The FPMT Inc. Board of Directors with the Kopan Board of Directors, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, September 2023.

Our intention with the board updates is to offer you a more comprehensive view of what the board has been thinking and where we are planning to go – so that we, the FPMT family, can travel together. In this update, our aim is to inform you of some of the things that we worked on during our face-to-face meeting at Kopan from September 8 -15, 2023.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss what needs to be done so that the FPMT organization can evolve in a healthy and robust way while adhering to Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche’s and Lama Thubten Yeshe’s mission and vision for the organization. The agenda was long and full, and we worked hard to make our days together worth the time, effort, expense and CO2 emissions.

We are acutely aware that this is a time of transition. Although there are things that will inevitably change as we develop, we feel very fortunate that there is a solid foundation to the FPMT.  This solid foundation has been created by our lamas and their visions and, of course, by the dedicated people who have worked at the centers, projects, and services for the last five decades. It is this continuity that preserves and develops Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s lineage and forms a firm basis for future developments.

Advisors to the Board | New Board Members | Succession and Spiritual Leadership | Importance of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery | Meeting with the Kopan Board | Geshe Conference | CPMT Meeting |
Meetings with the EC (Executive Committee) of International Office | Conclusion

Advisors to the Board

 We went into the meeting with the help of Robyn Brentano who is an experienced Institutional Advancement Consultant. Not only is she a long-time student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, but she has also worked for many years with NGOs and other organizations in the field of organizational development, fundraising, and strategic planning. Robyn has kindly accepted our request to be an advisor to the board. Additionally, we have a team of legal advisors – Alan Marsh and Dave Andrews from Australia and Dean Alper from the US – who are also helping FPMT Inc. (the board and the International Office). These three lawyers are also long-time students of Lama and Rinpoche and have worked in various capacities with FPMT centers. Needless to say, we are most grateful to these advisors for their assistance, especially in this time of transition. With both Robyn and the Legal Team, we are reviewing and updating the FPMT Inc. bylaws.  These were written many years ago and are in need of change to correctly reflect the current situation. We also plan to expand this role of advisors to the board in the coming year. 

Robyn helped us to look at the situation of FPMT Inc., the roles and responsibilities of the officers and members of the board, how the relationship with the International Office functions now, and things we could improve. She was able to show us new possibilities, and some of her suggestions accorded with ideas the board was already considering, for instance, taking on an ombudsperson. This person works with an organization but is independent of it and is objective. S/he receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints or reports of situations that are possibly in need of improvement. We expect to take on an ombudsperson to work with, but not under, the FPMT International Office within the coming year and hope that this will lessen the burden on the International Office and expect the position to provide a welcome service to affiliates, students, and the organization as a whole.

New Board Members

 As mentioned in the past, the present board will expand to include others from different cultural backgrounds and age groups. Presently, we are considering adding one new member from Southeast Asia. Candidates are presently being vetted. Over the next two years we expect to build the board to, perhaps, nine members with different ages, backgrounds, and genders to be representative of our large global family. Younger board members are on our “wish list.”

 Additionally, we have begun to evaluate different approaches of choosing board members. We will update you on this as the process becomes clearer.

Succession and Spiritual Leadership

As has been mentioned, Lama  Zopa Rinpoche clearly expressed that there would not be one spiritual leader of the FPMT organization to succeed him. With respect to the spiritual leadership of the organization we are continuing to consider and formulate various options. We presently have many resources for spiritual guidance and will continue to formalize their roles in the near future. 

For very specific essential matters we can consult H.H. the Dalai Lama. His Holiness clearly stated that he will not only help in the matter of finding and educating Rinpoche’s reincarnation, but that he would play a central role in that endeavor. 

Additionally, there are high lamas named by Rinpoche, many of whom were his teachers, and on whom we can rely for help in spiritual matters and to give teachings and initiations. And, of course, there are our qualified resident geshes and teachers, visiting teachers and so on who will continue the spiritual teachings and guidance for the students of the organization.

For some organizational decisions, a Resident and Visiting Teachers Committee has been constituted, including Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Kopan abbot, resident teacher in Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, and FPMT inc. board member; Ven. Roger Kunsang, FPMT Inc. CEO; Ven. Pemba, FPMT Inc. board member and resident teacher in Cham Tse Ling, Hong Kong; Geshe Ngawang Sangye, FPMT Geshe Coordinator; and Geshe Thubten Sherab, resident teacher in Thubten Norbu Ling, US. The committee is looking to include additional members soon.

It will be assisting with the appointment of new resident teachers and with regard to visiting teachers, will decide on updates of the Tibetan Teacher List.

For students who need spiritual advice on, for instance, retreats and practices, and who do not have an experienced advisor or teacher to whom they are close, we are looking to create a Spiritual Resources Group.  This group would be comprised of experienced people, monastic and lay, who could give useful advice to those seeking it. Additionally, there is an enormous and well-documented database of advice, instructions, and teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche that he gave to students over the past forty years. The availability of all this content continues to be developed so that students will be able to have access to it.

