FPMT News Around the World

Lama Zopa Rinpoche during teaching on guru devotion with Khadro-la, Tushita Meditation Centre, India, June 2013. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

Ven. Sarah Thresher shared this report from Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India:

On June 14, FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche invited Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme [Khadro-la] to attend the picnic at the end of a dual course at Tushita. There were over 100 people present.

Rinpoche made a special point of thanking the cooks and kitchen staff who produce delicious meals three times a day without using onions or garlic. Tushita has put special effort into making the food served on the courses excellent. Rinpoche commented that sometimes when the course subjects are difficult for the new students having good food helps them to digest it all more easily!

Tushita runs year-round a 10-day introductory courses (which is very reasonably priced) and people travel from around the world to attend and take advantage of this special environment. For years the courses have been overbooked. Last course they turned away 40 people!

Rinpoche also thanked Tushita’s spiritual program coordinator, teachers and meditation leaders. Khadro-la was requested to give a talk and Geshe Kelsang Wangmo from the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics translated.

Then Rinpoche gave a three-hour teaching on guru devotion for the new people with quotes and transmission of “Calling the Guru from Afar.” For this 10-day introductory course, Rinpoche taught seven days running and gave the oral transmission of the Vajra Cutter Sutra as well as a new morning meditation practice that he put together and translated to help make people’s lives meaningful. (more…)

Ven. Lozang Yonten and Chag-tong Chen-tong students at the beginning of the year, Tasmania, Australia, January 2013. Photo courtesy of Chag-tong Chen-tong Centre.

Ven. Lindy Mailhot, director of Chag-Tong Chen-Tong Centre (CTCT) in Snug, Tasmania, Australia, shared with Mandala a quick message about the center’s 2013 program.

CTCT has enjoyed a wonderful beginning to our 2013 program with visiting teachers bringing great benefit, inspiration, support and friendship to our community.

Ven. Lozang Yonten, currently resident teacher at Kusang Yeshe Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, introduced the New Year with a wonderful weekend on “New Year Resolutions from a Dharma Perspective” based around the seven-point mind training teachings.

Glen Svensson joined us during February, leading two weekend retreats on shamata and the Gelug tradition of Mahamudra. And Thubten Yeshe (T.Y.) returned to lead our annual Easter four-day lam-rim retreat.

One new students shared thoughts on the retreat experiences that have grown over the last two years:

I know that a lot of people find it hard to make the time in their busy lives for retreat; it just seems too daunting! Our commitments to work and family seem to make retreat too difficult to organize … but it’s a challenge that’s well worth the effort.

I never knew what the rewards and benefits were until I recently did my first three-day retreat. I had believed that just attending the day sessions would suffice, but attending a retreat is of much deeper benefit.

Retreat is a time to come face-to-face with who you are and to see yourself clearly for the first time. The benefits are profound, felt not just by ourselves, but also by everyone we come into contact with.

In retreat we can develop the basic qualities of affection and loving kindness, and the teachings help us to learn to put that into practice. Yet even when we return from the retreat to “everyday life,” the values remain strong and the principles stay true.

From each retreat I attend, I know myself a little better and find the teachings resonate with me longer. One of my heartfelt wishes is that everyone can experience a retreat.

It is a special time with like-minded friends living, practicing, meditating, eating together minus the distraction of family/work life, just for a short time.

With our wish to be able to offer regular opportunities of retreat experience, by building this more and more into our program over the last two years we are finding that the students and friends of CTCT are slowly becoming familiar with the methods of integrating study and practice and are enjoying the vast and subtle benefits. Much to our delight, we are starting to hear people talk of their longing to do retreat, even if its just one day.

Ven. Robina Courtin recently visited Chag-Tong Chen-Tong Centre June 4-9 and lead a three-day residential retreat “How to Practice Dharma – Teachings on the Eight Worldy Dharmas.” The center writes that they look forward to Ven. Antonio Satta visitng in August to lead a ten-day vipassana retreat.

Bill Wilson shares his story on V-Voice Blog (blog.vajrapani.org). Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.

Student and assistant warden in the California prison system Bill Wilson shares on FPMT retreat center Vajrapani Institute’s V-Voice Blog the story of how a mentor profoundly changed his life, an experience that coincidentally brought him to the Dharma:

“I believed I was a good man, and tried to help others as best I could, but as I watched Dave interact with inmates I realized I was only partly fulfilling my duties as a law enforcement official and a member of my community. He wasn’t just professional and courteous, he tried to make a positive imprint on every inmate (and staff member) he had contact with. It didn’t matter the crime they committed, the color of their skin, their gang affiliation or their intellect, he reached out with loving kindness, compassion and empathy to men who were commonly marginalized. Yes, we fed and clothed them, and at times tried to provide them with inspiration, but until I watched Dave in action, I didn’t know we usually ignored the most crucial truth: that the inmates continued to be human beings.

