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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Pomaia, Italy, June 13, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
Lhungtok Choekhorling Monastic Project, which was named by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is an FPMT project to create an ideal environment conducive to study, meditation and a lifestyle based on the vinaya. The meaning of the name is “place where the Dharma is transmitted and realized.”
On Friday, June 13, His Holiness visited the project site in Pomaia, not far from Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, to bless the grounds. During the program, His Holiness “expressed his appreciation to the people of Italy for their warm welcome. He praised the efforts of Zopa Rinpoche, for his foresightedness in keeping the Nalanda tradition alive in his institutes,” DalaiLama.com reported.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the future site of Lhungtok Choekorling Monastery where he blessed the grounds and took part in a formal program, Pomaia, Italy, June 13. Photo by Olivier Adam.
The idea for the monastery began in Nepal in 1980 with Lama Yeshe and Geshe Jampa Gyatso envisioning the construction of a monastery in the West for both monks and nuns. The project has been able to acquire 30 hectares (74 acres) of land to build upon that was a former quarry. Currently the project is working with local government for approval of its building plans.
You can learn more about Lhungtok Choerkorling on their website and also see more photos from His Holiness’ visit to the project site.
For more detailed news on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s activities, visit His Holiness’ website at DalaiLama.com. You can also read Mandala’s coverage of His Holiness.
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 offering thanks to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Livorno, Italy, June 15, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
On the last day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Italy, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered His Holiness thanks during the final public event. DalaiLama.com reported, “Lama Zopa Rinpoche concluded the program with thanks to His Holiness for blessing Lama Tzong Khapa Institute with his presence and he also thanked all concerned for making His Holiness’s visit a success.”
His Holiness at the conclusion of teaching in Livorno, Italy, June 15, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
His Holiness spent a week in Italy, participating in events organized by Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK), the FPMT center located in Tuscany. Lama Zopa Rinpoche also was present for the events and will remain in Italy through the end of the month. Rinpoche will offer teachings at ILTK on June 28-29 and also attend the FPMT European Regional Meeting, which is taking place at ILTK on June 17-18.
For more detailed news on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s activities, visit His Holiness’ website at DalaiLama.com. You can also read Mandala’s coverage of His Holiness.
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 receiving a khata from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Livorno, Italy, June 15, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
“I thought that it would be important especially for Western people who had become Buddhist to remember the great kindness they had received from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Padmasambhava, the Dharma Kings, Shantarakshita and the Tibetan people as a whole,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche said, explaining his motivation for composing the prayer “Remembering the Kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan People.” Rinpoche wrote the short prayer in Australia in June 2011, while recovering from manifesting a stroke. Rinpoche has advised that the prayer be recited following the “Prayer that Spontaneously Fulfills All Wishes” (Tong nyi nying je …) at the end of dedication prayers.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the conclusion of teachings organized by Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Livorno, Italy, June 15, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
“While thinking how important it is, in addition to providing whatever help to Tibet that they can give, for these Westerners to at least direct their thoughts and wishes to the welfare of the Tibetan people, this prayer came to my mind,” Rinpoche said. “I composed it especially for the success of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes, and in particular for the Tibetan people, and for there to be perfect peace and happiness in the world and for all sentient beings to achieve enlightenment.”
The prayer concludes:
“Our Refuge and Savior, the Supreme One: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
And the Tibetan people have been so kind to us!
Remembering this we make the following dedicating prayers:
May all His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes be successful immediately;
May the Snow Land of Tibet achieve pure freedom
And develop the Buddha Dharma even more than before in Tibet;
And may all mother transmigratory beings achieve enlightenment quickly!”
You can find this prayer and others in the booklet “Prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibet.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaching in Livorno, Italy, June 14, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
For more detailed news on His Holiness’ activities, visit His Holiness’ website at DalaiLama.com. You can also read Mandala’s coverage of His Holiness.