Importance of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery

Lama Yeshe founded Kopan Gompa in the 1970s. From Kopan, as well as Lama’s travels to the West, he began to conceive of a global organization which became the FPMT (1975). Lama’s vision for a global organization was further developed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the forty years since Lama’s passing.  Under Rinpoche’s guidance and leadership, the organization developed naturally with the support and hard work of thousands of people. Lama Yeshe had a plan, Rinpoche manifested it. However, at the very core of our organization sits Kopan Monastery and Nunnery.

In the 18 months prior to Rinpoche manifesting his passing away he conveyed several times, to the FPMT Inc. board, as well as senior monks of Kopan, that he felt Kopan has a bigger role to play in the organization. Now with Rinpoche’s passing it is not difficult to conceive of Kopan’s importance and it seems evident that through Kopan’s monastery and nunnery our family of lamas, geshes, geshemas and others will play a central role in the preservation and sharing of our lamas’ lineage, a lineage descended from Lama Tsong Khapa and personified by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We expect Kopan’s role to be more pivotal both through the courses they will offer on site as well as helping to provide teachers and interpreters for centers worldwide.

The FPMT Inc. board is working closely with the Kopan board and nunnery to make this happen. The Kopan board will be engaging in a formal planning process in the next half year.

Meeting with the Kopan Board

 One of the important sessions for the board was an official meeting with the Kopan Board of Directors which is led by abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and made up of the senior monks of Kopan. Two nuns from the Kopan nunnery, Director Ani Jangsem and Ven Anila Lhundub (Gegu la), were also present. While close family members, Kopan and the larger FPMT organization have developed somewhat along their own tracks, coexisting side by side. But in this new era of FPMT, with Kopan destined to play a more central role in the spiritual development of the organization, we are excited about integrating further the two sides of the FPMT coin. We are clearly one family and have always been working to fulfill our lamas’ wishes in our various capacities. We are looking at the role that Kopan can play in the future and at how to possibly integrate Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche’s teachings into the curriculum there, in order to preserve the lamas’ unique styles of teaching and presentation. Kopan has played a vital role in the creation and forming of the FPMT organization and will continue to play an important role in the future.

Geshe Conference

 One of the important meetings next year that will take place at Kopan in January 2024 is the FPMT Geshe Conference. Lama Zopa Rinpoche emphasized how important it is for the resident geshes to meet regularly. This meeting will be the first Geshe Conference to be held in more than 10 years.  At the time of this writing, 16 geshes have registered to come and we’re optimistic that this number will increase in the weeks to come. This will be an essential meeting with the geshes sharing their experiences and challenges of teaching in different countries. Additionally, they will share their ideas on how teachings may evolve into the future and give input based on their experience for our educational programs.  Eight to ten Kopan geshes and geshemas will also join the meeting. We are pleased and honored that H.E. Ling Rinpoche will be attending the meeting to give advice to the participants.

CPMT Meeting

There have been quite a few CPMT meetings in the past five decades. They were informative and certainly promoted understanding of the organization and a “family feeling.” In the coming CPMT meeting, we intend that the sessions will be initiated and informed by the topics chosen by the meeting participants. It will be collaborative and visionary. We will work on co-creating the meeting and the action points arising from the meeting, so as to work together to form – to be – the FPMT organization that will continue to reflect the lamas’ visions and help those visions become a reality.  We will be sending out some tentative dates and options shortly and to begin the process we will be sharing a range of questions for your inputs and ideas. These will help us build a strategic framework that will form the basis for our national and regional consultations prior to the CPMT meeting. We will continue to keep you informed as we formulate the timeline and the process to take us forward.

Meetings with the EC (Executive Committee) of the International Office

The FPMT organization would not be able to do what it does without the hard work and dedication of those at the International Office (IOF). These days “the Office” is not located in one place and the different departments and those working in them are spread out all over the world. The IOF holds the experience of decades and provides the continuity we need as an organization and at the same time supports the board in its leadership role of the FPMT. It works to preserve and implement the vision of our teachers so that we can confidently work on future developments.

The board spent a full day reviewing reports sent by the members of the EC and meeting most of them in person or via Zoom. François Lecointre, Ven. Holly Ansett, Claire Isitt and Eamon Walsh shared extensive reports on their respective areas of responsibility: Education, Teacher Services, Communication, Charitable Projects, Center Services, Finance and Administration. In a few months you will be able to read in detail about the extensive work being carried out by the various departments of the International Office in the FPMT 2023 Annual Review.

We were impressed by the newest developments in the educational programs, with two new programs being rolled out in the coming months and the existing ones doing well. We discussed how the development of on-line courses has been a game-changer for many centers, for some a blessing, for others a challenge, and options on how to work with the centers more to adapt to this new era.

As to communications, we discussed, among other things, the wish to ensure that we are utilizing and keeping current with all available communication tools.

We were also extremely impressed by the amount of benefit that the Charitable Projects bring to the poor, sick, and elderly, and Ven. Holly’s dedication to make these manifest as Rinpoche wished over the last more than twenty years.

