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FPMT News Around the World
It’s not too late to receive the new print edition of Mandala in the mail. Become a Friend of FPMT at the basic level or higher by December 31, 2012, and we will mail you the magazine, featuring pieces from Lama Yeshe, Geshe Sopa and Osel Hita not available online. In addition, we will send you a link to an electronic version of the print magazine for your tablet or ereader.
Thank you for reading Mandala online!
FPMT News Around the World
The Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee issued an update on H.E. Ling Rinpoche:
“H.E. Ling Rinpoche is recovering very well following a car accident on 28 November 2012. H.E. Ling Rinpoche experienced injuries only to his legs and has already been discharged from the hospital. He has been watching the Jangchup Lamrim Teachings via the live webcast.
“At the time of the accident, H.E. Ling Rinpoche was travelling to Goa to meet and welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama to South India.
“We appreciate the many phone calls and messages of concern and support from students and people all around the world. We would like to assure all of you that H.E. Ling Rinpoche is recovering rapidly and there is no need to worry.”
Ling Rinpoche is the main organizer of the Jangchup Lamrim teachings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama currently taking place at Gaden Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Mundgod, South India.
FPMT News Around the World
Mantras written on stones. Image: Dreamstime.
Mantras, meaning “mind protection” are Sanskrit syllables that bring benefit to all who see, touch, hear or speak them. As a resource for FPMT students, FPMT Education Services has created a new “Mantras” webpage where they have collected PDFs of many popular mantras and practices. You can also find on the page links to advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche about the practice and benefits of reading, writing and reciting mantras.
In addition, Education Services offers resources pages for many prayers and practices as well as a page devoted specifically to sutra practice. These pages are regularly being updated and expanded, so check back regularly to find out what’s new.
FPMT Education Services is the education department of FPMT International Office and develops study programs, practice materials, translations and trainings designed to foster an integration of four broad education areas: study, practice, service and behavior. These programs and materials are available through Education Services webpages, the FPMT Foundation Store, the FPMT Online Learning Center and FPMT centers worldwide.
With 160 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.
FPMT News Around the World
Photo of local paper reporting on November 29, 2012, accident involving Ling Rinpoche
Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, the main organizer of the Jangchup Lamrim teachings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama currently taking place in Mundgod Tibetan Settlement in India, was injured in a deadly automobile collision the day before the teachings began. According to Phayul.com, Ling Rinpoche was traveling to Goa to receive His Holiness on November 29 when there was an accident, which left the driver of Rinpoche’s car dead. Ling Rinpoche is in a hospital in Goa and reported to be “out of danger.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s attendant Ven. Roger Kunsang, who is currently at the teachings in Mundgod with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, shared in an email that Ling Rinpoche received the full impact of the collision and should be dead. He also wrote that Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) miraculously arrived at the scene of the accident five minutes after it happened, just after Ling Rinpoche, who was in a great deal of pain, had been freed from the car.
“Khadro-la had just arrived in Goa (about two or three hours away) and said to her two attendants they needed to do puja as it was a bad day, and then suddenly she said they should leave Goa straight away and drive quickly ‒ that was all!” Ven. Roger wrote. “Then they came on the accident scene. There was no one else there. The accident had just happened and one man had dragged Ling Rinpoche free. It was a strange scene they said. The driver was already dead. Also in the car was TT-la (a 79-year-old monk who had been the previous Ling Rinpoche’s secretary), who was in a bad way, as well as another young monk. It took a long time to get help.
“Khadro-la took control of the whole scene and started checking everyone and doing her thing,” Ven. Roger wrote. “They got everyone to a small hospital and after some quick patching and more transport, took them to the main hospital in Goa ‒ in all more than eight hours. It was 11 hours before they got Ling Rinpoche in on the operating table and then it was a seven-hour operation. The young monk is OK. TT-la has had several operations and seems stable.”
With 160 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.
FPMT News Around the World
Namgyälma mantra board
By Pam Cayton
Some years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested me to help get a Namgyälma mantra board made that could be used to bless the oceans and waters of the world. With the great mastery of Peter Griffin, a sculptor in the UK, we produced the first large, 3-by-4-foot (0.9-by-1.2-meter) mantra board. While in California, Rinpoche has since taken it out several times to Monterey Bay and blessed the Pacific Ocean and all the beings that live in the ocean or touch the ocean. I figure, because the water evaporates and moves around the world, we have possibly all been blessed by the mantra already.
