receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice
Rinpoche pointing out to Dagri Rinpoche where Lama Yeshe lived. Rinpoche’s house is “by chance” only a few miles away. “It wasn’t planned, it just happened like that!” Aptos, California, September 28, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been in the United States for the last three weeks, staying at Kachoe Dechen Ling, his home in Aptos on California’s central coast. On September 28, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Dagri Rinpoche, who was in California offering teachings at Land of Medicine Buddha, went out on a local pier to bless all the sentient beings in the ocean.
While in California, Lama Zopa Rinpoche regularly goes to the ocean with specially made Namgyälma mantra boards that are lowered into the water to bless all the beings. You can read more about the Namgyälma mantra and blessing the animals in the ocean on Mandala.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche holding ropes attached to mantra boards blessing beings in the ocean, Aptos, California, September 14, 2013. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Tenzin Ösel Hita greeting Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Pemba Sherpa in the background, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, September 21, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
Read to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche by Tenzin Ösel Hita, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe, during the long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, California, USA, on September 29, 2013.
Dearest spiritual friend and guide, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, you are so precious to us in so many different aspects. From so many angles in life, do you benefit us constantly with no break, no rest, no sleep.
Dear Lama Zopa-la, we are so grateful for your presence in this planet. We are so lucky to be able to share this space and time with you.
Since the beginning, you have dedicated your life fully to improving peoples’ spiritual lives, even though I’m sure you would love to spend many years in a Lawudo cave deep in meditation. Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us and guide us towards our inner potential.
We know how each and every action you do is dedicated to helping sentient beings – every thought, every breath; every sip of water you take is dedicated to sentient beings. We are so lucky to have you in our midst. You inspire us to be better people, and your presence gives us motivation to follow your example. You are constantly helping so many sentient beings from so many different dimensions. It is amazing to see your work in this world.
Please stay with us for as long as it takes all sentient beings to reach enlightenment. We are willing to follow your advice and work hard to accomplish your dreams, which, of course, are always focused on benefiting in the greatest way, in this life and the next.
We all thank you so much from the depth of our hearts; we wish you success in all of your vast visions present and future.
Lama Zopa-la please live a long life. And rest a bit when you can.
Thank you for guiding us relentlessly – without rest, without tiring.
Thank you for helping us purify, for sparking interest into investigating our own egos and ignorance.
Thank you for making us see how mistaken we are.
Please continue helping sentient beings, and live a long life, with no obstacles.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for your kindness and dedication.
We love you Lama Zopa-la.
Thank you so much.
—
Video of Tenzin Ösel Offering Praise to Lama Zopa Rinpoche
The long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche was offered by FPMT Inc. Board of Directors and FPMT North America with logistical support from local FPMT centers and projects. The long life puja included the 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.
Photos from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s visit to Land of Medicine Buddha can be found on photographer Chris Majors’ Flickr page.
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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been commenting very specifically this year about the need for FPMT students to actualize the lam-rim teachings and achieve realizations. Rinpoche’s main wishes are to organize a special group of lam-rim retreatants and to encourage others to follow a year-long lam-rim meditation schedule:
”Now what is needed are people who will sacrifice their lives, as they did in India, Tibet and Nepal, not just to study the Dharma like at a college or university, but to actualize the teachings in a monastery or isolated place. In Tibet, the mountains were full of caves like ants’ nests, where people would go to practice without distraction This is how Buddhism really comes alive – when it is not just words, not just scholars, but really living Buddhism. When study and realization come together, Buddhism will really last. Wow, then like an ocean in the heart and the mind, it will spread and be preserved. Otherwise, if it is just like learning in a college, it won’t last long. That’s like throwing tsampa on water: It stays on top and doesn’t sink – it is shallow. For Buddhism to really be preserved in the West as it was in Tibet and India, we need people who will sacrifice their lives to completely actualize in the heart what was explained by the Buddha We need to realize all of this in our hearts in the West.”