The work of the Center Services Department is vital to the organization, even more so as we are having to update several of our policies. At the same time this department has the task of continuing to ensure the implementation of many of them. It was good to read about the work of the regional and national entities, and about the success of the Foundation Service Seminars, one of which was going to start at Kopan within a few days of our meetings. In the FPMT News of October 12 you can read about how much it was appreciated by all the participants, which included board members Ven. Roger Kunsang, Dale Davis, and  Karuna Cayton. Many of the things we take for granted in the FPMT are due to the work of the Center Services Department working with the others at the IOF (for example: geshes, translators, educational programs, teachers, and so much more).

We reviewed the status of the organization’s finances under the very clear and thorough guidance of Eamon, our Chief Financial Officer.  The situation is stable, and spending and investing are closely monitored and controlled.

Another topic we discussed with Eamon is the impending sale of Kachoe Dechen Ling (Aptos House) in California. Rinpoche lived there when he was in California and in order to create further merit for the FPMT organization a team of dedicated nuns was able to fulfill his wish for an amazing number of offerings to be made every day to the many holy objects on site.  For students living in the area, it was a special place and some of them have been saddened by the decision to sell the house. However, the choice to do so had been made earlier by Rinpoche himself, who spoke of it many times in the last ten years. This fact and the challenges encountered to run the house and do the offerings, along with high maintenance/repair costs and the age of the house, made the decision to sell it in the near future a logical one. The board therefore ratified this decision. Most of the holy objects will be moved to the retreat house used by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land in the state of Washington.

Conclusion

It is impossible to report extensively on all the topics we covered in seven days of meetings. Hopefully, though, this report will give you a sense of how the board is working during this transitional period to stabilize that which is positive and work on that which needs to be improved. It is a process, one that cannot be hurried, so we request your patience and understanding.  We also hope that you will continue to send us your ideas and concerns so that moving into the future the FPMT organization becomes more and more of a collective undertaking, as we are all working to realize the wishes of our holy gurus.

It should be noted that the task for the board, as well as for all of the affiliates and students, is enormous. At times it can seem overwhelming. But when taken one step at a time and with the wish to fulfill Rinpoche’s and Lama’s wishes, particularly by using this work to generate bodhicitta, everything becomes lighter. The board itself has developed a fresh, collaborative, and friendly relationship and we are excited (even awed at times) about the future ahead. We are glad that you are a part of it and wish for success in bringing benefit to all beings.

Best wishes to all,

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi
Venerable Pemba Sherpa
Venerable Roger Kunsang
Paula de Wys – chair
Dale Davis
Karuna Cayton

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Dear Friends,

 Years ago, at an FPMT Inc. Board meeting, someone used the expression: “Trust in God but tie up your camel”. The meaning is that although it is important to have faith in divine providence for a good outcome, at the same time one must be practical and work to secure what one feels is valuable.

 As a spiritual organization, based on the priceless Buddhadharma, we are blessed by being part of a lineage of holy beings and practitioners but each of us in a position of authority within the organization still must deal with the day-to-day work of running centers, projects and services, as well as managing our daily lives. 

 Our Spiritual Guide Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche is no longer with us in person but what he created and inspired during his lifetime is amazing – it is continuing strongly and has all the potential to continue to grow and flourish even further. Since it is the Board’s responsibility to help carry Rinpoche’s work forward, we have been looking at how best to do this. What we feel is necessary is to gather as much wisdom (spiritual and conventional) and knowledge as possible and to apply this in the right way to preserve what is good and healthy in our organization, to become aware of what needs to be improved and take steps towards doing just that.

 FPMT Geshe Conference and CPMT Meeting

To this end we are working on organizing two get-togethers: an FPMT Geshe Conference in January 2024 for all the geshes resident at and teaching in FPMT centers; and a CPMT meeting for FPMT affiliate directors, board members, spiritual program coordinators, FPMT registered teachers, regional, national and study group coordinators. Both meetings will take place at Kopan.

•  The FPMT Geshe Conference will be the first one in many years and is significant in light of the passing of our spiritual director.  It will be a weeklong opportunity for resident geshes to engage in a meaningful dialogue with FPMT Inc. and each other, to address concerns, and to continue to chart a constructive way forward which will also serve as a template for the benefit of future geshes to come.
•  The CPMT meeting will also be held in 2024 and is an important coming together of our worldwide community.  In this meeting we aim to address some important goals we share and a strategy for moving forward together into the future. How we proceed after the meeting will be essential in how our organization develops in the coming years. The planning has already begun, and we will keep you informed about potential dates and preparation of the agenda. 

Work on Policies and Procedures

Apart from helping to organize these meetings, we (the Board, International Office and others), are looking at our policies such as the Affiliation Agreement (AA) and the Protecting from Abuse Policy (PfA) to see how they need to be updated to reflect Rinpoche’s passing and best meet our current and future needs, continuing to support our efforts in helping all sentient beings. 

 Alongside, this, we have been working on the updates needed to FPMT guidelines and policy for appointments of affiliate directors and resident teachers. These are almost finalized and you will be hearing about them in the very near future. 

Board Members and Advisors

Recently, we were pleased to welcome a new Board member, Ven. Pemba Sherpa, who is co-director of Cham Tse Ling center, and for decades has been closely connected to Rinpoche and the FPMT (see the FPMT Inc board listing for more information). His appointment to the board was the last one recommended by Rinpoche prior to Rinpoche’s passing.

