receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche commissioned a Padmasambhava crystal to help bless water, March 2013. Photo courtesy of Murray Wright.
“It felt like an odyssey imbued with divine inspiration, magnitude and benefit,” shared long-time student Murray Wright. “During the worst New Zealand drought in 65 years, Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi, Brian Rae and I offered holy crystals to bless the waters of New Zealand’s North Island this year. From the guidance received, we felt like instruments of the guru-buddhas’ compassionate activity.
“To benefit people in Bodhgaya, Lama Zopa Rinpoche commissioned glass crystals engraved with a special mantra of Guru Padmasambhava. Due to Padmasambhava’s stainless prayers impregnated with bodhichitta and wisdom, the minds of those drinking water touched by the mantra are blessed. Veteran stupa builder Tom Waggoner brought the crystals when he visited in 2011. We offered them into several large reservoirs around Auckland. An enthusiast of holy objects he said, ‘Wow, it’s so easy to create merit with these crystals. All you have to do is place them in the water!’ He urged me to ‘get some inventory’ from the FPMT Foundation Store to offer more.” …
From Mandala July-September 2013
Animal liberations in Singapore, July 2011. Photo courtesy of Amitabha Buddhist Centre.
In July, FPMT’s Animal Liberation Fund announced that it had donated SGD$2,500 (US$2,051) toward animal liberations – the practice of extending and protecting an animal’s life and exposing it to Dharma – organized by student Fred Cheong and fellow students from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore. Amitabha Buddhist Centre regularly organizes large animal liberations, generally freeing up to six types of shellfish and occasionally larger fish (see “10 Million Lives for the Guru” Mandala October-December 2011).
“On His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday, July 6, Amitabha Buddhist Centre liberated 11,000 kg (24,250 lbs) of [shellfish], an estimated 1 million lives,” Animal Liberation Fund reports. “On Chokor Duchen, July 12, when merit is multiplied 100 million times, Amitabha Buddhist Centre liberated another 700,000 animals.
“Strong prayers and dedications were made for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life and to stay with us and guide us, and for all of His Holiness’ prayers and wishes to come true. Dedications were also made for the long life and perfect health of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and for all of Rinpoche’s wishes and prayers to succeed.”
Animal liberation is one of the practices that have been recently advised as important to do for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life.
The fund continues to support smaller weekly animal liberations by the Sangha at Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s house.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving advice to the cooks of Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India, June 2013. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
During Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s most recent visit to Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India, Rinpoche gave the following advice to the Tushita cooks:
I have been hearing from people that the food at Tushita is fantastic. Generally, they tell me they are very happy with the place and especially the food. I was amazed to hear this and particularly that you have been able to improve the flavor and quality of the food without using onions, garlic or other black foods. Of course, the initial reason why people come to Tushita is not 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 Tushita –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. (Most of the time in English we use the expression “fully enlightened” but in Tibetan it is sang gye; sang means that all the obscurations, gross and subtle have been purified, and gye that all the realizations have been fully developed and there is nothing more to achieve. “Fully enlightened” has a different meaning; it’s better to say “fully omniscient mind.”) [This meditation is] followed by some verses explaining how precious and kind sentient beings are.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with one of the Tushita cooks, June 2013. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
Every single sentient being is most precious, dear and wishfulfilling – fulfilling all your wishes for the happiness of future lives, liberation and enlightenment. Every hell being, hungry ghost, animal, insect, ant, mosquito, bird, goat, human being, sura and asura does this. That is because all our beginningless past lives’ happiness, present happiness and future happiness comes from good karma and that good karma comes from your mind, from mental intention. Buddha’s enlightened activity is of two types: one comes from Buddha’s holy mind and one from your mind. Buddhas come from bodhisattvas, bodhisattvas come from bodhichitta and bodhichitta comes from great compassion. Great compassion comes from every single obscured suffering sentient being. There is no way to generate great compassion without depending on every single suffering sentient being. Therefore, there is no bodhichitta, no bodhisattva, no Buddha and no way to create good karma, the cause of happiness, without them. In other words, every single happiness and comfort comes from sentient beings, even a cool breeze or a drink of water when you are thirsty. Without sentient beings there is no way to experience happiness in this life, future lives, liberation or enlightenment. All our happiness comes from every single sentient being.