Immediately after the inaugural launch of the board, Rinpoche requested a much larger board. Now, five years and several design changes, mantra corrections and much trial and error later, we’ve created a prototype of a magnificent mantra board for Rinpoche! The 5-by-7-foot (1.5-by-2.1-meter) board (pictured above) is made from resin and fiberglass cast from a mold. The three Long Life Deities, which are not yet complete, will be mounted in the three small frames you see along the top.
FPMT News Around the World
North American Regional Group meeting, including Yangsi Rinpoche (center), Thubten Norbu Ling, Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S., November 2012. Photo by David Kittelstrom.
In early November, a group of 35 directors, spiritual program coordinators and teachers from FPMT centers in North America traveled to Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to discuss the priorities and development of the North American region. The group focused on improving regional communications, developing internal structures and identifying working groups. Maitripa College president Yangsi Rinpoche attended the meeting and offered to host the region’s next meeting, planned for May 2013 in Portland, Oregon.
Regionalization is part of a “strategy we are in the process of developing in order to fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes for the FPMT,” Claire Isitt, FPMT center services director, explained in a September 2012 email to the leadership of FPMT centers, projects and services. “Our aim is to create a local tier of management at a national/regional level in order to support the current and ongoing growth of the organization as we work to fulfill Rinpoche’s vast visions now and in many future lifetimes.”
There are eleven regional/national offices in FPMT, which are meeting regularly.
With 160 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.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
FPMT News Around the World
LRZTP6 Students reading Golden Light Sutra, November 2012. Photo courtesy of LRZRP6.
“On behalf of all the students of the sixth Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme (LRZTP6), I would like to offer to Lama Zopa Rinpoche our reading of the Golden Light Sutra in Tibetan that we did on Lhabab Duchen,” LRZTP coordinator Claire Yeshe Barde wrote. “As most of the students are still learning how to read, they have proved to be very brave and diligently read the whole sutra altogether and finished in two hours. Everyone was very joyful and happy to be able to read the sutra in Tibetan. Sally, the assistant director who doesn’t read Tibetan, joined in and read the Vajra Cutter Sutra in English. It was really wonderful and I told the students I shall offer this meritorious endeavor to Lama Zopa Rinpoche.”
The translator program, which is located in Dharmasala, India, began in early October 2012. Lhabab Duchen (Buddha’s actual descent from God Realm of Thirty-three) was celebrated on November 6.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche sent an immediate response to the students:
LRZTP6 Students reading Golden Light Sutra, November 2012. Photo courtesy of LRZRP6.
My Most dear most kind most precious wish fulfilling students of LRZTP 6
Zillions and billions of thanks for reading the Golden Light Sutra in Tibetan … especially to those who only started Tibetan one month ago … you people must be like Manjushri! And also I appreciate Alison’s recitation of the Diamond Cutter Sutra in English.
Since many of you received teachings from His Holiness … think you are fulfilling His Holiness’ wishes learning Tibetan for the purpose of preserving the Dharma. That means following the wishes of numberless buddhas and bodhisattvas!
It becomes the most powerful purification and the most extensive way to create merit … this means quick enlightenment .. . and also benefiting sentient beings, to bring them to quick enlightenment. With each Tibetan word you translate think this.
As much as possible each day with each action have compassion for all sentient beings, or at least many times in the day … this is the way to make the life most meaningful and to become the most happiest life!
And you have a very qualified teacher … a very good teacher, please recognize this, thank you very much and see you very soon.
With much love and prayer,
Lama Zopa
To learn more about sutras, recitation and to find sutra texts, visit FPMT Education Services’ Sutras page.
With 160 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.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
FPMT News Around the World
Members of Dharmaraskshita Study Group on an outing to Alexander Falls, Mauritius, October 2012
As part of their program, Dharmarakshita Study Group, in Vacoas, Mauritius, makes a group outing three times a year. In October 2012, study group members went to Alexandra Falls in the south of Mauritius Island.
Members of Dharmarakshita Study Group, October 2012
“We had a one-and-a-half-hour walk in the forest to the falls and back. Then we shared a light lunch,” writes Vimla Koonja, study group coordinator. “This time only few members made it out of 22. They were Milly, Tooshma, Eeshita, Nishal, Yashveer, Ashwan, Nitish, Kirran, Vanessa and myself.”
With 160 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.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
FPMT News Around the World
Stupas at Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, October 2012. Photo by Ven. Katy Cole.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently expressed a wish to share photos of some of the stupas at Kachoe Dechen Ling, Rinpoche’s house in California, to illustrate how stupas can be part of our daily life. The stupas in the photos were installed according to Rinpoche’s advice so that they can be walked around when talking on the phone and as part of the daily comings and goings.
Stupa at Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 2012. Photo by Ven. Katy Cole.