“… My journey with Dave and our men opened another door, perhaps the most important … I met volunteer Jon Landaw, who introduced me to Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi. As we talked about our men, I mentioned that I was amazed by the incredible changes I had witnessed and how I hoped to be able to make similar changes in my own life. The next thing I knew I was at the Vajrapani Institute experiencing my first formal meditation training ‘Mindfulness and Reality: Introduction to Meditation’ …”

Located in the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California, Vajrapani Institute offers meditation retreat cabins, Tibetan Buddhist group courses and retreats, and facility rentals for spiritual groups of all traditions.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

Khangser Rinpoche teaches at Choe Khor Sum Ling, Bangalore, India, April 2013. Photo by Anupama Saraf.

FPMT study group Choe Khor Sum Ling in Bangalore is an active community in South India, founded at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to “offer this cultural treasure [Buddhadharma] back to the people of the land of its origin.” Shanti Gopinath, center member, updates Mandala on the group’s latest news:

“April 2013 was an action-packed month at Choe Khor Sum Ling. We were extremely honored when Khangser Rinpoche, one of the great lharampa geshes, adorned with boundless compassion and endowed with convincing speech in accordance with the modern world view, accepted our request to teach. On April 21, Rinpoche gave a talk on ‘Nothing Exists Inherently, Yet Everything Exists Dependently.’ Khangser Rinpoche, in his unique, humorous and fluid style, taught us how our destiny is in our own hands. The interactive session gave us a deep-level understanding of overcoming our afflictions and finding lasting happiness in the toughest of situations. The teaching was followed by a Vajrasattva initiation on April 22. Not only did Rinpoche take us through the ritual, but also explained the ceremonial prayers and meditations that were involved.

“Our precious Sera Je teacher, Ven. Gyalten Rabten, conducted Guru Puja and the second session of Buddhist Meditation 101 on April 27-28.

“As a center we’ve also introduced three brand new weekend courses: FPMT Education Services’ Discovering Buddhism (We wish to thank them for the precious opportunity, their guidance and tremendous support.); a course on Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend composed by Arya Nagarjuna for King Gautamiputra; and Mind Training in the Great Way, designed around the Wheel of Sharp Weapons. Our adept teachers – Vens. Tenzin Namdak, Tenzin Legtsok and Tenzin Namjong – engaged in geshe studies at Sera Je Monastic University, will be leading the new courses.”

In February, Choe Khor Sum Ling had the honor of hosting Tenzin Ösel Hita. His videoed talk, “How to Understand Our Reality from the Universal Point of View,” is available on fpmt.org/mandala/.

Discover Choe Khor Sum Ling’s YouTube channel and find more talks from visiting teachers, including Khangser Rinpoche and Ven. Thubten Chodron.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

The Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour visits Palazzo della Gran Guardia in downtown Padova, Italy, February 2013. Photo by Flavio Zanchetta.

In February 2013, Centro Tara Cittamani in Padova (Padua), Italy celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Green Tara statue by Alfredo Baracco at Centro Tara Cittamani, Padova, Italy, February 2013. Photo by Flavio Zanchetta.

After being established in 1993, the center spent years looking for a more permanent residence. “At that time, the activities were mainly carried out in rented halls or gyms, organized by a small but very active group of volunteers whose motivation was to raise awareness of Dharma and benefit the greatest possible number of people,” shared Paolo De Luise, center board member. It wasn’t until 2004 when Centro Tara Cittamani found its home in the suburbs of Padova.

Inaugurated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the late Geshe Jampa Gyatso and Geshe Tenzin Tenphel, the new center has a gompa that seats 60 and features a Green Tara statue by Alfredo Baracco. The center shares its other rooms with Motus Mundi, an association that promotes mindfulness to adults and children through secular activities such as yoga, tai chi, Pilates and English classes.

Sera Je monks performed ritual dances as part of Centro Tara Cittamani’s 20th anniversary celebration, Padova, Italy, February 2013. Photo by Flavio Zanchetta.

