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The News Roundup is a digest of short community highlights from FPMT centers and individuals around the world, as part of our ongoing effort to nourish the “family feeling” and bring back the “News Around the World” and “News in Brief” sections previously featured in the print Mandala magazine that so many of us have missed! This list of stories is not exhaustive, —just a sample of all the great activities happening in the FPMT family worldwide.
We hope that reading these highlights will inspire you to rejoice in the family feeling and good works happening in our global FPMT community! If you would like to share photos or details from your center, we would be happy to include them in the upcoming edition.
Holy Objects | Prayers & Practices | Milestones | Compassion in Action | International FPMT Family
Holy Objects
Volunteers repaint the stupa under the guidance of artist Jampal Hyolmo at Kadampa Center. Photo courtesy of Kadampa Center’s Facebook page.
(Australia) Tara Meditation Centre Centre’s ongoing stupa project received blessings and gentle advice from Geshe Tenzin Zopa during his visit to the center. He offered encouragement for the construction of the World Peace Stupa in Tsum Valley.
(Italy) – the Italian group linked to Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, “Stupa Onlus ” was able to fundraise the restoration of twenty-seven old stupas in Ladakh. —a significant effort to preserve these precious holy objects. We rejoice in this collective work for the benefit of all.
(Netherlands) Maitreya Instituut Loenen received a kind donation for its new stupa from Prabin Buddhacharya, a Newar prince from Nepal. The gift includes special materials and objects from sacred places, including white lime from the Swayambhu stupa in Kathmandu, bodhi leaves from Bodhgaya, stones from the Himalayas, a statue, and a vajra.
(Spain) O.Sel.Ling Centro de Retiros has completed the restoration of its Kadampa stupa. We rejoice that this precious holy object has been renewed and preserved for the future generations.
(US) Kadampa Center is repainting and refreshing its precious stupa, originally built in 2013. Community fundraising and volunteer support are making the work possible, with the restoration overseen by the artist who created the stupa, Jampal Hyolmo. We are grateful in everyone helping to renew this precious holy object.
Prayers & Practice
Sangha at the 2026 national Guru Bhumtsok practice at Langri Tangpa Centre, Australia. Photo courtesy of Langri Tangpa Centre’s Facebook page.
(Singapore) Amitabha Buddhist Centre offered a special recitation of the Sutra of Golden Light on September 20, dedicated to pacifying wars and natural disasters, following the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
(Australia) Tara Institute continues its weekly recitation of the Sutra of Golden Light. The total has now reached 3,108 recitations, with students also committed to ongoing daily recitation dedicated to peace and prosperity throughout the world and the long life of our precious teachers.
(India) Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre Delhi received a teaching on the Sutra of Golden Light from Venerable Geshe Dorji Damdul on September 8. We rejoice that the community had this opportunity to receive teachings on this precious practice.
(Canada) Lama Yeshe Ling Centre gathered online on September 5 to recite the Sutra of Golden Light, creating the causes for peace in the world and in our own lives.
(Nepal and Malaysia) Kopan Monastery, Kopan Nunnery and Chokyi Gyaltsen Center observed the first anniversary of the parinirvana of the 104th Ganden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin on September 26. Heartfelt prayers were offered for Rinpoche’s swift return so that he may continue to spread the Dharma and benefit sentient beings, leading them toward the ultimate goal of enlightenment.
(Taiwan) Jinsiu Farlin began a forty-nine-day Dharma Assembly for the Protection of the Nation and the Pacification of Disasters by the Medicine Buddha on September 7. The collective practice includes prayers for peace, an end to war, freedom from disasters and epidemics, and the well-being of people of all ages.
(Australia) Langri Tangpa Centre welcomed students from around Australia on September 5–6 for the national Guru Bhumtsok or Guru bumtsog practice. This powerful practice, offered every two years, was led by Geshe Rabten from Atisha Centre, Geshe Tsultrim from Chenrezig Institute, Geshe Choden from the Tibetan community and Geshe Tenzin Zopa. There were 110,000 tsog offerings with extensive prayers dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the fulfillment of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy wishes, the actualization of his unmistaken reincarnation, world peace, and those affected by recent disasters. We deeply rejoice in this meaningful collective practice.
