche teachings
17:30 – 18:30 – tea break
18:30 – 20:00 – Lama Zopa Rinpoche teachings
The FPMT center in Moscow, Ganden Tendar Ling, organized these teachings. Rinpoche just concluded teaching in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, where he led a 100 million mani retreat.
Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche teach LIVE:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
More information on the teaching events in Moscow, Russia:
http://lamazoparussia.tilda.ws/#rec102195553
Find video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent teachings in Elista, Russia, and Singapore:
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 arriving in Elista and being greeted by the abbot of the local monastery and the news media, Kalmykia, Russia, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On September 30, Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived in Elista, the capital city of the Russian Republic of Kalmykia. Rinpoche was enthusiastically greeted as soon as he stepped out of the airplane. Rinpoche was welcomed by the abbot of the monastery in Elista. Rinpoche was offered traditional khaptse and tea on the tarmac, where reporters and TV cameras were also waiting for him.
Inside the airport, Rinpoche answered questions in a press conference, discussing the significance of doing a 100 million mani retreat. Rinpoche told reporters that doing the retreat cleanses your mind of the attachment that is responsible for all the problems of this life and future lives. He said that the retreat brings “unbelievable benefits.”
Kalmykia is located in southern Russia and is bordered on one side by the Caspian Sea. It is the only Buddhist country in Europe, which allowed Rinpoche many opportunities to speak to news media about the importance of Buddhist practice.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche received a warm welcome as he arrived at the house where he stayed in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Losang Sherab.
A line of students offered khatas and recited Migtsema as Rinpoche arrived at the house where he was staying during his visit to Elista.
Rinpoche went to Elista to offer a Great Chenrezig initiation and lead a 100 million mani retreat. During a 100 million mani retreat, participants accumulate 100 million recitations of the Chenrezig mantra, also known as mani mantra, OM MANI PADME HUM.
Lodoi Rinpoche, Telo Rinpoche, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Telo Rinpoche is the spiritual leader of the Kalmyk people and helped organized Rinpoche’s visit and teachings in Elista. An American-born tulku, Telo Rinpoche has been active in the reestablishment of Buddhism in Kalmykia since being chosen as its head lama in 1992. He also serves as the honorary representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Russia.
The night of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s arrival, Telo Rinpoche offered a special dinner for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and for Lodoi Rinpoche, a high lama from the Russian Republic of Buryatia, another Buddhist area, located in Siberia. Lodoi Rinpoche had just concluded a series of practices and initiations in Elista. The elaborate dinner featured cultural singing and dancing.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lodoi Rinpoche at a special dinner honoring them, organized Telo Rinpoche, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
The following day Rinpoche did prayers with Telo Rinpoche, Lodoi Rinpoche, and the monastery monks at the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni or the Golden Temple. Built in 2005, it is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. After lunch, the three rinpoches took part in another press conference, where Rinpoche spoke again on the importance of doing the 100 million mani retreat.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered the 1000-Armed Chenrezig initiation over three days, beginning on Friday, October 4, at the Golden Temple. A thousand people attended, packing the temple. In addition to local people, many students traveled from Moscow and Saint Petersburg to attend the events with Rinpoche. There were also a handful of students from France, Spain, and Malaysia attending.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during 1000-Armed Chenrezig initiation, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On the following Monday, between 200 to 300 students began doing the 100 million mani retreat. In addition, students from all over the world followed the retreat online.
The 100 million mani retreat is not a common practice in Kalmykia. It comes from the nyung në lineage. Rinpoche acknowledged that because the retreat is only two weeks long, ending on Friday, October 18, participants would probably not accumulate the full 100 million mani recitations. Rinpoche, however, said it was very good for students to learn how to do the practice for future retreats.
The retreat began every morning with a session blessing the speech and doing Lama Chopa. During the day there were sadhana recitation sessions. Geshe Tenzin Zopa led sessions and gave explanations on the practice to students. Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught during the final session of the day, covering topics such as guru devotion, bodhichitta and emptiness. Students attending the retreat appear very devoted and respectful, taking notes and carefully doing the practices.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during 1000-Armed Chenrezig initiation, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, October 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Rinpoche did an animal blessing on Saturday, October 19, in Elista and on Sunday visited a very large Maitreya statue located in the area. He then returns to Moscow to give teachings October 25-27 on “How to Develop Bodhicitta in the Modern World (a commentary on Khunu Lama Rinpoche’s The Jewel Lamp: A Praise of Bodhichitta).”
