Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting Maitreya School, Bodhgaya, January 2020.

For the past nine years, due to the kindness of one main benefactor, the FPMT Social Services Fund has been offering substantial grants toward the amazing projects of Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, which directly benefit underprivileged individuals in the area. In 2020, US$$53,900 total was offered to Maitreya School (US$39,200) and Shakyamuni Buddha Health Clinic (US$14,700). 

Maitreya School is a free school benefiting impoverished children from neighboring villages. In 2019, 70 new students entered the school, bringing the total to 306 with the addition of two new teachers. The school continued to offer free education to all the children as well as transport them to and from the school, provide education supplies and uniforms, healthy snacks, and classes on meditation and mindfulness.

Due to COVID-19, all schools in Bihar state were closed starting on March 25 of this year. Since that time the students were mostly learning through online classes, but as Root reports: “It is quite difficult to develop proper and creative learning programs for our children who mostly belong to less affluent rural families, or who live in remote villages where people rarely even use a basic phone.” To help address this, some teachers have made their homes available for up to ten students who live near them to receive coaching and classes. 

Please enjoy this short video of a snapshot day at Maitreya School (before COVID-19):

Shakyamuni Buddha Health Clinic began in 1991 as a home for the destitute and has evolved into a diverse community health program encompassing a wide range of medical and rehabilitative services and health promotion activities.

The clinic continued to do important work in the community in 2019, serving 3,500 patients each month. A new medical vehicle was purchased and they started classes for girls on women’s health.  These workshops are helping to bring an end to early marriage, domestic violence, help with long-term family planning, and teach the value of education. The clinic continues to help the community of Bodhgaya by running programs on homeopathic & allopathic medicines, a dental clinic, as well as physiotherapy and speech therapy. The clinic combined with the mobile outreach units offered free medical treatment to 42,000 patients in 2019.

Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic has been temporarily closed due the COVID-19 pandemic situation in India, but will open again as soon as allowed.

Please enjoy this short video of a glimpse into the work of the clinic as well as life at Root Institute (pre COVID-19). 

We invite you to rejoice in the ongoing beneficial work of the social service programs of Root Institute which are benefiting so many in need of this most precious care. 

During this time when the regular social service activities has been limited or shut down, Root Institute has engaged in inspiring community service by offering food the most needy in the area.

Thank you to all the kind supporters of the Social Services Fund who make it possible to offer donations like this. These grants have a very real and direct effect, changing lives and benefiting extremely poor children and those who are sick and have no other means of support. 

Support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants such as this can continue; or make a donation directly to one of Root Institute’s social service projects.

Rinpoche giving oral transmission of OM MANI PADME HUNG and explaining the benefits of reciting it at Lugsung Samdupling Home for the Aged and Disabled, one of the homes supported by the Social Services Fund.

The Need for Support

Tibetans have been living in exile since 1959 when Communist China invaded Tibet, forcing 100,000 Tibetans to flee to India, Nepal, Bhutan and eventually elsewhere around the world. Many of the Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal are now elderly and many are rendered destitute and in desperate need of care at this critical phase of life. Tibetan families traditionally provide for the elderly and sick among them. However, when a family itself is in deep poverty, or if the elderly individual is alone and without family support, help is needed.

Support Offered

A resident of Dhondenling Elderly Home, Kollegal, India, one of the homes supported by the Social Services Fund. 

Since 2016, the Social Services Fund has offered US$1,224,085 support to over 350 Tibetan elders living in different elderly homes in India. In 2020 we were so happy to offer US$379,309 to five such homes taking care of this most precious and vulnerable population of Tibetans. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has encouraged us to not only address residents’ physical needs, but also their spiritual ones. With this in mind, we’ve also sponsored holy objects such as stupas and prayer wheels on the premises of some of these homes as well as a community hall for pujas and group prayers at two Tibetan settlements. 

Over the past few months we have reported on how the individual homes have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and we were happy to hear that all of the elders in the homes we support were safe from danger of this virus and we were pleased that each home took the necessary precautions and ongoing safety measures needed to protect those in their care and the surrounding communities. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting an 82 year old Tibetan lady during teachings in South India, 2015.