“To celebrate our 20th anniversary,” continued Paolo, “in February the center hosted in a city theater, with an audience of more than 400 people, the Tour of Compassion and Harmony organized by the monks of Sera Je Monastery, who performed the sacred ritual dances and who made a beautiful mandala of the Medicine Buddha in our gompa. Moreover, in April in the prestigious Palazzo della Gran Guardia located in the city center, thanks to the patronage of the Municipality of Padova, more than 1,200 people benefited for a whole weekend from the positive energy of the Buddha’s relics [from the Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour].”

Centro Tara Cittamani is part of the Unione Buddhista Italiana (Italian Buddhist Union), which in February was officially recognized by the Italian government as a “religious confession,” an honor only held by one other non-Judeo-Christian tradition. The center hopes in the coming years to host a resident geshe.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

In late April, Garrey Foulkes, arts manager of Chenrezig Institute, shared with Mandala an update about the Chenrezig Institute Art Studio and the new entrance gate that welcomes visitors to FPMT’s oldest Australian center:

Chenrezig Institute’s new art studio allows artists to produce holy objects while also receiving some financial support, 2013. Photo courtesy of Garrey Foulkes.

“For several months now our new art studio has been established enough for us to start production. Lama Zopa Rinpoche proposed, some 15 years ago, that it would be good to have a facility where Dharma artists could produce holy objects and at the same time have a means of being able to have some financial support. Up to this point, almost all of the work we have been doing has been voluntary and has been spread around in different people’s homes. So at last, the Enlightenment Project for Purification and Merit and the Garden of Enlightenment are all under the one roof, which is so much more efficient.

“The large upper mezzanine level is for fine-art and among other things, caters for regular, well attended, thangka-painting workshops with our resident artist.

The lower level of Chenrezig Institute’s art studio is used for tsa-tsa casting, among other crafts, 2013. Photo courtesy of Garrey Foulkes.

“Downstairs most of our work revolves around casting and assembling tsa-tsas, statues, stupas, prayer wheels and a range of other Dharma products. We hope to continue supplying local centers with items for their shops, expanding our range of products and continuing to offer holy objects to all of the regional centers and students, including those in Asia.

Under the new entrance gate: students and volunteers who were at Chenrezig Institute for a weekend of teaching with visiting ex-resident teacher Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering, 2013. Photo courtesy of Garrey Foulkes.

“I’m also happy to announce that after months of very heavy rain, we finally had an opportunity to erect our new entrance gate which has certainly helped create a feeling of ‘arrival’ for our many regular and, especially, new visitors.

“There is still a little more work to do with finishing the painting and some landscaping required, but it is great to have things up to this stage.”

Chenrezig Institute on Australia’s Sunshine Coast is an active and vibrant Dharma center, offering a robust selection of retreats, workshops and events. Check out their Facebook page for photos and announcements.

(Garrey Foulkes kindly offers to answer questions about stupa construction, please contact him directly: foulkes@powerup.com.au)

FPMT News Around the World

Land of Joy Team, 2011. Photo courtesy of Land of Joy (www.landofjoy.co.uk/)

Land of Joy, a developing FPMT retreat center in the UK, received more encouragement and advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche in January and February on how to proceed with their vision for a place “characterized by quietness, a simple lifestyle, provision of comfortable healthful shelter and nourishing vegetarian food, good views and opportunities for peaceful walks … accessible from all over the UK.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s January 11 words were simple and supportive: “I will pray for the success of the retreat place. Thank you very, very, very much.”

Later, on February 15, Land of Joy organizers received more advice. Rinpoche wrote that it is “very important” to recite the mantra of Buddha’s name and the mantra for success, which follow:

• Chom dan da de zhin sheg pa / sa zin gyalpo la / chag tsal lo
• Ta ya tha / om dari dari / daranyi bendah / soha

Then Rinpoche advised:

Everybody recite one mala [of each mantra] not only for [Kalachakra retreat and] Land of Joy, but also for any wish they have for success, especially to achieve paths and achieve enlightenment for sentient beings, this is what came out good to recite. I’m not sure when I can come to England. If at that time the retreat center has happened, then I can come to visit. Yes, I will pray for the success of retreat center, not only to find, but for it to be of most benefit for sentient beings, for anyone who comes to have realizations, correct realizations. In future when His Holiness the Dalai Lama comes to England, if you have center, you could invite, if that happens, easy.

Land of Joy provides numerous opportunities for volunteers, merit making, and financial offerings. Land of Joy encourages FPMT students and supporters to use the mantras Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends, not only to support the success of the retreat center itself, but for “the fulfillment of any personal wish.”