FPMT is grateful for the work of the retreat organizers, which include Telo Rinpoche and the monks from the Golden Temple. Students from Ganden Tendar Ling, the FPMT center in Moscow, also helped with arrangements.
In October, watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings streamed live from Russia:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
Find video and audio recordings and transcripts of all of Rinpoche’s recent teachings:
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.
A display created by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 2019. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche has done much to care for the animals at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land (BAPL), located in a remote area of Washington State, in the northwestern United States. One examples is creating a bird feeder where birds and other animals are blessed by mantras as they feed.
A chipmunk at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, July 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Rinpoche has had many displays of animals statues with signs created on the retreat land, offering visitors short Dharma teachings. He also has had made many signs with mantras and images of deities that purify just by seeing.
In addition, BAPL has a 13-foot (4-meter) tall statue of Amitabha Buddha, which was created in Vietnam of white marble, as well as a smaller statue of Medicine Buddha. The statues are surrounded by beautiful gardens and flower offerings. Rinpoche has organized a yearly festival to honor the Amitabha statue and the retreat land.
A new video shows many of these statues, signs, and activities on the retreat land and features Rinpoche’s chanting.
Watch a video of tour of Buddha Amitabha Pure Land:
https://youtu.be/n6f2vNdL5PA
See photos from Rinpoche’s visit to Buddha Amitabha Pure Land and Pamtingpa Center in Washington State, US:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/gallery/washington-us-july-august-2019/
In October, watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings streamed live from Russia:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
Find video and audio recordings and transcripts of Rinpoche’s recent teachings at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/amitabha-buddhist-center-singapore-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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching inside the temple called the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, May 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On September 30, Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived in Elista, the capital city of the Russian Republic of Kalmykia, which is the only region in Europe where Buddhism is the primary religion. Rinpoche traveled to Elista to offer a Great Chenrezig initiation and lead a 100 million mani retreat.
The events with Rinpoche begin on Friday, October 4, and run through October 20. Between 250-450 students are expected to attend, including many students from Ganden Tendar Ling, the FPMT center in Moscow.
Rinpoche then travels to Moscow to teach on “How to Develop Bodhicitta in the Modern World (a commentary on Khunu Lama Rinpoche’s The Jewel Lamp: A Praise of Bodhichitta),” October 25-27. Students from Ganden Tendar Ling are organizing the teachings in Moscow and also helping with the 100 million mani retreat in Elista.
Rinpoche’s teachings will be streamed live from Russia. For links to streaming video:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, May 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Learn More about Ganden Tendar Ling Center:
https://fpmt.ru/
Find video and audio recordings and transcripts of Rinpoche’s recent teachings at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/amitabha-buddhist-center-singapore-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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche being offered a khata by Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche concluded a busy visit to Singapore last week. Three weeks earlier, Rinpoche landed in Singapore, where he was enthusiastically greeted by students at the airport, despite the late time of his arrival.
During his visit at Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC), the FPMT center in Singapore, Rinpoche gave general teachings as well as commentary on Lama Chopa.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, September 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Students at ABC offered a long life puja to Rinpoche with Lama Chopa and the Sixteen Arhat Long Life Prayers on Sunday, September 22.
Many students around the world watched the live webstreaming of Rinpoche’s teachings from ABC, especially in Taiwan, due to Ven. Thubten Dechen’s simultaneous translation of the teachings into Chinese.
Rinpoche’s teachings from ABC are available as video and audio recordings, including Italian translations of the teachings and a Spanish translation of one day of teachings. A written English transcript is also being made available.
ABC is a vibrant and active center. According to Ven. Holly Ansett, it’s a very inspiring center for its high level of student involvement and the scale of offerings and holy objects there. While staying at ABC, Rinpoche also attended the center’s 30th anniversary celebration.