For example, all my happiness comes from every one of you and from all the rest of the sentient beings; every hell being, hungry ghost, animal, human, sura and asura. All my past, present and future happiness comes from everyone because Buddha, Dharma and Sangha in whom I take refuge and with whom I purify every single negative karma and achieve the peerless happiness of full enlightenment come from everyone. That is why sentient beings are most kind, dear, precious and wishfulfilling.
Sentient beings are more precious than a wishfulfilling jewel because you can’t practice morality, purify negative karma and achieve a higher rebirth with a wishfulfilling jewel. Nor can you practice the three higher trainings and achieve the ultimate happiness of liberation or generate great compassion and achieve enlightenment with a wishgranting jewel, but you can with sentient beings. If you pray to a wishgranting jewel you can get a house, car, swimming pool and so on, but not higher rebirths, liberation and enlightenment. That’s why sentient beings are most unbelievably precious. Which one is more precious – skies of wishgranting jewels or sentient beings? Sentient beings are more precious!
Therefore, dedicating your life to others and helping them is the best, most exciting thing you can do. Serving them in any way you can and giving them whatever help you can give is what brings the most happiness. For example, helping an old man carrying a very heavy load or giving your seat to somebody in a bus, train or car. Doing whatever it is that sentient beings need, whether big or small, is the most satisfying, exciting thing you can do.
That’s why making delicious food and offering it to the people who come here is a really great opportunity. Wow, wow, wow, wow. It is a way of offering comfort and happiness to sentient beings who are most wishfulfilling. That’s what brings the most happiness and excitement. It’s the real Dharma. Dharma is something that protects your life, protects you from suffering and guides you to happiness….
There is a great deal to rejoice in that you have this very precious opportunity to offer food to sentient beings who are most precious, dear, kind and wishfulfilling.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la with Tushita Meditation Centre cooks, June 2013. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
Practicing bodhichitta mindfulness in the kitchen
Here are some ways to think while you are preparing and cooking the food:
When you are cutting anything, for example onions, think,
I am cutting the root of all sentient beings’ suffering which comes from ignorance and the self-cherishing thought, with the knife of the wisdom realizing emptiness (shunyata) and bodhichitta.
When you are washing pots and so on think,
I am washing away all the obscurations and negative karmas from all sentient beings’ minds.
You can think that you are washing away your own obscurations and negative karmas but most important is to think you are washing away those of all sentient beings. And you can think the water is nectar coming from Vajrasattva, the Guru, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, or Guru Shakyamuni Buddha. There is always a lot of washing up to do in the kitchen and you can use the opportunity to purify all sentient beings’ obscurations. It’s very good if you can sincerely think this way because all the washing up becomes Dharma practice purifying your negative karma and defilements and collecting merits. In India even the beggars keep their pots very clean!
When you are sweeping the floor think that the broom is the whole path to enlightenment, especially wisdom and bodhichitta, and that the dust is all sentient beings’ obscurations.
I am sweeping away the dust of all sentient beings’ obscurations with the broom of the path to enlightenment and especially wisdom and bodhichitta.
If you sincerely think this while you are cleaning it becomes real Dharma practice that benefits all sentient beings. In the lam-rim it says to think that you are abandoning the dust of the three poisonous minds – anger, attachment and ignorance – which are the gross obscurations and also the stains of the three poisonous minds, the subtle obscurations.
When you are kneading dough so that it can be made into any shape think,
I am taming all sentient beings’ minds by softening them with my two hands of the wisdom realizing emptiness and bodhichitta.
When you are making momos or shapale – rolling out pastry and filling it with cheese, potato and vegetables – think,
I am filling all sentient beings’ minds with the realizations of the path from guru devotion up to enlightenment so that they can actualize all the qualities of a buddha.
When you are cooking soup or other food you can think that the fire is the Six Yogas’ tummo fire that causes the kundalini to melt. Do the same meditation that is used to bless the inner offering in highest yoga tantra. Or you can think that the fire is the wisdom realizing emptiness and the uncooked food is the unsubdued mind. By cooking the food all the gross and even the subtle delusions are purified and all the realizations of Buddha are achieved.
These are some ways of thinking as you are working in the kitchen. You can think in a similar way with other kitchen activities.
Typed and edited by Ven. Sarah Thresher at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India, June 17, 2013.
Mandala brings you news of FPMT activities, teachers 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.
Jangste Chöje arriving at Vajrapani Institute, California, June 11, 2013. Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.