 We will be diversifying the Board – hoping to add younger members, members who represent our various regions, ethnicities and genders – even further in the coming year to expand the scope of knowledge and experience.  We’ll keep you up to date as changes are being implemented. 

 We will also be adding some advisors in various capacities because there is such a wealth of experience among students and friends of the FPMT organization that will certainly be useful as we progress. We thank those who have thus far come forward to offer their assistance.

 FPMT Website

We are grateful to all those behind the scenes who have worked to make the Board more visible on the FPMT website. For instance, you can now read all the past Board Updates under the new heading in the main menu, ‘FPMT Inc. Board of Directors’. There you can also find the video that Ven. Sherab made at Kopan as an introduction to the Board, with many beautiful images of the puja held there on the 49^th day after Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing. 

 Next Board Meeting

In September the Board will come together again at Kopan. We plan to spend 6 days or so to discuss many aspects of our work together on a range of topics. While Zoom can be a helpful medium there is nothing better than a face-to-face conversation and interaction.

 Best wishes to all,

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi
Venerable Pemba Sherpa
Venerable Roger Kunsang
Paula de Wys – chair
Dale Davis
Karuna Cayton

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

FPMT Inc. Board of Directors, Kopan Monastery, June 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Video: Meet the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors

Following the 49 day period of Rinpoche’s passing, FPMT Inc. board members took the opportunity while together at Kopan to greet the FPMT community in a video, offering FPMT students a chance to meet each board member, learn a little about their background, and hear them express their commitment to fulfilling Rinpoche’s wishes during this new, transitional time for the organization. It also offers a glimpse into the non-stop activities at Kopan during this period, for those who were unable to attend in person.

We are pleased to share this recent update from the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors:

An Update from the FPMT Inc. Board

Dear Friends,

It has been a little over a month since the last Board Update and so it is definitely time to let you all know what we have been doing. Also, it seems that not everyone in the FPMT organization is aware of who or what the FPMT Inc. Board is, so here follows a short explanation of these two points. More information can be found on the FPMT website.

The ‘we’ here refers to the FPMT, Inc. Board of Directors, which was constituted in March 2021 as selected by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.  A notable exception is Ven. Thubten Pemba, who was a Board member many years ago. Some months back Rinpoche indicated that it would be beneficial if Ven. Pemba were to re-join the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors and very recently he was formally requested, and he has agreed, to do so. We are very happy to welcome him back!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche was a member of the Board until his passing in April 2023; now we are six members:

• Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi -abbot of Kopan Monastery,
• Thubten Pemba – co-director of Cham Tse Ling in Hong Kong, he previously served on the FPMT Board for 18 years,
• Roger Kunsang – Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant for 37 years, CEO of FPMT International Office,
• Dale Davis – a long-time student; she worked for INGOs in Nepal from the 1990s,
• Karuna Cayton – serving the FPMT since 1975, professional psychotherapist and executive coach,
• Paula de Wys – chair of the Board, has served the FPMT in various capacities since the 1970’s.

Responsibilities of the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors

During Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche’s lifetime the Board felt responsible to make the vision of both Rinpoche and Lama Thubten Yeshe a reality in this world.

With Rinpoche no longer with us physically, that feeling of responsibility has become even stronger.

According to the statutes of FPMT Inc., with the passing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche the FPMT Inc. board takes on his legal responsibilities. Rinpoche expressed clearly that we also have a moral, or as he put it a ‘mental’, responsibility to help guide the organization and help to fulfill its mission. We take this responsibility and commitment to Rinpoche seriously indeed and will continue to do our utmost to fulfill Rinpoche and Lama’s wishes and put their vision into practice. We know that everyone in FPMT centers, projects, and services has the same motivation.

In our previous message sent to the FPMT community it seems we were unclear on the meaning of a statement made by Rinpoche. We quoted Rinpoche, with reference to the FPMT Inc. Board, saying, “You know what I want. You know what I think.” As was pointed out to us after we distributed the Update, this statement could be misunderstood. Because we did not provide the full context, it could be construed that the Board was claiming that it understood Rinpoche’s holy mind. We apologize if this is how our statement was interpreted. To be clear, Rinpoche’s statement was made in a final meeting where we had been discussing succession plans and the future of the organization. This discussion had been going on for months, if not years. After the Board attempted to get further clarification on the future direction of the organization, Rinpoche said, in order to let us know that we did not need to discuss this any further, that he had expressed his thinking on the topic. Once again, our sincere apologies for any confusion on this matter.

Not One Successor

The question is sometimes asked, “With Rinpoche’s essential role why would he not appoint a successor?”.  After years of consideration, Rinpoche expressed many times that he did not want one person to take on the position of his successor, a position built on 40 years’ experience in the organization.  However, he ensured that for important matters we could consult with H.H. the Dalai Lama, who has generously offered to assist with counsel and advice. As Rinpoche reflected on the future of the organization he felt a group of esteemed spiritual teachers would be of great value by providing spiritual guidance and advice to the centers and students. While Rinpoche began to speak with a number of teachers, this ‘Advisory council of teachers’ has not yet been formally constituted.  We will, of course, let you know when it has been formalized.

