In June, $52,950 in grant awards from the 2012 International Merit Box Project offerings were disbursed to 14 FPMT centers, projects and funds for their use. From the kindness of Merit Box Practitioners chipping in their Merit Box donations from all over the world, much-needed funding help has been given to a hospice in California, a retreat land in France, a flood-damaged gompa in Argentina, and an inspiring list of others. To see a PDF of the 2012 Merit Box Project grant recipients please click here.

Thakpa Kachoe’s retreat chalet in the Southern Alps of France, under final construction, received a 2012 Merit Box grant award in June.

LYWA received a grant award to help publish Big Love: Lama Yeshe’s official biography. The book is scheduled for release in 2014.

The following is an extensive list of all the pujas and offerings sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund. A description of these pujas follows below.

   Annual: Four Buddha Days

Losar (Tibetan New Year and the 15 days of miracles)
Saka Dawa (Day 15 of Month 4: Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana)
Chokhor Duchen (Day 4 of Month 6, commemorating  Lord Buddha’s first teaching)
Lha Bab Duchen (Buddha’s Descent from Tushita)

Prayers and Offerings:

• Sera Lachi (6,000 monks): Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tong Chö, Zangcho (King of Prayers)
• Ganden Lachi (3,400 monks): Druk Chu Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja, Zangcho
• Drepung Lachi (4,200 monks): Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tsechog, Zangcho
• Gyurme Tantric College (650 monks): Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions)
• Gyuto Tantric College (600 monks): Namgyäl Tong Chö, Zangcho.
• Rs 20 is offered to every monk at these monasteries
• Offerings made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Sakya Trizen, Jhado Rinpoche, Dhakpa Tritul Rinpoche, Khyongla Rato Rinpoche and Rinpoche’s other gurus.
• Offering are made to all the Sangha at international Sangha communities: Nalanda Monastery, France; Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia; Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy; Chenrezig Institute, Australia; Sangha doing service at Rinpoche’s house, USA

In addition to the prayers and offerings listed above, the following are additionally offered on the following Buddha Days respectively:

Losar

• Kopan Monastery and Nunnery (370 monks, 400 nuns): offering lunch and money offering, NPR 100 offered to all Kopan monks and nuns
• A full set of robes is offered to all FPMT geshes and resident teachers
• Monetary offerings to the 700+ monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery during the annual Monlam festival

Saka Dawa

• Making and filling of stupas and lunch offering to participants at Chenrezig Institute, Australia
• Kopan Monastery (370 monks):Tukchuma puja and Medicine Buddha puja, NPR 50 offered to all of the monks
• Kopan Nunnery (400 nuns): 100,000 recitations of praises to 21 Taras, NPR 50 and lunch offered to all of the nuns

Chokhor Duchen

• Kopan Monastery (370 monks): Namgyal Tsechok, Rs 50 offered to each monk
• Kopan Nunnery (400 nuns): Kangyur recitation, Rs 50 offered to each nun over three sessions

Lha Bab Duchen

• Kopan Monastery (370 monks): Druk chu ma, Medicine Buddha Puja, Tsang Cho, Rs 50 offered to each monk
• Kopan Nunnery (400 nuns): Druk chu ma, Medicine Buddha Puja, Tsang Cho, Rs 50 offered to each nun

   Monthly Activities

Full Moon

Prayers and Offerings:

• Offering of white-washing, Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupa, Nepal
• Offering new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles, Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupa, Nepal
• Saffron flowers offered in each of the four directions. Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupa, Nepal
• 16 Arhant puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life, Kopan Monastery, Nepal
• A new set of robes of the most precious material with meditation practice is offered each month to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India
• A new set of robes of the most precious material is offered monthly to the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokhang, Lhasa Jokhang, Tibet
• Gold is also offered to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha, Lhasa Jokhang, Tibet
• Robes offered to special Chenrezig statue inside Potala palace (when possible), Tibet

Tibetan 8th day

Prayers and Offerings:

• Extensive Medicine Buddha puja on the 8th day of the Tibetan month to bring success to all one’s activities, and for long life and also when anyone has passed away, Sera Me Monastery, India
• Rs 20 offering to approx. 2000 monks, Sera Me Monastery, India

Tibetan 29th day

Prayers and Offerings:

• Hayagriva Tsog Kong: all-day puja to Hayagriva with extensive offerings offered by 40 senior monks at Sera Je Monastery
• Rs 150 offering to approx. 40 monks, Sera Je Monastery, India

May- June: Tibetan 10th – 25th of the 5th month

One week before Saka Dawa

Prayers and Offerings:

• 100,000 Tsog Offerings to Padmasambhava offered by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Dagri Rinpoche, Khadro-la, Sangha and high lamas from Gelug, Nyingma and Kagyu monasteries
• Offerings and meals for all the sangha for that week

While this is intended for each year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s and Khadro-la’s schedule may not always allow for this.

