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Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
- Willkommen
Die Stiftung zur Erhaltung der Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) ist eine Organisation, die sich weltweit für die Erhaltung und Verbreitung des Mahayana-Buddhismus einsetzt, indem sie Möglichkeiten schafft, den makellosen Lehren des Buddha zuzuhören, über sie zur reflektieren und zu meditieren und auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrung das Dharma unter den Lebewesen zu verbreiten.
Wir bieten integrierte Schulungswege an, durch denen der Geist und das Herz der Menschen in ihr höchstes Potential verwandelt werden zum Wohl der anderen – inspiriert durch eine Haltung der universellen Verantwortung und dem Wunsch zu dienen. Wir haben uns verpflichtet, harmonische Umgebungen zu schaffen und allen Wesen zu helfen, ihr volles Potenzial unendlicher Weisheit und grenzenlosen Mitgefühls zu verwirklichen.
Unsere Organisation basiert auf der buddhistischen Tradition von Lama Tsongkhapa von Tibet, so wie sie uns von unseren Gründern Lama Thubten Yeshe und Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche gelehrt wird.
- Bienvenidos
La Fundación para la preservación de la tradición Mahayana (FPMT) es una organización que se dedica a preservar y difundir el budismo Mahayana en todo el mundo, creando oportunidades para escuchar, reflexionar, meditar, practicar y actualizar las enseñanzas inconfundibles de Buda y en base a esa experiencia difundir el Dharma a los seres.
Proporcionamos una educación integrada a través de la cual las mentes y los corazones de las personas se pueden transformar en su mayor potencial para el beneficio de los demás, inspirados por una actitud de responsabilidad y servicio universales. Estamos comprometidos a crear ambientes armoniosos y ayudar a todos los seres a desarrollar todo su potencial de infinita sabiduría y compasión.
Nuestra organización se basa en la tradición budista de Lama Tsongkhapa del Tíbet como nos lo enseñaron nuestros fundadores Lama Thubten Yeshe y Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A continuación puede ver una lista de los centros y sus páginas web en su lengua preferida.
- Bienvenue
L’organisation de la FPMT a pour vocation la préservation et la diffusion du bouddhisme du mahayana dans le monde entier. Elle offre l’opportunité d’écouter, de réfléchir, de méditer, de pratiquer et de réaliser les enseignements excellents du Bouddha, pour ensuite transmettre le Dharma à tous les êtres. Nous proposons une formation intégrée grâce à laquelle le cœur et l’esprit de chacun peuvent accomplir leur potentiel le plus élevé pour le bien d’autrui, inspirés par le sens du service et une responsabilité universelle. Nous nous engageons à créer un environnement harmonieux et à aider tous les êtres à épanouir leur potentiel illimité de compassion et de sagesse. Notre organisation s’appuie sur la tradition guéloukpa de Lama Tsongkhapa du Tibet, telle qu’elle a été enseignée par nos fondateurs Lama Thoubtèn Yéshé et Lama Zopa Rinpoché.
Visitez le site de notre Editions Mahayana pour les traductions, conseils et nouvelles du Bureau international en français.
Voici une liste de centres et de leurs sites dans votre langue préférée
- Benvenuto
L’FPMT è un organizzazione il cui scopo è preservare e diffondere il Buddhismo Mahayana nel mondo, creando occasioni di ascolto, riflessione, meditazione e pratica dei perfetti insegnamenti del Buddha, al fine di attualizzare e diffondere il Dharma fra tutti gli esseri senzienti.
Offriamo un’educazione integrata, che può trasformare la mente e i cuori delle persone nel loro massimo potenziale, per il beneficio di tutti gli esseri, ispirati da un’attitudine di responsabilità universale e di servizio.
Il nostro obiettivo è quello di creare contesti armoniosi e aiutare tutti gli esseri a sviluppare in modo completo le proprie potenzialità di infinita saggezza e compassione.
La nostra organizzazione si basa sulla tradizione buddhista di Lama Tsongkhapa del Tibet, così come ci è stata insegnata dai nostri fondatori Lama Thubten Yeshe e Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Di seguito potete trovare un elenco dei centri e dei loro siti nella lingua da voi prescelta.
