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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche at long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
With bushfires raging in New South Wales, Australia, one can turn to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice page “Disasters of the Elements.” The advice includes Rinpoche’s practices for dispelling fire, a “Letter Regarding the Disasters of the Elements,” a PDF of the heart mantra of Arya Vairochana and a story about a fire at Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s house.
The FPMT-affiliated Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains is currently closed due to fires burning in the area. The Liberation Prison Project Australia office is also under threat.
Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre shared on their Facebook page: “We hope that a worst-case scenario will not eventuate but in preparation we have packed up all our holy objects, images, shop stock and Centre admin papers etc which will be relocated to a safe location on Tuesday morning. … For now, please continue to offer your prayers for those who have lost homes, the creatures who have lost their lives, for those who will continue to battle the fires and for those who offer hope and inspiration to all of us.”
Conditions are expected to worsen on Wednesday, the BBC reported.
You can find more advice from Rinpoche concerning fires in the “Lama Zopa Rinpoche Online Advice Book” on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website.
Learn more about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s homepage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Aptos, California, September 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues to rebuild strength and skills that were affected by the stroke he manifested in 2011. Rinpoche practices writing to improve his right hand dexterity.
Rinpoche is writing the mantra that is on the “Buddha’s Teaching on Our Lives Card,” which is available in the FPMT Foundation Store.
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 Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 21, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
Lama Zopa: Once you know Buddhism you become wish fulfilling to the world.
– From Ven. Roger Kunsang’s Twitter page, posted on September 22, 2013
Ven. Roger is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc. He regularly shares Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pith sayings on Twitter. (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 for Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pithy advice, reported by Ven. Roger Kunsang (@rogerkunsang) via Twitter:
“What makes death very difficult – worldly concerns, the 8 worldly dharmas , attachment! What helps – good heart!”
“Don’t let personal problems become center problems or other’s problems!”
“When someone is making you angry, don’t put the practice off to later, practice patience now! Later may never come.”
“Your Guru gives you teachings and then puts you in the situation so you have to practice that… lojong.”
Dagri Rinpoche with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kachoe Dechen Ling on the morning of his departure back to India, Aptos, California, October 7, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Dagri Rinpoche wrapped up a tour of the United States, visiting Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the morning of October 7. Dagri Rinpoche offered Lama Zopa Rinpoche the double dorje with mandala offering before departing for India. Dagri Rinpoche is an FPMT touring lama and taught at three FPMT centers during his visit: Milarepa Center in Vermont, Kurukulla Center in Massachusetts and Land of Medicine Buddha in California.
Kurukulla Center offers video and audio of Dagri Rinpoche teaching on the Three Principles of the Path. And Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) shares many photos of Dagri Rinpoche’s visit on their Facebook page. While at LMB, Dagri Rinpoche gave a Most Secret Havagriva empowerment and gave 10 full days of Lama Chöpa commentary.
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 preparing for Amitabha long life initiation at Gyalwa Gyatso Buddhist Center, Campbell, California, October 13, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Gyalwa Gyatso Buddhist Center in Campbell, California, hosted Lama Zopa Rinpoche who gave teachings and Amitabha long life initiation on Sunday, October 13. The preliminary teachings were streamed live over the internet from Gyalwa Gyatso. The video of the teachings can still be watched online for four more weeks.
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 with Tenzin Ösel Hita, Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, October 7, 2013. Photos by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s home in California is Kachoe Dechen Ling in Aptos. While he’s staying there, Rinpoche has many visitors. Tenzin Ösel Hita, who is studying at a nearby college, visited Rinpoche recently and the two of them kicked around a soccer ball. Rinpoche’s assistant Ven. Roger Kunsang commented, “It’s exercise time with the soccer ball … you have to be creative to get Rinpoche to exercise!”
