Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
Die Stiftung zur Erhaltung der Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) ist eine Organisation, die sich weltweit für die Erhaltung und Verbreitung des Mahayana-Buddhismus einsetzt, indem sie Möglichkeiten schafft, den makellosen Lehren des Buddha zuzuhören, über sie zur reflektieren und zu meditieren und auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrung das Dharma unter den Lebewesen zu verbreiten.
Wir bieten integrierte Schulungswege an, durch denen der Geist und das Herz der Menschen in ihr höchstes Potential verwandelt werden zum Wohl der anderen – inspiriert durch eine Haltung der universellen Verantwortung und dem Wunsch zu dienen. Wir haben uns verpflichtet, harmonische Umgebungen zu schaffen und allen Wesen zu helfen, ihr volles Potenzial unendlicher Weisheit und grenzenlosen Mitgefühls zu verwirklichen.
Unsere Organisation basiert auf der buddhistischen Tradition von Lama Tsongkhapa von Tibet, so wie sie uns von unseren Gründern Lama Thubten Yeshe und Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche gelehrt wird.
La Fundación para la preservación de la tradición Mahayana (FPMT) es una organización que se dedica a preservar y difundir el budismo Mahayana en todo el mundo, creando oportunidades para escuchar, reflexionar, meditar, practicar y actualizar las enseñanzas inconfundibles de Buda y en base a esa experiencia difundir el Dharma a los seres.
Proporcionamos una educación integrada a través de la cual las mentes y los corazones de las personas se pueden transformar en su mayor potencial para el beneficio de los demás, inspirados por una actitud de responsabilidad y servicio universales. Estamos comprometidos a crear ambientes armoniosos y ayudar a todos los seres a desarrollar todo su potencial de infinita sabiduría y compasión.
Nuestra organización se basa en la tradición budista de Lama Tsongkhapa del Tíbet como nos lo enseñaron nuestros fundadores Lama Thubten Yeshe y Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A continuación puede ver una lista de los centros y sus páginas web en su lengua preferida.
L’organisation de la FPMT a pour vocation la préservation et la diffusion du bouddhisme du mahayana dans le monde entier. Elle offre l’opportunité d’écouter, de réfléchir, de méditer, de pratiquer et de réaliser les enseignements excellents du Bouddha, pour ensuite transmettre le Dharma à tous les êtres. Nous proposons une formation intégrée grâce à laquelle le cœur et l’esprit de chacun peuvent accomplir leur potentiel le plus élevé pour le bien d’autrui, inspirés par le sens du service et une responsabilité universelle. Nous nous engageons à créer un environnement harmonieux et à aider tous les êtres à épanouir leur potentiel illimité de compassion et de sagesse. Notre organisation s’appuie sur la tradition guéloukpa de Lama Tsongkhapa du Tibet, telle qu’elle a été enseignée par nos fondateurs Lama Thoubtèn Yéshé et Lama Zopa Rinpoché.
L’FPMT è un organizzazione il cui scopo è preservare e diffondere il Buddhismo Mahayana nel mondo, creando occasioni di ascolto, riflessione, meditazione e pratica dei perfetti insegnamenti del Buddha, al fine di attualizzare e diffondere il Dharma fra tutti gli esseri senzienti.
Offriamo un’educazione integrata, che può trasformare la mente e i cuori delle persone nel loro massimo potenziale, per il beneficio di tutti gli esseri, ispirati da un’attitudine di responsabilità universale e di servizio.
Il nostro obiettivo è quello di creare contesti armoniosi e aiutare tutti gli esseri a sviluppare in modo completo le proprie potenzialità di infinita saggezza e compassione.
La nostra organizzazione si basa sulla tradizione buddhista di Lama Tsongkhapa del Tibet, così come ci è stata insegnata dai nostri fondatori Lama Thubten Yeshe e Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Di seguito potete trovare un elenco dei centri e dei loro siti nella lingua da voi prescelta.