Watch the Long Life Puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Lama Chopa and Sixteen Arhat Prayers from ABC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn3tyEXX43I
Learn more about Amitabha Buddhist Centre:
http://www.fpmtabc.org/
Find video and audio recordings and transcripts of Rinpoche’s recent teachings at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/amitabha-buddhist-center-singapore-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.
Amitabha Buddha Festival at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 2019. Photo by Chris Majors.
In August, Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended the Amitabha Buddha Festival at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land (BAPL) in remote Washington State in the United States. This is the fourth time the festival has been held and the third time Rinpoche has attended. The festival was envisioned by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to honor the large Amitabha Buddha statue and retreat land at BAPL.
Rinpoche translated and created the text for the festival, which took place in front of the 13-foot (4-meter) tall Amitabha Buddha statue. Preparations for the festival took about a week and were done by the resident Sangha and the Sangha traveling with Rinpoche. Local students from the nearby Pamtingpa Center in Tonasket came for the festival.
Rinpoche, Sangha, and students did the offering prayers all morning. About forty to fifty people attended.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Amitabha Buddha Festival at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 2019. Photo by Chris Majors.
Neighbors of the retreat land were invited for the offered lunch with Rinpoche, Sangha, and local students. About fifteen neighbors attended and enjoyed the event. People in the area tend to be conservative, so creating a good connection with them is important. Rinpoche was pleased with the event and said he thought it was very nice.
Sunset at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 2019. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing all the beings in Palmer Lake in Washington State, US, August 2019. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
While staying at BAPL, Rinpoche also took time to bless a local lake. Rinpoche, Sangha, and students spent two days preparing blessed food for the fish in the lake. Then the group took two small boats on to the water.
Rinpoche’s boat had flags on it that he designed. The flags say, “Wish granting boat—fufilling all the wishes of the fish and all others who live in or use this water,” and “We are liberating the fish from the cause of suffering and bringing them to peerless happiness—the total cessation of all the obscurations and completion of all the realizations.”
Rinpoche recited sutras and mantras. The fish and other beings in the water were also blessed with a relic and a mantra blessing wheel, and were offered blessed food and water.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Palmer Lake in Washington State, US, August 2019. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
See more photos from Rinpoche’s visit to Buddha Amitabha Pure Land and Pamtingpa Center in Washington State, US:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/gallery/washington-us-july-august-2019/
Find video and audio recordings and transcripts of Rinpoche’s recent teachings at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/amitabha-buddhist-center-singapore-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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, September 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his commentary on Lama Chopa (Guru Puja) practice at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, the FPMT center in Singapore.
Rinpoche’s teachings begin on Friday, September 6, and run through Saturday, September 21. All non-restricted teachings by Rinpoche will be webcast live.
The planned schedule of teachings at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in local time (GMT+8) is as follows:
- Friday, September 6, 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
- Saturday, September 7, 4 p.m.–6 p.m., 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
- Sunday, September 8, 4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 11, 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
- Friday, September 13, 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
- Saturday, September 14, 4 p.m.–6 p.m., 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
- Sunday, September 15, 4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 18, 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
- Saturday, September 21, 4 p.m.–6 p.m., 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Following Rinpoche’s Lama Chopa commentary, Amitabha Buddhist Centre will be offering to Rinpoche the Sixteen Arhat Long Life Prayers on Sunday, September 22, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Useful links:
Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche teach LIVE:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s 2018 commentary on Lama Chopa taught at Amitabha Buddhist Centre:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/teachings-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche/amitabha-buddhist-center-2018/
More information on the teaching event at Amitabha Buddhist Centre:
http://www.fpmtabc.org/2019/event/lzrvisit.php
Learn more about Lama Chopa practice and find FPMT Education Services materials:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/it-is-all-there-in-lama-chopa/
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 staff and volunteers for the teaching event in Madrid, Spain, April 29. Photo by Alexis Roitmann.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught in and traveled to a few FPMT centers in Spain in late April and early May. Kiko Llopis, FPMT Hispana national coordinator, shared this report on Rinpoche’s visit.
As he had promised in his previous visit to Spain in October 2018, Rinpoche returned to Madrid in April to confer the great initiation of the White Umbrella Deity (Dukkar). Rinpoche blessed us with his teachings, transmissions, and the longed-for initiation.
