The One Answer is to Practice Lamrim

If you want to make your life really fruitful, really meaningful, the one answer is to practice lamrim. Otherwise, your life is spent in hallucination. There are many different levels of hallucination. Your life is spent in distraction, with attachment and anger, but especially with attachment. Like that, your life is spent in hallucination. …

Even if you’re working, even if you have to do a job to make money, your motivation should be to benefit sentient beings, to serve sentient beings. Do you understand?

You should be humble and respectful with your body, speech, and mind. You should be kind to everyone, even those who criticize or harm you. You should be kind, polite, and serve others with your body and speech.

It makes people so happy when you speak politely to them. With holy objects, you have a mind of devotion, but with sentient beings, you should have compassion.

The Quickest Way to Enlightenment

The guru is more precious than Buddha Vajradhara.

The guru is the creator, the doer, who manifests the numberless buddhas. This is mentioned in the tantric teachings. When you receive teachings in the future from someone with whom you have a guru-disciple relationship, this is the meditation that you should do. You are receiving the teaching or initiation from all the buddhas. You are also receiving it from your special deity. Do you understand?

You have to have that understanding. It is so precious, so precious, so precious. It is similar when you are making offerings or offering service. You are making offering or offering service to the one who is more special than all the buddhas, more special than even your own deity.

You have to keep all that in your mind; you have to keep it in your diarrhea book [Rinpoche often jokingly referred to a students’ Dharma journal for notes, quotations, and teachings as their “diarrhea book”]. I have just mentioned the essence of the practice of guru yoga. It is mentioned very clearly in the long Six-Session Yoga. Even if you are offering a meal, tea, water, or a candy, since the numberless atoms of the guru’s holy body are all the buddhas, it means you are offering to numberless buddhas.

Even in each atom there are numberless buddhas. Whatever it is—you’re offering service, receiving teachings or advice or a scolding—it is all the buddhas; it comes from all the buddhas, so, from your mind-seal deity.

So, that is the guru yoga practice, and that is the reality.

Through that, you then receive the blessings of the guru; then through that, you achieve enlightenment.

Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. I’m not advertising that I’m buddha. I’m not saying that.

Generally, this is how you should think in the future, okay. Yes, for you, your guru is more precious than the numberless buddhas, more precious than your own deity. That is so important.

Think this with everything: with every offering and offering of service, with receiving advice. It’s so important. You then collect the highest merit and experience the greatest purification. Do you understand?

This is the quick way to achieve enlightenment.

Transcribed and subsequently edited by Ven. Ailsa Cameron from the audio recording of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s April 9, 2023 teaching at Kopan Monastery. Excerpted for inclusion in the 2023 Annual Review by FPMT International Office.

So Much Has Been Achieved, So Much More to Do: A Letter from CEO Ven. Roger Kunsang

Dear friends,

Once a small boy about five years old, in a high remote mountainous area of Nepal, called Rolwaling, fell into a fast flowing freezing cold river and was caught in the strong current. His head was sometimes breaking the surface as he was not able to swim. The thought arose in his calm mind, “Now this small body merely labeled Zopa is about to die.” It was a worry free mind. Fortunately, his uncle managed to pull him out of the river. He had been on his way to offer some boiled potatoes to some strange-looking yellow haired foreigners visiting the area. The connection was there! A small boy in a very remote mountain area of the Himalayas reaching out to foreigners.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a child in Rolwaling. Photo by Tom Weir

Born in a very poor family (Rinpoche does not remember his father and thinks he died when Rinpoche was in the womb), Rinpoche was sent to Rolwaling when very young to stay in the monastery with his uncle (a monk). Several years later he was taken to Pagri, Tibet where he stayed in Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s monastery waiting to go to Sera Je Monastery in Lhasa. A few years later Rinpoche suddenly had to flee Tibet due to the Chinese invasion and stayed in the refugee camp in Buxa, India. It was there Rinpoche started taking teachings from Geshe Rabten, and as Geshe-la was very busy, he was introduced to Lama Yeshe. So started the unique relationship between Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe.