Some Recent Activities of the Board

To give you an idea of some of the many things that were worked on during the last weeks, here is a short list of points:

• At the special request of the Board of Kopan Monastery, and on behalf of all FPMT students, we have requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama to please advise if there are further practices for Rinpoche’s swift return. These practices would be in addition to long life prayers written by His Holiness, Jhado Rinpoche, Lelung Tulku, Khadro la and others that are recited by students all over the world.
• We have been working with International Office (IOF) to create a new Resident Geshe and Teachers Committee that will come with recommendations for these important positions. As in the past, the responsibility for finding suitable teachers will continue to be performed by IOF in collaboration with the new committee, which will consist of both Himalayan, non-Himalayan, lay and monastic members whose mutual experience will inform the final decision or recommendation.
• We have also been working on a clear answer as to how new directors will be appointed. Although it was often seen as Rinpoche’s decision, the decision to appoint someone as the director of a center was, and still must be, taken by the local board of that center. IOF guides and advises in this process. Rinpoche was able to check the karmic suitability of the person whose name was submitted to him, but the present Board does not have that expertise. Therefore, what is done at the local level is even more important than before. The name, or names, of candidate(s) are then submitted to IOF – as was always done – and then to the Board. At each level we will check in various ways as to the suitability of the person as a director and we will weigh in on a recommendation. However, the final decision was, and still is, the responsibility of the local board.
• A committee, under the guidance of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi has been formed to search for the reincarnation of our holy guru Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche. It is still very early to begin to look for Rinpoche’s reincarnation, but not too early to make preparations to do so. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed on several occasions that he will be involved in the process of finding the reincarnation and later in helping to educate the child, for which we are extremely grateful.

Contact, Support

The FPMT is a spiritual organization dedicated to the liberation from suffering of all sentient beings. With Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche as our Spiritual Director there was no doubt about his dedication to others. With Rinpoche no longer with us physically, we are looking at how to express this important aspect of the organization and to find practical ways of supporting students as well as the FPMT centers, projects, services and students spiritually as well as administratively. We will keep you informed as we progress and welcome your ideas and suggestions.

As an organization the FPMT, with its centers, projects, and services, has grown in an amazing – and organic – way during the last 50 years. Our shared challenge now is to keep the organization healthy and to continue to develop and evolve it in accordance with Lama and Rinpoche’s wishes. We hope to hear from you soon, and rest assured that comments and suggestions sent to the Board will be treated as confidential.

All best wishes for every success,

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi
Ven. Thubten Pemba
Ven. Roger Kunsang
Dale Davis
Karuna Cayton
Paula de Wys

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Washington D.C., USA, August 2014. Photo by Merry Colony.

Today we are sharing this heartfelt message of gratitude to Kopan Monastery and the entire FPMT organization and students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche from the FPMT Board of Directors.

The FPMT Board of Directors would hereby like to express its profound gratitude to all at Kopan as well as the International Office, centers, projects, services, and students throughout the world for the extraordinary efforts that were made from the moment that Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche manifested the appearance of passing away until the present day, and which are continuing even now.

The tireless efforts and devotion shown by all have been truly astonishing. There are no words to express how people all over the world took comfort and found strength in the prayers and practices that were done continually in Rinpoche’s room and in the gompas
of the monastery and nunnery of Kopan. At a time when all of Rinpoche’s disciples were grieving and in pain, and many were unable to come to Nepal to pay their respects and be together, all the tireless efforts that were made benefitted them enormously. Thousands of people, both in Nepal and all over the world, have been inspired by the prayers, practices, and all that was done. For this, we would like to express our sincere and deep gratitude.

Also, in Dharamsala, at the Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the excellent training and skill of the Kopan sangha was obvious to all and recognized at the highest levels. The puja pleased His Holiness and for this, too, we would like to express our deepest gratitude.

One week ago today, the day long Heruka Lama Chopa puja marking the 49th day of the passing away of our holy guru was held. It was an extraordinary puja led by Kopan’s outstanding umze and chanted by hundreds of geshes, lama gyupas, monks, geshemas, nuns both Himalayan and non-Himalayan, and attended by even more hundreds of those who came to pay their respects to Rinpoche.

That day was the culmination of your efforts, boundless devotion, dedication, and the respect that has been evident since the moment of Rinpoche’s passing. It was a unique event, fitting the occasion perfectly. We believe that this puja would have pleased the mind of our holy guru and so for this, too, we express our profound gratitude.

There are also others in the world who deserve great thanks for all they have done in the past two months. When Rinpoche first passed away, all those at the International Office worked day and night to gather information and share it with the rest of us so that we could be kept up to date about what was happening as quickly and thoroughly as possible. With the time differences always a challenge, they managed to inform us and share advice, prayers, and images so that no one needed to feel left out or left behind. It was a truly admirable and remarkable feat, and our gratitude is great here, too.

The number of centers and students worldwide who dropped everything to come together to pray and practice for Rinpoche is beyond measure. So many people reported feeling the presence of Rinpoche, feeling the strong connection with him, which made the deep feeling of loss transform into an even stronger commitment to work to fulfil Rinpoche’s wishes.