The event with Rinpoche was attended by more than 550 students. Nearly a hundred volunteers from the ten FPMT centers in Spain participated in organizing the event with enthusiasm and devotion. An added blessing during the teachings was the presence of Tenzin Ösel Hita—the recognized reincarnation of Lama Yeshe. Lama Yeshe co-founded the FPMT organization, together with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during teachings in Madrid, Spain, April 2019. Photo by Harald Weichhart.
In addition to the benefit of his teachings, Rinpoche once again demonstrated his subtle but palpable quality of creating the conditions that manifest the best in the people around him—whether they are Buddhists or not, whether they know him or not. His love and compassion for all beings is a universal language that reaches everyone.
One example of this was the response of the staff at the General Union of Workers (UGT in Spanish) building, where the teaching event was held. UGT is one of the biggest unions in Spain. It has a Marxist origin and, by principle, is far from any religious affiliation. However, what began as a kind of curiosity for the colorful paraphernalia that accompanied the lectures of Rinpoche, who they saw as this “nice old man,” ended with a request from the UGT Head of the Administration for Rinpoche to bless her family. Plus, the maintenance staff ask about meditation, and the security staff gave us the facilities to hold a fire puja inside the building.
During his stay in Madrid, Rinpoche spent time in interviews with students and people with serious health problems. He also invited the ordained Sangha and members of the organization for dinner.
Rinpoche making prayers in the Retiro Park that any being that comes to the park will attain all the realizations up to enlightenment with (clockwise from bottom left) Ven. Roger Kunsang, Kiko Llopis, Miriam Woodnick, Juan Carlos, Ven. Topgye, Irina Hueso, and Ven. Holly Ansett.
There was also a wonderful afternoon stroll through the Retiro Park, which is one of the largest parks in Madrid, located near the city center. Rinpoche wanted to find a painter who sold paintings in the park. Rinpoche himself had given the painter several sacred images on his last visit, “not to sell them, but to exhibit them so people could benefit from seeing the images.” Rinpoche also blessed two large lakes in the Retiro, and all the aquatic inhabitants in the lakes, thus giving another example of how to make the most of a walk in the park.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche being led to the new gompa at O.Sel.Ling Centro de Retiros by center director Anne Wenaas and students, Spain, May 2019. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
In addition to coming to Madrid, Rinpoche also visited three other FPMT centers in Spain. Rinpoche calls O.Sel.Ling Centro de Retiros, the FPMT retreat center located in the southern province of Granada, “Oseling pure land.” Rinpoche did extensive practices there and blessed the new gompa and sacred objects together with Geshe Lamsang, the FPMT resident teacher at Centro Nagarjuna Valencia. We are very excited because Rinpoche said it would be beneficial to return to O.Sel.Ling to give a retreat on the Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattva.
At the FPMT center Nagarjuna C.E.T. Granada, Rinpoche gave teachings and dined with some members of the center.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Nagarjuna C.E.T. Granada in Granada, Spain, May 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with students from Centro La Sabiduría de Nagarjuna, the FPMT center in Bilbao, after having dinner with them, Bilbao, Spain, May 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
At Centro La Sabiduría de Nagarjuna, the FPMT center in Bilbao in northern Spain, Rinpoche gave an unscheduled commentary on the Dzambhala practice for the success of any project to be of the greatest benefit, especially the center’s hoped for new Lama Tsongkhapa retreat place, which he was dedicating to be of the greatest benefit.
Our precious guru left behind a ray of joy, gratitude, and enthusiasm in Spain, and we dedicate each day for him to visit us again very soon.
See more photographs from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s visit to Spain:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/gallery/spain-april-may-2019/
Find complete videos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent teachings, including teachings from the April 2019 teachings in Madrid and the May-June 2019 Vajrayogini retreat at Institut Vajra Yogini in France:
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 during long life puja at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, 2019. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim.
At the conclusion of the Vajrayogini retreat at Institut Vajra Yogini in France, Lama Zopa Rinpoche was offered a long life puja, where long-time American student Merry Colony recited the following praise for Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
In this time of over degeneration,
When our kind mothers are blindly rushing about their lives,
Wanting only happiness while creating causes only to suffer,
Due to the inconceivable kindness of the Guru,
We have found ourselves here,
In the pure realm of Vajra Yogini,
And for thirty-five glorious days we have experienced the fully ripened result of our impossible-to-find and truly miraculous perfect human rebirths.