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 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with (from left) Ven. Roger Kunsang,assistant to Rinpoche and CEO of FPMT; Geshe Jampa Gelek, resident geshe at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK); and Ven. Sangpo, Rinpoche’s attendant, going to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama at ILTK, Italy, June 13, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
On Friday, June 13, FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s talk at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK), the FPMT center in Pomaia, Italy. Rinpoche was surrounded by the familiar faces of many FPMT geshes, Sangha, teachers and students.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaching at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa with Geshe Tashi Tsering, resident geshe at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, and Fabrizio Palliotti, providing interpretation, Pomaia, Italy, June 13, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.
You can watch video of the events with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa on Dalai Lama Italy’s YouTube channel. His Holiness next teaches in Livorno, Italy, June 14-15.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche after His Holiness’ talk at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, June 13. Photo by Olivier Adam.
For more detailed news on His Holiness’ activities, visit His Holiness’ website at DalaiLama.com.
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 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, June 10, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
During His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK), he had an audience with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and others. You can watch their touching and affectionate interaction in this short video produced by Dalai Lama Italia and shared on their YouTube channel.
Video: His Holiness the Dalai Lama at ILTK–day 2
You can see photos from His Holiness’ visit to ILTK on Flickr.
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 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Vens. Tsering and Sangpo blessing all the beings in the ocean, California, US, May 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
While staying in California, Lama Zopa Rinpoche likes to go to the nearby Pacific Ocean and bless all the sentient beings in the ocean. For the blessing, Rinpoche has had special boards made with the Namgyälma mantra on them. When the boards are placed in the ocean, the blessings of the mantra are carried throughout the water.
Namgyälma mantra boards for ocean blessings, California, US, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
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 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering His Holiness the Dalai Lama a khata, Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, June 10, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) on Tuesday, June 10. During his six-day visit, His Holiness will teach on compassion at ILTK on Saka Dawa, June 13. His Holiness will also be consecrating a restored Chenrezig statue. Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived at ILTK the day before His Holiness and welcomed His Holiness when he arrived at the FPMT center in Pomaia, Italy.
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 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche reading Mandala, Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, US, June 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche received Mandala July-September 2014 in California last Friday and lost no time looking through the new issue. In addition to featuring Rinpoche’s many virtuous activities during the Days of Miracles, Mandala highlighted some of the work FPMT centers, projects and services are doing to help children and cultivate the seeds of compassion in the minds of the young.
Mandala magazine is offered as a benefit of the Friends of FPMT program. If you’d like to receive the quarterly publication, please consider joining our Friends program, which supports the education, web streaming and communications work of FPMT International Office.
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Even Rinpoche’s dog Uma enjoys checking out the new issue of Mandala, Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, US, June 2014. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
In addition to the print magazine, Mandala published a dozen new stories online and continues to add new stories daily to the blogs ”Lama Zopa Rinpoche News” and “FPMT News around the World.”
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 on Vulture’s Peak, Rajgir, India, March 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
While in India during the Days of Miracles, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave an oral transmission of the Vajra Cutter Sutra on Vulture’s Peak. After the transmission, he led the group of students who had come with him to Vulture’s Peak from Root Institute in a meditation on emptiness.
The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive has posted an audio recording and transcription of the meditation led by Rinpoche. At the beginning of the meditation Rinpoche shared a quotation from the Seventh Dalai Lama:
Every single base of samsara and nirvana,
Although illusion made by one’s own conception,
Is held as ultimate so therefore deceives,
Do not fixate as ultimate, see as empty.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche walking up to Vulture’s Peak, India, March 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Ven. Sarah Thresher tells the story of the transmission and meditation in “Picnic at Vulture’s Peak” in the new print edition of Mandala.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an organization dedicated to preserving Mahayana Buddhism through offering the Buddha’s authentic teachings and to facilitating reflection, meditation, practice and the opportunity to actualize and directly experience the Buddha’s teachings. Sign up to receive news and updates.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Sangha at Light of the Path, Black Mountain, North Carolina, US, May 2014
More than 30 ordained Sangha attended the recent Light of the Path retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. FPMT’s Sangha community, which comprise the International Mahayana Institute (IMI), has played a crucial role in the development of FPMT. To recognize this contribution, FPMT celebrates International Sangha Day on July 31 this year. This is the twelfth year of honoring Sangha with a special day, which falls on the Wheel Turning Day: Choe Khor Due Chen – The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.