Tenzin Ösel Hita and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, kicking the soccer ball for exercise, Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 7, 2013
Ven. Roger shared some more photos of a just a few of the people that Rinpoche has been seeing at his home in Aptos, California.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Dagri Rinpoche at lunch, Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, US, September 24, 2013
Dagri Rinpoche gave Lama Chöpa commentary September 27-October 6 at Land of Medicine Buddha in nearby Soquel, California. During his time in California, he saw Lama Zopa Rinpoche often.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Dr. Don Brown and Dr. Robbie Watkins, director of Kadampa Center in North Carolina, US, Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 5, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Dunia Cárcamo Pérez, director of Khamlungpa Center in Zapopan, Mexico, Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 2, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinopche checks out Tenzin Ösel Hita’s new car, Aptos, California, US, October 7, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Tenzin Ösel Hita recently visited Lama Zopa Ripoche to show Rinpoche his new car. This autumn, Tenzin Ösel moved to California to continue his studies and needed a car to get to class. Rinpoche and many others helped sponsor the car for Ösel.
When Rinpoche came to see the vehicle, he had several Namgyälma mantra decals ready to put on it. Once the decals were in place, Rinpoche pretended to take the car for a test drive. (In actuality, Rinpoche doesn’t drive.)
About the photos, Rinpoche’s assistant Ven. Roger Kunsang said, “Rinpoche getting the feel of the car … for the first time this life. Rinpoche said he would never drive this life … if he did … the next life would come very quickly!”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche pretends to drive Tenzin Ösel Hita’s new car, Aptos, California, US, October 7, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Mandala 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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing Dzambala offering before lunch at Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, US, October 4, 2013. Photos by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
When FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche is in California, he lives at Kachoe Dechen Ling in Aptos on California’s central coast near Santa Cruz. Life at Kachoe Dechen Ling is very busy for Rinpoche and the resident Sangha who live there. Rinpoche’s assistant Ven. Roger Kunsang captures in photos some of the activity going on at Kachoe Dechen Ling over the past few weeks.
Vens. Sangpo, Sherab and Tsering rolling mantras and filling the statues offered to Rinpoche at the long life puja, Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 5, 2013
Sangha making dinner for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Dagri Rinpoche, Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 4, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wishing everyone “Big Love!” Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 24, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Vens. Pemba, Sherab and Tsering doing puja at Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 22, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Tsering late at night circumambulating the stupas in front Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 14, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche sorting through his texts, Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 13, 2013. “All these we carry in four big heavy suit cases everywhere we go!” Ven. Roger said about the texts.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche after arriving back in California from Mongolia, September 13, 2013
Mandala 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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
Photographer Chris Majors captured in vivid and glorious detail the long life puja offered to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha in California. You can see all of his photos from the festive and beautiful day on Chris’ Flickr page.
Dakini dance at long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
The long life puja, held on Sunday, September 29, 2013, included the special dance of the five dakinis in accordance with advice given by Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life.
Tenzin Ösel Hita (in gold) greets Dagri Rinpoche while Yangsi Rinpoche and Geshe Ngawang Dakpa look on, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
Dagri Rinpoche, Yangsi Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Dakpa as well as Tenzin Ösel Hita all attended the puja, which was offered by FPMT Inc. Board of Directors and FPMT North America with logistical support from local FPMT centers and projects. Tenzin Ösel is the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe. For the puja, he composed and read praises for Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Tendil Nyersel prayer flags at Land of Medicine Buddha, California. Photo by Chris Majors.
In addition to hosting the long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha hung dozens of Tendil Nyersel prayer flags. FPMT centers, projects and services are encouraged to continue to do the practices for Lama Zopa Rinpoche as advised by Khadro-la, which include hanging the Tendil Nyersel prayer flags as well as reciting Most Secret Hayagriva mantra and organizing animal liberations. More information is available on the page “Rinpoche’s Health – Official Updates and Practices.”
If you’ve hung Tendil Nyersel flags at your center, send your pictures to Mandala!
Mandala 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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
From left: Dagri Rinpoche, Yangsi Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche listening to Geshe Ngawang Dakpa, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche was joined by Dagri Rinpoche, Yangsi Rinpoche and Geshe Ngawang Dakpa for the lunch offered after the long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha in California, US, on Sunday, September 29, 2013.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his stay in California. Dagri Rinpoche was teaching a course at Land of Medicine Buddha. Yangsi Rinpoche, president of Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, flew to California to attend the puja. Geshe Dakpa is the resident teacher at Tse Chen Ling in nearby San Francisco.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting H.E. Choden Rinpoche, San Jose, California, September 30, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
During late September, both Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Eminence Choden Rinpoche were in the Bay Area of California. Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited with His Eminence on September 30 in San Jose.
Mandala 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 have news you would like to share, please let us know.