In 1970 in Kathmandu Rinpoche met Ang Nyima– who said he had taken initiations from the Lawudo Lama (Rinpoche’s previous life) whose name was Lama Yeshe [Lama Kunsang Yeshe]. At that time Ang Nyima offered each lama a text. To Lama Yeshe he offered a text on Heruka, and to Rinpoche a lamrim text by Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen, the great lojong text, lojong chen mo. This, Rinpoche said, was where he received his inspiration to teach and so started the Kopan course—the one month courses at Kopan—two each year in the early years, and later only one a year in November (due to the heavy overseas teaching schedule of the two lamas).

So many people from all over the world have attended “the Kopan one-month November course” and had their lives changed dramatically! In one month a real purpose to life—a meaningful purpose—was found! They went back to their countries and wanted to share the Dharma with their friends, so gradually centers started all around the world, the first in Australia, Chenrezig Institute. The “family feeling,” as Lama Yeshe called it, arose.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in a group photo from the Fourth Meditation Course, Kopan Monastery, spring, 1973. Photo courtesy LYWA Collection.

In 1984 Lama Yeshe passed away and the FPMT organization was left to Rinpoche. Rinpoche first tried to offer the organization to his gurus, but they did not accept. Finally, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Rinpoche should take responsibility for FPMT. Rinpoche went on the road for the next 46 years, constantly traveling from center to center teaching and giving initiations—no break! No weekends or days off, until the Covid pandemic began in 2019. Rinpoche spent the last four years of His life in Kopan Monastery teaching, attending pujas, and inspiring the monks and nuns.

Rinpoche lived the Dharma Path, there was no separation, day and night. He was a great ascetic yogi—no doubt! Mind free of the eight worldly dharmas and never separate from bodhicitta and emptiness. Rinpoche lived his life completely devoted to others.

Rinpoche blessing and reciting mantras for two goats that had just been saved from the butcher and live at Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery), July 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Rinpoche was always thinking of how to benefit animals, insects, and other small creatures. When in Nepal/India Rinpoche often stopped to free goats, chickens, or other animals meant to be killed for meat. At the bottom of the Kopan Hill there were always goats tied up in front of the butcher shop (common in Nepal and India) waiting to be slaughtered. Rinpoche would never pass without buying/saving them. Sometimes Rinpoche would talk with the butcher, trying to convince him to stop killing, but the butcher would explain to Rinpoche that he has to support his family. After months Rinpoche convinced him to give up killing and would sometimes send him financial support. When the retired butcher broke his leg, Rinpoche helped him with the medical expenses. There was really no end to Rinpoche’s generosity and kindness. Day and night it never ended—always the focus was on ways to benefit others.

Rinpoche never went to bed. He always sat on the bed doing prayers and meditating, surrounded by many texts that were open at different places. Night was also a time to work, to answer students’ letters about practice and health issues, etc. Rinpoche never took his robes off except when, after about 14 days, we would convince Rinpoche to shower.

Rinpoche would never get out of his robes, he would never lie down, he would never stretch out his legs – he was always sitting in the meditation position. Indiana, USA. 1974. Photo by Barry Kaplan.

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Root (around 2005) and Rinpoche was showing the altar to His Holiness, His Holiness said to Rinpoche, “This is your predecessor Rinpoche.” Rinpoche was standing in front of the statue of Geshe Potowa.

Soon it will be a year since Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away. A lot has happened in that time. We are all doing our best to fulfill Rinpoche’s holy wishes, to continue and complete Rinpoche’s projects, and trying to put into practice what Rinpoche taught, in essence: bodhicitta, kindness, and compassion. To practice what Rinpoche taught and to help to fulfill Rinpoche’s many projects is key to repaying the kindness of the Guru and creating the cause for Rinpoche’s quick return.

Rinpoche has given us so much and left us with such an amazing opportunity. We have a worldwide organization to do just that! We have so many dedicated and committed students all over the world who have built and created this organization—the lamas did not do it by themselves, so many dedicated students over the last 50 plus years dedicated their lives to bringing the Dharma to where it was not. Such an extraordinary effort by so many, inspired by and committed to Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe. So much has been achieved, so much more to do.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2006 said, “Lama Zopa Rinpoche follows my guidance sincerely, very expansively and with 100 percent trust. He has unwavering faith and pure samaya, not only faith and trust but whatever I instruct Zopa Rinpoche has the capability to accomplish it. So whatever dedications Lama Zopa Rinpoche makes I also pray to accomplish this and you should do the same.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2008.

After Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away, His Holiness said, “Rinpoche made the precious mind of enlightenment the foundation of his practice, if Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s followers, who have been left behind properly emulate the Guru’s life, it is exactly that which will definitely fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes.”

Sincerely,
roger

Welcome to this year’s 2023 Annual Review. We appreciate so much all of the input and support we have received during this challenging year. Below we share an overview of what we, as a board of directors, have accomplished, addressed, and begun to tackle over this past year.

In the course of the past year the Board of Directors posted regular updates and reports on the CPMT list-serve. These were also published on the FPMT Daily News blog and are available for all to read on the FPMT website. Our aim in doing this is to inform people about what we are doing and working on and also to create a communication channel through which we can hear and learn from you.

Because the information in these updates was often long and comprehensive this letter attempts to be less detailed. However, we invite all those who are interested in knowing more about our work to please read the updates and reports on the website. Let us know what you think!

The year 2023 began exceptionally well, with a long-awaited meeting at Kopan of the FPMT, Inc. Board of Directors that included our Spiritual Director Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche. At that time, the Board also met with Gaden Tri Rinpoche and Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme), both of whom kindly gave of their time and counsel. With the theme,Working on our Future, it was a full-on and fruitful week and we were able to hear Rinpoche’s ideas and wishes on a number of topics, including the role and future of the Board, of Kopan Monastery, of spiritual advisors and also Rinpoche’s thoughts on succession.

In our minds and hearts much of this information was for “later” and so it was a great shock and profoundly sorrowful when just three months later, on April 13, Rinpoche manifested entering into Paranirvana and was no longer with us physically.

This board has always felt a strong sense of responsibility for the organization. However, the realization that according to the Bylaws of FPMT Inc. and the wishes of Rinpoche himself, we were now to be the leaders of the organization – in the worldly sense, that is – made the need for cohesion and clarity of purpose stronger than ever.

A visit to H.H. the Dalai Lama a few weeks later gave a sense of stability and confidence. His Holiness spoke of what a trustworthy Dharma friend Rinpoche had been, and when requested to help find Rinpoche’s reincarnation He said that he felt a responsibility to find the unmistaken reincarnation in order to help sentient beings. His Holiness added that Rinpoche’s wishes concerning the leadership of the FPMT were good and that he would continuously offer every possible support to the organization. A video and transcript of this meeting can be found on the FPMT website.

The overriding realization of the Board and many others throughout the world was that the best way to truly express our respect and devotion to Rinpoche was simply to implement his teachings and continue to fulfill our holy guru’s wishes.

By continuing to bring the Dharma to sentient beings, practicing the Dharma personally, and expressing it through all that we do in the centers, projects, and services within the FPMT mandala, we honor Rinpoche and preserve his work and lineage. This idea clearly resonated with individuals and centers throughout the organization and there are countless examples of how it was, and still is, being expressed.

Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Rinpoche had long requested His Holiness to accept a long life puja in Dharamsala sponsored by the FPMT and performed by the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery. Although the date that had been set for this special event was a month after Rinpoche’s passing, we all felt that it was important to make sure that it take place according to Rinpoche’s wishes. The puja was extensive, amazingly beautiful and the Kopan Sangha managed it impeccably. His Holiness was clearly very pleased and expressed his appreciation to the FPMT Sangha and students in an audience held with His Holiness the next day.

Transition Period

Right after the long life puja for His Holiness, the Board met again at Kopan at the end of the ceremonies marking the 49th day after Rinpoche’s passing. Without Rinpoche physically present, we felt strongly that we had entered a period of transition. We set out to review different functions of what we do at the various levels of the organization. There is much that is working very well and beneficial and there are other matters that need attention in order to improve and develop. Looking at the numerous activities, structures, systems and procedures in the organization is a process that will take time and patience but is already underway and will continue over the next year and half or more. We expect that this period of transition will finish in 2025, after the results of the CPMT meeting that is being planned have been worked out (see below).

What Did the Board Do in 2023?