Elderly Homes we Supported in 2020

Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala, provides food, shelter and medical services to 156 residents. US$96,282 was offered in 2020 for shortfall to the annual operating budget.

Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe, looks after 46 elderly individuals who are living in extremely modest conditions, many with health issues due to the advanced age. US$14,025.24 was offered in 2020 for shortfall to the annual operating budget.

Some of the elders of Lugsam Elderly Home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doeguling Home for Elderly and Disabled, located in the Doeguling Tibetan Refugee Settlement in Mundgod, cares for 103 elderly residents. US$65,463 was offered in 2020 for the following:
US$32,793 for an ambulance to transfer the elderly extremely sick and close to passing to the hospital; US$19,585 for annual medical expenses fund due to many of the elders now requiring cancer treatment and kidney dialysis etc; US$13,085 investment toward a corpus fund the home has already set up. The interest of the corpus fund is already covering some of the home’s annual expenses.

Rabgayling Tibetan Family Welfare Association, Hunsur, has an elderly home serving 20 residents. US$22,812.77 was offered in 2020 toward the annual budget shortfall. 

Dhondenling Old People Home, Kollegal, is in one of the most remote and underdeveloped Tibetan settlements in southern India. The elderly home has a capacity for 32 elderly Tibetans residents. US$21,983.83 was offered in 2020 to cover 70% of their annual operating budget for 2020. Additionally, US$180,725.64 was also offered to this settlement. This money was raised separately from UBI in Italy and is to be used toward a multi-purpose hall that the elders would be able to use for religious group practices as well as cultural events.

In the future we’re eager to provide similar support in Nepal and we have already started the process of assessing needs and opportunities to offer support in this way. Thank you to all the donors who make this most urgent and critical support possible. Please rejoice in the US$379,309 offered to these homes in 2020. 

If you are inspired by grants such as this which support elderly Tibetans, you are welcome to contribute to the Social Service Fund and help ensure that work like this can continue long into the future. 

Ven. Gyatso has filled 300 billion mantras into the magnificent prayer wheel at Vajrapani Institute, CA. 5 trillion mantras will fill this prayer wheel when it is completed. Photo courtesy of Vajrapani Institute.

In December 2016, Vajrapani Institute, in California, US, launched the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel Project. The prayer wheel, called the Compassion Wheel and standing 7 ft x 10 ft when completed, will contain 5 trillion (5,000,000,000,000) copies of OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of Chenrezig. This holy object was requested by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

5 trillion mantras will be filled in this unique and incredibly beneficial prayer wheel.

Rinpoche has explained that when you turn a prayer wheel one time, you receive the same benefit as having recited that many mantras and that this is like having done many years of retreat.

We are pleased to provide you with an update of progress on this truly extraordinary holy object.

The prayer wheel is now filled with a third of the first trillion of the mantras, decorative painting of the ceiling is complete, and cladding of the steel structure is underway. Progress on the roof has been paused due to the pandemic, but once restrictions are lifted the roof fabricator will come and take measurements for the penny-colored metal roof (copper). The molds for the ornamental design for the four pillars have been completed in France, and a shipment of ornaments from Nepal, which are decoration for the prayer wheel roof, have arrived in the US. Vajrapani is just now awaiting delivery.

Please enjoy this video showing how the prayer wheel is being filled: youtu.be/ih77kIVWZpo

There is currently no estimation on the completion date of this project but the team hopes to have the prayer wheel filled with the first trillion mantras over the next few months. As others are experiencing around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down progress on some aspects of production and completion.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Holy Objects Fund, has offered US$40,000 toward the construction of this incredible holy object. 

“Each time you rejoice you collect skies of merit, making it such an easy way to achieve enlightenment.”  – Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Supporting the creation of prayer wheels and other holy objects is part of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT: 
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/#pw

Find out more and give your support to the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel

One of the 1,000 statues completed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life.