- 欢迎 / 歡迎
简体中文
“护持大乘法脉基金会”( 英文简称:FPMT。全名:Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) 是一个致力于护持和弘扬大乘佛法的国际佛教组织。我们提供听闻,思维,禅修,修行和实证佛陀无误教法的机会,以便让一切众生都能够享受佛法的指引和滋润。
我们全力创造和谐融洽的环境, 为人们提供解行并重的完整佛法教育,以便启发内在的环宇悲心及责任心,并开发内心所蕴藏的巨大潜能 — 无限的智慧与悲心 — 以便利益和服务一切有情。
FPMT的创办人是图腾耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。我们所修习的是由两位上师所教导的,西藏喀巴大师的佛法传承。
繁體中文
護持大乘法脈基金會”( 英文簡稱:FPMT。全名:Found
ation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ) 是一個致力於護持和弘揚大乘佛法的國際佛教組織。我們提供聽聞, 思維,禪修,修行和實證佛陀無誤教法的機會,以便讓一切眾生都能 夠享受佛法的指引和滋潤。 我們全力創造和諧融洽的環境,
為人們提供解行並重的完整佛法教育,以便啟發內在的環宇悲心及責 任心,並開發內心所蘊藏的巨大潛能 — 無限的智慧與悲心 – – 以便利益和服務一切有情。 FPMT的創辦人是圖騰耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。
我們所修習的是由兩位上師所教導的,西藏喀巴大師的佛法傳承。 察看道场信息:
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Practice with the bodhisattva attitude every day. People can’t see your mind; what people see is a manifestation of your attitude in your actions of body and speech. So pay attention to your attitude all the time. Guard it as if you are the police, or like a parent cares for a child, like a bodyguard, or as if you are the guru and your mind is your disciple.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
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The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop and features a vast selection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. These items include homestudy programs, prayers and practices in PDF or eBook format, materials for children, and other resources to support practitioners.
Items displayed in the shop are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from their sale. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice
11
Goats and Chickens
Varanasi, India — January 10, 2011
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
The flight to Varanasi was delayed which is good because we were running late. Rinpoche seemed not at all concerned about the lateness and he even gave a short teaching just prior to leaving Tushita.
We arrived in Varanasi (nice new airport). On the way to the hotel from the airport, Rinpoche sees a chicken alone, about to be killed. We stop and buy it, put it in a little bag, and away we go, Rinpoche reciting mantras.
A few miles down the road, we pass another butcher, this time with many chickens and goats. Rinpoche wants to stop immediately. There is intense discussion with Rinpoche: “If we buy many, where to put them?” Anyway, we buy three goats and one chicken and start driving again ….
- Tagged: animals, lama zopa rinpoche, mandala
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10
Delhi, India — January 9, 2011
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
It’s a very cold day for Delhi, about 4 ˚C. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in Delhi for a few events including the 30th Delhi Dharma Celebration. Tushita has had the great good fortune to host His Holiness 30 times since the late 70s! Rinpoche says that offering service to His Holiness, especially in this way, “is the most extraordinary, most amazing thing! Most unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable ….”
In the morning we had a small group appointment with His Holiness. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was running late for the appointment and arrived at the hotel just behind His Holiness. His Holiness turned around to find Rinpoche behind and jokingly said, “You’re behind me, you’re supposed to be in front of me,” and then took Rinpoche by the hand and went into the small meeting room.
His Holiness sat on a chair and asked everyone to sit down on the chairs. Rinpoche immediately dropped to the floor with his head not far from the floor. His Holiness joked with Rinpoche but couldn’t get Rinpoche to sit on the chair.
His Holiness asked for the first question (it was about happiness) and His Holiness said that that subject would come in the afternoon talk, but started to explain a little, and then mentioned how much he appreciated Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche and how much benefit the FPMT had been in offering the Dharma. His Holiness said, “I really appreciate … I think it is something marvelous!” and also mentioned how Rinpoche, although he had done so much to benefit others and had many centers, remained a very simple, humble monk! How he was a very good example!