• Good communication at all levels is vital to a well-functioning organization. To that aim, we issued regular Board Updates and have opened a special email address for direct communication with the Board (fpmtboard@fpmt.org).
   
• We increased our participation in regional and national meetings. In the last few months, various board members have taken part in the Spanish National Meeting, New Zealand National Meeting, Italian National Meeting, the East and Southeast Asian Regional meeting and the UK National meeting.
   
• Major work has started, together with the International Office, on the CPMT meeting of 2025. The working title is Advancing Our Gurus’ Vision of a World Guided by Compassion and Wisdom, which captures the aspects of preservation, continuity, and development that are so important to the FPMT. Preparation for this meeting has started with surveys going out to the centers and students. The agenda will be based on what comes out of these surveys and the meeting itself will help create a strategy for the future. The aim is to form that strategy together by looking at how to implement and nourish the vision of our teachers, the very basis for planning for the future of the FPMT.
   
• In general, one of the qualities we are working on further developing is inclusivity. This can take many forms, one of which is looking at criteria and processes to bring on additional board members. You can expect more news on that in the course of 2024.
   
• Ven. Thubten Pemba, formerly an FPMT Board member for many years, re-joined in 2023 at the request of Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche. We were very happy to welcome him; his fresh ideas and points of view are an enrichment of the Board.
   
• Ven. Pemba was instrumental in organizing the very successful Geshe Meeting that was held at Kopan at the beginning of this year but was conceived of and planned in 2023. You can read more about this important conference which was attended by more than 30 geshes and geshemas from all over the world as well as five FPMT board members.
   
• Kopan Monastery is where the FPMT began in the early 1970s, founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe and his main disciple, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It has become a serious monastic institution for both monks and nuns (currently more than 700 in total), has an exceptional educational program for them, and offers excellent courses for others, including the renowned November lamrim course. Kopan has grown organically over the years, parallel to the other FPMT centers and activities outside Nepal. We are now looking at how these two branches of the FPMT can support each other more. To that end, the Kopan Board and the FPMT Inc. Board came together at an historic first meeting in early May to explore the future of Kopan and its development as the spiritual heart of the FPMT and an inspiration for the world at large.
   
• This year saw the inception of a Legal Team to advise the Board and International Office on various topics. This team is made up of professional lawyers who all have long experience and have held various functions with the organization over the years.
   
• With this Legal Team we worked on various aspects of the FPMT Inc. Bylaws (statutes). This was essential, due to the passing of our Spiritual Director, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche. In collaboration with the International Office, we are reviewing other FPMT policies as well.
   
• We were also greatly aided by Robyn Brentano, who came on this year as an advisor. Robyn continues to help by bringing her years of expertise and experience in organizational development, fundraising and strategic planning to our aid in this time of transition.

In the absence of the physical manifestation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the present FPMT Inc. Board of Directors remains even more than ever before dedicated to fulfilling the wishes and vision of our holy gurus. However, we expect that by the end of the transitional period the positive effects of our efforts will warrant a less hands-on approach. Until then, we hope that you will follow our work and progress via the regular reports on the FPMT website.

The last paragraph of the December 2023 Update reflects our wishes for you and all sentient beings at this time:

May 2024 be a year that brings peace in this world. May the emanation of compassion, H.H. the Dalai Lama, enjoy stable good health. May all our respected teachers and their students also be healthy and have success in their practice. May all of the FPMT organization flourish and bring benefit to all.

Children of the Maitreya School, Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India.

The Social Services Fund offered support to eight different schools in Nepal and India that benefited over 1,500 students! In 2023, we offered US$263,938 to these educational institutions in India and Nepal:

• Maitreya School, Bodhgaya, India, provides free schooling to 233. When Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the school in January 2023, he also personally offered new shoes, tracksuits, and T-shirts to all the students.
   
• Ngari Institute, Ladakh, India, provides education for 69 students. The grant given covered all the food for the students and staff for the year.
   
• Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School, Tapeljung, Nepal, offers a free education, with Buddhist classes to 105 students. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was able to visit the school in March 2023 and attended the inauguration of the new school building.
   
• Sagarmatha Secondary School in Chailsa, Nepal, offers a free education, with Buddhist classes to 220 students. The grant covered all the salaries for the teachers for the year, as well as for uniforms, and all school supplies.
   