Jangtse Chöje Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, second in line for the Ganden throne (Ganden Tripa), arrived at Vajrapani Institute near Boulder Creek, California, for the first time June 11, 2013. It had been over two years since Lama Zopa Rinpoche acted on our behalf and presented the initial request for Jangtse Chöje to teach here and for the conditions to manifest his actual arrival. It was well worth the wait!
While welcoming Jangtse Chöje to our center over tea and sweet rice in the gompa, he commented to our staff that the most important thing for us to remember is study. Study, he said, is more important than center work, and while of course we need to make sure the center functions, we need to also remember study.
The day after Rinpoche’s arrival, almost the entire staff along with 40 others attended Rinpoche’s teachings on the 37 practices of the bodhisattvas. Rinpoche’s teachings were very clear, precise and illuminated the essential meaning of each topic he spoke on. His teachings continued through June 20 and covered not only teachings on the general path and bodhichitta, but a Yamantaka initiation and commentary as well.
Jangste Chöje with Vajrapani Institute staff and guests at end of retreat, June 2013. Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.
We even had a surprise visit from Ven. René Feusi who graced us with reviews and meditations on the Yamantaka practice, helping students to immediately put Rinpoche’s teachings into practice and demystify its complicated aspects. This all combined with the dedication and enthusiasm of the students helped to make this retreat a great success. Students left inspired to carry on or start their practice and Rinpoche manifested genuine enjoyment at his time here on the land. For us, this is what keeps us motivated to carry out our mission to provide conducive conditions where minds can be transformed and the Dharma can flourish.
Jangtse Chöje is truly a great Tibetan Buddhist master with all the qualities of a great teacher. We feel so fortunate to Lama Zopa Rinpoche for requesting him to come teach us and pray that Jangtse Chöje will live long and will return again soon to teach us for many more years to come.
To learn more on Vajrapani Institute’s programs and activities, visit Vajrapani’s website.
Mandala brings you news of FPMT activities, teachers 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.
Red Chenrezig mandala by Andy Weber. Image courtesy of Andy Weber Studios Facebook page.
Artist Andy Weber visited Ganden Tendar Ling Center, the FPMT center in Moscow, Russia, in June 2013, where he led workshops on thangka painting and Buddhist art. Andy has taught at FPMT centers around the world and his work is well known to FPMT students.
Filmmaker Roman Sukhostavsky documented Andy’s visit with two videos available on YouTube: a 26-minute profile of Andy Weber and a two-hour long video of Andy’s presentation on drawing Buddha Shakyamuni.
While the narration in the videos is in Russian, Andy speaks in English, making the two pieces well worth watching. In addition, Andy, who was an early student of Lama Yeshe, shares some of his memories of Lama Yeshe along with his insight and knowledge of the tradition of creating images of the Buddha.
In August, Andy teaches a 10-day course on “Emanations of Compassion” at Maitreya Instituut in the Netherlands.
You can find out more about Andy Weber on the Andy Weber Studios website and Facebook page.
Mandala brings you news of FPMT activities, teachers 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.
Vens. Tenzin Chodron and Lozang Yonten at FPMT International Office, July 23, 2013
Vens. Lozang Yonten, resident teacher at Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre in New South Wales, Australia, and Tenzin Chodron, a student in the Masters Program at Chenrezig Institute, Queensland, Australia, visited Mandala and FPMT International Office in Portland, Oregon, U.S. The nuns had a tour of International Office, FPMT Foundation Store and Maitripa College.
While in the United State, Vens. Chodron and Yonten also visited Land of Medicine Buddha, Vajrapani Institute and Tse Chen Ling in California.
We enjoyed meeting our Australian Dharma sisters and wish them save travels!
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Foundation level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.
Image by Louise Light shared on the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday
July 6 was His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 78th birthday, and in recognition of the day, FPMT North America (FPMT NA), the regional group representing centers, projects, services and students from Canada and the United States, launched Compassion Day, making special effort to remember not only His Holiness’ presence and contribution to the world, but also “to come together and celebrate compassion.”
FPMT centers, projects and services in North America celebrated Compassion Day with gusto. Compassion Day’s Facebook page has dozens of photos and we’re happy to share some of our favorites here.
Choden Rinpoche leads a retreat on the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation at Vajrapani Institute, Boulder Creek, California, U.S., July 2013. Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.
This drawing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Cody Mattson, a Vajrapani Institute staff member, was later presented to Choden Rinpoche, Boulder Creek, California, U.S., July 2013. Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.