Anniversary of His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche’s passing

Location: Ganden Lachi, India

Prayers and Offerings:

• Lama Chopa, and tsog and light offerings offered

  Lama Tsongkhapa Day

• Special dessert for the International Mahayana Institute Sangha (the monks and nuns of FPMT) in their respective monastic communities around the world. 

 Descriptions of Pujas Offered

• Druk Chu Ma: 64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles to one’s activities or projects that are bringing benefit to others
• Namgyäl Tong Chö: One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma
• Namgyäl Tsechog: Is performed to Buddha Namgyälma is performed to remove all obstacles to one’s life and to have a long life. This puja is specifically dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to all beings who are benefiting others and practicing virtue.
• Medicine Buddha Puja: To bring success to all one’s activities, for long life, and for when someone has passed away

Since the pujas are to be performed for as long as the monasteries exist, somebody can, if they want to participate, put in one dollar. This goes into many of the funds and benefits all the monasteries including Kopan, Nalanda and wherever there are large groups of sangha as well as the [FPMT] organization and the Maitreya Buddha statue. I thought these things might help for that. We need to create good karma for success.

—Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to the FPMT Board of Directors, September 1990

These ongoing worldwide pujas and offerings are something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount … How amazing!

You may donate any amount to help ensure these pujas and offerings continue long into the future.

DONATE

Some of the monks of Dhakpo Khangtsen.

Dhakpo Khangtsen in much need of renovations.

June 2013: Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund was very happy to offer US$21,058 to Sera Je Dhakpo Khangtsen for the building of new rooms for the monks. Dhakpo Khangtsen remains one of the poorest Khangtsens (houses) at Sera Je Monastery. It does not have its own Gompa and the monks living there do not have adequate rooms, kitchen, toilet and bathroom facilities. This donation will go toward new rooms for the monks and will help with some much needed renovation.

Since 1995 the Puja Fund has been sponsoring pujas, prayers and practices performed by as many as 9,000 Sangha, on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Recently, Lama Zopa Rinpoche revised all of the yearly and ongoing activity that the fund supports – quadrupling the offerings in the process! The annual cost of these offerings is now estimated at US$85,000. Please rejoice in this incredible array of pujas, prayers and practices. This is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can participate in by donating any amount … How amazing!

DONATE

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, India, 2012. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is continuing teachings and transmissions on the 18 Great Lam-Rim Commentaries at the request of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche. This year’s teaching event will take place December 25, 2013 – January 3, 2014 at Sera Je Monastery. For more details on attending this incredibly rare event please visit the Jangchup Lam-rim Teachings website.

In 2012 the Preserving the Lineage Fund was one of the main sponsors for the event and in 2013 we are very happy to be able to sponsor the sound system for the entire event.

If you missed the 2012 teachings, all the videos can be viewed here. It is expected there will be a live webcast for the 2013 teachings, please check back closer to the time.

www.jangchuplamrim.org

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with IMI Sangha.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with IMI Sangha at his residence in California.

 
It has always been a high priority of FPMT and Lama Zopa Rinpoche to support and care for our IMI (International Mahayana Institute) Sangha family. IMI is made up of the monks and nuns of FPMT.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally sponsors at least 7-15 IMI Sangha fully each year through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.  

IMI Sangha and Geshes, 2007.

In addition, on each of the four holy days (15^th day of Losar, Saka Dawa, Buddha’s First teaching and Buddha’s Descent from Tushita), through the FPMT Puja Fund a small offering is made directly to each Sangha member at the IMI Sangha communities of FPMT in Italy, France, Australia and USA.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with IMI Sangha at his residence in California.

 
It has always been a high priority of FPMT and Lama Zopa Rinpoche to support and care for our IMI (International Mahayana Institute) Sangha family. IMI is made up of the monks and nuns of FPMT.