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche thanks Tushita Meditation Centre staff and volunteers, May 25, 2013. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre via Facebook.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche spent Saka Dawa, May 25, at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India, engaging in a variety of virtuous activities. In addition to feeding the monkeys that live in the area and extensive blessings for Tushita’s three dogs – Nying-je Chenmo (Great Compassion), Yeshe (Wisdom) and Dekyi (Happiness) – Rinpoche gathered staff and volunteers together in Tushita’s newly painted gompa to thank them for their service.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blesses Tushita’s dogs, May 25, 2013. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre via Facebook.

“Your service is amazing,” Rinpoche told the group. “Doing so much for sentient beings!”

Tushita Meditation Centre is an active FPMT center in McLeod Ganj village, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. You can find more photos of the center’s activities, including a Chenrezig initiation with Denma Locho Rinpoche, Glen Svensson’s introductory Buddhist course, and a recently completed set of nyung näs, on Facebook.

Long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Losang Dragpa Centre, Malaysia, March 17, 2013. Photo by Bill Kane.

In April 2013, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund offered US$65,187 to the FPMT Puja Fund, which sponsors ongoing pujas at the great monasteries in India and Nepal, with over 9,000 Sangha participating. All the pujas are dedicated for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and to the success of all FPMT centers, projects, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.

For Saka Dawa (this year, May 25), the Puja Fund offers the following:

• Tukchuma Puja, 64 Offerings to Kalarupa, Medicine Buddha Puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal
• 100,000 recitations of the Praises to the 21 Taras and offerings to Sangha at Kopan Monastery and Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery, Nepal
• Offerings to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus
  
• Offerings are made to all the Sangha at international Sangha communities
• 16 Nyung Nä cycles and offering to the nuns at Potawa Nunnery, Tibet
• Making and filling of stupas and lunch offering to participants at Chenrezig Institute, Australia
• White wash and four giant saffron flower petals are offered to Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal, as well as offering new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles
• A new set of robes of the most precious material is offered to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple as well as the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang and also gold is offered to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha

Some of the offerings to the Puja Fund were accumulated from what was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the recent long life pujas in Singapore and Taiwan while on tour in Southeast Asia February through March. A long life puja was also offered to Rinpoche by more than 500 students in Malaysia.

You can read more about the FPMT Puja Fund online and in a recent article in Mandala April-June 2013.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

FPMT News Around the World

Pots filled with soil and worms were circumambulated around a table of holy objects at Longku Center, Bern, Switzerland, 2013. Photo courtesy of Longku Center.

On April 30 and May 1, Longku Center in Bern, Switzerland, performed some of the special practices recommended by Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) and other high lamas to support Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life. The center arranged the practices in accordance with FPMT CEO Ven. Roger’s April 24 request.

Spiritual program coordinator Regula Burri shared that students at the center “liberated 350 worms, recited the Golden Light Sutra nine times and recited the prayer of the Twenty-One Taras 108 times.”

For the animal liberation, students filled up pots with soil to make a comfy home for hundreds of worms. In the center’s gompa, trays were circumambulated around a table heaped with holy objects, mantras and texts collected by center members while students did practices for the worms.

Students and supporters of Rinpoche are encouraged to complete as many of the recommended practices as possible and report at the end of each month what has been done to director of Center Services Claire Isitt at International Office. These combined efforts will be offered to Rinpoche directly.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

FPMT News Around the World

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, head of the Sakya lineage, visited FPMT International Office and Maitripa College on Sunday, May 12. His Holiness toured International Office, blessing holy objects, including a Red Tara statue in the office reception area. His Holiness was offered a body, speech, mind mandala by FPMT and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s greetings were conveyed.

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin then went to Maitripa College where he offered a teaching on “Parting from the Four Attachments,” four lines spoken by Manjushri to the Sakya patriarch Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. Maitripa College president Yangsi Rinpoche offered a body, speech, mind mandala to His Holiness as well. His Holiness taught to a full house. Even after three days of teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, audience members were enthusiastic and most grateful for the visit by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin.

Video of Red Tara blessing by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited FPMT International Office on Friday, May 10, prior to speaking at Maitripa College’s graduation ceremony. During the visit to International Office, His Holiness had a tour of the offices and was offered a body, speech, mind mandala by Tenzin Osel Hita. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who was unable to be in Portland, sent His Holiness a letter and a video offering.

Video of offering

International Office shares a building with Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon. His Holiness is in Portland for three days as part of Maitripa College’s His Holiness the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit.

You can find all the news and coverage of the 3-day event online, including links to live webcasts. Visit His Holiness’ website for news on all of His Holiness’ events and travels.

Mandala will continue to cover the events of the summit on our blog, Twitter and in the next issue of Mandala.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.