Later that day, we had lunch at the center and Rinpoche said he needed to write down his thank you speech. This always happens at the last minute, so Rinpoche dictated and I wrote, watching my watch as we needed to leave! Rinpoche spoke fast and kept slipping in quotes. There were five large pages of praises to His Holiness, and I only just managed to get down most of it in almost unintelligible writing – what a mess! We rushed off to the talk and arrived just in time to meet His Holiness. Rinpoche was on the stage with His Holiness and the talk started. I looked down at my notes (Rinpoche’s thank you speech) – what a mess! I had to get it ready for the end of the talk for Rinpoche to read. I asked Ven. Ailsa to help. It wasn’t easy, especially knowing it had to be all figured out soon for Rinpoche to read out in front of His Holiness and 3,000 people. Anyway, Ven. Ailsa did a great job, and I managed to get the notes to Rinpoche just prior to the end of the talk.
THANK YOU to Renuka (director of Tushita) to Ven. Ailsa and Ven. Kabir and all the Tushita staff for putting together a great event – His Holiness was very happy!
Worth a few minutes of rejoicing!
1
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal — January 1, 2011
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
Rinpoche arrived back in Nepal on the fifth of December after a six hour drive to the Seattle airport followed by three flights and 35 hours of travel. From the airport in Kathmandu Rinpoche first visited the Kopan Nunnery. All 400 nuns lined up with khatags. Following the reception, Rinpoche heads to the gompa and as usual spends time doing prostrations, maybe 20 minutes. He then offered khatags to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s throne and to the altars. Then upstairs and a short talk and tea. Following this we’re back in the car and drive up to Kopan Monastery. Around 350 monks are lined up. The smallest was first (no more than three feet tall and cute, like the little nuns). As Rinpoche moves along the line they gradually increase in height. Then there are the people doing the course, more than 200 individuals (interesting faces from all over the world) crowding around offering khatags etc. with the Sherpa gaylings leading the way. The nunnery and monastery, and of course the people, take a few hours. Then we arrive in Rinpoche’s rooms where there is some longer talk and tea. Meanwhile a lot of unpacking starts, setting up Rinpoche’s altar, etc.. This is done wherever we go. So that is how the arrival finished following the long flight.
Rinpoche taught for one week of the November course. Around 260 people were in attendance. It is always a very nice and peaceful atmosphere. Then we had to pack again and fly to the borders of Nepal and India, then drive six hours to Kalimpong on a long winding narrow road where people drive like there is no oncoming traffic. On the way we met the Abbot of Sera Je Monastery and had a very late lunch together. We arrived in the evening at the monastery of Domo Geshe Rinpoche (who you may remember the previous incarnation from the book, The Way of the White Clouds), Tharpa Choling. Rinpoche has, with students, sponsored the building of a new Labrang at Tharpa Choling.
His Holiness arrived the next day and there were two days of teachings and then we headed back to Kathmandu where Rinpoche offered teachings to the monks and nuns of Kopan as well as 80 Westerners who were doing the seven-day lam-rim retreat following the one month November course. Rinpoche also accepted to give the lung of the Sutra of Golden Light which was requested by a young African student who received the Sutra of Golden Light as one of his preliminaries from Rinpoche. Teachings happened every night. Somewhere in all of this there are a few all-day intensive pilgrimages… really interesting ones!
Now it is after midnight and we have to catch a plane tomorrow after lunch. Rinpoche decides it is very important to give a long life initiation to Lama Lhundrup first thing the next morning, then visit the nunnery to see what artwork is needed for the new temple. All this is to be done before we leave at midday. Next we catch a little sleep and then later lots of activity as we need to pack (and that is no small job). Also Rinpoche needs to do preparation for the initiation. I can see we are already way behind schedule and there are always so many last minute things to do! Now it is mid-morning and we have to decide: do we get the flight or cancel? Too many things going on and not enough time. It is Saturday and the travel agency is closed, no way to see if we can delay or not, so I race into town to the airlines. Internet is down, they can’t help! Cell phones are not working, the signals are overloaded and it is difficult to call out. In the end I manage to cancel the flight but no seats for another week…a bit of a disaster. I get back to Kopan and Rinpoche has finished the initiation and is heading for the nunnery. Back from the nunnery around 7 pm and…Rinpoche’s altar is on fire!