Last August we shared Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish to offer 1,000 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Thanks to the support of many generous donors, we quickly raised the funds needed for the entire project for the statues to be created, filled, painted, gold gilded, and consecrated. 

Please enjoy this video of the statues being filled, painted and consecrated: https://youtu.be/Gdb22Sq_vao

We are pleased to report that all of the 1,000 statues are now complete. Artists from Nepal and monks from Kopan Monastery spent months at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India, doing the final artistic touches and filling the statues correctly. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bodhgaya, India, January 2020. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In January Lama Zopa Rinpoche met with His Holiness in Bodhgaya and formally offered the 1,000 buddhas. His Holiness showed the aspect of being very pleased and immediately called in the monks attending him and conducted a consecration puja for all the statues on the spot. 

A Kopan monk filling one of the 1,000 buddha statues made for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life.

On His Holiness’ 85th birthday this year, July 6, one of the statues was symbolically offered directly to His Holiness and the 999 remaining statues will be offered an appropriate time when conditions due to COVID-19 allow for this to happen. 

We offer enormous thanks to Pema and all the staff at Tushita for taking care of the monks and artists during this process and for housing the 1,000 buddhas until they will be formally offered. We also deeply thank: Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, especially Gen Tenpa Choden for working with the artists directly and engaging in all the various arrangements; the monks and nuns for rolling all the mantras and filling the statues; the artists who created, painted, and gold gilded the statues; and all of our thanks to all the kind donors who made this incredible offering possible.

May this offering of 1,000 buddhas be the cause for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long, long life, and may we never be separated from his perfect teachings, and may we always fulfill his holy wishes. 

To help ensure grants like this continue toward holy objects, all are welcome to offer a donation of any amount to the Holy Object Fund. 

Ven. Tsering in Kopan Monastery writing out the 12,000 Verse Prajnaparamita Sutra in pure gold for over fifteen years.

The Prajnaparamita Sutra contains the highest teachings of the Buddha and is among the most precious texts available in the world today. Due to the power of this text, writing it out is a way to generate tremendous merit, remove obstacles, and create peace in the world. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently explained in a teaching in Bendigo, Australia, his clear wishes for the Prajnaparamita Project– which for over fifteen years has been sponsoring this most precious sutra to be written out in gold ink. Rinpoche’s wish is for this to continue for as long as FPMT exists. Even when completing the twelve volumes of the sutra currently in process, Rinpoche asked that this project begins again and in this way the sutra is continually being written out as it is a powerful holy object. 

Rinpoche has explained that holy objects benefit us greatly. Creating holy objects (such as statues, stupas, and writing out of sutras), as well as sponsoring the holy objects, rejoicing in the holy objects, and even seeing them (including the birds and flies and anyone else who looks at the holy objects), brings incredible benefit. Even after passing away, benefit to the being will be generated for as long as the holy object remains. Rinpoche explained that the writing of this sutra is exactly the same as creating a holy object, and all those who support this project– those who actually write out the sutra, donate toward the materials, or even rejoice in it– from life to life, those sentient beings will receive benefit, and after this life, wherever they are reborn, they will continue to receive benefit up to their enlightenment. Rinpoche explained this is why he wants the Prajnaparamita Sutra it to be continually worked on and for this to be one of the projects that continues for as long as FPMT exists.

Even writing one letter or syllable from the Prajnaparamita, the benefits you receive are unbelievable, unbelievable, more than making skies of extensive offerings to all the buddhas for so many eons. The merits are far more greater than that. — Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2018

Watch Ven. Tsering writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra and discussing this project:

For over fifteen years Ven. Tsering has been writing out this sutra in gold ink on archival quality rainbow paper. For years, Ven. Tsering was based in California, USA, but recently he returned to Kopan Monastery in Nepal, where he spent his time as a young monk until graduating from the tantric college there. He continues his work on the Prajnaparamita Sutra and is now on volume six of twelve. It is planned that Ven. Tsering will also train other Kopan monks and nuns to help with the writing of this sutra, but that will take time, in order for them to perfect their calligraphy. Currently, Jane Seidlitz, a long-time student located in USA, is also writing a volume of the Prajnaparamita and in the past Ven. Tsenla wrote the Vajra Cutter Sutra in silver ink.