As people supported each other there was a sense of how fortunate we have been to be Rinpoche’s disciples, and how important it was and is to retain this sense of community and commitment. To all the offices, centers, projects, and students in the world who did practices for Rinpoche and continue to recite the Swift Return Prayers we extend our deepest gratitude.

So, from the bottom of our hearts, we sincerely thank you. We are grateful to every one of you.

The FPMT Board of Directors

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Dear Students and Friends of Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche,

As we continue to process and adjust to our new reality of having Rinpoche physically unavailable for us, we still must move forward in fulfilling his vast visions – both internally with our spiritual practice and externally with the multitude of projects he initiated. So many of you have expressed your deep sorrow and sense of loss at this time and we certainly share your grief.  We have been blessed to have an organization run by an enlightened being. There can be no replacement for his spiritual or temporal leadership.

However, as a board we sought as much guidance as possible from Rinpoche about his wishes for a proper succession plan for when he would no longer manifest as our leader. Rinpoche did share his thoughts over many years but was particularly willing to give us instructions during the year before he passed away.  At a certain point, after making it clear there would be no single successor to take his place, he looked at the five of us board members and stated: “You know what I want. You know what I’m thinking.” (Note: Please refer to the update of July 26 for a more detailed explanation about the context of this statement so it is not misunderstood). Additionally, with that instruction, he said the board could seek counsel with His Holiness, if needed. 

Just last week we had some wonderful days in Dharamsala where the FPMT fulfilled a heart wish of Rinpoche’s by offering a beautiful Long Life puja to His Holiness. The next day many monks, nuns and other students attended an audience with him at his residence, during which His Holiness repeatedly expressed his fondness for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, repeated that he would always be willing to help us with advice, and that he will be of assistance in finding and bringing up Rinpoche’s reincarnation. It was very moving to see and experience.

We have been blessed to have been led by an awakened leader as our spiritual guide and now we must slowly adjust to what it means to be an organization that is led by the present board.  

Now, the protocol of honoring the teacher during the 49 days after his passing is coming to an end and our work will begin in earnest. We have been meeting often and are aware of the great responsibility that lies ahead. We will follow Rinpoche’s advice to maintain our present structure and policies while at the same time working to advance and develop them, which we expect will lead to more inclusivity. 

As Rinpoche said during one of our meetings “concentrate on compassion, then everything will come. So that is the essence.” And it is on this journey that we ask that you support, remain patient, offer suggestions and insights, and promote harmony throughout the organization. We would like to establish a collaborative culture and welcome input from you all. We will regularly update you on our progress through the website and other social media avenues. 

All best wishes,
Paula de Wys, also for 
Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi
Ven. Roger Kunsang
Dale Davis
Karuna Cayton

Note: this message was originally not relayed as a blog but only sent by email to the CPMT listing (directors, SPCS, board members, registered teachers, regional and national coordinators)

Meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 26, 2023: Venerable Tenpa Choden, Director of Kopan Monastery; Venerable Thubten Kunken, Kopan Office Manager; and four of the five FPMT board members  (Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Abbot of Kopan; Venerable Roger Kunsang; Karuna Cayton, and Dale Davis).

Dear Friends,

On April 26, two weeks after the sudden passing of our beloved and incomparably kind Guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the FPMT Board was able to have an interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Present for the interview were four of the five Board members, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi (Abbot of Kopan), Venerable Roger Kunsang, Dale Davis, and Karuna Cayton. Two senior monks from Kopan, Venerable Tenpa Choden, Director of Kopan Monastery; and Venerable Thubten Kunken, Office Manager, were also present.

We are pleased to share a video and translation of our meeting, where His Holiness very clearly offers the important guidance and essential advice we sought. The three areas we sought advice on were concerning Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s reincarnation, how the organization will be led, and advice to the students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

While Rinpoche’s passing is beyond comprehension and heartbreaking for many of us, His Holiness offers a bright light of hope and solace.

We kindly request you to read the full translation below and watch the video below, which has a brief simultaneous translation by His Holiness’s translator Tenzin Tsepak.

FPMT Board of Directors 

Transcript of the Meeting with FPMT Board of Directors and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 26, 2023

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Lama Zopa Rinpoche was really a trustworthy Dharma friend. He really did his best. I’m now in my mid-eighties and I see myself living another 10-15 years. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche was a close, intimate Dharma friend, from my side I am praying, and have great hope to see a young reincarnation continuing to benefit the Dharma and sentient beings.

According to the occurring signs it seems that I will be able to live over a hundred years. Therefore at that later stage of my life I think I will be able to see the young reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a young child at about this height [His Holiness indicates with his hand at the height of his chest].

Ven. Roger Kunsang: We would like to request Your Holiness to guide us to find the correct reincarnation.

His Holiness: Yes, definitely. First I will do a divination to check whether it is the time now to search for the reincarnation or not. If it indicates that it is the right time to search for the reincarnation, then I’ll do a more refined divination to check as to where to look for the reincarnation – India, Nepal, Tibet, or other countries.

