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Students of Ngari Institute enjoying a meal.
The Social Services Fund has been supporting the school children and staff of Ngari Institute in Ladakh, India, since 2014. This year, a grant for US$26,682.61 was offered to cover the costs of daily meals for eighty-three students and staff members.
Ngari Institute is located in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh in a small village called Saboo. The mission of this school is to empower and educate the poor and needy remote-area students by providing a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom.
The students receiving a lesson at Ngari Institute.
The students, who come from different parts of Ladakh and the border of Tibet, stay in a hostel while attending the school. Ngari Institute is taking care of all the students’ daily needs, offering free room, board, tuition, books, clothing allowances, and access to medical care.
Supporting schools is one way FPMT invests in the future and helps break the cycle of poverty in disadvantaged areas, particularly in India and Nepal where children of Tibetan, Nepali, Sherpa, and Indian heritage are in dire need of education.
If you are inspired by grants such as this, you are welcome to contribute to the Social Service Fund and help ensure that work like this can continue.
Zangdog Palri temple in Tso Pema, India.
Zangdog Palri: Guru Rinpoche’s Pure Land
There is a tradition in Tibet of building three-dimensional versions of the Pure Land of Guru Rinpoche: Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain — in Tibetan, Zangdog Palri.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wants to build a Zangdog Palri at Lawudo Retreat Centre located in a secluded corner of the Himalayas, in Solo Khumbu, the Everest region of Nepal, fourteen thousand feet above sea level. The retreat center has been built around the cave where Rinpoche’s previous incarnation, the first Lawudo Lama, Kunsang Yeshe, meditated, not far from the village where Rinpoche was born.
Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) is perhaps the most universally cherished realized being in all of Tibetan Buddhism. He came to Tibet from India in the 8th century and helped establish a pure lineage which is still practiced today by all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism around the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche lauds Guru Rinpoche’s contribution to humanity: “Due to Guru Rinpoche’s great compassion, Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism flourished in Tibet and now has spread throughout the entire world. Because of that, so many people have experienced the path to enlightenment and achieved enlightenment. Due to his great compassion, the lives of infinite number of sentient beings have become meaningful.”
“Usually a Zangdog Palri is three stories high,” Ven. Roger Kunsang, assistant to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the CEO of FPMT, Inc., explained. “Each level has a specific purpose. Rinpoche will build a two-story version at Lawudo above the cave. Rinpoche has a number of excellent art books that explain all the levels and details, and has been visiting a number of Zangdog Palris in India, collecting photos and discussing with artists and others who have been involved in building them.”
Tremendous thanks to Ven. Robina Courtin and Lauwdo Trek which have been the main supporters of this project since Rinpoche envisioned it.
All are welcome to help actualize this incredible temple in Lawudo. Details will be shared as the project takes shape.
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels, and statues.
Some of the monks of Thame Monastery
For the second year in a row the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund is offering a grant to cover the cost of three meals per day to the monks of Thame Monastery in Nepal. The monastery is home to nine elderly and thirteen young monks. Thame Monastery is one of the oldest in the region, and is famous for hosting the annual Mani Rimdu Festival.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born in the Mount Everest region of Thame, located close to Lawudo which was the home of his previous incarnation known as the Lawudo Lama. Many Kopan monks are also from Thame. FPMT is very pleased to offer support to this region whenever possible.
Completed magnificent stupa in Thame, Nepal.
During the earthquake of 2015, the Thame region was seriously affected. Amidst the destruction, a large and important stupa for the area was destroyed. The Holy Objects Fund offered over US$300,000 for the rebuilding of the stupa which took two years to complete. The new stupa, which stands nearly 46 feet tall with a base measuring 54 feet across, is larger than the one which previously stood and is utilizing much of the materials from the original stupa. This stupa also features a large prayer wheel inside, pilgrims and locals can enter the stupa to spin it and create even more merit.
Thame Monastery, Nepal.
Please rejoice in the ongoing support offered to the monks of Thame Monastery. This offering of food, which cost US$11,000 for 2019, allows the monks to receive three nutritious meals daily. In a letter of thanks to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the monastery explained, “The sangha meal project has even more urgency now as more monks are getting older and unable to visit local families frequently for pujas and finding resources on their own.”
If you want to help Sangha, please learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries around the world.