My very very dear friends,
From my heart I would like to express billions, zillions, trillions of thanks, I highly appreciate you doing practices for me. This is also puja for yourself. Even if you don’t think that it naturally happens like that as it is very powerful karma!
I highly appreciate all of you being good human beings practicing the Dharma – not only wanting to achieve temporary happiness in the future but also wanting to be free from the oceans of samsaric suffering and to free all sentient beings from the oceans of suffering and for them to achieve the highest peerless happiness, enlightenment, omniscient mind. This is so important, the utmost need. Generally to live life for others, to bring happiness to others.
Again my deep appreciation to all of you.
With much love and prayer,
Lama Zopa
List of practices specifically recommended for students to do
Dear Friends,
I would like to thank everyone very much for all their efforts in helping to do the practices Khadro-la advised us to do for Rinpoche’s health and long life.
It is very important for us to continue doing these practices especially at this time when we know there are obstacles for Rinpoche in 2014 and 2015. Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) was very clear for students especially to help by doing as much of the practices as possible.
If you take a little time to think of how each of us has benefitted so much from Rinpoche’s teachings and example … such a source of inspiration for practice! It is easy to make a little time with others or alone to generate a good motivation and do one of the practices requested. In fact dedicating any merit created from any virtuous action you do to purifying the karmic view of seeing the Guru as unwell is beneficial.
THANK YOU again,
Love Roger
Practices Specifically Requested for Students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to Do (see links above for more information about these practices):
– Liberate many animals
– Hang Tendil Nyersel prayer flags in all FPMT centers, projects and services
– Recite Most Secret Hayagriva mantra
– Offer long life pujas to Rinpoche with the 5 dakinis
Khadro-la said “The most important is good samaya from the students’ side. Whoever is doing the puja, prayers or practice, it should be done well, with good motivation and meditation”.
Please send your count of practices done at the end of each month to FPMT Center Services
Rejoice at practices done so far!
The prayer flags (one of of the Long Life practices requested for Lama Zopa Rinpoche – for full details see the post dated April 24) are now ready.
The prayer flags are available in strings of 25 flags,(about 8 meter long), or 10 flags per string (about 3.20 long) .
The size of each flag is 30 x 50 cm.
The flags and the shipping charge are free.
Instruction for ordering the flag:
Click on this link to view the flag:
http://monasteryshop.org/tendel-nyesel-prayerflag-344.html
Find a detailed description there on how to order.
Shipping:
Delivery is by normal postal parcel and will take up to three weeks. Please note that to receive the free shipping, you have to click on ‘ Free Shipping’ in the shipping page.
You can ask for express delivery for the flag – Express Delivery:
Please mention in the comment box of the order For express delivery, please make a donation of a minimum of 20 US$ through the PayPal link on the Kopan web site.
http://www.kopanmonastery.com/donations_payments.html
This will cover the additional cost for express delivery of about 2 rolls of 25 flags or three rolls of 10 flags.
Please add 20 US$ for each additional 2 rolls of 25, or 3 rolls of 10 flags.
With many thanks to Ven Fran and the team at Kopan Monastery.
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
Dharamsala, India – June 4, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offers Dharmachakra virtually the first time to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kopan, Nepal, May 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Very early in the morning Rinpoche decides to go to the long life initiation His Holiness the Dalai Lama is giving at the temple here in McLeod Ganj. So far, Rinpoche has been watching the webcast from Tushita [Meditation Centre]. We did try to explain to Rinpoche it would be difficult for different reasons. Rinpoche was very insistent he will go! Rinpoche wanted to offer the large 30-inch (76-centimeter) silver Dharmachakra to His Holiness. A small thing to get through security (never mind we didn’t have teaching passes either.)