The rooms are filled with thick heavy smoke, you can’t see anything, it very difficult to breathe, like choking, in the heavy smoke! Try to get to the source of where the fire is. Okay, main altar, three of us start throwing water and wet towels. Get it under control. It is quite a mess and there is damage to holy objects. Rinpoche discovered the fire first and yelled “fire!” The next thing Rinpoche said was…he was the cause as he left candles burning.
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala
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13
Tharpa Choling Monastery, Kalimpong, West-Bengal, India — December 12, 2010
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
Right now I’m at Tharpa Choling Monastery, the oldest Tibetan Monastery in India, on a rooftop high above where His Holiness the Dalai Lama is talking to the local Buddhist community. There are thousands of Nepali and Tibetan families, hundreds of school kids in their uniforms, and others arrived very early, before 6 a.m. Every possibly place is packed. Especially rooftops!
Rinpoche finished the Kopan course a little early with an all night Vajrasattva initiation. Prior to that he gave a talk and Refuge to the attendees. As soon as the Vajrasattva initiation finished, 6 a.m., Rinpoche did a short preparation and then gave Red Tara initiation. This finished at 9 a.m. and at 9.30 a.m. we rushed to the airport to fly then drive to Kalimpong.
Tharpa Choling is the monastery of the young incarnation of Domo Geshe
Rinpoche. Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently sponsored the new additions to the monastery with the kind help of students in Singapore.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is teaching here for a few days and then goes on to
Gangtok, Sikkim.
It was interesting to see the Shamarpa at the Long Life Puja of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama this morning. It seems there have been some successful
negotiations. Also present is one of the incarnations of Jamgon Kontrol Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche will return to Kopan in a few days to continue teaching,
there are about 80 students still at Kopan doing a lam-rim retreat.
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala, tharpa choling monastery
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21
The Benefits of Plastic Flowers
Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, USA — November 21, 2010
From Ven. Roger Kunsang:
Over the past couple of years Rinpoche has been “planting” plastic flowers (many kindly offered by Ven.Pemba, Esther Ngai and Cham Tse Ling) in the garden of his retreat house in Washington state.
Why would Rinpoche plant beautiful plastic flowers in the garden? The answer is very simple. The deer won’t eat them and during the winter when it is very cold and the area gets a lot of snow, there can still be offerings of beautiful flowers to the holy objects.
The large stone Medicine Buddha statue in the garden was made and offered in Indonesia (thank you, Teddy Leo). After receiving the statue, Rinpoche spent some time carving a smile on the face and reworking the art of the hair with stone carving equipment. Not an easy job because this stone is very hard.
Currently Rinpoche is doing a short, strict retreat and then we leave for Nepal. Starting retreat isn’t a simple process for Rinpoche. Apart from the normal things such as making tormas etc., there is the “organization work.” Rinpoche always makes an effort to clear up some of that first, this time it took about two weeks: letters from students and then FPMT work which can be all sorts of things.
The letters never end, there are always so many, which makes it quite difficult to manage. Sometimes Rinpoche dictates letters to Ven. Holly nonstop for up to 13 hours then move on to other things. Then there is 13 hrs of dictation to rewrite and put in reasonable order, with additional details such as organizing pujas with the monasteries in India in Nepal, sending protections, blessed pills, cards, gifts, etc. This can take literally weeks. The action prior to retreat is nonstop around the clock. And the range of activities is very interesting and a little overwhelming sometimes. But great if you are keen to practice patience!
One of the last activities Rinpoche did before starting retreat was making food for ants. Rinpoche had come across two ant hills and wanted to offer them some food. This entailed making tsampa with butter, blessed water and blessed pills and then Rinpoche proceeded to translate a small text on the benefits of offering charity to ants.
Then this early morning, although in strict retreat and not talking, Rinpoche made “jam” for the neighbors. There was butter with erma (a “zinging” very unusual tasting herb from the Himalayas), and also mashed avocados with herbs. Also with the jam came handwritten cards from Rinpoche and many postcards with images of holy objects (such as Boudhanath Stupa) and cute animal cards. The neighbors aren’t Buddhist but kind people.