“护持大乘法脉基金会”( 英文简称：FPMT。全名：Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) 是一个致力于护持和弘扬大乘佛法的国际佛教组织。我们提供听闻，思维，禅修，修行和实证佛陀无误教法的机会，以便让一切众生都能够享受佛法的指引和滋润。
護持大乘法脈基金會”（ 英文簡稱：FPMT。全名：Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ）是一個致力於護持和弘揚大乘佛法的國際佛教組織。我們提供聽聞，思維，禪修，修行和實證佛陀無誤教法的機會，以便讓一切眾生都能夠享受佛法的指引和滋潤。
Realize that the nature of your mind is different from that of the flesh and bone of your physical body. Your mind is like a mirror, reflecting everything without discrimination. If you have understanding-wisdom, you can control the kind of reflection that you allow into the mirror of your mind.
The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop and features a vast selection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. These items include homestudy programs, prayers and practices in PDF or eBook format, materials for children, and other resources to support practitioners.
Items displayed in the shop are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from their sale. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.
FPMT service seminars provide essential support and training for those currently offering service – or aspiring to serve – within FPMT centers, services, and projects. These seminars foster a shared understanding of the FPMT mission as envisioned by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, while laying a strong foundation for joyful and effective service within the organization.
We offer a variety of seminars designed for directors, spiritual program coordinators, board members, registered teachers, coordinators, staff, volunteers, and anyone interested in contributing their service to our Lamas and the broader FPMT community.
Foundation Service Seminar (FSS)
The FSS is an ‘FPMT immersion retreat’ offering essential information and inspiration for those currently serving, or aspiring to serve, within the FPMT organization. It provides a deep understanding of the organization, and the attitudes we strive to cultivate when offering service. Through an experiential approach, the FSS helps participants actualize the profound advice that ‘service is practice, and practice is service’- nurturing the ability to rejoice and find joy in serving others. The FSS guides participants in exploring how to best contribute their unique skills and qualities in service.
The FSS Retreat is available as a five day, in-person retreat. It can also be facilitated as an online experience.
Key topics include:
The purpose and mission of the FPMT organization, what it means to be an FPMT center, project or service and how this vision translates into meaningful action at both individual and organizational levels.
Exploring our relationship with both material and human resources.
Enhancing effective communication, team building, and people management skills.
Preventing and addressing burnout.
Learning strategies to sustain and deepen our personal practice amidst service.
Drawing strength, inspiration, wisdom, and guidance for our service through the lenses of guru devotion, karma, compassion, and emptiness.
A key tool used in the FSS is the Inner Job Description, which helps cultivate what Lama Zopa Rinpoche referred to as the “inner professional” (read a teaching on the inner professional). This tool supports the integration of Dharma into daily life and service, fostering a deeper connection between spiritual practice and practical responsibilities.
The FSS incorporates group discussions, experiential sharing, daily meditations, and group practices based on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice, providing a holistic and transformative experience for participants.
Currently the FSS can be facilitated in either English, French or Spanish. All other languages will need translation.
“We need training in our outward dealings with people, to be more kind and compassionate. For example people receive a lot of training in customer care. FPMT students need that too.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, September 2016
Foundation Service Seminar participants in front of the prayer wheel at Chandrakirti Centre, New Zealand, November 2024.
Family Feeling
Lama Thubten Yeshe often emphasized the importance of cultivating a “family feeling” within FPMT community, encouraging harmonious and supportive relationships. The FSS reinforces the importance of these connections with one another and offers practical guidance on building and maintaining harmony, mutual respect, and a deep sense of unity within our Dharma family.
“I attended this seminar starving for guidance and have not been disappointed. I have been fully fed and watered and leave happy, satisfied and totally inspired!” FSS participant
“Rich, multilayered teachings were delivered with wit, compassion and wisdom.” FSS participant
“This training changed my life!” FSS participant
Foundation Service Seminar Taster (FSS Taster)
If you’d like to learn more about the FSS before committing to participate or to host, we offer, either in person or online, a short Foundation Service Seminar Taster. This two-hour introductory session provides an overview of the FSS retreat and highlights the benefits of the FPMT immersion training.
Inner Job Description Taster (IJD Taster)
The Inner Job Description is a powerful tool for cultivating mindfulness in our thoughts, speech, and actions. Freely available for anyone to use, it can be accessed as a downloadable PDF to print.
