Professor Sanjib Kumar Das (third from the left) and his team in 2024.

The Education and Preservation Fund supports Dharma study and contributes to the development of Buddhist education programs and the preservation of the Dharma through the publication of Dharma practice materials and translations.

The fund also supports the publishing of the vast archive of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings and contributing to important initiatives that preserve the Dharma and the Mahayana tradition as identified by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

In 2024, the Education and Preservation Fund supported three key translation projects aimed at making Buddhist teachings more accessible across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Bengali and English Translations

Recipient: Indo-Tibetan Translation Group at Visva-Bharati University led by the late Prof. Sanjib Kumar Das

Visva-Bharati University – founded in 1921 by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore – is a central university and institution of national importance situated in Santiniketan, West Bengal. Conceived as a place where education, culture, and nature converge, it continues to embody Mr. Tagore’s vision of holistic human development.

At the heart of Visva-Bharati’s mission lies the preservation and translation of ancient texts – an endeavor essential for safeguarding the spiritual and philosophical heritage of India and the wider Buddhist world. Translation here is more than a linguistic pursuit: it is a bridge across generations, cultures, and communities. It ensures that timeless wisdom can speak anew to diverse audiences, keeping the profound teachings of the past both relevant and accessible.

Historically, Bengal was a vibrant center of Buddhist scholarship, home to renowned figures like Shantarakshita and Atisha, and closely linked to institutions like Nalanda. However, the destruction of Nalanda in the 12th century led to a sharp decline in Buddhist practice and literature in the region.

In 2024, with the support of the FPMT Education and Preservation Fund, three important texts were translated into Bengali and English:

• Prajñādaṇḍa (Eng. The Staff of Wisdom)
• Jñānasārasamuccaya (Eng. Aryadeva’s Compendium of the Essence of Wisdom)
• Dharmadharmatāvibhaṅga (Eng. Distinguishing Phenomena and Pure Being)

These texts offer deep insights into Buddhist ethics, wisdom, and the nature of reality, and are foundational to Mahayana philosophy.

With deep sadness, the Indo-Tibetan Translation Group at Visva-Bharati University announces the passing of Professor Sanjib Kumar Das on June 14, 2025, after a courageous six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Professor Sanjib Kumar Das was the guiding spirit of the Revival of Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal project, supported by FPMT and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Between 2021 and 2024, under his leadership, the group translated significant Tibetan Buddhist texts into Bengali and other Indian languages. Even in the midst of his illness, he continued working alongside his students on a final translation – an enduring testament to his dedication.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and his team, who shared in his vision and tireless work.

Bengali Translation of Mahayana Sutras and Philosophical Treatise

Recipient: Bengali Department of Indo-Tibetan Studies at Visva-Bharati University led by Dr. Debajit Chatterjee and Dr. Norbu Gyaltsen Negi

The Bengali Department of Indo-Tibetan Studies at Visva-Bharati University, led by Dr. Norbu Gyaltsen Negi and Dr. Debajit Chatterjee, is undertaking a translation project focused on three key Madhyamaka Buddhist texts:

• Ārya-prajñāpāramitā-vajrapāṇi-mahāyāna-sūtra (Eng. The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra of the Perfection of Wisdom with Vajrapāṇi)
• Ārya-prajñāpāramitā-vajraketu-mahāyāna-sūtra (Eng. The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra of the Perfection of Wisdom with Vajraketu)
• Nagarjuna’s Yuktiṣaṣṭikākārikā (Eng. Sixty Verses on Reasoning)

Among the texts, two are Perfection of Wisdom sutras – emphasizing emptiness and wisdom through the Bodhisattvas Vajrapāṇi and Vajraketu – while the Yuktiṣaṣṭikā, a seminal work by Nāgārjuna, presents a systematic analysis of emptiness through reasoning at the heart of the Madhyamaka tradition.

Bengali Department of Indo-Tibetan Studies at Visva-Bharati University.

These works are foundational to Mahayana thought and their translation into Bengali opens access to a broader audience of practitioners and scholars.

Sinhala Translation of “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand” by Pabongka Rinpoche

Recipient: Tara Lanka FPMT Study Group led by Ven. Lekdron and Upul Bandara

In response to a request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the Tara Lanka FPMT Study Group in Sri Lanka has undertaken the translation of the core Lam Rim text, the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche, into Sinhala language. This project began in June 2022 and is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Ven. Lekdron (behind Rinpoche) with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Photo courtesy of Ven. Lekdron.

The translation is led by Upul Bandara, a seasoned translator with over 20 years of experience, including work for the Sri Lankan Parliament and the studybuddhism.com platform. Editorial guidance is provided by Bertram Liyanage, a Dharmakirti expert and current PhD student at Temple University (Pennsylvania, United States).

This effort is deeply aligned with Rinpoche’s vision of making Mahayana teachings accessible to Sri Lankan practitioners. The project has progressed steadily despite limited resources, with initial funding personally covered by Ven. Tenzin Lekdron, a Sri Lankan nun and the project initiator.

The translation promises to significantly enhance understanding of Mahayana Buddhism in Sri Lanka, fulfilling Rinpoche’s aspiration to bring the Lam Rim teachings to a wider audience.

In 2024, the Education and Preservation Fund awarded a total of US$9,771 to support vital translation projects across South Asia. These efforts are crucial for preserving ancient knowledge systems, enabling comparative philosophical studies, fostering intercultural dialogue, and empowering regional communities through access to spiritual literature in their native languages. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the translators and scholars whose dedication continues to make the Dharma accessible to all. These projects reflect the core mission of the Fund: to preserve, translate, and share the teachings of the Buddha for the benefit of present and future generations. This work continued in 2025 with additional grants offered to support important preservation projects. We will share details of these 2025 grants in an upcoming report. 

Learn more about the Education and Preservation Fund, and all of our FPMT Charitable Projects that are working to build a more compassionate world.