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In the spring of 1978, Jan Willis arranged for Lama Yeshe to teach a course on Tibetan Buddhism at the University of Californias Oakes College on the Santa Cruz campus during the spring trimester, which ran approximately from mid-March through the end of May. Photos by Jon Landa
FPMT founder Lama Yeshe gets to the heart of karma and the ways in which we act based on “hallucinated fantasy.”
“We often talk about how we waste our lives following the eight worldly dharmas – attachment to temporal happiness, receiving material things, being praised, and having a good reputation – and aversion to their opposites – discomfort, not getting things, being criticized, and notoriety. Each time we get involved with those, we create negative karma….”
From Mandala April-May 2004.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo by Alison Wright.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares his reasons for why war should be relegated to “the dustbins of history.”
From Mandala June-August 2003.
Stephen Batchelor
Stephen Batchelor shares his views with Nancy Patton, a former Mandala editor, on agnosticism, and whether one can have both faith and doubt about the Buddhist path.
From Mandala September-November 2002
FPMT News Around the World
Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, Kopan Monastery, March 2011. Photo by Jo Hathaway.
On September 7, 2011, the beloved abbot of Kopan Monastery Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel showed the aspect of passing away. On Sunday, August 26, in accordance with the Tibetan calendar, Kopan Monastery is commemorating the first anniversary of Lama Lhundrup’s passing with a day of pujas and practices. Kopan is inviting all FPMT centers and students to join in prayers on that day and to make strong requests for his incarnation to return soon.
You can read Mandala’s tribute to Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, an account of his last days, photos, videos and reminiscences from students on our page dedicated to Lama Lhundrup. This page includes the prayer for his quick return, which is auspicious to recite many times on this occasion.
During the morning of August 26 at Kopan, the monks and nuns will perform extensive Medicine Buddha puja, with many additional prayers such as the eight Monlam prayers. During the day, the tantric monks will do Yamantaka self-initiation and senior nuns will do Vajrayogini self-initiation. In the late afternoon, an extensive Heruka Lama Chöpa tsog will be held with extensive offerings.
Stupa for Lama Lhundrup, Kopan Monastery, April 2012. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kukhen.
Based on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice, several stupas will be built to commemorate Lama Lhundrup. The first one, built quickly to make it auspicious for the incarnation to return soon, will be finished by Losar 2013. It is on the grounds of Kopan Monastery and Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been invited for the consecration after the Tibetan New Year. In addition, a large stupa will be built in front of the new gompa at Khachoe Ghakyil, the Kopan nunnery. Offering for the anniversary puja and/or the stupa being built at the nunnery can be made through Kopan Monastery. (Click this link and mention in the comment box what the offering is for.)
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
Lama Yeshe teaching, Yucca Valley, United States, 1977. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
A few words from Lama Yeshe, the founder of FPMT, on the difference between the absolute and relative guru.
From Mandala June-August 2002.
Jeannet Weyers
Former spiritual program coodinator at Chenrezig Institute Jeannet Weyers discusses what it takes to manage an FPMT Dharma center.
From Mandala September-November 2002.
FPMT News Around the World
The Cheese Plate PDX, started by Carina Rumrill and Nick Dickison after reading Lama Zopa Rinpoche's message in the 2011 FPMT Annual Review
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s message to students in FPMT Annual Review 2011: Cherishing Life inspired Carina Rumrill – former editor of Mandala and present editorial support for FPMT International Office – and her partner, Nick Dickison, to take their extensive experience in fine dining, combine it with Portland, Oregon’s increasingly popular food cart scene, and create The Cheese Plate PDX. The high-end-style food cart has a carefully thought out vegetarian menu that reflects the importance Rinpoche places on a vegetarian diet.
One of The Cheese Plate PDX's picnic plates: soft boiled eggs with seaweed caviar, mushroom & kale pâté, cheese-stuffed olives, watermelon with ginger sea salt
In the letter, Rinpoche, who manifested a stroke in April 2011, reflected:
When I was in the hospital, I saw a program about animals that were sold to be killed in Indonesia and other countries for live export … It didn’t show how they were killed, but it showed one cow that was on the platform, with the head tied, being pulled down to be killed. The cow didn’t want to go and the man was pulling it. I thought, “I don’t have power to stop all this killing, but what I can do is to try to inspire people to become vegetarian.”
“As is often the case with Rinpoche’s students reading Rinpoche’s advice,” Carina shares, “I immediately felt the letter in the annual review was written for me. Suddenly, I realized that what we could do was not merely just make a living for ourselves and our family, but that by offering a wonderful vegetarian menu, we could actually be helping to fulfill one of Rinpoche’s wishes and requests.”
Nick Dickison (chef) and Carina's son (and employee) Alex Knowlton at The Cheese Plate PDX. Photo by Behind the Food Carts (http://behindthefoodcarts.com).
Carina and Nick’s cart focuses on local cheese from creameries that can prove commitment to the humane care of their animals; any eggs used are organic and cage-free; and a large portion of the menu is vegan. The business is a family affair as well, employing the talents of Carina’s two oldest children.
The cart and its tagline (itself inspired by Rinpoche’s letter’s closing) – “enjoy yourself. cherish others.” – is already getting attention from popular food blogs like world-famous Zagat and local up-start Behind the Food Carts (check out their stunning photos!)
“It is wonderful to enjoy yourself,” Carina remarks. “Just make sure that your enjoyment benefits others. That’s what I learned from Rinpoche, and so far, it’s working out really well!”
You can find The Cheese Plate PDX on Facebook. See photos of their yummy food and chat with the owners directly.
Two other International Office staff members also initiated a vegetarian business recently: former office manager Ugyen Shola and former director of finance Sarah Pool. Their business, Pacific Northwest Kale Chips offers delicious vegan chips made from kale.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
David Gonsalez with his teacher, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, in a Tibetan restaurant in Seattle, Washington, United States
Ven. Roger Kunsang interviews David Gonsalez, a student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, whose strong connection to Dharma is remarkable and dedication to practice inspiring. Read about David’s early connection to Tibetan Buddhism, his extensive practice experience, and his lovely Aunt Thelma, who was notable in her own right.
Yumbulhakang, reputedly the castle of the first Tibetan king Nyatri Tsenpo, ornaments the Yarlung Valley. Photo by Jirina Simajchiova/Tibet Images.
Glenn H. Mullin describes the outer, inner and secret perspectives that explain the power of sacred sites that make up the Tibetan landscape.
From Mandala December 2002 – February 2003.
Geshe Thubten Sherab
Read more about Geshe Thubten Sherab, former head master for Kopan Monastery’s school, and how he became a monk, why he continued to study Buddhism beyond adolescence, and what he thinks geshes should be concerned about.
From Mandala April-May 2007.
Geshe Sherab kicked off his first Australian tour August 3-5, 2012.
S.N. Goenka, popularizer of vipassana
Long-time FPMT student Adele Hulse describes her experience of vipassana at a Goenka course.
FPMT’s Ven. Antonio Satta is known for specializing in vipassana from a Mahayana perspective. Check out his website for his schedule and audio recordings of some of his teachings.
We’ve reached 3,000! Thank you Mandala Facebook friends for your support. As we work to make 3,000 more friends, we look forward to offering even more archive articles and interesting blog posts to keep you connected to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT throughout the week.