During His Holiness’ visit to IOF [International Office] in Portland, Rinpoche offered this beautiful silver Dharmachakra to His Holiness on video. We took the video of Rinpoche offering, visualizing His Holiness, while Rinpoche was in Kopan, then emailed the video to Portland and there George, Ven. Holly [Ansett] and Tom [Truty] arranged for the video to be played to His Holiness after Tenzin Ösel Hita offered the body, speech and mind [mandala]. His Holiness watched the video of Rinpoche humbly offering the Dharmachakra and joined in the chant when Rinpoche did the short mandala offering. Then His Holiness made the comment, “so sincere.”
Now Rinpoche was in the teachings near to His Holiness and at the end of the teachings, after the mandala offering, Rinpoche managed to get to his feet and go up to His Holiness’ throne as best as he could holding the large silver Dharmachakra as high as he could, the five different colored khatas underneath. Rinpoche approached the throne bending down humbly and trying to hold the Dharmachakra high to offer to His Holiness. His Holiness, with arms stretched out and bending down low from the throne, was making an effort to try and reach the Dharmachakra, but then Rinpoche was bending even lower and it didn’t look like His Holiness could reach – this wasn’t going to work! Suddenly somehow they connected and finally His Holiness actually received the Dharmachakra first offered on video!
His Holiness said to Tashi-la, the ritual attendant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to put the Dharmachakra in front of the large Padmasambhava statue on the main altar. That seemed really auspicious and special. Such a moving offering, it really did feel like something significant.
Ven. Roger Kunsang is CEO of FPMT and assistant to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
To keep up to date with “Life on the Road with Lama Zopa Rinpoche,” consider signing up for our RSS feed (in the right-hand column of this page).
Dear Friends,
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health still continues to improve very gradually, there is still no interest from Rinpoche’s side to do any exercise but that seems to be the way Rinpoche has chosen.
At the beginning of every year I usually check with one or two high Lamas if there are any prayers or pujas we need to do to remove obstacles for Rinpoche’s health and long life. This year I have received the advice to do many prayers and pujas. These are being organized at Kopan Monastery, Sera Je Monastery, Ganden Shartse Monastery, Jangchup Choling Nunnery, Kopan Nunnery and also Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamsen.
Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) is advising FPMT centers, projects, services and students to also help. I would like to support Khadro-la’s request for students and centers to do the following as much as you can so that we can continue to have Rinpoche with us for a very long time to come.
Khadro-la specifically mentioned the following: “as much as possible if FPMT centers and students can please do”:
– Liberate many animals
– Hang Tendil Nyersel prayer flags in all FPMT centers, projects and services
– Recite Most Secret Hayagriva mantra
– Offer long life pujas to Rinpoche with the 5 dakinis
Khadro la said “The most important is good samaya from the students’ side. Whoever is doing the puja, prayers or practice, it should be done well, with good motivation and meditation”.
Please see the full list of pujas and practices to do below, and then please can you send in what you have done to Claire at International Office at the end of each month and we will offer that to Rinpoche.
These prayers and pujas done sincerely from the heart do make a difference … please help.
Love roger
The full list of pujas and practices to do and which are being done:
- Animal Liberation – do as much as possible, either yourselves or by donating online to Amitabha Buddhist Center, who does substantial animal liberations every two weeks. Text available here and in Essential Buddhist Prayers, vol 2.
- Tendil Nyersel prayer flags should be hung in all FPMT centers, projects and services. Kopan Monastery are kindly making these prayer flags and once they are ready (in about a month’s time) will send out information on how to order the prayer flags.
- Recite Hayagriva mantras as much as possible.
- Offer long life puja(s) to Rinpoche through the 5 Dakinis. FPMT will request Khadro-la to offer a long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Also when Rinpoche visits FPMT centers during the year, good to offer a long life puja with the 5 dakinis.
Practices being done at monasteries (can be done personally too):
5. Read the longest version of the Golden Light sutra x 67
6. Recite 100,000 praises to Tara within Tara pujas
7. Dor.de Kelsang x 67
8. Dukchuma as much as possible
9. Dukka x 1000
10. Mamo Trukung x 2
11. Gyal sod Tsen sod
(Mensaje de Roger, asistente de Lama Zopa Rimpoché.