Every year, the Prajnaparamita Project disburses approximately US$25,000 each year to cover the costs associated with this project. The majority of the money is used to sponsor the real gold used in the calligraphy ink. Tremendous thanks to Ven. Tsering who has taken on this incredible task for the benefit of all and also thank you to all who contribute to this fund, making it possible to continue this project for world peace until the final verse is completed. 

You can learn more about the Prajnaparamita Project as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Monks of Kopan Monastery reciting a text together.

In 2018 we announced a new fund, the Protecting the Environment and Living Beings Project. This project began as a way to fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice for specific pujas and practices to be recited regularly in order to pacify harm from the elements and to protect those (humans, animals, insects) who have been affected.

In alignment with Rinpoche’s advice, every month the following practices are being offered with strong prayers. Rinpoche checked extensively on the exact practices to be done, how many times they should be completed, and by whom:

• Extensive Medicine Buddha Puja is offered five times by Shu Cho Khangtsen of Drepung Gomang Monastery, Kopan Monastery, and Gyuto Tantric College
• Guhyasamaja root text is recited four times by Kopan Lama Gyupas
• Kshitigarbha Sutra is recited one time by the nuns of Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery
• Sutra of Golden Light is recited eight times by Sangha in the USA
• Arya Sanghata Sutra is recited five times by Sangha and students in the USA
• Vajra Cutter Sutra is recited four times by Yangsi Rinpoche

We are pleased to report that this has all been offered without interruption since the project began and will continue. These prayers, recitations, and pujas are also extremely important right now, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and all the effects arising from that.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Yangsi Rinpoche making extensive offerings to numberless Buddhas, Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, July 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Some of the Many Benefits of these Recitations

 “Medicine Buddha encompasses all the buddhas. This means that when we practice the seven-limb prayer and make offerings with the seven limbs, we receive the same merit as we would if we had made offerings to all the buddhas.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“The Guhyasamaja Tantra holds a special place in the tantric tradition. Lama Tsongkhapa says, “In the Root Tantra, in the section on the title, it states that every secret of the body, speech, and mind of every tathagata is contained within this tantra.” Lama Tsongkhapa says just to read, study, or even come into contact with this tantra is of immense benefit, and that as long as the Guhyasamaja Tantra remains, the teachings of the Buddha remain also, because “it is the amulet carrying the Buddhadharma.” — Thubten Jinpa, in the Introduction to “A Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages” by Lama Tsongkhapa.

The Kshitigarbha Sutra averts danger and purifies obstacles. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended Kṣitigarbha mantra and practice for times of disaster, particularly earthquakes.

“The Sutra of Golden Light is the king of the sutras. It is extremely powerful and fulfills all one’s wishes, as well as bringing peace and happiness for all sentient beings, up to enlightenment. It is also extremely powerful for world peace, for your own protection, and for the protection of the country and the world. Also, it has great healing power for people in the country. It protects individuals and their country from what are labeled natural disasters of the wind element, fire element, earth element, and water element—such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, fires, tornadoes, etc.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche

One benefit of reciting the Sanghata Sutra is that, wherever this sutra is recited, the buddhas are always present, as explained in the text itself. As such, the recitation can bestow a powerful blessing on the place where it is recited.

“The Vajra Cutter Sutra is unbelievable. It is one of the most profitable practices, because the root of all sufferings, yours and others, is the ignorance holding “I” as truly existent—even though it is empty of that; and the ignorance holding the aggregates as truly existent, even though they are empty of that. The only antidote to cut that, to get rid of that and through which to achieve liberation, the total cessation of the suffering causes—delusions and karma—is the wisdom realizing emptiness. This is the subject of the Vajra Cutter Sutra, emptiness. So, each time it is read, it leaves such a positive imprint. Without taking much time, without much difficulty, it is easy to actualize wisdom.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The general dedication for all these monthly pujas and practices is for whole world, and in particular for United States of America (at this time):

To not have disasters of fire, water, air, and earth including great dangers such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, fires, and also global problems; to prevent any great danger for the people and animals of the area, and if it does for those who die to not be reborn in the lower realms and to actualize bodhichitta and achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible.