• Rolwaling Sangag Choling Monastery School, Nepal, is situated in a remote region of east-central Nepal along the Tibet border. The grant provided free education, with Buddhist classes, for 27 students.
   
• Tashi Lhunpo Monastery School operates under the Tashi Lhunpo Cultural Society in Bylakuppe, South India. A recurring challenge faced by the school is the recruitment of qualified and experienced teachers. To address this, we offered a grant for one year of sponsorship for all the teacher salaries.
   
• Gaden Jangtse Monastic College is situated in South India. Its primary focus is on providing education and training to monks, with a particular emphasis on Buddhist philosophy, scripture, debate, and meditation. Currently there are 570 students and 15 teachers on salary. We were very happy to extend support toward the Teachers Salary Fund.
   
• Namgyal Tantric College, situated in Dharamsala, India, stands out from other Tibetan monasteries due to its unique purpose: serving as the personal monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We provided a grant to support the salaries of the dedicated teachers of this college.

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The Social Services Fund offered support to hundreds of Tibetans living in six different homes for the elderly in India. In 2023, we offered US$169,067 in grants for the operational expenses of each of these eldercare homes in India and Nepal:

Elders of Odisha Phuntsokling Settlement.

• Jampaling Elders’ Home, Dharamsala, India, provides food, shelter, and medical services to 76 residents. The grant also provided medical assistance, as well as vital improvements such as door replacements and repainting of the old building.
   
• Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe, India, looks after 38 residents living in extremely modest conditions.
   
• Rabgayling Old Age Home, Hunsur, India is a modest eldercare home that serves 13 residents. The oldest resident, Mr. Karmi, is 99 years old, while the youngest, Mr. Gyamtso, is 79 years old.
   
• Old Age Home, Kalimpong, India is home to 25 elders. The grant also supported medical expenses and repainting the building.
   
• Old People’s Home Odisha Phuntsokling Settlement, Orissa, India is taking care of 17 Tibetan elders, six of these elders are above 90 years of age. This elderly home also organizes visits from spiritual teachers who deliver short discourses on the teachings of Buddha and also visits from school students who perform Tibetan songs and dances, and everyone gathers to share a meal together, fostering a sense of community and connection.
   
• Doeguling Home for Elderly and Disabled, Mundgod, India, provides cares for 63 elderly residents. In addition to covering the shortfall of the budget, an additional grant was given for eight individuals to undergo various surgeries. These procedures included knee replacements, spine surgery with fusion, and hip replacements with all the necessary additional care during the postoperative stage.
   
•  Tenzingang Settlement is situated in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Responding to the request made by the Central Tibetan Administration, we offered a grant to renovate the roofs for two destitute families.
   
• Kamrao Settlement is situated in Himachal Pradesh, close to Paonta Sahib. This settlement currently, has a population of 173 individuals and does not have any elderly facilities. We provided a grant for the rebuilding of a house of one family living in very poor conditions.

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The Social Services Fund offered substantial support for health and essential services to those disadvantaged in Mongolia, Nepal, and India. In 2023, we offered US$219,091 in grants toward the annual operating expenses of five different organizations that are working directly with those most in need, as well as funds for a new ambulance:

• 

  Mother care clinic offered through Maitri.

  Shakyamuni Clinic, Bodhgaya, India, is a medical clinic that offers help to those most in need in Bodhgaya and surrounding areas. The grant supported the operational expenses of the clinic, such as salaries, medical supplies, overhead costs, and maintenance.
   
• MAITRI Charitable Trust, Bodhgaya, India, helps the sick, especially those with leprosy and tuberculosis by offering mobile clinics and care to mothers and children, and in addition cares for animals in need. The grant covered a significant portion of MAITRI’s annual budget.
   
• Lamp of the Path, Mongolia, offers a soup kitchen with free food, free medical support in a health clinic, and educational programs centering around the epidemic of alcoholism. It also provides a mobile kitchen to improve people’s health through increased accessibility and quality traditional nutritious Mongolian food. It has two main objectives: enhancing the nutritional quality for the poor bedridden and disabled individuals in the Ger district, and expanding community-oriented projects. The meals are delivered throughout five working days.
   
