Creating a warmer, more welcoming retreat space at the Land of Joy.

In 2024, the FPMT Community Support Fund was launched as a transition from the much-loved International Merit Box Project, which for over twenty-one years provided grants to local FPMT centers, projects, services, study groups, and Dharma initiatives worldwide. This new fund continues that legacy, offering vital support to projects that bring the Dharma to life in communities around the globe.

In 2025, the Community Support Fund awarded US$10,150 in grants to nine inspiring Dharma projects and activities. While the need expressed by applicants was often much greater, the amount we were able to give was limited by the funds available. This makes the generosity of donors especially precious, as their offerings directly determine how many projects can be supported and to what extent.

The following update highlights the initiatives that received funding this year – each one reflecting the compassionate vision of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the kindness of those who contribute to making these efforts possible.

Land of Joy | Jamyang Buddhist Centre | Center of White Mahakala | Milarepa Center | Land of Calm Abiding | Chenrezig Documentary | Tara Institute | Tekchen Chöeling Buddhist Center | Thank you! 

Land of Joy (UK) Renovation

Tucked away in the wild and beautiful landscape of Northumberland National Park in northern England, Land of Joy stands as the UK’s only FPMT retreat center. Since its founding in 2014, it has offered a peaceful refuge for spiritual seekers from across the country, including those from Jamyang London, Jamyang Leeds, and several FPMT study groups. The center operates on the Generosity Model, allowing visitors to offer what they feel inspired to give for food, accommodation, and teachings.

The retreat house, built in 1860, has undergone many upgrades over the years thanks to the generosity of donors. Now, Land of Joy is preparing for its next renovation project to improve the comfort and functionality of its cherished dining room and nearby living spaces. The plan includes replacing the old, stained carpet in the dining room with fresh, practical flooring, installing new radiators and piping to ensure warmth during the cold months, and updating the worn-out carpets in the rooms above where volunteers and teachers stay.

This renovation will help create a cleaner, more comfortable environment for retreatants and residents, enhancing their experience and supporting their practice.

US$1,000 was offered for flooring and heating renovation.

Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds (UK) Gompa    

Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, an FPMT-affiliated center in the UK, has long served as a hub for Dharma study, meditation, and community connection. However, recent adverse weather conditions have taken a toll on the center’s Gompa Hall, the heart of its spiritual activities. Multiple roof leaks have been discovered, threatening not only the structural integrity of the building but also the comfort and safety of those who gather there for teachings and practice.

Current conditions of the roof above Jamyang Leeds Centre gompa.

The gompa also houses the private quarters of Geshe Rinchen, who is currently residing at the center for a 12-month period. Ensuring the hall remains dry and functional is essential for the continuation of teachings and retreats.

To address the issue, the center sought professional assistance and received a quote for essential repairs. The work includes cleaning and drying the gutters and applying a protective liquid solution to prevent further leaks. Without these repairs, the damage is expected to worsen, leading to higher costs and further disruption to the center’s activities.

US$1,500 was offered for gompa hall roof repairs.

Center of White Mahakala (Romania) Gompa

In the peaceful village of Tranisu, Romania, the Center of White Mahakala is bringing to life a vision inspired by Lama Zopa Rinpoche – a wish of creating holy objects and offering retreat facilities in places where such opportunities are rare. The center’s long-term project includes the construction of both a stupa and a retreat center, and after years of dedicated effort, the stupa is nearly complete, and the main retreat building has been finished externally.

White Mahakala retreat center.

Now, the focus turns to the heart of the retreat center: the Gompa, or meditation hall. With plans to host their first lamrim retreat in summer 2025, guided by Ven. Tenzin Gendun from Nalanda Monastery, the center was seeking support to complete the interior of the Gompa. While accommodations can be managed with tents or attic space, having a functional meditation hall is essential for the retreat to take place.

US$1,000 was offered for the completion of the retreat center’s gompa. This grant would allow them to complete the gompa in time for the retreat season.

Milarepa Center (USA) Retreat Fund and Statue

Ksitigarbha statue at Milarepa Center.

Milarepa Center, nestled in the tranquil landscape of Vermont, continues to embody the vision of Lama Zopa Rinpoche through its dedication to Dharma practice and service. In 2025, the center received support for two important initiatives that reflect its commitment to both spiritual accessibility and the creation of holy objects.

The first grant was awarded to the Retreat Scholarship Fund, which helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent sincere students from attending retreats. Since its inception, the fund has already provided nearly US$1,500 in scholarships, and the gratitude from recipients has been deeply moving. With the fund running low, Milarepa Center requested financial support to continue offering this precious opportunity for deep practice to those in need.

The second grant supports the Ksitigarbha Statue Base Project. Milarepa Center recently received a beautiful outdoor Ksitigarbha statue through the FPMT, due to the kindness of an anonymous donor. To protect the statue from Vermont’s harsh weather conditions, the center plans to build a proper concrete base and a small protective roof. This will ensure the statue remains a durable and inspiring presence for years to come.

US$1,000 was offered for the Ksitigarbha statue base and US$1,000 was offered for the Retreat Scholarship Fund.

Land of Calm Abiding (USA)

Stupa Meadow at the Land of Calm Abiding center.

At the remote Land of Calm Abiding in California, a much needed project is underway to protect and preserve the landscape that supports long-term retreaters and holy objects inspired by Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vision. In 2025, the center is undertaking a major earthworks initiative to repair its rugged 8.5-mile dirt road and to save the Stupa Meadow from further erosion caused by shifting watershed patterns.