Tremendous thanks to Yangsi Rinpoche and all the Sangha and students who are offering these continual prayers each month; to all who contribute toward the sponsorship of these prayers; and to all those who join in with prayers. You can can participate yourself by reciting these texts and offering the same dedication above: Medicine Buddha Puja, Sanghata Sutra, Vajra Cutter Sutra, Sutra of Golden Light. 

All are welcome to join this effort to benefit the environment, those affected by disasters of the elements, and all beings.

Special White Tara long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, July 4, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On July 4, under the direction and guidance of Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la), a special White Tara long life puja was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, with Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and about one  hundred senior monks from the monastery and twenty nuns from the nunnery. Attendance at this puja was limited due to the current lockdown situation in Nepal.

For three days prior to the actual puja, Khadro-la, with the help of six geshes, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and about one hundred senior geshes and monks from Kopan Monastery, did special preparatory practices in the Kopan gompa for many hours. This was part of the White Tara long life puja, which comes from His Holiness Zong Rinpoche and is a very powerful puja from the lower tantra.

Khadro-la offering the special White Tara long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, July 4, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

FPMT, through the Long Life Puja Fund, and Kopan Monastery sponsored this entire puja. All the extensive preparations were kindly taken care of by Kopan.

This particular long life puja was offered because Ven. Roger Kunsang had checked with Khadro-la about Rinpoche’s health and long life for the upcoming year, which is customary for him to do. Khadro-la indicated there were some obstacles to Rinpoche’s health and long life and this special long life puja was needed. In addition, Khadro-la advised on the need for three to four Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong pujas to be offered at Kopan Monastery before the end of this year. One of these pujas has already been completed—this is a very extensive puja that takes most of an entire day, about fourteen hours, to offer.

Khadro-la leading preparations the day prior to the long life puja. 3.5 days of preparations were needed. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Large effigy of Lama Zopa Rinpoche made for the special long life puja by Kopan Lama Gyupas. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Khadro-la advised that the preparation for this long life puja needed to last at least three days to make it most powerful. During the preparation there was a large effigy of Rinpoche created by the Kopan Lama Gyupas with hand-made robes, hat, and glasses. The effigy was then taken out during the puja.

On the morning of the puja, further preparation occurred until Rinpoche was invited down to the gompa by Khadro-la and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi.

Offering of tsog during the White Tara long life puja. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka offered by Ven. Roger Kunsang to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the White Tara long life puja.

Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the White Tara long life puja. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

One very special offering that was made to Rinpoche during the puja was a new Thousand-Arm Chenrezig thangka to replace the one that Rinpoche carries with him everywhere. Ven. Roger sponsored the thangka on behalf of the organization and arranged for it to be painted about a year ago. Throughout the process Ven. Roger checked the art, quality and type of brocade, and other details with Rinpoche. Rinpoche was very pleased with the art.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la, Kopan Monastery, July 1, 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Following the long life puja Rinpoche and Khadro-la concluded that it was important to also offer Lama Chopa with tsog, starting with Calling the Guru from Afar. This lasted into the early evening.

Every day during the preparation period guided by Khadro-la, Rinpoche and Khadro-la had lunch together, discussing many important subjects. One item discussed at length was the four to six large fire pujas that Khadro-la had advised to do at specific holy places around Kathmandu Valley. These fire pujas will be arranged by different Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug monasteries, including Kopan Monastery. The fire pujas have to be done in different directions and happen simultaneously and are done to help subdue the effects of COVID-19 experienced in Nepal and around the world. These pujas will happen once permission is granted at the various locations; the delays have been due to the situation of lockdown.

Each morning during the preparations, Khadro-la visited Rinpoche for thirty minutes, discussing different signs or indications that she received the night before.

The long life puja itself was very powerful and successful. Rinpoche was very happy and also Khadro-la seemed very pleased.

