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Ven. Tsering in Kopan Monastery writing out the 12,000 Verse Prajnaparamita Sutra in pure gold for over fifteen years.
The Prajnaparamita Sutra contains the highest teachings of the Buddha and is among the most precious texts available in the world today. Due to the power of this text, writing it out is a way to generate tremendous merit, remove obstacles, and create peace in the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently explained in a teaching in Bendigo, Australia, his clear wishes for the Prajnaparamita Project– which for over fifteen years has been sponsoring this most precious sutra to be written out in gold ink. Rinpoche’s wish is for this to continue for as long as FPMT exists. Even when completing the twelve volumes of the sutra currently in process, Rinpoche asked that this project begins again and in this way the sutra is continually being written out as it is a powerful holy object.
Rinpoche has explained that holy objects benefit us greatly. Creating holy objects (such as statues, stupas, and writing out of sutras), as well as sponsoring the holy objects, rejoicing in the holy objects, and even seeing them (including the birds and flies and anyone else who looks at the holy objects), brings incredible benefit. Even after passing away, benefit to the being will be generated for as long as the holy object remains. Rinpoche explained that the writing of this sutra is exactly the same as creating a holy object, and all those who support this project– those who actually write out the sutra, donate toward the materials, or even rejoice in it– from life to life, those sentient beings will receive benefit, and after this life, wherever they are reborn, they will continue to receive benefit up to their enlightenment. Rinpoche explained this is why he wants the Prajnaparamita Sutra it to be continually worked on and for this to be one of the projects that continues for as long as FPMT exists.
Even writing one letter or syllable from the Prajnaparamita, the benefits you receive are unbelievable, unbelievable, more than making skies of extensive offerings to all the buddhas for so many eons. The merits are far more greater than that. — Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2018
Watch Ven. Tsering writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra and discussing this project:
For over fifteen years Ven. Tsering has been writing out this sutra in gold ink on archival quality rainbow paper. For years, Ven. Tsering was based in California, USA, but recently he returned to Kopan Monastery in Nepal, where he spent his time as a young monk until graduating from the tantric college there. He continues his work on the Prajnaparamita Sutra and is now on volume six of twelve. It is planned that Ven. Tsering will also train other Kopan monks and nuns to help with the writing of this sutra, but that will take time, in order for them to perfect their calligraphy. Currently, Jane Seidlitz, a long-time student located in USA, is also writing a volume of the Prajnaparamita and in the past Ven. Tsenla wrote the Vajra Cutter Sutra in silver ink.
Every year, the Prajnaparamita Project disburses approximately US$25,000 each year to cover the costs associated with this project. The majority of the money is used to sponsor the real gold used in the calligraphy ink. Tremendous thanks to Ven. Tsering who has taken on this incredible task for the benefit of all and also thank you to all who contribute to this fund, making it possible to continue this project for world peace until the final verse is completed.
You can learn more about the Prajnaparamita Project as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.