Study & Practice News

1,000 Arm Chenrezig painting by Peter Iseli.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends taking the 24-hour eight Mahayana precept vows on days on which the karmic effects of positive actions are multiplied, such as Buddha days, full moon, new moon, and eclipses. 

The eight Mahayana precepts are a powerful and effective way for you to build, maintain and increase deep propensities for spiritual practice and attainment and thus is a profound method for giving meaning to your precious human life. Lama Zopa Rinpoche quotes this passage from the King of Concentration Sutra:

“For ten billion eons equaling the number of sand grains in the Pacific Ocean, if one offers umbrellas, flags, garlands of light offerings, food and drink with a calm mind, or offers service to one hundred billion times ten million buddhas, when the holy Dharma has become extremely perished and the teachings of the Gone to Bliss One have stopped, if somebody who is enjoying (living in) one vow for one day or night, this merit is particularly exalted than having made all those offerings.”

Here we offer a few helpful guidelines for those considering taking the eight Mahayana precepts:

* Whomever you first take the eight Mahayana precepts from does become your guru. Because of this, Lama Zopa Rinpoche says if the student is not ready (or confident) to make that
commitment to that person then it is better for the student to take the precepts from the altar until they are ready to take from someone whom they are willing to accept as their guru.

* It is fine to take the precepts from the altar, although of course having the lineage makes it stronger, but you are still taking and keeping the precepts when you take them from the altar.

* You can take the eight Mahayana precepts before you have officially taken refuge – in fact with faith taking the eight Mahayana precepts is taking refuge, in the heart sense. Anyone who has faith and is sincere is in fact in the heart taking refuge.

You can find the practice, Direct and Unmistaken Method: Practice and Benefits of Eight Mahayana Precepts, on the FPMT Foundation Store.

For more information on recommended practices for multiplying days. 

Lama Yeshe, Kopan, 1970, Photo courtesy Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recently reminded FPMT centers to offer extensive Lama Chöpa with Tsog on Losar (Tibetan New Year) in honor of the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s passing away. Rinpoche added that it would be good to do this at 5 a.m., the time when Lama Yeshe manifested death. This year, Losar is on February 9.

In addition to this, Rinpoche also said for centers to start the tradition of telling stories about Lama Yeshe every Losar to keep his memory alive, for example, by inviting older students who knew Lama to share their favorite stories, or by watching video or reading published stories of Lama. This Losar marks the 32nd year since Lama Yeshe’s passing away.

Losar also marks the beginning of the 15 Days of Miracles, a period when Lord Buddha performed many miracles to benefit others. Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school, established the Great Prayer Festival (Monlam Chenmo) to coincide with this special occasion in 1409.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic, teaches that the karmic results of non-virtuous and virtuous actions are multiplied by one hundred million during Buddha Multiplying Days such as these. It is a very powerful time to practice – such as taking the eight Mahayana precepts, completing nyung näs, and reciting sutras – and strengthen one’s commitment to engaging in virtuous activity.

Find advice and inspiration from Lama Yeshe (http://bit.ly/lama-yeshe-teachings) in the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and on FPMT.org (https://fpmt.org/tag/lama-yeshe).

For more information about Losar, visit Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice page. 

Kshitigarbha painting. 1.8 million recitations of the long Kshitigarbha mantra are needed to help mitigate possible earthquakes.

In November 2015, Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised students to urgently undertake certain practices to help mitigate a possible earthquake in California and elsewhere in the world. The advice was that the following should be completed by February 1:

1. 1,800,000 recitations of the long Kshitigarbha mantra done as part of a Kshitigarbha practice.
2. Taking the Eight Mahayana precepts 300 times.
3. Performing the extensive Medicine Buddha puja – ongoing.
4. Reading of the Tengyur four times – to be done at Sera Je Monastery.

To help organize this, Bay Area FPMT centers set up a Pacify Earthquakes website with information and news about the advice, resources,  ways to report or pledge the recommended practices or donate toward Sera Je monks helping to complete part of the advice (reciting the Tengyur four times). 

What remains to be completed is the Kshitigarbha mantra recitations. Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently told the Bay Area centers that students should keep going with their mantra recitations until the number is completed, even if this is not completed by February 1. According to the Pacify Earthquakes blog, of the 1.8 million mantras recommended, students have accumulated 751,000 as of January 26. Students around the world are very welcome to participate in the fulfillment of this advice as a strong, collective effort is needed. 