Following the long life puja Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Khadro-la and Rinpoche walked in the gardens of Kopan Monastery. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On behalf of the entire FPMT organization, we offer the most heartfelt thanks to Khadro-la for taking care of Rinpoche in this way, guiding and offering the entire long life puja so carefully with so much preparation, as well as advising what other pujas are needed. We also want to take this opportunity to thank Ven. Roger Kunsang for offering tireless service to Rinpoche for thirty-five years and for making sure all of these important things happen. 

Tremendous thanks to all the centers and students who support the Long Life Puja Fund—please rejoice that your offerings helped sponsor this puja.

Heartfelt thanks are also offered to Kopan Monastery for helping to offer this puja so successfully with so many prayers and preparations. 

The Long Life Puja Fund always contributes to long life pujas offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You can also learn about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT and discover the many ways the various funds and projects are benefiting others.

You can watch the video series Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Teachings on Thought Transformation during the Time of COVID-19 and find links to videos in translation, transcripts, MP3s, additional practice advice, and more:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche-for-coronavirus/

Some of the elders of Rabgayling Tibetan Family Welfare Association, in Hunsur, India.

FPMT Charitable Projects has been providing information about how the elderly homes supported by the Social Services Fund have been doing during the COVID-19 crisis. Here we provide the final reports of two homes who are, thankfully, marked safe during the pandemic. 

The grounds of Dhondeling Tibetan Settlement being sanitized for safety during the pandemic.

At Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement, located in Kollegal, India, an elderly home of thirty-two elderly, precautions have been taken such as: visitors are not allowed to enter the home; they stocked dry rations and other items; requested the doctor to visit the home in case of any emergency; the premises was thoroughly sanitized regularly; and nearly 3,200 cloth-face masks were distributed to the settlement and the residents.

Resident bathrooms of Rabyaling Tibetan Family Welfare Association being cleaned by staff.

The twenty elders at Rabgayling Tibetan Family Welfare Association, in Hunsur, India, are in good health. Nutritious food and regular check-ups have been offered and the staff regularly cleans their rooms, toilets, and offers sanitation to the premises. 

In 2020 a total of US$379,308 has been offered from the Social Services Fund to homes in India serving elderly Tibetans. Tibetan families traditionally provide for the elderly and sick among them. However, when a family itself is in deep poverty, or if the elderly individual is alone and without family support, help is needed. FPMT is very happy to be able to offer this very real and needed support to these very precious elders, many of whom would be rendered destitute without such support. Thank you to all who make this support possible.

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to elderly homes can continue. 

Monks of Sera Je Monastery. Photo courtesy of the Sera Je Monastery Facebook page.

In 2017, after twenty-six years of the Sera Je Food Fund offering daily meals to all of the 2,500 monks of Sera Je Monastery, FPMT Charitable Projects raised and then offered a US$5.3 million endowment fund to Sera Je Monastery. The interest generated annually from this endowment supports the entire Sera Je Food Fund expenses.

Sera Je Monastery manages and is entirely responsible for the endowment, but as part of the agreement, FPMT International Office does continue to monitor it. We are very pleased to report that this endowment is continuing to generate enough interest to cover all the costs (which have increased since 2017, as was expected) of the Sera Je Food Fund so this most precious daily offering continues uninterrupted. In addition there is a little extra income generated from the interest and that is reinvested to continue to grow the endowment. 

When this project first started in 1991, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Roger Kunsang were the main fundraisers for so many years. Then slowly FPMT Charitable Projects took on the entire responsibility so Rinpoche didn’t have to personally raise the funds. In addition, a few centers were key in helping with fundraising and tens of thousands of supporters over the years have also been inspired to donate. 

Monks of Sera Je Monastery engaged in puja. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Monastery.

When the food fund first began, we were only able to offer a small amount of money to each monk for their midday meal. Then we started to provide a cooked meal that was served to every monk. Later we added dinner, and then breakfast. We built a kitchen and catered to the thousands of monks every day with special attention given to maintaining a hygienic environment for meal preparation, and a balanced offering of nutritious food. And now, due to the endowment that was built up over ten years, this project is now totally self-sufficient. How amazing! 