Local-area Tibetans did incense puja plus other auspicious prayers at Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, California, U.S., July 2013. Photo Amanda Russell.
Students and Sangha from Land of Medicine Buddha prepare a Namgyälma mantra board in order to bless the ocean, Soquel, California, U.S., July 2013. Photo by Amanda Russell.
Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa teaches and leads retreat at Guhyasamaja Center, Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., July 2013. Photo courtesy of Guhyasamaja Center.
Guhyasamaja Buddhist Center student reads the Sutra of Golden Light during a Compassion Day 2013 retreat, Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., July 2013. Photo courtesy of Guhyasamaja Center.
From left to right: Dave Gould, Ven. Khendrup, Geshe Sonam Ngodrup, and Gomo Tulku attended the Compassion Day 2013 celebration at Lama Yeshe Ling Centre, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, July 2013. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Ling Centre.
Lama Yeshe Ling Centre’s Compassion Day 2013 altar, Oakville, Canada, July 2013. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Ling Centre.
Milarepa Center staff, volunteers and guests celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday with cake and candles during their interfaith Compassion Day 2013 events, Barnet, Vermont, U.S., July 2013. Photo courtesy of Milarepa Center.
Ruth and Justin from Gendun Drubpa Centre celebrate Compassion Day 2013 with an animal liberation around the center’s stupa, Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada, July 2013. Photo courtesy of Gendun Drubpa Centre.
Gendun Drubpa Centre celebrated Compassion Day 2013 with birthday cake and song after an animal liberation around their stupa. Ani Puntsok, Father Derek and Ven. Chokgyi, the center’s new resident teacher, were in attendance, Williams Lake, B.C., Canada, July 2013. Photo courtesy of Gendun Drubpa Centre.
Choe Khor Sum Ling students and others with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, June 2013. Photo courtesy of Shanti Yajnik.
Archana Bharatee, a student of FPMT’s Choe Khor Sum Ling Study Group in Bangalore, India, reported to Mandala that several Choe Khor Sum Ling members attended teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala June 1-4, 2013.
“It was a special teaching for Indian students on Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara. Every morning the teachings began with the recitation of Prajñaparamita Sutra and praises to the Seventeen Nalanda Masters. This teaching was focused on the first three chapters of the text.”
During the teachings, His Holiness emphasized the need for all people to practice love and compassion, gave an overview of the four noble truths, and discussed bodhichitta drawing from Shantideva’s writings. On the final day of teaching, His Holiness offered a Chenrezig initiation.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Foundation level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.
Drolkar McCallum (far left) with the students of Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme 6, Dharamsala, India, June 2013. Photo courtesy of Drolkar McCallum.
In June 2013, Drolkar McCallum, regional coordinator for FPMT North America, visited the students of Lostawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme 6 (LRZTP6), FPMT’s four-year Tibetan language program aimed at providing interpreters to FPMT centers worldwide:
“The monsoon has begun in Dharamsala, Northern India, but that does not in any way detract from the enthusiasm and joyfulness of the LRZTP6 students.
“Fourteen people from eight different countries began their four-year Tibetan translator program in October of 2012. Gen Sherab Dargye, the Tibetan language teacher, seems very happy with the progress so far and reports that ‘they are harmonious and are happy to help each other.’
Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme 6 students review with Tibetan conversation partners, Dharamsala, India, June 2013. Photo courtesy of Drolkar McCallum.
“I was delighted to experience this myself. As I entered the peaceful courtyard, rain dripped down from the colorful Tibetan tent cover onto the stone patio, two baby monkeys chased each other in the trees above and I heard the low soothing sound of chanting coming from the ground floor classroom. Claire Yeshe Barde, then the director, led me up onto the spacious patio and offered me a hot drink to warm my chilled bones. When the dedication prayers after the morning class finished, there was a brief moment of silence before excited chatter broke out. Students tumbled out of the classroom laughing and headed towards the tea and food tables. After helping myself to a delicious looking lunch of traditional rice, beans and salad, I sat down among them. They welcomed me with warm smiles and shy questions. I felt comfortable as I had participated in the second program [LRZTP2] when the most awesome Merry Colony was at the helm. I understood what the students were experiencing.
“In India on a brief holiday, I thought I’d meet the students while there. As the new FPMT North American regional coordinator, I’ll help next year when it comes time to place the students in centers in Canada and the United States for the two-year training portion of their program.
Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme 6 students review in classroom, Dharamsala, India, June 2013. Photo courtesy of Drolkar McCallum.