• Sera Mey Social Service Society operates within the premises of Sera Monastic University in Bylakuppe, India. During the summer of 2023, their focus was on raising awareness about the increasing number of dengue fever cases in the community. With thanks to a grant from Italian Buddhist Union we were able to provide a grant for a new ambulance.
   
• The Integrated Indigenous Tribal Children Ministries of India is building a home specifically designed to accommodate homeless children. The primary objective is to offer a stable living environment where these children can find solace, access necessities, and receive proper care and support. We offered a grant toward the building.
   
• Patient Care Trust, an NGO operating in India, facilitates access to quality healthcare and organizes free medical camps with partner hospitals. This project provides timely access to affordable quality healthcare for the socially marginalized Tibetan refugees. The grant given with thanks to the Italian Buddhist Union provided a portion of the overall budget.
   
• Tibetan Heart Foundation, based in New Delhi, India, is an NGO dedicated to supporting the local Tibetan community. Its primary objective is to raise awareness about heart-related issues through programs and free medical camps in Tibetan exile communities, as well as assisting patients in accessing the best heart hospitals and raising funds for their treatment. A grant was offered toward their annual expenses.

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The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund offers support to nunneries and monasteries around the world. In 2023, US$529,466 was offered to support the precious Sangha with food, accommodation, education, practice support, and medical expenses. Some highlights of the grants given include:

Lunch offering at Gyudmed Tantric Monastery.

• Gyudmed Tantric Monastery, situated in Hunsur, Karnataka, India accommodates approximately 575 monks. To support the demanding study schedule of the monks, Lama Zopa Rinpoche wished to create a food fund project to ensure a stable source of funds for providing nourishing meals. This endeavor seeks to establish an endowment fund to cover the annual costs of daily meals for all monks. In 2023, according to the request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, a grant of US$100,000 was given to support the new food fund. Rinpoche’s extraordinary commitment is evident in the US$1,318,056 already raised or personally contributed for this fund. The overarching goal is to raise a total of US$3 million, with US$1,681,944.00 remaining to be raised.
   
• Shalu Monastery is located in Himachal Pradesh, India. A grant was offered for the annual costs of food for the 55 monks who study there. This monastery is committed to reviving and preserving the Bhulug lineage tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, which was founded by the Sakya master Buton Rinchen Drub in the 4th century.
   
• Thame Dechen Chokhorling Monastery is a Nyingma Monastery in the region of Solu Khumbu, Nepal. Since 2017, we have been providing the means for three nourishing meals per day to the 22 devoted monks residing.
   
• Idgaa Choizinling Monastery, Mongolia. Since 2015, we have been providing funds for sustaining the dietary needs of the monks of this monastery—specifically covering the costs for lunch and dinner. This contribution ensures that the 32 Mongolian monks are provided with nourishing meals throughout the entire year.
   
• Tashi Chime Gatsal Gumba Nunnery is located in the heart of Bigu, a rural municipality in Northeastern Nepal. Twice a year, these dedicated nuns of Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism undertake one or two 100 Million Mani Retreats. We have been extending sponsorship to the nuns of Bigu since 2010. This sponsorship encompasses vital necessities such as food, gas, firewood, transportation, medical expenses, and offerings to the Sangha upon completion of the three month retreat.
   
• Sera Thekchenling Lachi Cultural Society is situated in the region of Bylakuppe in South India. This year we provided a grant for renovating the kitchen and dining hall to ensure a better space for preparing and taking meals and enhance the overall experience for all those who attend vital events at Sera Lachi.
   
• Sera IMI House, part of Sera Jey Monastery, is providing a supportive environment for non-Himalayan monastics seeking to live and engage in the profound program of studying Tibetan Buddhist philosophy at Sera Je. A grant was provided for the much-needed installation of a new tile roof for their house.
   
• Zigar Thupten Shedrupling Institute, located in the serene surroundings of Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, is a small monastery in the lineage of the Drukpa Kagyu. Lama Zopa Rinpoche pledged US$200,000 to assist in fulfilling the needs of this monastic community, specifically covering all necessary food expenses. This year we contributed to a two-year provision of necessary sustenance for the dedicated community of 62 monks who reside in the monastery.
   