The 31st incarnation of Dzarong Trulshik Shatrul Rinpoche, Trulshik Ngawang Chokyi Lodoe.
Due to the kindness of very generous donors, the Holy Objects Fund has invested US$61,600 in gold leafing for 31 statues of the incarnations of Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche. The 31st incarnation of this lama who passed away in 2011, was revered as one of the most learned and respected living masters of the Nyingma tradition and is one of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachers and one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
These statues will live at Maratika Monastery, the small monastery built adjacent to the entrance of Maratika Cave. This holy site is where Padmasambhava achieved immortality.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has a strong connection with the Maratika Lama, Khenpo Karma Wangchuk, who takes care of the area. The Maratika Lama is the son of Lama Ngawang Chophel, who was a close disciple of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s previous incarnation. (For more on this important pilgrimage site, see “The Caves of Maratika,” published in Mandala June-July 2008.)
The third incarnation of Trulshik Rinpoche, Ananda.
Trulshik Rinpoche included this in his verses of praise, “The Vajra Song Melodiously
Praising Maratika”
I, an ordinary person cannot express this Place in mere words
No one can deny the truly powerful blessing of this Place
By the prophesy of the all pervading two great Terton Lords
And the prayers from past life karmic connections
Amitayus, Protector of Boundless Life and Wisdom
Shakyamuni, Excellent Refuge Buddha
And Padmasambhava, the Saviour of the Dark Age
Consecrated and established the Maratika Monastery.
Please rejoice in the creation of these statues and the continued support FPMT is able to offer to Maratika Monastery.
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels, and statues.
The monks of Zigar Thupten Shedrupling Institute .
The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund is now offering support to the sixty-two monks of Zigar Thupten Shedrupling Institute, a Kagyu monastery located in Darjeeling, India.
The monastery sent a letter of thanks and praise to Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
Today on this special day of Sutra and Tantra
To you who is illuminator of nonsectarian Buddha’s teaching: Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, for a long time you have generated the holy wish for the teachings of the Buddha and for migratory beings. It has now ripened into fruition, due to the conjunction with noble dependent arising of karma and prayers. By providing livelihood conditions to the Sangha who are engaged in the three activities of study, contemplation, and meditation practice on the teachings of the Buddha.
In the Araya land of Darjeeling’s Thubten Shedub Ling Institution for higher study, we are indebted to the incredible kindness of your holy deeds, and this cooperative condition. Today on the third month of the 15th day of the Tibetan calendar, we have started the needed facilities and food offering to the Sangha. Currently there are 62 Sangha residents who are part of Shedra study discipline, likewise there are one to two new admissions each month.
On behalf of all who are part of the team of Dzigar Shedra monastery’s well-wishers, in and outside, and all the lamas, tulkus, monks, nuns, and the public — We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. To you, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, and the FPMT organization, staff, and followers under your guidance:
May all your holy wishes for the scriptural and realized teachings of the Buddha, which is the source of all help and happiness, be spread widely and remain for a long time in this universe.
May all the holy beings who practice and preserve the teachings have long lives and may all their holy wishes be fulfilled as they wish. Especially Rinpoche, may you live long and may all your holy activities and deeds spread extensively. Today at the Shedar we offer incense offering through the ritual of Tashi Rekong (Fulfilling Wishes of Auspiciousness) and make heartfelt requests to The Three Supreme Ones and the Three Roots. May all come true as requested.
Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, the source of all the help and happiness
With willpower of tolerance to lift up very high
You are empowered with extraordinary thought and bodhichitta
Glorifying the nonsectarian teachings
May you live long.
This year, the grant for food was US$14,432. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, has pledged US$200,000 for this monastery. About offering food to Sangha, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said:
The ultimate point is that this offering also benefits all the six-realm sentient beings. Any practice that the Sangha do in the monastery, they do for all the six-realm sentient beings, to benefit them. Every sadhana or practice starts with the motivation for “mother sentient beings,” which means all the six-realm sentient beings.
Every dollar offered – even just one dollar, even the smallest amount of money offered – has all these benefits. And the benefits go to all sentient beings: every mosquito, every fish, every pitiful chicken that is taken by a truck to be killed, every sentient being in numberless universes receives these benefits.
Please rejoice in this ongoing offering of support to the monks of Zigar Thupten Shedrupling Institute.
If you want to help Sangha, please learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries around the world.
Shakyamuni Buddha by Jane Seidlitz.