The Kshitigarbha practice and long mantra can be found here:
https://fpmt.org/education/prayers-and-practice-materials/#kshitigarbha

You can report your mantra recitations here:
http://www.pacifyearthquakes.org/mantra-recitations/

A new free module from Living in the Path program, “The Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness (Including Enlightenment)” is now available on the Online Learning Center.

In this module of Living in the Path, you will find explanations of the three practices Lama Zopa Rinpoche would like his students to do at the beginning of every day: “The Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness (Including Enlightenment),” “Blessing the Speech,” and “Daily Mantras.” A practice containing all three is freely available to students. This new module gives students an opportunity to understand this short, but essential, collection of daily practices.

The commentary for “The Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness” is compiled from various teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche given between 2009 and 2015.

The commentaries for “Blessing the Speech” and “Daily Mantras” are mainly extracted from Rinpoche’s teachings given during Light of the Path Retreat 2009 held in North Carolina, USA. They were originally included in Living in the Path, Module 2: Taking the Essence: “Mantras for the Morning.” 

You are invited to visit Living in the Path on the FPMT Online Learning Center to see a full list of available modules.

Land of Joy property.

A Foundation Service Seminar (FSS) is planned for September 19-25, 2016 at Land of Joy, located at Greenhaugh Hall near Hexham, in Northumberland, UK. This seminar will be lead by Wendy Ridley and Charlotte Elliot. 

FSS provides support and training to volunteers and staff offering service within FPMT centers, projects, and services. The seminars help develop a shared understanding of the FPMT mission, creating a firm basis from which to serve effectively and joyfully within FPMT.

The seminar explores how best to offer one’s skills and qualities in service.  Participants will investigate the purpose and mission of FPMT and how that vision translates into action for centers, projects, services, study groups, and individuals. For anyone who is serving FPMT (directors, SPCs, board members, staff, volunteers) the FSS is a great opportunity to reconnect with the FPMT family and be inspired by the vast visions of our teachers.

Participants join discussion during a Foundation Service Seminar held at Land of Medicine Buddha, CA, January 2015.

During the five days, participants will explore their relationship to resources — both material and human; communication skills and conflict resolution; teaching according to the level of the student; ways to maintain and develop personal practice in the midst of service, and methods to prevent and cure burnout. Discussions will center around service in terms of guru devotion, karma, compassion, and emptiness. Participants will learn how to draw strength, inspiration, wisdom, and guidance from these practices as well as learn how to use the Inner Job Description, a tool for developing what Lama Zopa calls the “inner professional” for integrating the Dharma into our daily lives.

The seminar includes group discussion, sharing of experiences, and is retreat-like including daily meditations and group practice as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Creating Lama Yeshe’s “family feeling” is a skill all can learn to employ within our centers and study groups. The FSS is a great opportunity to prepare the next generations of directors, SPCs, board members, staff, and volunteers.

Booking in advance is required for this Foundation Service Seminar. Please book here: www.landofjoy.co.uk/programme/book-a-retreat

Following Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes we have updated the text, Daily Meditation, which Rinpoche has renamed The Method to Transform a Suffering Life Into Happiness (Including Enlightenment). In addition to the name change, this text has also been revised according to advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, particularly with respect to the mantras and the pronunciation of the Tibetan. 

Rinpoche has put a great deal of emphasis on this text and it is recommended as an essential practice for all FPMT students. While mornings are an ideal time to set up one’s aspirations for the day, students are encouraged to engage in this practice at any time, whenever one is able.

You can find this updated practice on our free prayers and practices page, or you may use this direct link.

Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.

Kshitigarbha

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently advised that the following must be completed by February 1, 2016 to help pacify an earthquake that Rinpoche has been predicting will hit California in the very near future:

1. 1,800,000 recitations of the long Kshitigarbha mantra done as part of a Kshitigarbha practice.
2. Taking the eight Mahayana precepts 300 times.
3. Performing the extensive Medicine Buddha puja – ongoing.
4. Reading of the Tengyur four times – to be done at Sera Je Monastery.

The advice was given to Bay Area students, but Rinpoche has said that friends around the world can also participate in the accumulation of these practices.

The Bay Area centers have created a website (www.pacifyearthquakes.org) with more information on the advice, including ways to make pledges and report mantra recitations; contribute to the Tengyur recitations; and report the taking of the eight Mahayana precepts.

The main focus is currently on the accumulation of Kshitigarbha mantras. FPMT Education makes available the Kshitigarbha practice in various formats. Students can also listen to Lama Zopa Rinpoche chanting the Ksitigarbha mantra as a way to learn the proper pronunciation. 