Rinpoche shares the story of how he came to give this advice. One day, Rinpoche was talking on the phone and walking round “all the relics, pictures of Buddha, and tsa-tsas that I [had] piled up on a round table in my room.” Rinpoche had the thought that Ven. Roger (Rinpoche’s attendant) and Ven. Holly (Ven. Roger’s assistant) should have a stupa to walk around for the many hours they spend talking on the phone. Rinpoche then thought to extend this advice to all centers and the International Office.
FPMT News Around the World
Satellite image of Sandy, Monday, October 29, 2012. Image by NOAA.
FPMT students on the Atlantic coast of North America are hunkered down as hurricane Sandy make its way across the eastern United States and Canada. The powerful storm has already passed through Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas, claiming many lives and creating much destruction.
Over the years, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered several practices to mitigate the potential harm from the elements and made them available online on fpmt.org/mandala/ and fpmt.org. Students are able to do these practices in order to benefit those impacted by natural disasters.
The July-September 2011 issue of Mandala shared Rinpoche’s translation of a collection of practices to control earthquakes and the four elements which Rinpoche dictated shortly after a devastating tsunami that killed thousands of Japanese in March 2011.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice page offers further instructions on how to dispel the disasters of the elements, including five common practices recommended by Rinpoche during a visit to New York City in 2007. Also on Rinpoche’s Advice page, you can find a 2002 letter to concerned students from Rinpoche regarding natural disasters; a downloadable PDF of the protective Heart Mantra of Arya Vairochana, which can be printed and posted around one’s home; and a story from Ven. Holly Ansett about how the Heart Mantra of Arya Vairochana was revealed by Buddha and made public.
In addition to flooding, destroying property and leaving communities without power or access to necessities, storms like Sandy can profoundly impact vulnerable and overlooked populations such as people who are homeless or in prison as well as animals not able to find appropriate shelter. Mandala wishes for the safety and well-being of all sentient beings affected by the storm.
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.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
FPMT News Around the World
Buddha Shakyamuni. Image by Jane Seidlitz.
On Monday, October 29, many Buddhists worldwide will celebrate the day marking Buddha’s acceptance to descend from the God Realm of Thirty-three and return to Earth after teaching Dharma there to the gods and his mother. This occasion is considered a Buddha Multiplying Day – a day on which karmic actions are one hundred million times stronger.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends three different practices to individuals and groups to make the most of this special Buddhist holiday.
Of course, any other meritorious activities are also good to do on these days, such as recitation of various sutras like the Sanghata Sutra and the Golden Light Sutra.
And for those students with a special connection to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, October 29 is a perfect day to make your offering to Rinpoche’s annual long life puja made on behalf of the centers, projects, services and students of the FPMT at Kopan Monastery on December 29.
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.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
FPMT News Around the World
FPMT Taiwan celebrated its “Thanksgiving Day to Teachers” on September 30 in conjunction with the traditional Chinese Mooncake Festival. The event began in the morning with a Yamantaka fire puja hosted by the resident geshes of the three FPMT Taiwan centers at a retreat site surrounded by green hills.
Yamantaka fire puja, September 2012, Taiwan
Afterwards the geshes and participants, which included 20 Sangha members and more than 50 lay students, had a nice luncheon at a nearby resort. During the lunch, the three geshes were thanked in a speech for their generous service to the FPMT centers.
“Geshe Gyurme [of Jinsiu Farlin] is the longest resident geshe in FPMT Taiwan. Geshe Gyatso [of Shakyamuni Center] has been living in Taiwan for three years. Geshe Tsethar [of Heruka Center] came to Taiwan most recently for a year,” Ven. Osel, director of Jinsiu Farlin in Taipei shares.
Geshe Gyurme, Jinsiu Farlin
“The luncheon speech not only let the geshes know about our appreciation, but it also reminded everyone that despite how much difficulty we have in our lives and Dharma practices, our resident geshes, who put aside their monastic lives and students and came to Taiwan to live with us, also undergo difficulty of which they never complain,” Ven. Osel writes. “Meanwhile we also thank Kopan Monastery, Sangha, translators, staff, volunteers and everyone.”
Geshe Gyatso, Shakyamuni Center
The three geshes were presented a long khata, a bouquet of flowers and a card signed by everyone. Sangha each received a thanksgiving card from FPMT Taiwan. Then lay students took part in a festive gift exchange game, ensuring no one went home empty-handed.
After the luncheon, the geshes, Sangha and students had a relaxed walk in a nearby forest.
Geshe Tsethar, Heruka Center
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.
If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.