Saka Dawa is the most important Tibetan Buddhist festival day, celebrating Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Buddhists around the world engage in many auspicious and merit-making activities such as sponsoring or engaging in beneficial pujas, practices, and prayers; and making extensive offerings to teachers, holy objects, and auspicious charitable activities. This year, Saka Dawa took place on June 17.
Each year on Saka Dawa and other Buddha multiplying days, as well as other auspicious days of the Tibetan calendar, the FPMT Puja Fund sponsors prayers, pujas, and offerings around the world.
Please rejoice in the following activities that were sponsored this year on Saka Dawa!
Pujas Offered by Over 15,650 Ordained Sangha
- Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) read by the 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College.
- Recitation of the 100,000 Praises to 21 Taras offered by 400 nuns of Kopan Nunnery.
- Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tong Chö, and Zangcho offered by 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries.
- Druk Chu Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja and Zangcho offered by 3,400 monks of Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monasteries.
- Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tsechog and Zangcho offered by 4,200 monks of Drepung Gomang, Loseling and Deyang Monasteries.
- Namgyäl Tong Chö and Zangcho offered by 600 monks of Gyuto Tantric Colleges.
- Druk Ch Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja and Zangcho offered by the 370 monks of Kopan Monastery.
- Making and filling of stupas and lunch offering to participants at Chenrezig Institute, Australia.
Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, such as:
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- His Holiness the Sakya Trizin
- Jhado Rinpoche
- Khongla Rato Rinpoche
Offerings are made to over 15,650 Sangha at:
- Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery
- Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monastery
- Drepung Gomang, Loseling and Deyang Monastary
- Gyurme and Gyuto Tantric College
- Kopan Monastery and Nunnery
Offerings are made to Sangha at IMI communities:
- Nalanda Monastery, France
- Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia
- Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy
- Chenrezig Institute, Australia
Offerings Made to Holy Objects in Nepal, India and Tibet:
- Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas: Offering white wash and four giant saffron flower petals and new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles
- Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple: Offering a new set of robes of the most precious material
- Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang: Offering gold to the holy body of the Jowo Buddha
Extensive offerings (water, lights, fruit) were also made in all the FPMT centers around the world, as well as many recommended prayers, practices and activities.
The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche so that beneficial prayers and pujas on holy days, as well as other occasions, can be offered and dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors, and those serving the organization in any way.
All are welcome to participate in all of this beneficial activity by rejoicing in this incredible list of activities. All are also welcome to donate any amount to the many prayers, practices, and offerings sponsored by the Puja Fund so that this activity can continue far into the future.
Extensive prayers, practices, and offerings will be sponsored during the next Buddha multiplying day, Chokhor Duchen, which takes place this year on August 4.
Learn more about the Puja Fund or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Sangpo Sherpa liberating goats, Maratika Caves, Nepal.
In 2016 Lama Zopa Rinpoche saved three goats that were destined to be killed in Maratika, Nepal. The goats were blessed and offered animal liberation practice which includes various mantras, beneficial prayers, tying blessed red cloth around their necks, and several dedication prayers. Since then, another goat has been been liberated in dedication of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life. The goats are cared for by Poojari, who has been looking after liberated goats for high lamas for many years and was formerly the caretaker of Maratika Cave. The animals live in town, go out to pasture during the day, and are often seen at the cave. They are fed well, get medical attention when needed, and prayers are done for them.
The Animal Liberation Fund offered a grant of US$1,090 this year in support of these goats and continued support will be offered for the duration of the goats’ lives.
Animal liberation practice is an incredible practice for anyone who has illnesses or is experiencing life obstacles. FPMT Education Services makes available many resources for those wishing to engage in this practice.
Please rejoice in the ongoing support to these animals who were not only saved from death, but are continually being blessed and cared for so that positive imprints are made in their minds, contributing to a more fortunate rebirth.
All are welcome to contribute to the Animal Liberation Fund to help ensure that our work sponsoring animal liberations around the world continues.
This foundation was established as result of the aspirations and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Gaden Tri Rinpoche, and various important senior Gelug masters and leaders, in order to insure coordination, cooperation, management, and organized continuity of the precious Gelug tradition.
The vision of the foundation is to promote, propagate, develop, enrich, and preserve the Gelug tradition established by Lama Tsongkhapa. The goal is to unite and harmonize all Gelug monasteries and Dharma centers throughout the world under a single umbrella in order to improve and maintain coordination, cooperation, development, function, and friendship.