Please consider getting involved with the Kshitigarbha mantra recitations today as completing Rinpoche’s advice by February 1, 2016 will require strong, collective effort. 

The Kshitigarbha practice and long mantra can be found here:
https://fpmt.org/education/prayers-and-practice-materials/#kshitigarbha

Read the USGS Earthquake Outlook for the San Francisco Bay Region 2014–2043 report:
https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2016/3020/fs20163020.pdf

Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), founder of the Gelug lineage.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day, or Ganden Ngamchoe, is a celebration of the anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s parinirvana. It is celebrated on the 25th day of the 10th month on the Tibetan calendar. This year, Lama Tsongkhapa Day falls on Saturday, December 5.

There are many practices one can do to celebrate, and create merit, on this special day. The main practice, recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, is Lama Chöpa. The FPMT Foundation Store makes this practice available in hardcopy and as a downloadable PDF. If you are unable to do Lama Chöpa, Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga is also recommended. Additionally, there are other practices students are encouraged to do, as they are able. 

English

• 1000 Offerings to Lama Tsong Khapa
• Extensive Offering Practice
• “The Glorious One of the Three Worlds” (English Version of “Palden Sa Suma”)
• “A Hymn of Experience” by Je Tsongkhapa 
• “Destiny Fulfilled”
• “Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsong Khapa’s Teachings” (a4 version)
  “Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsong Khapa’s Teachings” (letter version)
• Lama Tsongkhapa’s Secret Biography (C5 version)
• “Dependent Arising: A Praise to the Buddha”

French

• Prière pour le développement de Lama Tsongkhapa (lecture)
• Prière pour le développement de Lama Tsongkhapa (livret)

Tibetan

• 1000 Offerings to Lama Tsongkhapa 
• “Palden Sa Suma” (Tibetan Version of “Glory of the Triple Ground”)
• Lama Tsongkhapa’s Secret Biography

You can read more about this advice, plus a teaching from Lama Zopa Rinpoche about Lama Tsongkhapa Day.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing and offering a meal in California. November, 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

This time of year means, for many, an increase in festive meals celebrated with friends and family. There are a variety of ways to enjoy your meal while still practicing virtue.

FPMT Education Services also makes available a collection of practices, Food Offering Practices, which includes an extensive food offering practice, general food offering prayers, and the yogas of eating food according to Hinayana, Mahayana sutra, and Mahayana tantra. 

In a recent letter to a student who wanted to know how to bless food sold through a family business, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave the following short practice:

Regarding your question about blessing the food, you recite OM AH HUM and visualize all the buddhas and bodhisattvas blessing the food with the qualities of holy body, speech and mind. This absorbs into the food where the food is. It is all absorbed into the food.

Then recite OM AH HUM.

Visualize that then every grain and part of the food is a blue HUM and into that numberless buddhas’ and bodhisattvas’ holy body, speech and mind all absorb into that. Then do that quite a number of malas of the mantra (OM AH HUM); the more you do, the better. The HUMs become the grains or food particles.

Then make a prayer to the merit field, Medicine Buddha, Tara and Chenrezig (but particularly Medicine Buddha) and pray that all the buddhas and bodhisattvas bless the food and that there never comes from it any side effects; it immediately purifies, the minute the food goes inside the mouth, it immediately purifies all the negative karmas collected from beginningless rebirths, not only that envy, but all diseases and spirit harms are purified. Also, pray that all realizations from guru devotion up to enlightenment are actualized, all the realizations are generated, especially bodhichitta, and it brings to all sentient beings perfect peace and happiness in this world. Then all the wishes of happiness and all successes – according to holy Dharma – are immediately received. All the wishes up to enlightenment are actualized.

That is what you should pray. You and everyone can do that meditation.

Whatever your traditions this time of year, you can make each meal a meaningful offering for yourself and others. Enjoy!

Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at the Light of the Path Retreat, May 2014, Black Mountain, NC. Photo by Ven. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Living in the Path is an FPMT online and center-based program drawn exclusively from the teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In particular, it makes use of teachings given at events recorded by qualified media technicians using high quality video and audio equipment.

While the original modules of Living in the Path were developed on the basis of the Light of the Path retreats held in North Carolina, USA, in 2009 and 2010, new modules are being created to reflect the change in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teaching style that followed the manifestation of a stroke in 2011. Since then Rinpoche has been teaching with a force, animation, and speed that clearly transmits the urgent need for us to practice Dharma right now. 

