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Rose at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, November 2017. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Paloma Fernandez, FPMT Europe Regional Coordinator, shares updates from Europe.
At this challenging time all over the world, with most of the centers, projects, and services, in Europe closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the centers saw that this is a very important moment for people to have access to the Dharma, now more than ever.
As an answer to that need, most of the European centers have launched different programs online, together with other initiatives. For many centers that meant that they needed to quickly learn about online platforms and how to launch their programs in this new format.
With the support with so many people, the FPMT centers all around Europe are supporting their students and the community in so many ways. All are helping their students to do the practices advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and to connect with Rinpoche’s video teachings.
AUSTRIA
Panchen Losang Chogyen Gelugzentrum, Vienna, is offering a rich online program in German, including Discovering Buddhism, and a Tara sadhana practice using WhatsApp, pujas, and daily meditations.
DENMARK
The Center for Wisdom and Compassion, Copenhagen, has made necessary adjustments so they can offer teachings tailored to support students. The center is offering meditations, and a new series of classes with FPMT registered teachers, such as “Using Fear to Develop Resilience,” and “Courage in Challenging Times.”
FINLAND
Tara Liberation Study Group, Helsinki, made a video with the Praises to 21 Taras in Finnish so people can do the practice by chanting along with the video that includes the text.
FRANCE
Institut Vajra Yogini, Marzens, is offering an online session every afternoon as well as Discovering Buddhism and Basic Program online. Kalachakra Center, Paris, is also offering a rich program in French through Zoom, including several Tara puja sessions each week and the practices advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
GERMANY
Aryatara Institut, Munich, is offering an online program including Monday Meditation, Discovering Buddhism, Basic Program, and a Tara Retreat.
THE NETHERLANDS
Maitreya Instituut is offering online teachings and meditations on Zoom. The center board wrote to all the center’s students/members to wish them strength, and are sending out cards.
ISRAEL (part of FPMT Europe)
Shantideva Study Group, Herzelia, is offering a diverse online program, and are doing a monthly animal liberation practice.
ITALY
The FPMT Italy National Office has organized a national online program with free activities offered daily in Italian.
Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, is also offering online courses including the Basic Program, while Centro Tara Cittamani, Padova and Centro Tara Bianca, Genova are also organizing initiatives in Italian.
ROMANIA
White Tara Study Group is offering Discovering Buddhism on Zoom and Meditation 101 on Facebook.
SPAIN
FPMT Spain’s website now has information about free activities happening daily in Spanish.
Volunteers from Potala Hospice, the FPMT hospice service in Malorca, are offering emotional support through the telephone and over email to patients admitted to a hospital in a state of isolation, grieving people who have lost a loved one to coronavirus disease, and anyone in isolation or who has a family member in this situation and they are worried about loneliness.
SWEDEN
Yeshe Norbu Mind Training Center, Stockholm, now has an “Online Mind Training Center” with events including Discovering Buddhism, drop-in lunchtime meditations, drop-in evening meditations, a book circle, Tara practice, and more.
SWITZERLAND
Gendun Drupa Center, Martigny, is offering weekly meditations online.
Longku Center, Bern, is offering meditations online using Zoom, and a two-month online course about disturbing emotions.
UNITED KINGDOM
The FPMT UK National Office has worked with the UK centers to create a single online calendar while the centers are closed.
Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, initiated a Morning Prayer Group.
Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) is offering online meetings and courses for the global community. Everyone is welcome to join Universal Education (UE) Coming Together community meetings on Zoom. FDCW is also offering Building Inner Strength: 16 Guidelines Level 1 as an online course, and an eight-hour five-session 16 Guidelines for Children and Teens Online Course for Parents and Carers.
Find links to these centers in the Europe and Middle East sections of the FPMT online directory:
https://fpmt.org/centers/#europe
https://fpmt.org/centers/#middleeast
Additional resources, including video teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Dharma study-from-home opportunities, can be found on the page “Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic”:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/announcements/resources-for-coronavirus-pandemic/
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.