Member monasteries include: Gyuto, Tashi Lhunpo, Sera Mey, Sera Je, Rato, Namgyal, Gaden Jangtse,Gaden Shartse Norling, Drepung, Drepung Loseling, and Drepung Gomang.
Geluk International Foundation Current Accomplishments
- Construction of headquarters has been completed.
- Revisions of the directives of monasteries of Gelug tradition have been completed, published, and circulated.
- GOLDEN KEY: a Clear Presentation of Truth and Falsehood about Dholgyal through Quotes and Reasoning, was recently published.
- Offerings, rituals, and prayers were organized in Dharamsala, June 2015, for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Please rejoice in another year of sponsorship to the Geluk International Foundation which is a tremendous investment in the future and preservation of the Gelug tradition, and an offering of support toward His Holiness’s wishes for a unified tradition.
You can learn more about the activities of this foundation and read news updates about current events and support the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund to ensure that grants like this can continue into the future.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting an 82 year old Tibetan lady during Lam teachings in South India, 2015.
In recent years, due to the kindness of benefactors, the FPMT Social Services Fund has been able to offer support to elderly homes in India caring for Tibetans of advanced age who have no access to other means of support. Offering these grants to elderly homes is one way to help repay the kindness and bravery of the Tibetan people. There are many Tibetan elders in the exile community who have either been rendered destitute or whose families are not capable of taking care of them due to dire circumstances. In 2019 we were so happy to offer grants to five elderly homes and directly benefit to 370 elders.
In total, US$287,085.23 was offered in 2019.
This is the fourth year that FPMT has been offering substantial support to elderly homes in India. Without these homes, many elderly first-wave Tibetan refugees have very little prospect of accommodation or support as many are without families of their own.
We invite you to rejoice in some details about each of the homes we supported in 2019.
Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala.
Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala
Providing care to 124 destitute elders, this home offers accommodation, medication, monthly pocket money, and supplemental nutrition. The residents normally wake up at 5 a.m. and are served fresh tea and then set out on their morning walk then congregate at the prayer hall at 6 a.m. to perform daily prayers for about an hour before breakfast. Until lunch they spend leisure time reciting prayers and circumambulating the temple and large prayer wheel as well as engage in chores they enjoy such as clean and planting beautiful flowers around the home. We provided a grant for the shortfall of this home’s annual operating budget.
Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe.
Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe
This home has 36 elders including one resident who is 96 years of age. This year we provided a grant for the shortfall of annual operating budget for 2018 and 2019, plus new cushions and chairs and curtains needed on the premises.
Residents of Mundgod Home for the Elderly and Disabled, Mundgod.
Mundgod Home for the Elderly and Disabled, Mundgod
This home has 86 elders, some of which are HIV +, have cancer, psychiatric problems, diabetics, and/or chronic arthritis. A lot of the annual expenses are medical. This year we offered a grant toward their corpus fund which pays some of their annual operating budget. They are fundraising for this fund so that in the future it will fully support the operating costs of the home from the interest. We also offered another grant toward annual expenses, that they were not able to cover.
Residents of Hunsur Old Aged Home, Hunsur, Gurupura.
Hunsur Old Aged Home, Hunsur, Gurupura
This home provides accommodation for 20 elders, the eldest is 94 years old. This year we offered a grant toward this home’s annual operating budget shortfall.
Residents of Dhondenling Old Age Home, Kollegal.
Dhondenling Old Age Home, Kollegal
30 residents ranging in age from 59-96 receive care at this home. A grant was offered this year which went toward food, medical expenses, gas, staff expenses, and pocket money for the elders.
Tremendous thanks to all who make these grants to those in dire need possible by offering support to the Social Services Fund.
Since 2015 we have offered $819,671.76 directly to support Tibetan elder homes and communities in India
FPMT Charitable Projects is honored to support the homes of the eldest and destitute Tibetan refugees. Please consider supporting the Social Services Fund.
Namche Stupa and grounds, during inauguration in May. Photo by Frances Klatzel.
In 2016, the Holy Objects Fund offered a substantial grant to the Namche Stupa and Mani Park, a project in Namche Bazaar, Nepal, located in the Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ). The grant was used for five prayer wheels filled with mantras, which are turned by flowing water, thus blessing all of the water used throughout the entire park. This project also includes a restored stupa that was damaged in the 2015 earthquake. In May, the park was completed and an auspicious inauguration was attended by many.