IMI Sangha and Geshes, 2007.

On each of the four holy days (15^th day of Losar, Saka Dawa, Buddha’s First teaching and Buddha’s Descent from Tushita), the FPMT Puja Fund makes a small offering directly to each Sangha member at the IMI Sangha communities of FPMT in Italy, France, Australia and USA.

Additionally, Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally sponsors at least 7-15 IMI Sangha fully each year through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhicitta Fund. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is aided by Ven. Holly Ansett in circumambulating small animals around holy objects.Lama Zopa Rinpoche has requested the Sangha at his house to do the practice of animal liberation every week dedicated to anyone who is sick or having life obstacles.

Each week the Sangha liberate up to 1,000 animals with the animal liberation practice, taking the animals around the stupa or holy objects at Ven. Holly Ansett circumbulating worms around holy objects.Rinpoche’s house, reciting mantras and blessing them with mantra water before they are carefully liberated in a safe place.

Extensive prayers are made for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche and all our kind teachers, the Sangha and anyone who is sick and requesting prayers.

This is something amazing to rejoice in, and something you can make offerings toward, especially if you are sick or would like to offer on behalf of someone else who is sick. Any extra money remaining in the fund is offered toward larger animal liberations held in Singapore and Hong Kong.  

How Can I Make a Donation?

To make a tax-deductible donation:

 DONATE

Or simply send your check in US dollars payable to FPMT Inc. and write “Animal Liberation Fund” on the memo line.

FPMT Inc.
1632 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214-4702
USA

The Animal Liberation Fund is a project of FPMT Inc. and is administered by FPMT International Office located in Portland, Oregon, United States. All donations made to this fund are tax-deductible within the United States in accordance with IRS Code article 501(c)(3) to the extent allowed by law.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has requested the Sangha at his house to make stupas and tsa-tsas dedicated for those who have passed away and for those who are sick, every single day.

Stupas Dedicated for Those Who Have Passed Away

Kadampa stupas made daily at Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s residence by Sangha.

Every day, three small Kadampa stupas are made at Kachoe Dechen Ling by resident Sangha. This includes filling each stupa with a roll of the Four Dharmakaya Relic Mantras. As the Sangha puts the mantras inside the stupa they dedicate for the person who has passed away by reciting the name of the person and making the prayer, “May this person never be born in the lower realms. May they be liberated from samsara, and may they achieve enlightenment quickly.”

Tsa-Tsas Dedicated for Those Who are Sick or have Life Obstacles

Every day Sangha make three long life and 13 Mitukpa tsa-tsas. These are dedicated to any person who is sick with prayers that they may immediately recover, be liberated from samsara, and may achieve enlightenment quickly.

In addition, on the eighth day of the Tibetan month, three Eight Medicine Buddhas tsa-tsas are also made. On the thirtieth, one 12-inch (30-centimeter) tall Padmasambhava tsa-tsa is made.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested this dedication:

For the long life and the success of all the holy wishes of all the virtuous friends.

To be able to receive all the finances to build the Maitreya statue without any delay of even a second and to be able to complete the statue as soon as possible. As well as for the quickest success of all the rest of the projects, building holy objects and other projects at all the FPMT centers and may they be most beneficial to enlighten sentient beings in the quickest way.

Dedicate for all the lower realm sentient beings, particularly all sentient beings whose names are given to me and who I promise to pray for, may they be born in a pure land, or receive a perfect human rebirth, by meeting perfectly qualified Mahayana virtuous friends, may they actualize the path and quickly become enlightened. As well as for all others who died and who are sick, particularly whose names are given to me, to immediately recover and have the most meaningful life.For the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa to last for a long time and for all sentient beings to quickly achieve enlightenment.

From,
Mickey Mouse

Making Merit

Resident Sangha make stupas every single day for those who have passed away or are sick. Photo by Whitney Dafoe.

After the stupas and tsa-tsas are made they are given away or are used in various ways so people can circumambulate and create merit as they enter Rinpoche’s house or go around while talking on the phone. You can learn more and view some beautiful photos of this project in “Stupas in Everyday Life, Advice From Lama Zopa Rinpoche,” published on the Mandala “FPMT News Around the World” blog.

The Stupa Funds covers all the expenses for the material to make the tsa-tsas. This is something amazing to rejoice in, every day new holy objects are being made as well as extensive prayers. This is something you can also participate in by donating any amount … How amazing! 