I have fond feelings for dear Rinpoche. He was so loyal and good to me. Therefore, I have the responsibility to find the unmistaken reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche so that the reincarnation will continue to benefit the Dharma. If the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche happens to be naughty I can discipline the child myself! [Laughter]

Ven. Roger: Rinpoche mentioned a number of times that when he passes away there would not be any one teacher to lead the organization. But what he [Lama Zopa Rinpoche] thought was between his office and the FPMT board, some members are here, and the abbot of Kopan Monastery [who is a member of the board], they will lead the organization.

His Holiness: That’s very good. Wonderful.

Ven. Roger: Does His Holiness have any advice for the students of Rinpoche at this time?

His Holiness: My dear friend Lama Zopa Rinpoche, he really took great responsibility for preserving the Dharma and the sangha community. So now it is important to continue to fulfill the wishes Lama Zopa Rinpoche had while he was alive.

From my side I will continuously offer every possible support as if dear Lama Zopa Rinpoche is right beside me.

Tashi Delek, is that all?

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi: The FPMT board is committed to follow sincerely whatever His Holiness says.

His Holiness: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Well, from my side I don’t have any commands or orders. It is important for you to analyze the facts of a situation. Through your discussions, and after coming to an agreement, you can bring it to me and I can offer my support. I’m fond of democracy. I’ve already relinquished the position of the Dalai Lama holding authority. I have given the power to the Tibetan people. Now the Tibetan administration is run under the parliamentary system.

You have a better understanding and experience of the situation [of the FPMT]. So, first you have good discussions among yourselves then you can ask me and I’ll offer support.

In regards to the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, it is important from your side that you do your investigations. And I also will do from my side. I will do the divinations and when the reincarnation becomes of age it is important to study.

I’ll live for another 15-20 years. As I age it is important that the young ones, such as the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, gradually take on more responsibility.

Video of Meeting with FPMT Board of Directors and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 26, 2023

We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this updates page.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, India, January, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Words of Praise to His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Your Holiness,
Your example of morality in not harming but only benefiting sentient beings is incomparable in this universe.
Your compassion is the source of all sentient beings’ development of the good heart.
Your power is the source of all sentient beings’ happiness and peace.
Your wisdom is the source of all sentient beings’ hope and of opening the Dharma wisdom eye, of learning to discriminate what is  right, which is to be practiced, and what is wrong, which is to be abandoned.
If you are not the actual Compassionate-eyed Buddha, there is no other compassionate Buddha guiding us sentient beings.
To you, the wish-granting jewel, embodiment of all the merit field, devotedly with body, speech and mind, I, the students of FPMT and all sentient beings pay homage forever and seek your guidance forever.

Words from the late Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2022. 

FPMT Statement in Support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama 

We are deeply saddened by some of the recent media coverage of a short video clip of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with a young boy interacting with His Holiness during a public event on February 28, 2023. 

His Holiness has worked solely and tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of others. His profound spiritual teachings, combined with his warm and affectionate communication style, are a source of deeply precious inspiration.

For Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, His Holiness is the embodiment of compassion, non-violence, selflessness, and wisdom. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been and remains the greatest source of inspiration for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).

We share the feelings of sadness and frustration with all those who have been affected by the recent allegations, which are based on an intentionally edited video clip and a lack of understanding of the Tibetan language and culture.

We are also in agreement with the recent statement made by His Eminence Ling Rinpoche on this subject.

His Holiness continues to be a beacon of hope and peace in the world, and for the FPMT organization. We pray for His Holiness’s long life and for the fulfilment of all his wishes.  

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Dear all,

At this time of incredibly deepfelt sadness at the passing into paranirvana of our most precious guru Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, the FPMT Board thought that it was appropriate to inform you of what is happening now and the next steps to be taken by the organization.

We share with you the feeling of great loss but know that Rinpoche would find it important – essential! – that we carry on the work to which he dedicated his life.

This Board feels unbelievably fortunate that we were able to meet with Rinpoche in January and hear his views on how he saw the future. At that time, we had no idea of how soon those views and his advice would be put to use.

Rinpoche stated many times in the past, and repeated again in January, that no one person could or would be expected to lead the organization when he was no longer with us. His role had evolved over almost forty years and Rinpoche’s exceptional qualities would make it impossible for one person to be the kind of Spiritual Director that Rinpoche was.  

However, there are people in place who are already instrumental in working for and leading the FPMT and this will continue.  His Holiness the Dalai Lama is our main advisor, and He will be consulted within days about the present view of leadership for the future.  Khenrinpoche, the abbot of Kopan will play an important role in our spiritual leadership. The Board will continue to work in a more overall sense, according to Rinpoche’s wishes. The International Office will also continue to function with the administration and functioning of various aspects of the work of the FPMT, including education and charitable projects. We all want to continue to implement and further Rinpoche’s work for sentient beings all over the world. 

As things progress, and when there is any specific input from His Holiness, we will inform you. You can expect another update from the Board very soon, next to the information sent by the International Office, on, for instance, the embalmment procedure that will start immediately. As expressed in our March Update, we hope to be in contact with you more than in the past and welcome your input.