“In the afternoon, the courtyard was filled with Tibetan phrases spoken with Russian, Dutch and American accents as the students conversed with their Tibetan conversation partners. When I spoke privately with the students later, each used the word ‘intense’ when I asked them how the course was going! I sensed from them a determination to master the course work, reach their goal, and they seemed excited and looked forward to being sent to an FPMT center.
“When asked where they wanted to be placed, most said that they would be happy to discover a new part of the world and could be sent wherever there was a need. Ven. Tenzin Pelha from Holland thought she would first learn Tibetan and then study Dharma but shared that every moment in the course they are learning and practicing Dharma and she is very grateful for the opportunity to do so.
“If your center will have need of an interpreter in late 2014, don’t wait till the last minute to request one of these fine interpreters as I think they will be scooped up quickly!”
More information on Lostawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme’s exciting opportunities be found on their new website.
Mandala brings you news of FPMT activities, teachers 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.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Geshe Wangdu, resident geshe Dorje Chang Institute; Geshe Jampa Tharchin, resident geshe Chandrakirti Centre; and Phillipa Rutherford, co-director Chandrakirti Centre, New Zealand, June 2013. Photo courtesy of Phillipa Rutherford.
During His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s tour of New Zealand, June 9-12, the resident geshes of the FPMT centers in New Zealand had their picture taken during a moment with His Holiness. Geshe Wangdu from Dorje Chang Institute and Geshe Jampa Tharchin from Chandrakirti Centre as well as Phillipa Rutherford, co-director of Chandrakirti Centre, posed for the photo.
About the visit, Phillipa Rutherford shared with Mandala:
His Holiness visited Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland in New Zealand. The main theme of His Holiness teachings was secular ethics – bringing good conduct back into mainstream society – and how we can do this. His Holiness also visited two universities and spoke to hundreds of students.
This photo was taken at 5 a.m. at the hotel in Auckland. As His Holiness was leaving, he gave a short talk to the Tibetans, concluding with telling them to enjoy themselves while in the West.
From New Zealand, His Holiness toured Australia, June 14-23, visiting Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin. While in Sydney, His Holiness participated in the Young Minds conference, organized by Vajrayana Institute, the FPMT center in Sydney. In Melbourne, His Holiness spoke at Happiness & Its Causes, another project of Vajrayana Institute.
For reports on His Holiness’ activities in New Zealand and Australia, visit dalailama.com.
In June, $52,950 in grant awards from the 2012 International Merit Box Project offerings were disbursed to 14 FPMT centers, projects and funds for their use. From the kindness of Merit Box Practitioners chipping in their Merit Box donations from all over the world, much-needed funding help has been given to a hospice in California, a retreat land in France, a flood-damaged gompa in Argentina, and an inspiring list of others. To see a PDF of the 2012 Merit Box Project grant recipients please click here.
Thakpa Kachoe’s retreat chalet in the Southern Alps of France, under final construction, received a 2012 Merit Box grant award in June.
LYWA received a grant award to help publish Big Love: Lama Yeshe’s official biography. The book is scheduled for release in 2014.
Lowering disk section on top stupa’s tree of life, Kadampa Center, U.S., May 2013. Photos courtesy of Kadampa Center.
Placing top knot on Kadampa Stupa, Kadampa Center, May 2013
Kadampa Center has completed their stupa building project. The large and active center in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S., committed to building a Kadampa Stupa in 2002. They spent nine years accumulating funds and began building in 2011. Construction took 29 months.
On May 10, the pinnacle of the stupa was installed. Using a lift platform and ropes, the disk section was lowered over the stupa’s tree of life. Then, the parasol and top knot were placed on top. Stupa artist Jamphel and volunteers contributed thousands of hours of work – from planning and fundraising to painting and landscaping.
On May 25, five Sangha and 130 members of Kadampa Center gathered to dedicate the stupa, posing for a photo on the surrounding new brick plaza. Kadampa Center reports that night-time lighting and benches will be added soon around the stupa as finishing touches.
Kadampa Center for the Practice of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1992. Under the guidance of their resident teacher, Geshe Gelek Chodha, the center offers a full range of programs, including teachings, pujas, morning meditation practice, Discovering Buddhism, a popular children’s program, animal liberation practice and much more.
Kadampa Center community gather to dedicate new stupa, May 25, 2013
Mandala brings you news of FPMT activities, teachers and events from the 161 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.