For those interested in a deeper exploration of the IJD, a two-hour Inner Job Description Taster is available, with either in-person or online delivery options. Currently it can be facilitated in either English, Dutch, French or Spanish. All other languages will need translation.
FSS Registered Facilitators
Two facilitators are required to lead a Foundation Service Seminar. Any of these folks below can be requested to lead an FSS.
The FSS host would ideally budget to offer each facilitator a minimum offering of US$50/day x 7 days (eg: US$350).
Amy has been a student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche since 1996, and a practicing mental health professional since 1987. She has been working with the FPMT Service Seminars as a co-creator and developer since 2001. She has served as FPMT North America Regional Coordinator. Additionally, Amy rescues and rehabilitates cats as a form of Dharma practice (and because it is fun).
Annelies van der Heijden (The Netherlands)
Annelies is a senior FSS facilitator, who has facilitated many FSS seminars after completing the requirements in 2018. She completed the FPMT Basic Program in ILTK, Pomaia Italy in 2014, is an FPMT Foundational Buddhism registered teacher and a Living in the Path facilitator. She has been actively involved as a student and serving in various roles at Maitreya Institute (MI) Holland and the FPMT organisation since 1998. Annelies was the FPMT European Regional Coordinator from 2010 – 2013. She currently teaches Discovering Buddhism and different program activities at MI Amsterdam and helps Maitreya Institute in other ways. Annelies has a professional background as dietician, yoga teacher, shiatsu therapist and as a mindfulness trainer. She can facilitate in English and Dutch.
Drolkar McCallum (Canada)
Drolkar has been involved with the FPMT since 1995, living as a nun at Chenrezig Institute in Queensland, Australia, serving as the resident geshe’s second attendant, attending LRZTP 2, serving as Director for five years at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India as well as FPMT South Asia Regional coordinator. She has been a volunteer for the LPP since 2009, the regional coordinator for FPMT North America from 2013-2023 and the IMI Member Services manager since 2014. She has attended several Kopan courses and long retreats with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. She is a senior FSS facilitator, and can facilitate in English and French.
François Lecointre (France)
François has been studying and practicing Buddhism in FPMT centres since 1994 after meeting the Dharma during the Kopan course. He was the director of Kalachakra Centre in Paris from 1997 to 1999 and became Spiritual Programme Coordinator at Institut Vajra Yogini in 2001. From 2002 to 2020, he was director of Institut Vajra Yogini (IVY), managing this busy residential center in France and hosting a CPMT meeting and three one-month retreats with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In June 2020, François joined the FPMT International Office as Teacher Services and Communications director. In March 2021, he also took on the position of Chief Operating Officer of FPMT’s International Office. In December 2023, he became FPMT Center Services Director. François is a senior FSS facilitator, who can facilitate in French, English and Spanish.
Gilda Urbina (México)
Gilda met Buddhism in 1997. She has attended several retreats with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. GIlda served as SPC at Rinchen Zangpo Center in Mexico for 5 years, and from 2016 -2024 offered service as FPMT Mexico National Coordinator. She works as an individual, couple and family psychotherapist. Gilda completed the requirements to become a registered FSS facilitator in 2018.
Martha Portillo (México)
Mar works in Human Resources and is a psychologist, psychotherapist and human development trainer. She connected with Buddhism in 1995 since when she has felt a strong connection with H.H. Dalai Lama. In 2007, when she saw the Maitreya Heart Shrine Relics, she decided to become Buddhist, and took refuge. That year she was delighted to meet Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who has been her main teacher since and she attended several retreats with him. Mar has been an accredited facilitator of the FDCW 16 Guidelines since 2014. She offered service as director of Bengungyal Center, Aguascalientes, Mexico for almost four years. Mar completed the requirements to become a registered FSS facilitator in 2018.
Since 1977, Wendy has been inspired by H.H. Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe & Lama Zopa. She has worked in six very different FPMT centers and was the director of Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds for over 7 years. She has 40 years professional experience in education – as a teacher, university lecturer, education advisor and consultant. This provided her with skills and passion to develop, deliver and oversee training programmes. Since 2004 she has been involved in the development of the Foundation for Developing Compassion & Wisdom (FDCW) as a board member and Senior 16 Guidelines Facilitator. Wendy is a senior FSS facilitator, an FPMT registered teacher, a qualified yoga teacher; and has enjoyed many retreats.
The Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) was designed for FPMT registered teachers, introductory course facilitators, and meditation leaders. It introduces the principles of contemporary Dharma pedagogy—the methods and practices of effective teaching—within the context of the FPMT lineage.
Participants explore topics relevant to teaching and leading meditation in FPMT centers, including effective course planning. The experiential and participatory nature of the seminar makes it suitable for both seasoned Dharma teachers and those new to teaching, fostering reflective practice and professional development essential for anyone supporting Dharma education in FPMT programs.
This seminar helps participants enhance their ability to guide others toward deeper understanding and personal transformation through Dharma. A skilled Dharma teacher not only possesses knowledge and personal experience of the teachings but also knows how to communicate this understanding effectively, in ways that foster insight and meaningful change in others. The seminar emphasizes interactive and participatory learning, leaving participants enriched, inspired, and better equipped to support Dharma learning effectively.
The TDSS has been conducted as a three-day retreat, typically beginning on a Thursday evening and concluding late Sunday afternoon. All FPMT registered teachers are encouraged to participate in this transformative seminar. Directors and Spiritual Program Coordinators (SPCs) are also invited to recommend promising introductory class leaders and meditation leaders to attend.
Spiritual Program Coordinator Service Seminar (SPC SS)
The SPC SS is currently undergoing a comprehensive update using a co-creation model. This includes consultations with three diverse groups of SPCs, representing a range of experience levels, geographical locations, and center contexts, ensuring SPC voices are heard and their needs addressed.
The first phase of this consultation process is set to conclude in February 2025. Following this, the next phase will focus on consolidating insights, developing and formatting updated materials, and training facilitators. Once ready, the revised SPC SS will be piloted internationally.
It is envisioned that the new SPC SS will adopt a hybrid approach, combining on-site and online modules to provide flexible learning opportunities. The seminar aims to enhance SPCs’ skills in areas such as:
Defining and understanding their role.
Counseling and providing support.
Planning and implementing programs.
Promoting harmonious functioning within their centers.
Participants will engage in a mix of individual and group activities to practice and refine essential skills. The seminar’s goal is to empower SPCs to serve their communities more effectively while advancing the mission of FPMT.
receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
Annelies is a senior FSS facilitator, who has facilitated many FSS seminars after completing the requirements in 2018. She completed the FPMT Basic Program in ILTK, Pomaia Italy in 2014, is an FPMT Foundational Buddhism registered teacher and a Living in the Path facilitator. She has been actively involved as a student and serving in various roles at Maitreya Institute (MI) Holland and the FPMT organisation since 1998. Annelies was the FPMT European Regional Coordinator from 2010 – 2013. She currently teaches Discovering Buddhism and different program activities at MI Amsterdam and helps Maitreya Institute in other ways. Annelies has a professional background as dietician, yoga teacher, shiatsu therapist and as a mindfulness trainer. She can facilitate in English and Dutch.
Drolkar has been involved with the FPMT since 1995, living as a nun at Chenrezig Institute in Queensland, Australia, serving as the resident geshe’s second attendant, attending LRZTP 2, serving as Director for five years at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India as well as FPMT South Asia Regional coordinator. She has been a volunteer for the LPP since 2009, the regional coordinator for FPMT North America from 2013-2023 and the IMI Member Services manager since 2014. She has attended several Kopan courses and long retreats with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. She is a senior FSS facilitator, and can facilitate in English and French.
Mar works in Human Resources and is a psychologist, psychotherapist and human development trainer. She connected with Buddhism in 1995 since when she has felt a strong connection with H.H. Dalai Lama. In 2007, when she saw the Maitreya Heart Shrine Relics, she decided to become Buddhist, and took refuge. That year she was delighted to meet Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who has been her main teacher since and she attended several retreats with him. Mar has been an accredited facilitator of the FDCW 16 Guidelines since 2014. She offered service as director of Bengungyal Center, Aguascalientes, Mexico for almost four years. Mar completed the requirements to become a registered FSS facilitator in 2018.