Namche Bazaar, locally known as “Nauje” is the gateway to Khumbu (Mt. Everest region). This small town is a tourist and trading hub and a popular resting stop, especially for altitude acclimatization. It is also a junction from where different Everest region trekking routes diverge.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote a letter explaining the benefits of this new park:
“This is an incredible great gift to make the prayer wheel that purifies the “digpa” negative karma of so many beings so that they get a higher rebirth. For a prayer wheel turned by water… The Tsogshin, the life tree inside, should go underneath to have a connection to the wheel. The water that turns the wheel gets blessed, by the how many million or hundred thousand mantras in the prayer wheel. So that blessed water goes down and joins the river, and gets bigger and bigger, and finally goes to the ocean.
“That blessed water spreads in all the waters that go to the ocean, so suffering, obscurations, and negative karma “Digpa” are purified for numberless sentient beings and all kinds of fish, mammals, and insects. When they die they may get a higher rebirth and hopefully meet the Dharma. So rejoice, now the prayer wheel is not one, but five. This brings unbelievable benefit.”
You can read Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s full letter here.
Please rejoice in the inauguration of this beautiful new park which will bring so much benefit to residents of Namche Bazaar and tourists alike due to the incredible power of the prayer wheels and stupa.
You can read more about the architecture of this park in Spaces Nepal.
Prayer wheels turned by water which bless the entire area. Photo by Frances Klatzel.
Lotus fountain and mantra, Namche Stup and Mani Park. Photo by Frances Klatzel.
The grounds of Namche Stupa and Water Park. Photo by Frances Klatzel.
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels, and statues.
2018 participants in the annual Gelug Examination.
Every year the best scholars from the main Gelug monasteries come together for the annual Gelug Examination. This year, which is an annual custom, the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund offered US$20,955 for daily food, travel expenses, and for teacher stipends for the main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition. 864 monks participated in this year’s exam at Sera Lachi, South India, in September.
Monks enjoying a meal sponsored by the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund.
Stipends were offered to the 128 current abbots, past abbots, and main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition. This small offering of money supports these teachers’ basic needs and allows them to be able to focus more of their time on transmitting Dharma to their students at the monasteries and strengthening their own practices.
Examination in progress.
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund would like to congratulate all the monks for their successful completion of this challenging event. Due to the grant offered each year from this fund, all qualified monks are able to participate in the debate and examination, rather than being exempt due to prohibitive costs.
For twenty years, FPMT has been sponsoring this important event. Please rejoice in this ongoing support to past, present, and future teachers of the Gelug tradition.
Since its inception, the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund, an extension of the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, has supported senior teachers each year of the main Gelug monasteries, plus hundreds of monks attending the traditional winter debate and annual Gelug exam.
Lay woman and nuns from Jamyang Choeling Institute, Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, Jangchub Choeling Nunnery. Nuns’ Jang Guncho, Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery, Kathmandu, Nepal, October 2018.
For the second time, the annual Nuns’ Jang Guncho (annual winter debate session) was held at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery (Kopan Nunnery), in Kathmandu, Nepal, from October 3-November 3, 2018. Approximately 710 nuns, 17 teachers, and some lay women from ten nunneries in India and Nepal gathered for one month-long training session in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, was happy to offer food for one day of this event plus a small cash offering for each participant.
The first Nuns’ Jang Guncho took place in Dharamsala, India, in 1995 and provides an opportunity for nunneries to gather together to train in and practice debate. This is an incredible opportunity for the nuns to receive such a valuable and thorough education, an opportunity that was previously not offered.
After the conclusion of the Nuns’ Jang Guncho, a two-day celebration was observed for the Geshema Damcha, the final step in the geshema ceremony rituals. Every nun from each nunnery debated five major texts of Buddhist philosophy during the celebration. Two Kopan nuns are already geshemas from Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery and four more will become geshemas in 2020 after successful completion of two more exams.
Please rejoice that this annual event, which for centuries was only available to monks, continues to take place and bring together so many nuns in such a beneficial way.
You can read more about the 2018 Nuns’ Jang Guncho and firsthand details of the event from participating Kopan nuns.
Please learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries around the world.