Traducción al español por Alejandro García)
——
Queridos amigos,
La salud de Lama Zopa Rimpoché aún continúa mejorando muy gradualmente. Rimpoché todavía no tiene ningún interés en hacer ejercicio, peroparece que eso es lo que Rimpoché ha decidido.
Por lo general, a principio de cada año consulto con uno o dos Lamas superiores si hay oraciones o puyas que debamos hacer para eliminarobstáculos para la salud y larga vida de Rimpoché. Este año recibí el consejo de hacer muchas oraciones y puyas. Éstas se han organizado en elMonasterio de Kopan, el Monasterio de Sera Je, el Monasterio de Ganden Shartse, el Convento de Jangchup Choling, el Convento de Kopan ytambién [el Colegio Monástico de] Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamsen.
Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) aconseja que también los centros, proyectos, servicios y estudiantes. Me gustaríarespaldar la petición de Khadro-la de que los estudiantes y los centros realicen las siguientes prácticas tanto como puedan para que podamoscontinuar teniendo a Rimpoché con nosotros por mucho tiempo.
Khadro-la específicamente mencionó que “por favor los centros y los estudiantes realizaran las siguientes prácticas tanto como fuera posible”:
ñ Liberación de animales
ñ Colgar banderas Tendil Nyersel en todos los centros, proyectos y servicios de la FPMT
ñ Recitar el mantra de Hayagriva Muy Secreto
ñ Ofrecer puyas de larga vida para Rimpoché con las cinco dakinis
Khadro-la dijo “Lo más importante es el buen samaya de parte de los estudiantes. Quienquiera que esté haciendo puyas, oraciones o prácticas,debe hacerlo bien, con buena motivación y meditación”.
Hacer estas oraciones y puyas sinceramente y de corazón sí marca una diferencia… por favor ayuden.
Con amor,
roger
La lista completa de puyas y prácticas a realizar y que se están realizando:
1. Liberación de animales: realícenla tanto como sea posible, ya sea ustedes mismos o por medio de un donativo en línea al Amitabha Buddhist Center, donde quincenalmente se realizan importantes liberaciones de animales. El texto está disponible aquí y en el Libro de oraciones, vol. 2.
2. Banderas de oración Tendil Nyersel: deben colgarse en todos los centros, proyectos y servicios de la FPMT. El Monasterio de Kopan amablemente está produciendo estas banderas de oración. Una vez que estén listas (aproximadamente dentro de un mes) les enviaremos información de cómo ordenarlas.
3. Recitar tantos mantras de Hayagriva como sea posible.
4. Ofrecer puya(s) de larga vida a Rimpoché a través de las cinco Dakinis.
La FPMT le pedirá a Khadro-la que ofrezca una puya de larga vida a Lama Zopa Rimpoché. También es bueno que cuando Rimpoché visite los centros de la FPMT a lo largo del año, se le ofrezca una puya de larga vida con las cinco dakinis.
Prácticas que se están realizando en los monasterios (también pueden hacerse de manera personal):
5. Leer la versión más larga del Sutra de la luz dorada x 67
6. Recitar 100,000 alabanzas a Tara dentro de las puyas de Tara
7. Dor.de Kelsang x 67
8. Dukchuma tanto como sea posible
9. Dukka x 1000
10. Mamo Trukung x 2
11. Gyal sod Tsen sod
Cari Amici,
la salute di Lama Zopa Rinpoce continua a migliorare gradualmente pur non esistendo ancora un interesse da parte di Rinpoche di fare qualsiasi esercizio tra quelli prescritti… ma questa sembra essere la via che Rinpoche ha scelto.