From my point of view, Rinpoche’s retreats only seem to have one session: the start of the retreat and then days later the session/retreat ends; something I haven’t been able to figure out yet. Time is an interesting concept when you are around Rinpoche.
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala
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21
The Order of the Polar Star
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — October 20, 2010
From Ven. Roger:
Several months earlier, Khatanbaatar Choidogsuren, the director of our center here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on behalf of many of Rinpoche’s Mongolian students, requested the Mongolian Government to consider Rinpoche for this prestigious award (the highest that can be bestowed on a foreigner.) Yesterday, we suddenly received word that the President of Mongolia would bestow this honor on Rinpoche at 3 pm in the President’s office.
Rinpoche met the President and first offered a large thangka of the 35 Buddhas to the President as well as special blessed pills. They had a discussion together and one of the things Rinpoche mentioned to the President was the importance of the Golden Light Sutra (Rinpoche offered a copy of our translation in Mongolian). Rinpoche also mentioned his promise to
Chenrezig to spread this sutra all over Mongolia and the world. Rinpoche explained that he was presently giving the lung at Idgaa Choizinling College (the monastery that FPMT built) where a 1,000 people were attending. Rinpoche said he wanted to give the lung in different cities and towns all over Mongolia.
The President is a strong supporter of Buddhism and also mentioned to Rinpoche that his family had adopted 24 orphans! Then the President thanked Rinpoche for all his efforts for spreading and preserving Mahayana Buddhism in Mongolia.
Rinpoche thanked the President for all his support.
The President recently offered Mongolian citizenship to the 9th Bogd Lama (Jetsün Kalka Dampa). He has just arrived to live in Mongolia and has promised to be reborn as the 10th Bogd Lama of Mongolia.
THE CERTIFICATE READS:
“To Award Tuvden Zopa Rinpoche with Order ‘Altan Gadas’ (the Order of the Polar Star)
According to the Law on President of Mongolia, Article 15, point 1, THIS DECREE IS ISSUED TO AWARD:
Lama Tuvden Zopa Rinpoche, citizen of the United States of America, with Order ‘Altan Gadas’ (the Order of the Polar Star) in recognition of his contribution to preserving great cultural heritage of Buddhism in Mongolia, and spreading religious tradition of the Mahayana denomination in forms of preaching and meditation through establishing the Preservation Center of the Mahayana Tradition of Buddhism in Mongolia.
Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia”
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala, mongolia
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18
The Dash to Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — October 18, 2010
From Ven. Roger:
How did we get here … well, it wasn’t easy.
Initially, we came for an important conference in Mongolia, which meant Rinpoche left the retreat in North Carolina two days earlier than planned. The day we had to go, Ven. Kunsang (the French monk) had to drive one hour south to pick up a rent-a-car. We planned to drive 500 miles to the Washington D.C. airport, arrive around 2 or 3 am, and then get a flight the next day to Mongolia. Of course, this would mean Rinpoche finishing the last session on time at 6 pm!
So Kunsang with Cherie (the excellent Sangha supporter) drove south. Two or three hours later, I get a call from them saying they are in the state of Tennessee (which is west!). After some discussion with them, they tried again to get back on course using a top of the line navigator! Another hour or so goes by and another call … they were really lost! About 250 miles inside the state of Tennessee (Elvis Presley country!). It was 5 pm and the rent-a -car place closes at 6 pm. It was impossible for them to make it! If we did’t get the van, we wouldn’t make it to the airport tomorrow and would miss our flight to Mongolia. So I rushed off and found someone to drive me to the rent-a-car place. We drove off at high speed and got lost twice on the way. I kept the rent-a-car lady on the phone, negotiating with her to stay open till we arrived … she was reluctant! When I offered her $50 (I was willing to go to $100) … she was happy.