• Detong Ling Nunnery serves as a project of O.Sel Ling Centro de Retiros, an FPMT retreat center in Andalusia, Spain. A grant was given to cover the cost of constructing a separate cabin to house their new heating system.
   
• The International Sangha Forum in Bodhgaya, India, held a four-day program in December 2023 with over 2,000 monastics from different Buddhist traditions to initiate discussions on the Three Higher Trainings and the role of Buddhism in the twenty-first century. Its goal was to foster continual dialogue and collaboration between practitioners of the Pali and Sanskrit traditions, recognizing commonalities and appreciating differences. We were happy to offer sponsorship to the program in support of travel, food, and accommodation for monastics attending the conference.
   
• During the 49-day period following Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing, many prayers and pujas were made for Rinpoche’s swift return. FPMT International Office made offerings to the various monasteries and nunneries in Nepal and India, with the sincere request for them to pray for Rinpoche’s swift return and for the FPMT organization to carry out Rinpoche’s legacy exactly as Rinpoche envisioned. In support of this endeavor, the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund also contributed 40% of the total amount offered to the 15,000 dedicated Sangha members, as well as to the monasteries and nunneries who participated.
   
• From the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund, grants were given for monthly stipends and annual offerings to all the main teachers of the main Gelug monasteries, the past and current abbots, as well as sponsorship of the annual winter debate and Gelug Exams.
   
• We administered grants offering support toward the Research and Training of Specialist Geshes and Geshemas and to the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute in India, Men-Tsee-Khang, along with a branch clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal, to provide stipends for six participants of the Nyepa Sum Project, which focuses on researching various health conditions.

Participants of the 2023 Gelug Annual Exam.

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The power of prayer is extremely powerful in actualizing the path, overcoming obstacles, healing, and creating merit. The Puja Fund and other funds arrange and sponsor continual prayers for all within the FPMT organization and beings. In 2023, US$397,697 was offered toward these activities, including offering to thousands of Sangha who undertake the practices. Highlights of the many auspicious actions sponsored include:

• 

  FPMT Board members Paula de Wys, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and Ven. Roger Kunsang offering a mandala to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, May 24, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

  Offering the Long Life Puja to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 24, 2023 in Dharamsala as well as offering 1,000 Buddha statues.
   
• Partial sponsorship of the extensive prayers and pujas during the 49 days after Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away, as well as contributing to the offerings to the 15,000 Sangha who offered the prayers and pujas and their various monasteries and nunneries.
   
• Ongoing pujas and prayers, including the recitation of sutras by 10,000 Sangha on the merit-multiplying four Buddha days, as well two different recitations of the 100,000 Praises to the Twenty-one Taras, recitations of the Kangyur, and recitations of Prajnaparamita Sutra.
   
• Monthly extensive Medicine Buddha pujas, Most Secret Hayagriva extensive tsog offering, and many other practices.
   
• Monthly offerings were made to some of the most precious holy objects in India and Nepal, including robes to the Buddha statue in Bodhgaya, India; and fresh paint and umbrellas to the Swayambunath and Boudhanth stupas in Nepal.
   
• Continual light and extensive water and light offerings were sponsored, with extensive prayers around the world. Continual offerings were made in front of the stupa that holds the holy body of Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche in Chailsa, Nepal.
   
• Specific pujas and monthly recitations of precious sutras, such as the Golden Light Sutra and Guhyasamaja Root Tantra for the protection of the world and disasters caused by the elements.
   
• Offerings for prayers and practices for those who have passed away from the Prayers for the Dead Fund.

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Rendering of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Stupa of Complete Victory.

Due to the power of the holy objects, one can purify negativities and create merit simply by making contact with them. The Holy Objects Fund, Stupa Fund, Prayer Wheel Fund, and Prajnaparamita Project, among others, provide the support needed to create holy objects around the world. In 2023, US$930,405 was offered toward many holy objects, including:

• Creating and offering an incredible one thousand statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. These beautiful statues were gilded in gold, filled with mantras, faces painted, and consecrated.
   
