Community Services in the FPMT

Staff of Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Care Clinic.

Staff of the Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Care Clinic at Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, January 2017. Photo courtesy of SBCHCC

… If you, as a Buddhist organization, were able to do more in the fields of education, health, and counseling for the resolution of family and community problems, it would be of great benefit. This would mean … simply using the techniques or messages of the Buddhadharma to try to solve problems through social service for the welfare of the society.

—His Holiness the Dalai Lama

A unique aspect of the Mahayana path is its focus on serving others out of loving kindness and concern. All FPMT centers, projects and services exist because of this attitude: they serve their local communities by providing access to Buddha’s teachings, which can, if applied sincerely, liberate each of us from all frustrations and suffering, and lead us to lasting peace and happiness – enlightenment.

Social or Community Service is one of FPMT’s Five Pillars of Service. The Social or Community Service pillar sits with the other four Pillars of Service – Dharma, Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom, Interfaith activities and Revenue-generating activities.

Many FPMT centers, projects and services provide practical service for their local or international community – see listings below.

Animal Care

Animal Care

Below are projects for protecting and benefiting animals around the world.

FPMT Charitable Projects

FPMT Charitable Projects

FPMT International Office manages over 20 charitable projects in the areas of education and preservation, social services, supporting our lamas, supporting ordained Sangha, holy objects, intensive practice and retreat, and more.

Community Centers

Community Centers

FPMT Mongolia Dolma Ling Community Center

The Community Center was opened on the 1st August 2003. Our Australian Buddhist Nun, Venerable Jinpa, worked with disadvantaged people and street children for a year prior, to determine the best way we could fulfill our spiritual director Lama Zopa’s wish to benefit the underprivileged in Mongolia.

The Community Center provides one meal a day, basic medical attention, and educational programs to 50 or more underprivileged people of the surrounding district in the outskirts of Ulaan Baatar, five days a week. By providing one nutritious meal a day and offering basic health education, we hope to benefit the community both now and in the future.

Health Care Projects

Health Care Projects

MAITRI Charitable Trust

Help in the eradication of leprosy, the treatment of TB, the medical assistance and care for expecting mothers and new born babies, the rescuing of starved small children, the education of children in rural areas, and the rescuing and care of animals in Bodhgaya, India by making a donation today to the MAITRI Charitable Trust.

Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Care Centre

Originated in 1991, when Lama Zopa Rinpoche, one of his Gurus and a group of westerners found an old man lying in the road covered in flies and close to death, took him back to Root Institute and nurtured him until he died peacefully some six months later. The charitable clinic has evolved into a multi-service entity, a grass-roots poly-clinic. The Health Care Centre now employs a team of 18 and offers a wide range of medical services.

The Maya Daya Medical Clinic

Established by Ven. Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1992 with the aim to provide proper health-care services to the population living around Kopan Monastery and in neighbouring villages. Prior to its inception there was no hospital nor clinic in the area, and people had to go on long journeys to receive medical treatment. Maya Daya Clinic is open 3 days a week, 2 hours each day. There are a Nepali doctor and two dedicated Kopan monks as the Clinic staff. Since it opened its doors to the public, Maya Daya Clinic has received thousands of local patients, monks and nuns among them.

Holy Objects

Holy Objects

The FPMT Holy Objects Fund provides the resources to create holy objects around the world for the benefit of all beings and for world peace. The creation of holy objects is a very high priority among Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization. Due to the power of the holy objects one can purify negativities and create merit, for all who see or come into contact with them. Learn more about the projects of the Holy Objects Fund and information about holy objects from Education Services.

Hospice Services

Hospice Services

Hospice means providing emotional support and companionship for those facing life threatening illnesses. The following hospices assist the terminally ill and their families through loving kindness and qualified health care.

 

Prayers for the Sick

To Request Prayers for the Sick

  • In order to request prayers for someone who is sick please email and mention the sick person’s full name. The Sangha at Rinpoche’s house will dedicate for them during regular animal liberation practices and daily when making long life tsa-tsas.
  • If you would like to make a donation for this service please go to the Animal Liberation Fund and Stupa Fund.
  • For advice on what are the best practices you can do at this time, Lama Zopa Rinpoche always recommends Medicine Buddha practice and Using Sickness for the Path.
  • To request prayers for a sick person, Kopan Monastery offers this service.

Prayers for the Dead

Prayers for the Dead

FPMT’s prayer service for those who have died in the last 49 days.

Support for People in Prison

Support for People in Prison

Many centers around the world offer support for incarcerated people via the Liberation Prison Project program. The Liberation Prison Project program includes writing to and visiting prisoners, providing Dharma teachings and offering advice about spiritual practice.

buddha-by-dylan-lpp-prisoner-november-2018

Pencil drawing made by Liberation Prison Project student Dylan and gifted to LPP, November 2018. Image courtesy of LPP.

Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom Schools

Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom Schools

 

Socially & Ecologically-Focused

Socially and Ecologically-focused Programs

MAITRI Trust Village School Program

Tibetan Welfare

How Can You Help?

Volunteer your time and skills

Why not contact the center, project or service closest to you and offer your help?

Make a donation

All FPMT centers, projects and services operate as non-profits, and depend upon the generosity of supporters and members to survive. If you are interested in contributing financially to the development of a project, please contact the project organizers directly so that they can give you more details of their needs and how you can contribute. Many will be able to issue a tax-deductible receipt for your donation. To find specific contact information click on a related link in one of the sections above.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommended that the animals at the Sanctuary get more blessings, so he gave co-directors Phil and Tanya a red bag full of holy items with which to bless the animals. Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal, October, 2020. Photo by Ven. Thubten Choying.