We arrived late, but the lady was there and happy to help us out (she refused the $50, but I insisted she accept $20 for a nice dinner). On the way back, we got lost twice (it was night) and we kept crossing back over the border into South Carolina! It was getting late and we were supposed to leave at 6 pm. At 9 pm we were still trying to find our way back (anyway, after calling, I hear that Rinpoche is still teaching!). We made it back around 10 pm and Rinpoche has just finished teaching but looks very relaxed and not interested in rushing (never is!). Instead, Rinpoche has engaged a number of the organizers in a game, giving away a lot of gifts to everyone. We left about midnight and by this time of course we have to forget about a hotel and just drive the 500 miles through the night, straight to the airport.
There was definitely some karmic obstacle to leaving on time/getting to Mongolia: first, Cherie and Kunsang with a navigator end up in another state, then Herb and I get lost a number of times.
A little tired, we arrived at the airport followed by a long flight to Seoul, a few hours transit. We bumped into the Ganden Tripa and a few other high lama’s going to the same conference. Then a three-hour flight to Ulaanbaatar, arriving at midnight. Through the airport and into the below freezing night air and off to the center. Next morning, at 9 am, the conference started.
So that is how we got here if anyone is still interested (that was three weeks ago!).
So initially we came for a three-day conference. But Rinpoche extended his stay to four week
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala, mongolia
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11
Rugby, Mongolian style
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — October 12, 2010
From Ven. Roger:
Yesterday we drove to Erden Zuu, an old 16th century monastery, located a day’s drive away from Ulaanbaatar. The great 5th Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso (1617 – 1682), visited it in his lifetime and it is near the ancient religious capital.
Here Lama Zopa Rinpoche plans to build a 108 foot (33 meter) statue of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava. We met with the governor who gave the OK on the land allocation. We have visited two other sites in Mongolia looking for land appropriate for similar size statues of Maitreya Buddha and Lama Tsongkhapa.
While driving in the country in Mongolia we passed many herds of horses, camels, sheep, yaks, goats and cows; all in the middle of nowhere in wide, wide open spaces. For a couple of hours we tried to find the monastery we were meant to visit. It was all dirt roads and even on these roads our Mongolian driver was getting up to 90 miles per hour. They drive cars like they ride horses!
When night came, none of us had any idea where we were. It was dark, no lights and then…no roads at all! We had to cross rivers and go up steep banks! I don’t know how any driver could find their way. Then suddenly there appeared another car coming straight at us. The car stopped and out jumped monks with tea to offer Rinpoche ! In the middle of nowhere! It was very cold! They then guided us to the monastery.
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala, mongolia
- 1
14
Roadies and Whole Foods
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA — September 14, 2010
From Ven. Roger:
How long can you spend in Whole Foods (the health food/organic supermarket)? If you’re with Rinpoche it can be a long time.
We are on the second day of the Light of the Path retreat in North Carolina. A little over 200 people are attending and the venue in the Black Mountains is great and very comfortable. There are even more bears than last year.
Rinpoche started teaching last night and our video tech team is doing a great job. You can watch from anywhere out there in the world on HD video. Rinpoche gave an introduction of the whole path last night and started the lung on the text. I think the commentary on the actual text will start today.
Last week Rinpoche led a three day retreat on Milarepa at Milarepa Center in Vermont, then we drove down to Boston. Rinpoche blessed the new amazing Kalachakra Stupa at Kurukulla Center and stayed at the new house of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. It was just a one day visit and then we drove to Washington, D.C. to apply for visas for China.
On the way we stopped at a hospital to visit the elderly mother of a student. We got there around midnight and left the hospital around 2:30 am. We drove the rest of the way to D.C. and arrived at the hotel just after 4 am. We caught a few hours rest and then visited the Chinese Embassy (for the third time that day) but were declined visas.
That afternoon we had to drive to Raleigh, North Carolina for a one day visit to Kadampa Center. Then we drove on to Asheville in the Black Mountains for the retreat. This road trip: Madison, Wisconsin; Barnet,Vermont; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, D.C., Raleigh and Asheville, North Carolina; has been a relaxed 2,000 miles (3,200 km). Every gas station we stop at Rinpoche does a little shopping for gifts. You would be surprised at what gifts you can find on the road.