Milestones
2026 TDSS Students and facilitators at Kalachakra Centre, September 2026. Photo courtesy of Kalachakra Centre’s Facebook page.
(India) Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program students have completed their first year of study. We congratulate the students on this milestone and wish them success as they begin their second year.
(France) Kalachakra Centre hosted the Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) Europe Course from September 23–26, facilitated by Andy Wistreich and Annelies van der Heijden. Sixteen people attended, supported by volunteers who helped make this an harmonious and meaningful experience.
Compassion in Action
Students and speakers Andy Wistreich and David Midgley at the 2026 Planetary Crisis Summit, Nalanda Monastery, France, September 5–6, 2026. Photo courtesy of Nalanda Monastery’s Facebook page.
(Italy) Yeshe Norbu Appello per il Tibet raised funds through its Helping Hand initiative for the recent Nepal emergency, the Rasuwa floods of August 26. A team of monks with nursing training and volunteers from Kopan Monastery has begun providing essential support to more than 300 families who lost their belongings. The team will continue distributing essential supplies and hopes to reach communities in more remote areas. We are grateful for this compassionate response.
(Italy) Centro Thubten Kunkyen introduced Tibetan Buddhist meditation to teenagers during the 2026 Festival of Languages at the University of Naples L’Orientale. The students responded positively to the experience. We rejoice in everyone who took part and hope this first encounter with the Dharma will become a meaningful seed for the future.
(France) Nalanda Monastery hosted the 2026 Planetary Crisis Summit on September 5–6, bringing together around thirty people in the gompa and more than forty individuals or groups online. The summit explored how wisdom and compassion can help us face and hopefully reduce the effects of climate change.
(Italy) Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) hosted on the latest week of September the annual Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (DIM-MID), in celebration of the center’s 50th anniversary. The gathering brought together ordained members of different religious traditions to reflect on and share their spiritual paths. A wonderful interfaith opportunity for meaningful dialogue, mutual understanding, and shared reflection on spiritual life.
Geshe Tenzin Tenphel, resident teacher at ILTK, and Venerable Raffaello Longo with participants from different traditions at ILTK, September 2026. Photo courtesy of ILTK.
International FPMT Family
The FPMT Global Mani Retreat continues to bring the international FPMT family together to practice, create the causes for peace, and support the long life and activities of our precious teachers.
On September 12, Geshe Thubten Sherab led the group practice, encouraging students to contemplate deeply and connect with the practice from the depths of their hearts. Detailed visualisations were offered during the Mani mantra recitation, giving this extended period much meaning and filling it with compassionate light.
On September 19, Ven. Robina Courtin led the group practice and reminded students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice that even one kind thought can immediately purify the air energy and eventually manifest as good health in the physical body and mind, as they are inextricably connected.
On September 26, Kabir Saxena led the Chenrezig sadhana, with an introduction of Dr. Nick Ribush. Kabir Saxena’s dedication ended with a heartfelt wish for FPMT to continue to flourish and benefit others.
The final Chenrezig group practice session will be led by Ven. Lhundrup Jamyang on October 11.
Upcoming Major Teaching: Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche will offer the final teaching on October 25.
Closing Session on Saturday November 7– Details to come!
Join the FPMT Global Mani Retreat, a precious opportunity to gather in unity, generate collective merit, and deepen our community connections. The mantras we recite together until November 1 will be offered at the conclusion of the retreat for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Discover more about the Global Mani Retreat
We Want to Hear Your Story!
These highlights are sourced from the social media, newsletters, annual reports, websites, and WhatsApp groups of FPMT centers, projects, and services. If you would like to share your news and highlights with the wider FPMT family, we would be so happy to hear from you!
In addition to these highlights, please also read longer community news stories and news from around the world!
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.