You can celebrate Sangha by:
- Showing respect for and appreciation of Sangha
- Generating deeper awareness of the Sangha jewel
- Donatinh to the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund
From the early days of the FPMT, monks and nuns have served tirelessly to help bring the benefit of the Buddha’s teachings to the far corners of this planet. The IMI community has approximately 280 monks and nuns who continue to serve throughout the FPMT in many capacities as registered teachers, directors, spiritual program coordinators, editors and more. Many of these Sangha members are able to attend retreats with Lama Zopa Rinpoche due to the support of the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund and IMI.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Sangha at Light of the Path, Black Mountain, North Carolina, US, May 2014
In 2007, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave a talk recognizing the enormous contributions of senior Tibetan Sangha to the development of FPMT Education programs as well as the importance of all Sangha:
“… [The West] has gradually been developing respect for Sangha, which didn’t exist for many years. But in Western society, the life and culture, it’s not easy. I think it’s a challenge being in such a country, where the culture and everything is dedicated to developing delusion. Everything is like that. I would say that it is incredibly heroic and brave to be able to stay as a monk or nun in such a country and culture. I think it is great – these beings are unbelievable heroes; in Tibetan it’s called pawo. Obviously, it is easier in a place where there are no obstacles, in an isolated place where there are only Sangha, no one else. By mixing with people who have a totally different culture, and then being able to live in your practice, in the vows, that’s really being a great hero, that’s a great challenge. That hero is unbelievable. That is a hero over delusions, not a hero from killing many millions of people, which is what worldly people regard as a hero. The real hero is a hero over the delusions, who is able to conquer the delusions. You have given freedom to yourself, not allowing delusions to have dictatorship over you: you become the controller, it’s the other way around, which brings liberation and enlightenment to yourself, and through that to others, to numberless sentient beings. I think that’s unbelievable; those beings are really heroes. …”
– Lama Zopa Rinpoche, from “Sangha and FPMT Education,” part of “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book”
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 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche making tukpa for Tenzin Ösel Hita with Vens. Tsering and Sangpo, Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, May 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“The initial reason why people come to a Dharma center is not for the food but for the teachings and meditations; they are a little bored with the lives they have and are looking for something new. However, the conditions at the center, and especially the food, are a very important support for the teachings and meditations. Sometimes in the past, for example, when I would teach on impermanence, the hells and the eight worldly dharmas people would get scared and leave; but if the food was good, they would stay. That’s one way to keep them!
“So I’ve been thinking for many days to come to the kitchen and explain a short meditation to the cooks. There is a short morning motivation I have put together with a direct meditation on the graduated path to the peerless happiness of full enlightenment followed by some verses explaining how precious and kind sentient beings are. …”
– Lama Zopa Rinpoche, from “How to Use Cooking in the Path,” advice given at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India, June 2013.
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 with Light of the Path organizers, staff and volunteers, Black Mountain, North Carolina, US, May 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
The Light of the Path, a two-week retreat in North Carolina, US, led by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, was by all accounts a huge success. The root text for Light of the Path is Lama Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment. Rinpoche’s teachings were webcast live and now are available as recorded video. Participants were invigorated by Rinpoche’s enthusiasm and animated teachings. And the more than 200 participants from 20 countries created lasting personal connections with each other, engendering Lama Yeshe’s idea of “family feeling” and growing and strengthening the international FPMT mandala.
In addition, the teachings from the 2009 and 2010 Light of the Path retreats have been organized into the Living in the Path online education program. Module 01 “Motivation for Life,” Module 05 “Introduction to Atisha’s Text,” and Instruction 01 “Diamond Cutter Meditation” are freely available to all interested students. Also available are all of the materials from the three years of retreat, including the root text, audio and video of teachings and meditations, and recordings of Lama Chöpa tunes. This amazing resource makes the benefit of the retreat available to all.
Light of the Path, Black Mountain, North Carolina, US, May 2014. Photo by Cristiano Cambresy.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an organization dedicated to preserving Mahayana Buddhism through offering the Buddha’s authentic teachings and to facilitating reflection, meditation, practice and the opportunity to actualize and directly experience the Buddha’s teachings. Sign up to receive news and updates.