Thank you so much to everyone who helped to create this incredible offering that brings so much benefit to all the monks of Sera Je Monastery who in turn are working so hard to benefit the entire world through Buddha’s teachings. Supporting monks and nuns has always been one of the highest priorities for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT organization because the preservation of the Dharma is dependent on the existence of Sangha.

Please learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries around the world. 

You can read the complete article on the food fund, “Sustaining the Pure Unbroken Lineage of Buddha’s Teachings in This World: The Legacy of the Sera Je Food Fund,” in Mandala eZine format and as a PDF.

Students of Ngari Institute prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students of Ngari Institute enjoying lunch prior to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Social Services Fund has been supporting Ngari Institute in Ladakh, India since 2014. Ngari Institute helps needy children from remote regions of Ladakh and arranges to send them to, currently, three different schools. The Institute arranges all the costs related to this, such as the  facility fees, food, uniforms, etc.

The Social Services Fund has been covering all the costs of the food for the children and staff. This offering started at US$15,720.62 and is now US$30,741.85 a year. The Ngari Institute is located in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh in a small village called Saboo. The mission of the Institute is to empower and educate the poor and needy remote-area students by providing the ability for children to receive a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom.

All the schools are currently closed due to the restrictions in India, but the hostel located at the Institute remains open for the children who stay there. Most of the staff are staying at the Institute and are able to care for the children staying there. To date there have been no cases of COVID-19 at the school, but around 24 cases in the region. The schools are hopeful that they will be able to reopen as soon as possible and are undertaking all necessary care for when the school opens that it will be safe for the children.

Thank you to all the donors who make it possible to support to the Institute with food for all the children and teachers. It is due to your kindness that we can offer this.

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to schools can continue. 

FPMT Charitable Projects will continue updating you on how schools supported by FPMT Social Service Fund are navigating these challenging times.  

Some of the elders of Lugsum Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lugsum Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, an elderly home in Bylakuppe, India, cares for 37 aging Tibetans. The Social Services Fund has been supporting this home since 2016 with grants toward annual operating budget shortfall; and also to build new rooms for the elders; 115 prayer wheels for the residents’ use; and necessities like cushions, chairs, and curtains for the premises. 

The elders and staff at this home are currently doing fine and are all safe during the COVID-19 restrictions. The elderly home has been regularly disinfected. Face masks have been distributed to all and necessary toiletries and sanitation have been issued. The residents are not permitted to leave the home at this time and the staff have been working arduously to provide food and care. Their nurse is administering screening and health checkups every week. Thankfully, there have been no cases of COVID-19 at the elderly home, or at the settlement. 

Just before the shutdown in India started, Social services Fund was very happy to be able to offer US$14,025 towards the 2020 operating budget for this elderly home. This donation will directly support the elders food and medical expenses. Thank you to all the kind donors who help FPMT support the Tibetan elders in this way.

FPMT Charitable Projects will continue providing updates on how elderly homes supported by FPMT Social Service Fund are navigating these challenging times.  

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to elderly homes can continue. 

Some nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal, engaged in retreat.

Since 2009, sponsorship has been offered to the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal, from the Practice and Retreat Fund. Funds have been offered to complete two 100 million mani retreats (100 million recitations of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM) every year. In addition to the 100 million mani retreats, offerings are made to cover the cost of food for all the nuns during this period as well as an offering for a qualified geshe to stay during the retreat in order to give lamrim teachings. Over the past eleven years, the nuns have completed twenty-one 100 million mani retreats. They have nearly completed the first 100 million Mani retreat of 2020.

Light offerings at Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

This year the nuns also performed a Nyung Nä retreat on Saka Dawa. During this retreat they prayed for the good health of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and especially for universal peace and to dispel the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and for the quick recovery of those who are infected.

The nunnery is following all the safety regulations for the nuns to stay safe during this time, and there are currently no regular classes being held for the young nuns because of the enforced lockdown in Nepal.

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.