All’inizio di ogni anno, di solito controllo con uno o due grandi Lama se ci sono delle preghiere o puje che dobbiamo fare per rimuovere gli ostacoli alla salute e alla lunga vita di Rinpoche. Quest’anno ho ricevuto il consiglio di fare molte preghiere e puje. Queste sono state organizzate al Monastero di Kopan, di Sera Je, Ganden Shartse, Jangchup Choling Nunnery, a Kopan e anche a Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamsen.
Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) consiglia ai Centri, Progetti e Servizi FPMT e anche agli studenti di impegnarsi anch’essi in queste pratiche. Vorrei quindi appoggiare la richiesta di Khadro-la agli studenti e ai Centri di fare quanto è possibile in modo di continuare a beneficiare della presenza di Rinpoche per molto tempo a venire.
Khadro-la ha espressamente detto: “è importante che i centri FPMT e gli studenti possano eseguire il più possibile”:
– Liberazione di molti animali
– Appendere le bandiere di preghiera Tendil Nyersel in tutti i centri FPMT, progetti e servizi.
– Recitare il mantra molto segreto di Hayagriva
– Offrire puje di lunga vita a Rinpoche con le 5 dakini
Khadro la ha aggiunto “La cosa più importante è mantenere buoni i samaya (impegni) da parte degli studenti. Chi sta facendo le puje, le preghiere o le pratiche, dovrebbe farle bene, con una buona motivazione e buone meditazioni “.
Si prega di consultare l’elenco completo delle puje e pratiche da fare al link sotto indicato, e poi per favore potete inviare quello che avete fatto a Claire presso l’Ufficio Internazionale FPMT alla fine di ogni mese in modo da poterle offrire a Rinpoche.
Queste preghiere e puje fatte sinceramente dal cuore fanno la differenza …Vi preghiamo di aiutare in tutto questo.
Con amore
Roger
Francais
Santé de Rinpoché – Dernières nouvelles et pratiques
Le 24 avril 2013
Chers amis,
La santé de Rinpoché continue de s’améliorer très progressivement. Rinpoché ne montre toujours pas d’intérêt pour faire des exercices mais cela semble être ce qu’a choisi Rinpoché.
Habituellement, au début de chaque année, je vérifie avec un ou deux grands lamas s’il y a des prières ou des pratiques à faire pour lever les obstacles à la santé et la longue vie de Rinpoché. Cette année, ils m’ont conseillé que soient faites de nombreuses prières et poujas. Celles-ci sont organisées dans les monastères de Kopan, Séra Djé et Ganden Shartsé, dans les nonneries de Jangchoup Choling, Kopan et également à Ganden Jangtsé Samlo Kamsèn.
Khadro-la (Rangjoung Néljorma Khadro Namsél Drönme) conseille également aux étudiants, centres, projets et services de la FPMT d’apporter leur aide. Je souhaite exprimer mon soutien à la demande de Khadro-la d’effectuer les pratiques suivantes aussi souvent et autant de fois que possible afin que nous puissions garder Rinpoché près de nous pendant encore très longtemps.
Khadro-la a spécifiquement mentionné les pratiques suivantes « autant de fois que possible si les centres FPMT et les étudiants veulent bien le faire » :
– libérer de nombreux animaux,
– accrocher les drapeaux de prières Tendil Nyersel dans tous les centres, services et projets FPMT,
– réciter le mantra d’Hayagriva Extrêmement secret [HRIH VAJRA KRODA HAYAGRIVA HOULOU HOULOU HOUM PÈ],
– offrir à Rinpoché des poujas de longue vie avec les 5 dakinis.
Khadro-la a dit : « Le plus important est un bon samaya du côté des étudiants. Quelle que soit la personne qui les fait, les prières et pratiques doivent être bien faites, avec une bonne motivation et une bonne méditation. »
Vous trouverez ci-dessous la liste des poujas et pratiques. S’il vous plaît, veuillez indiquer chaque mois à Claire, au Bureau international, celles que vous avez faites et nous les offrirons à Rinpoché.
Ces prières et ces poujas faites du fond du coeur font vraiment une différence. S’il vous plaît, apportez votre aide.