How Can I Make a Donation?

To make a tax-deductible donation generally to the Stupa Fund

DONATE

Or simply send your check in US dollars payable to FPMT Inc. and write “Stupa Fund” on the memo line.

FPMT Inc.
1632 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214-4702
USA

The Stupa Fund is a project of FPMT Inc. and is administered by FPMT International Office located in Portland, Oregon, United States. All donations made to this fund are tax-deductible within the United States in accordance with IRS Code article 501(c)(3) to the extent allowed by law.

For more information please contact: Charitable Projects Coordinator.

Dakinis making offerings during 100,000 Guru Rinpoche Tsog.This is the second year that the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund partially sponsored a very successful 100,000 Guru Rinpoche Tsog offering puja that was held in Switzerland. US$28326.91 was offered toward this puja.

 We received this message from organizers about the amazing event:

“The puja was graced by the presence of His Eminence Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche and ritual masters from Namgyal Monastery, khenpos, geshes, lamas, monks from all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism, representatives of His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Switzerland, the President and Vice President of the Tibetan Community in Switzerland, the President of the Tibetan Women’s Association and over 130 Tibetans and Western Dharma practitioners.

“The puja took five days and it also provided a platform for theyounger generation of Tibetans to experience an aspect of our rich ancient culture and tradition.

“What a blessing, what an honor and what a joy it was to have all these great masters and practitioners come together with single pointed devotion and aspiration for the long life of His Holiness The Dalai Lama and for world peace.

Food offered to participants in the 100,000 Guru Rinpoche Tsog

 “At this moment, we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude and thank you for your kind generosity and support toward the successful accomplishment of this grand prayer in the beginning, middle and end. Without your help this would not have been possible.

“We pray through the acquired root of virtue: may the precious doctrine of Lord Buddha flourish far and wide throughout the world. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Avalokiteshvara in person, your Eminence and all the other lineage holders’ lotus feet remain stable and may all of your holy wishes be spontaneously fulfilled.

“May peace prevail in the world, may the cause of Tibet be actualized through the policy of middle path that is mutually beneficial for both Tibet and China and may Tibetans living inside and out of Tibet reunite and all enjoy the new glory of perfection. May the Rigzin Dungdrub (Maha Guru Boomtsok) spread all over the world, bringing benefit to all sentient beings.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the family of Dromo Rinpoche.

April 2013: The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund is offering a small amount of annual monetary support to the family of the incarnation of Dromo Geshe Rinpoche who are very much in need of basic needs and support.  Rinpoche met with the family recently while in South India and offered to help. The young Dromo Rinpoche is now studying Drati Khangtsen at Sera Je Monastery.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Dromo Rinpoche, 2013.

Monks debating during last year’s Winter Debate. April 2013: The Lama Tsong Khapa Teachers Fund offered US$22,396.26 for the 2012 Winter Debate (Jang Gun-choe). 635 of the top debaters from Sera Je traveled to Drepung Monastery to participate with 8,000 monks from 11 different monasteries. The main participating Institutes were Sera, Drepung, Gaden, Tashi Lhunpo, Gyuto, Gyudme, Rato and Dhakpo Shedrup Dhargeyling monasteries and they met to debate two sessions a day for a minimum of seven hours. Many monks debated until the wee hours of the night.

The Lama Tsong Khapa Teachers Fund covered the cost of travel and food for the 635 monks from Sera Je Monastery to attend the month-long debate.

Monks debating during last year’s Winter Debate. The Great Winter Debate has been an integral part Tibet Buddhism and dates back to the time of Lama TsongKhapa. The debate mainly consists of the most earnest and competent scholars from the great monasteries. The primary course of study during the Winter Debate is Pramanavartika (Tsema Namdrel) by Acharya Dharmakirti on subjects such as epistemology, valid cognition, dialectics, and the Art of Liberation.

Learn more about the Winter Debate.

The Lama Tsong Khapa Teachers Fund also offered a full set of monk’s robes to 27 top scholars who memorized Shantidava’s The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life and an additional full set of robes to another 196 monks: 94 who successfully memorized The Essence of Eloquence (Dang-Nge), 91 who memorized The Clear Meaning of Paramita (Drelpa-Don-Sel), 10 who memorized Skab Dangpoi Spyi Don by Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen, and one who successfully memorized The Collection of Six Treaties on the Middle Way.