Having been called to create virtue each day by the sound of the blessed gong, which merely by hearing purifies the five uninterrupted negative karmas,
We have passed each day beneath the sweet smelling honeysuckle flowers accompanied by the soft cooing of doves,
And have joyously gathered, hundreds of your children disciples, like swans coming to a lake,
To drink the nectar of the Guru’s holy speech.
When the Guru’s holy body enters the vajra tent, before even a word is spoken, we are given our first teaching:
Make the efforts of our parents worthwhile and use this body to create merit.
For how can we give in to laziness when we are witness to you, our refuge savior,
Manifesting paralysis yet still prostrating with such supreme effort before the throne each day?
Such a kindness can be found nowhere else in this world.
Once seated upon the vajra throne your display of skillful means is without compare:
The wrathful roar that clears away the thick fog of our ignorance,
The circuitous stories that sharpen our attention,
The vajra laughter that awakens our blissful awareness.
Where else in all the three realms can one find such a teacher?
In a single moment you show the simultaneous aspects of,
Gentle virtue beggar and powerful Mahayana Vajrayana guru,
Precious one who subdues, wrathful one who conquers.
To such greatness all humans and gods bow their heads.
Your melodic chanting and explanation of the four line Vajra Cutter
Implores us to see that like a drop of dew this life will soon be gone,
To examine the profound meaning of rabrib, the defective view that keeps us imprisoned,
To loosen our grip on what we mistakenly believe to be real by seeing everything as illusion.
Withholding nothing, you illuminate the heart of the path: the profound meaning of the Guru, one taste with great bliss dharmakaya.
Using your own life story as an example, you clarify the true meaning of Dharma practice: giving up this life!
Quoting from Kyabje Khunu Lama Rinpoche, you strengthen our refuge in bodhichitta, the unbetraying friend in samsara.
With diamond-like precision, you elucidate the very huge difference between correctly meditating on emptiness and incorrectly meditating on nihilism.
While we may not have yet realized renunciation, bodhichitta, or emptiness,
There is one thing we do know without mistake or doubt:
When the kind and holy lord Guru is teaching,
There is nowhere else we ever, ever want to be.
Until enlightenment, may we always be among your foremost disciples fulfilling your every wish.
Offering being made to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja, Institut Vajra Yogini, France, 2019. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim.
Now, together here, due to the Guru’s unfathomable kindness,
We have taken the Most Secret Hayagriva for long life, Heruka Five Deity, and Vajrayogini initiations,
We have engaged in the heart practice of Lama Chopa daily,
And have begun practicing the yogas of sleep, waking, and tasting nectar.
We have strengthened our familiarization with taking ordinary death, intermediate state, and rebirth into the path to achieve the three kayas,
And collectively we have accumulated more than ten million mantras of the Kechara Yogini.
May all of this merit, together with the three time merits of all sentient beings and buddhas, who do not exist, who are empty,
Be the cause for the most holy kind Guru Buddha Deity to have an infinitely long and stable life.
May you quickly return to this best of FPMT centers and
Continue to teach the Vajrayogini commentary as well as the three-year retreat instructions.
From our side we will practice as taught and dedicate every merit created to the fruition of full enlightenment so that we can most quickly, fully benefit all beings.
By the power of the Three Rare Sublime Ones,
By the power of the buddhas’ and bodhisattvas’ blessings,
By the power of this pure prayer,
And the auspicious convergence of our karma and the Guru’s unbearably great compassion,
Precious Refuge Savior heed our prayer:
Please, please live long.
Please, please live very long.
Please, please live infinitely long.
Colophon: Written and read by your devoted disciple Merry Colony, Yeshe Dechen, at the conclusion of the Vajrayogini retreat at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, June 13, 2019.
Merry Colony reading praise for Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, 2019. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim.
Find complete videos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent teachings, including teachings from the May-June 2019 Vajrayogini retreat at Institut Vajra Yogini in France:
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.