Over the past two years, the center has lost nearly 20 feet of land due to severe storms and drainage changes. Without intervention, the erosion threatens to consume the Stupa Meadow, home to a stupa built in 2013 under Rinpoche’s guidance. The solution requires the expertise of a skilled D6 bulldozer operator, who will not only redirect the watershed to prevent further damage but also assist in placing a life-size marble Ksitigarbha statue near the stupa.

This statue, weighing approximately 2,700 pounds, was donated through the FPMT, due to the kindness of a donor, and fulfills Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s specific wish for Land of Calm Abiding to host a Ksitigarbha statue. The placement of this holy object alongside the stupa will enhance the spiritual power of the site and offer retreaters a profound source of inspiration and merit.

 US$2,500 was offered  for road repair, saving Stupa Meadow, and placement of the Ksitigarbha statue.

Fundacja Filmowa Wonderwoods/Małgorzata Dobrowolska (Australia)

Photo on the graphic: Lama Zopa Rinpoche with kangaroo in Adelaide, Australia, 1983.
Photo by Wendy Finster, courtsy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

A powerful new documentary is in the works, telling the story of how Tibetan Buddhism first took root in the West. Titled “Chenrezig: The Origin of Tibetan Buddhism in Australia,” this film explores the founding and evolution of Chenrezig Institute, the first center established by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the Western world.

Filmmaker Małgorzata Dobrowolska, an independent documentarian from Poland, has spent four years living and serving at Chenrezig Institute. During this time, she captured interviews with early students, sangha members, volunteers, and visitors, as well as the vibrant daily life of the center. Her deep involvement in the community and her spiritual journey have shaped this project into a heartfelt tribute to the transformative power of Dharma.

The film aims to preserve the history of Chenrezig Institute, honor the founding teachers, and inspire future generations through personal stories of transformation. It will feature archival materials from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and Chenrezig Institute, and include voices such as Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim, Kathy and Tom Vichta, Ven. Ailsa, Ven. Pende, and others.

With much of the editing already completed, Małgorzata is now focused on finishing the full-length version of the film, which is expected to be around 1h20min. Once completed, the film will be screened at festivals, cinemas, and made available online, in libraries, and universities.

US$650 was offered for the documentary “Chenrezig: The Origin of Tibetan Buddhism in Australia”

Tara Institute (Australia) Twenty-One Taras Thangka

Since 2017, Tara Institute in Melbourne has been the proud caretaker of a magnificent Twenty-one Taras thangka, a holy gift from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Towering over four stories high, this extraordinary thangka is not only a stunning visual representation of the Twenty-one Taras but also a powerful spiritual object intended to bring blessings to all who see it.

Twenty-one Taras thangka display at Melbourne Town Hall, May 2025.

Fulfilling Rinpoche’s heartfelt wish for as many people as possible to benefit from this holy object, Tara Institute has been displaying the thangka annually at Melbourne’s Vesak celebration at the iconic Melbourne Town Hall – the only venue in the city large enough to accommodate it indoors. This event provides a rare and meaningful opportunity for the public to connect with the blessings of the Twenty-one Taras in a communal setting.

To make this auspicious offering possible, the thangka must be carefully transported by truck. In 2025, Tara Institute received a grant from the Community Support Fund to help cover this transportation cost.

US$500 was offered for transport of the Twenty-one Taras thangka.

Tekchen Chöeling Buddhist Center (Spain) Gompa

Tekchen Chöeling Buddhist Center crew enjoying a meal after hard work on the renovation of the center.

For nearly 40 years, Tekchen Chöeling Buddhist Center has been a vital presence of Mahayana Dharma in Onteniente, Valencia, Spain. As one of the oldest FPMT centers in the country, it has hosted countless teachings, retreats, and visits from our dear teachers – including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who visited twice and offered guidance that continues to shape the center’s future.

In 2024, Tekchen Chöeling took a bold step forward by purchasing a new property to relocate its activities. This move is part of the center’s Strategic Plan for Greater Reach, a comprehensive initiative aimed at increasing visibility, accessibility, and community engagement. The new venue includes two spacious commercial units and a central urban garden, offering the potential for a vibrant, welcoming Dharma Centre.

One of the key components of this plan is the renovation and adaptation of the future gompa – the heart of the center’s spiritual life. With advice from Mr. Tan Hup Cheng, director of Amitabha Buddhist Centre, a Feng Shui expert and disciple of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the center has identified the ideal location for the gompa within the new property. The design includes a long wall with garden-facing windows, soundproofing, and a flexible layout with sliding doors to accommodate both large and small gatherings.

The new location offers opportunities for hosting retreats, welcoming resident teachers, and creating a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city.

US$1,000 was offered for gompa renovation.

Thank you! 

The nine projects supported in 2025 demonstrate the incredible range of Dharma activities taking place across the FPMT community. From essential repairs and renovations to the creation of holy objects, retreat scholarships, translations, and Dharma outreach, each grant has helped create conditions for the teachings to flourish and benefit beings.

At the same time, it is important to remember that in most cases the support awarded was less than what was requested. The fund is limited entirely by the generosity of those who contribute, and every offering – no matter the size – directly determines how much we can share with projects in need.

We offer our heartfelt gratitude to all who have given to the FPMT Community Support Fund. Your kindness and devotion make a real difference, bringing Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast vision to life in communities around the world. As we look toward 2026, we warmly invite you to continue – or begin – supporting this work. Together, we can expand the reach of these benefits and ensure that more Dharma activities have the resources they need to thrive.

Please read more about the FPMT Community Support Fund and detailed information about the grant application process for FPMT projects and activities.