Avec amour,
roger
Lama Zopa Rinpoche making prostrations at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, March 10, 2013. Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/fpmtABC.
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
Hong Kong – March 22, 2013
Rinpoche stood with his hands in the mudra of prostration before a very large thangka of Chenrezig. Rinpoche gradually leaned forward, slowly going to the ground, his stronger left arm reached for the ground, fingers contacted the floor. Gradually, Rinpoche put weight on the arm as his body leaned forward cautiously. The left knee moved towards the ground and made contact. Now the hard part: the right arm reached out to touch the ground with Rinpoche trying to spread his fingers so they landed open and stretched out on the floor.
I was feeling a little anxious as when Rinpoches head goes lower than the waist, he can feel dizzy and that’s a little dangerous after a stroke.
Gradually, Rinpoche lowered his body forward awkwardly, always the left side taking most of the weight. Watching Rinpoche making this kind of effort is very moving. I can see others moved and feeling emotional. The whole hall is very quiet while Rinpoche is making such an effort to do a full length prostration to all the Buddhas.
Rinpoche is now stretched full length on the floor although his right arm can’t straighten out yet. The process is slow but done with great, great determination. Now the really hard part: Rinpoche gets up alone as he won’t let anyone help! Rinpoche has developed a technique as he gradually rises where he shifts his weight over several stages, and finally to the stage where he has to take the weight from his arms and be on his legs only. That is most difficult. It’s quite tense watching this part and I can see some students who are watching, holding their breaths.
Rinpoche is hesitating now as he has to make a huge effort to go from kneeling to his feet … He does so and then straightens his body and is standing. His hands slowly come to his heart in the mudra of prostration in front of Chenrezig. Now two more prostrations and then the climb up on to the throne.
It wasn’t so long ago that Rinpoche couldn’t do this alone and it was dangerous as he would sometimes feel dizzy when his head went below the waist (not a good sign when you have problems with blood pressure and you have had a stroke!)
It’s very inspiring and moving to see Rinpoche do this with such determination. In the hospital immediately after the stroke, Rinpoche commented and also explained to His Holiness the Dalai Lama how sad he was that he couldn’t do even one prostration any more … or even bring both hands to the mudra of prostration at his heart to respect the Three Jewels. But now up to 12 long prostrations alone … that’s progress! Rinpoche is going in his own way at his own pace.
Ven. Roger Kunsang is CEO of FPMT and assistant to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
To keep up to date with “Life on the Road with Lama Zopa Rinpoche,” consider signing up for our RSS feed (in the right-hand column of this page).
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
Taiwan–March 2, 2013
We stopped for dinner, at a food court on the drive to Kaoshung. (We were driving from Taipei in the north to Kaoshung in the south of Taiwan. We got off to a late start as Rinpoche was trying to squeeze in as much as possible at Jinsui Farlin, our center in Taipei, before leaving.) It’s around midnight and not easy to find something open.
The food court had many small restaurants even an Irish Potato place … Hmmm delicious! But they were all closed except for a place specializing in pork dishes(!) and a coffee shop (midnight, can you imagine … coffee?). So we settled for the only thing existing for midnight vegetarians … tea/coffee and a sandwich of delicious white bread.
Rinpoche was sitting at the table with tea and delicious sandwich and seemed to be thinking contemplatively as he watched the people moving around in the shopping area (seeming to not have the slightest interest in the delicious sandwich). We all were very hungry, so not wanting to wait too long to eat the delicious sandwich.
Rinpoche then mentioned with a mixture of sadness and compassion, “When you don’t think of the next life … people are wandering, like in a dream, believing 100% the dream is real! Like in a illusion or mirage … believing it’s all real.” (Rinpoche was watching the people walking around very focused on the shops and shaking his head.)