Please continue to keep Rinpoche in your hearts and praying for Rinpoche to be reborn soon, in a perfect situation for him to be able to soon teach and guide us again in person.

Paula de Wys
For the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors

Note: this message was originally not relayed as a blog but only sent by email to the CPMT listing (directors, SPCS, board members, registered teachers, regional and national coordinators)

Recently, in the FPMT Annual Review 2022, we shared some general statements of what this Board has been thinking and doing. However, that was not a lot of information and we can imagine that those who are deeply involved or interested in the organization might appreciate hearing more. One of our goals is to work on improving communication both within the FPMT and with the world at large. That includes making the work of the Board, and the International Office (IOF), more visible. We plan to provide periodic updates to keep you informed of what the current thinking – and hopefully the progress – is in different areas.

Also, since we are a relatively small group of people, just six of us including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the issues that we have been working on can greatly benefit from more input from you – the people ‘in the field’ who have practical experience of how things function and where improvements can be made. 

This first update will attempt to give some background to a number of issues and explain some of the present situations and thinking we have concerning these situations. Often these issues are quite complex, and many are ongoing.  Your comments, feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome.

Structure of the FPMT organization, now and in the future

Since the FPMT was founded, it has continued to grow and develop organically and many aspects are very practical and work well. The International Office has definitely played a major role in this, along with the Regional and National offices and the contributions of many dedicated students. However, as is the nature of impermanence, the global situation is rapidly changing bringing new possibilities and challenges in society and in technology and we can expect the future to bring even more.

Over the past two years, since the present Board was instituted, we have looked extensively at our present and future structure. It is a challenge to understand what might continue to maintain and strengthen the FPMT organization as we move forward in this rapidly changing world. Recently, when different models of possible organizational structures were presented to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, he advised us that it would be best to keep our present structure – but to develop and improve it.  So, under his guidance we will try to do just that. This is one of the things we hope to discuss with you more, for instance, during the prelude to, and at, an upcoming CPMT meeting. 

Sometimes, decisions on how to do things are complicated by the fact that the FPMT is made up of centers, projects, and services that are affiliated in different ways and that are located and must function in areas where the laws and possibilities vary greatly.

Legal Team

The complications arising from the diversity of laws in different locations is one of the reasons we have recently instituted a Legal Team with lawyers from Australia and the US. We are actively looking for lawyers or people with legal experience in both Europe and Asia. The legal team has already been helpful on various other subjects and we are grateful to have their input and advice.

Spiritual leadership of the FPMT in the future

In the Tibetan tradition, it is inauspicious to talk about a time when a teacher will no longer be physically present to guide the disciples. Keeping this in mind we are very pleased that H.E. Ling Rinpoche has stated that Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be with us for a long time to come! Rinpoche has also clearly indicated that His Holiness Dalai Lama is our main spiritual advisor, now and in the future. Rinpoche also said that the abbot of Kopan will always be available to help guide the Board and the organization. We also expect that Rinpoche will indicate some other high lamas who will be able to help as spiritual advisors in the future. 

Tenzin Osel Rinpoche

Tenzin Osel  Rinpoche is following  the course of study of Buddhist texts advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and is doing this with Geshe Namdak. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that this is very important if he is to have a role in the FPMT. 

At this time, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice to Tenzin Osel is to offer talks in the area of universal education.  

Rinpoche recently suggested that it would be beneficial if Tenzin Osel spent time with Khadro la and Osel is planning to do this and to see Rinpoche on a visit to Nepal soon.

Tenzin Osel is currently living in Spain with his son Norbu. While FPMT has always supported Osel Rinpoche financially in the past, we have now collaboratively created a support arrangement that is comfortable for everyone.

Kopan

Kopan is where the FPMT began and it has matured in a way that would have pleased Lama Yeshe and is a credit to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche and the Board (the senior monks) of Kopan.  It has become a serious seat of learning in the Lama Tsong Khapa tradition with well-educated geshes and geshemas graduating, a tantric school with trained lama gyupas able to perform all the rituals needed in a monastery, and monks and nuns of all ages studying all levels of Dharma and other subjects. How wonderful it will be when, along with the learned scholars from the other great Gelugpa monasteries, some of the future teachers in the FPMT centers are also Kopan geshes and geshemas! 

Furthermore, the accommodation at Kopan has improved greatly in recent years, as participants at the Light on the Path retreat will discover, and the stupas and gardens are very beautiful. Impermanence again, and in a positive sense. We think that it is important for the monastics of Kopan to learn more about the FPMT organization and further improve their knowledge of English and for the centers all over the world to be more aware of what an amazing resource we have there. As was written in the Annual Review, Kopan is not only at the heart, it is the heart of the FPMT.

Thank you for reading this update, which we hope will give you an idea of what this Board has been working on. As mentioned above, your comments, feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome.

With prayers for the long lives of our precious teachers, and also for inspiration in continuing our efforts to preserve the Mahayana tradition, we send you the best wishes from the FPMT Board of Directors.

Paula de Wys
chairperson

Note: this message was originally not relayed as a blog but only sent by email to the CPMT listing (directors, SPCS, board members, registered teachers, regional and national coordinators)