Living in the Path was created primarily to transmit Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s very unique way of teaching the path to enlightenment. As such it provides access to Rinpoche’s heart advice on the particular practices he would like his students to do in their daily lives. It also offers Rinpoche’s instructions on why and how to do certain traditional prayers and practices for the purification of negative karma and the collection of merit. In addition, it makes available Rinpoche’s extensive teachings on the lam-rim topics in a format that encourages reflection, meditation, and practice. This is achieved by dividing the teachings into short segments, and supplementing them with guidelines for study and meditation, as well as mindfulness and service practices to be done throughout the day, all of which are based on quotations taken directly from Rinpoche’s teachings.

All the modules of Living in the Path consist of a combination of video excerpts and transcripts of the actual teachings. These are supplemented by video, audio, and text resources aimed at helping students understand and integrate the teachings into their minds.

Given that Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings often assume familiarity with teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and, in particular, with the lam-rim teachings, students of Living in the Path should ideally have already done some basic introductory courses, such as Buddhism in a Nutshell and Meditation 101, and even some courses at an intermediate level, such as Discovering Buddhism. As Living in the Path is designed to encourage students to go deeply into the essential points of the path and to integrate them into their lives, this program can also be done in conjunction with other FPMT education programs, such as Discovering Buddhism, Basic Program, or Masters Program.

We invite you to visit Living in the Path on the FPMT Online Learning Center study, reflect, and meditate on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s unique way of presenting the Buddhadharma.

The original modules of Living in the Path are currently being revised and new modules are gradually being created, many of which are offered free of charge. You are invited to visit Living in the Path on the FPMT Online Learning Center to see a full list of available modules.

Centers wishing to host this program can contact the FPMT Foundation Program Coordinator at fpc@fpmt.org. Please note that the teacher of Living in the Path is Lama Zopa Rinpoche and that modules are to be presented in centers by a registered FPMT teacher who is also a registered Living in the Path facilitator.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche turning the prayer wheels outside the Great Stupa at dusk, Australia, September 12, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang

The creation of holy objects is a high priority among Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization. “My wish is for FPMT to build many holy objects everywhere, as many as possible,” Rinpoche explained, “Making it so easy for sentient beings to purify their heavy negative karma and making it so easy for sentient beings to create extensive merit. Which makes it so easy to achieve the realizations of the path and so easy to achieve liberation and enlightenment.”

A prayer wheel is a cylindrical wheel on a spindle made from metal. Inside the prayer wheel are many million or billions of the mantra of the Buddha of Compassion, OM MANI PADME HUM, printed on paper or microfilm. By turning the prayer wheel the mantra of compassion emanates and blesses the area and all beings.

Two of Mandala‘s current online features – “The Inside Story: Microfilm, Holy Objects, and the Passion of Tai Vautier” and “How Do Holy Objects Work?” – are excellent resources for exploring the power behind prayer wheels. The first, “The Inside Story” by Donna Lynn Brown, details the work and devotion of FPMT student Tai Vautier, who helped FPMT develop its own collection of sacred mantras on microfilm suitable for filling prayer wheels, statues, and other other holy objects. The second, “How Do Holy Objects Work?” by IMI monk Ven. Tenzin Legtsok, provides a robust introduction to the philosophical reasons behind the spiritual power of holy objects such as prayer wheels.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that he would like to sponsor the building of 100,000 prayer wheels for world peace (including prayer wheels under the ocean). The prayer wheels are to have a minimum height of six feet. Wherever a prayer wheel is built, it becomes a great blessing for that country.

You can find your own prayer wheel at The Foundation Store. 

FPMT’s Holy Objects Fund, provides the resources to create holy objects, such as prayer wheels, for world peace. 

More information about prayer wheels can be found on FPMT Education’s prayer wheels resource page. 

Students can access FPMT Education materials, prayers and practices in a variety of formats including eBooks. A wide selection of eBooks can be found at the Foundation Store and a growing number are being made available on the Amazon Kindle Store. 

An advantage of obtaining eBooks directly from the Foundation Store is that each order comes with a copy of the mobi, epub and PDF versions of each title which can be utilized according to your preferences on your various available devices. 

One benefit of purchasing from the Amazon Kindle Store is that your purchase will be available in your Kindle Cloud Library and can be sent to any device on which you are able to read Kindle books and your devices will sync, allowing you to pick up where you left off on any text on any of your devices. 

Two new eBooks available, Heart Advice for Retreat eBook and Lam Rim Prayers eBook will be especially useful to FPMT students. 

FPMT Education Services would like to sincerely thank Lynn Stevenson for her very generous work volunteering with converting titles to mobi and epub files. 

Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, training seminars, and scholarships, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.