Rinpoche continued, “Imagine walking around like this and no idea of your next life and that life is not according to your choice; it is up to karma we create. Most likely insects, jelly fish … what suffering. So knowing Dharma is a huge benefit! Wow wow wow, so so so fortunate having met Dharma. Knowing Dharma is a huge opening of the eyes; the need for money in this life becomes like nothing. So so so fortunate having met Dharma.”
UPDATE: Ven. Roger share’s a video from the food court.
Ven. Roger Kunsang is CEO of FPMT and assistant to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
To keep up to date with “Life on the Road with Lama Zopa Rinpoche,” consider signing up for our RSS feed (in the right-hand column of this page).
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Choden Rinpoche, Taiwan, February 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Taichung, Taiwan — February 16, 2013
From Ven. Roger:
It’s been two years since Rinpoche has had the stroke. Not a lot has changed in Rinpoche’s life style actually. When Rinpoche had the stroke it happened gradually over several days … things got worse gradually, even after arriving at the hospital the stroke seemed to continue for several days. It got to the stage where Rinpoche physically was doing almost nothing, could hardly move. It was a serious stroke … he just lay there and it was very hard to know what to do. Rinpoche took absolutely no interest in his body. He never asked the doctor how he was or what he should do … what were his chances, will he be OK? Not the slightest concern did he seem to have about his critical condition. Rinpoche focused on prayers for the sick people in the hospital and even did a little fundraising for the (Christian) hospital in the later part of his stay.
And so nothing has changed over the last two years in this sense. Rinpoche seems not to have the slightest interest in recovering or not (but recovery is happening). This is hard to relate to for most people, why wouldn’t you want to get better … so you could help others. Prior to the stroke Rinpoche lived the same way … having no worldly concern or interest … everything was for others. There was no concern for sleep or any worldly benefit, no interest in rest. ( Rinpoche’s definition of rest was … abiding in virtue.) From my experience being with Rinpoche, there was no space for the eight worldly dharmas, there was no self cherishing … signs such as these was none.
So nothing has really changed in Rinpoche’s life … oops, there is one thing … Rinpoche doesn’t cough any more, especially in teachings! The more I think about Rinpoche’s life, and wonder, and try to understand, the more I think about Shantideva and the way of the bodhisattva warrior. Rinpoche is a warrior, and I think he has conquered the real enemy within and that’s maybe why it is hard to relate to him sometimes or understand his actions … because they are always opposite to the world. Rinpoche has no rush to go anywhere as he is already there. And as Rinpoche always says, “Taking care of others is the best way of taking care of yourself.”
This morning Rinpoche did 12 long prostrations unaided … quite an effort. We are in the 15 Days of Miracles, so Rinpoche is making an effort to use every minute to create merit. Yamantaka self initiation started a few days ago and is still not finished … it started with prostrations and then Lama Chopa and in between many other things kept happening … pujas, incense offering for people who are sick … this and that. The day finishes around 3 a.m., 4 a.m. is tea and then some prayers … a little rest after breakfast.
Video: Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing prostrations, Shakyamuni Center, February 2013
For the last few days Rinpoche has been visiting Choden Rinpoche to receive shabtu puja (clearing pollution) and also offering lunch to Choden Rinpoche. They sit together quietly, very peacefully and occasionally there is a little conversation and warm smile.
Today … right now Rinpoche is giving Dzambala initiation here at Shakyamuni Center, there could be as many as 500 people in the gompa. When the initiation finishes, the Yamantaka self initiation will continue. And so it goes on.
Rinpoche in front of Shakyamuni Center, Taichung, Taiwan, February 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Rinpoche’s blood pressure and sugar levels are OK. The doctors seem to be happy considering Rinpoche’s situation. And although Rinpoche has no interest in the conventional types of exercise … very gradually there seems to be improvement in his right leg and arm, the arm being the slowest to improve but it does seem to be improving.
Most days here Rinpoche does long prostrations and then walks up the stairs to the top floor where he stays … six stories. It leaves most of us puffing, and Rinpoche manages OK.
Ven. Roger Kunsang is CEO of FPMT and assistant to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.