At the beginning of this entry I mentioned Whole Foods. Well, in D.C. we had a late lunch at Whole Foods. Rinpoche thought it was the greatest display of ready to eat wholesome food he had ever seen in one place! He took many photos of the food displayed, from close up and far back. Rinpoche often takes time to compose shots and uses strange angles. You can imagine the attention he was getting from the local shoppers. A Tibetan Lama taking photos in an American supermarket…and of the food no less!
Then we sat down to eat in the supermarket. A number shoppers came up, asking questions.
One woman said to Rinpoche, “I have eight children. What advice can you give me?” In essence Rinpoche said, “Ordinary education is important but more important is the education for a good heart.” She seemed to understand and continued her shopping.
While driving, at times Rinpoche will start chanting Lama Chöpa out loud. Sometimes there are telephone calls being made and received from all over the world, so it is still active…but relaxed.
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala
- 0
2
Gas Station Dreams
Troy, NY, USA — September 1, 2010
From Ven. Roger:
There is a little town called Troy somewhere in upstate New York. We found it by accident as we were off the freeway getting gas. The guy running the gas station got a huge shock when Rinpoche got out of the car. He couldn’t believe his eyes; he thought he was dreaming! He was an ex-monk from Kopan! Thubten Tsundu couldn’t believe his eyes and just stood there quite shocked after seeing Rinpoche suddenly appear. He got a chair and table and served Rinpoche tea and nuts in the gas station.
Two other Kopan monks share the 24-hour shift with him running the gas station. He wanted to take Rinpoche to dinner after his shift. Unfortunately, we couldn’t as it was 9:30 pm and we still had another three hours to drive to Milarepa Center in Vermont. Even as we drove away, he kept saying that he thought he was dreaming ….
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala
- 1
31
Mash Potato Dessert!
Madison, WI, USA — August 30, 2010
From Ven. Roger:
Rinpoche decided to accept to give an initiation to someone who requested it. The initiation was scheduled to happen Sunday. We were scheduled to leave Madison early Monday (from Deer Park, Geshe Sopa-la’s center) after an 8 am appointment with the doctor (Rinpoche’s sugar levels and blood pressure are better) and to start driving to Milarepa Center in Vermont. The initiation was changed to 4 am Monday in the “busy-ness” of things! Now it is Monday afternoon and Rinpoche is somewhere in the middle of preparing … and we haven’t left. Still not finished with the preparation, Rinpoche decides to make dessert while we are running around packing and trying to figure out what is going on!
The dessert: mash potato, more butter than one would want to even dream about, non-fat half and half, honey, and Greek yogurt poured on the top. Rinpoche passes it around to the attendants who are running around … not bad actually – Rinpoche doesn’t eat any.
When will we leave Madison, we are six hours late and the initiation hasn’t started.
UPDATE:
Its Tuesday, August 31, 10:30 am – I think we are going soon? Only 26 hours late. The initiation finished at 3:30 am this morning. There have been some pujas here and there for people seriously sick and some deaths. Sometimes these things are complicated and take time. All sorts of things have to be managed!
- Tagged: lama zopa rinpoche, mandala, vegetarianism
- 0
23
Walking Amongst the Corn
Madison, WI, USA — August 23, 2010
From Ven. Roger:
Geshe Sopa Rinpoche’s monastery, Deer Park, is located outside of Madison, Wisconsin in a rural area.
While at Deer Park, Rinpoche has been exercising daily by walking in the early evening as the sun is going down. We walk for an hour along a narrow country road, corn fields on either side. Rinpoche walks in front and recites a text out loud, each day a different one. I walk behind closely watching for cars, sometimes doing emails on the Blackberry and trying to keep the speed at a good pace. Every time a car goes by Rinpoche waves. Most of the time people look surprised but wave back happily. Warm country folk.
One day Rinpoche had a hand puppet so when he waved a funny looking dog with big ears was actually waving! Then Rinpoche would go back to reciting the text loudly. The area attracts lots of mosquitoes and other kinds of sharp biting insects! Rinpoche isn’t interested in any protection and thinks it is just a small offering to these little guys.
- Tagged: deer park, lama zopa rinpoche, mandala
- 0
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