• Sponsorship of a seven-feet high Kalachakra statue for Lawudo Retreat Center, Nepal. This statue now graces the Lawudo Gompa.
   
• Building the 42-feet tall Stupa of Complete Victory in Kopan Monastery. Dedicated to the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and fulfillment of all his holy wishes.
   
• A grant was given for the building of a 115-feet high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha at Dhondenling Settlement in Kollegal, India.
   
• The Prajnaparamita Project now has two people writing the Prajnaparamita Sutra (8,000 and 12,000 verses) in Tibetan script, with perfect calligraphy and in pure gold. Each person is working on a different volume, and the writing is happening continuously.
   
• The Stupa Fund offered sponsored stupa tsa-tsas being made for those who pass away, as well as other tsa-tsas for those who are sick and also contributing toward the 12-feet high and 11-feet-wide Victory Stupa built at Lawudo Gompa for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

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Nuns offering Cittamani Tara Puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return, Kopan Monastery, April 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s endless capacity for benefiting others is demonstrated by all the charitable projects that he has initiated. Rinpoche still generously offers support to a variety of social and charitable activities. Grants are offered to monasteries, nunneries, and Sangha around the world; to FPMT centers, projects, and services; and for prayers, practices, pujas, and much, much more. Many of these grants were requests that Rinpoche made right up until early April 2023, and we are trying to fulfill to the best our ability.

The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund reflects Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others and this year was an incredible year for giving. In 2023, US$960,228 was offered through this fund. Some highlights of how these funds were used include:

• The new food fund and long-term endowment for Gyudmed Tantric Monastery, Hunsur, India.
• Toward the seven-feet high Kalachakra statue for Lawudo Retreat Center, Nepal.
• 115-feet high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha at Dhondenling Settlement in Kollegal, India.
• Costs for electricity for the year at Kopan Monastery and Kopan Nunnery, including all of the light offerings.
• Funds for a shelter specifically designed to accommodate homeless children by the Integrated Indigenous Tribal Children Ministries of India.
• Support to the local Tibetan community through programs and free medical camp through the Tibetan Heart Foundation, New Delhi, India,
• One year of sponsorship for all the teacher salaries at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery School, Bylakuppe, South India.
• Contribution to the Teachers Salary Fund at Gaden Jangtse Monastic College, South India.
• Support for the salaries of teachers at Namgyal Tantric College, Dharamshala, India.
• Sponsorship of individuals at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, to undertake an incredible seven months of 108 nyung na retreats, now in its twelfth consecutive year.
• Retreat room sponsorship at Institut Vajra Yogini for those who wish to undertake a three-year Vajrayogini retreat.
• Funds for he displaying of the very large thangka of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), and 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru Bumtsog) at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery). This includes offering to all the Sangha and lunch, tea and tsog to everyone who attended the all-day puja.
• A new set of robes was offered to all of FPMT’s resident teachers.
• A three-feet high Green Tara statue was created and dedicated for one student who passed away.
• Coverage for the medical expenses of a long-term student and one of the earliest students of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche were offered.
• Sponsorship was offered for the publication and the book release of a new book on the pilgrimage to holy places in Nepal.
• Sponsoring a portion of the extensive prayers and pujas during the 49 days after Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away, as well as offerings to 15,000 Sangha and various monasteries and nunneries.
• Offering support for several Sangha who are offering service to the organization.
• Offerings were made for the Dharma education of several young incarnate lamas who are studying in the great monasteries in India.
• Offerings were made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and also the incarnations of all Rinpoche’s gurus. This was an explicit wish of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to happen after he shows the aspect of passing away.

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Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering prayers to a rescued water buffalo Rinpoche named Bodhichitta. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The Animal Liberation Fund supports saving animals from untimely death. It also offers grants to different organizations that are saving animals from death and caring for them with food, medicine, and shelter for the rest of their lives. Taking care of all sentient beings, including insects and animals, has always been a high priority for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Rinpoche continually reminded us not only to refrain from harming any being, but to also create the causes for the animals to receive imprints of Dharma by taking them around holy objects and reciting mantras and sutras to them. In 2023, US$18,930 was offered directly to benefit animals. Some highlights include:

• Approximately 63,196 animals were liberated and blessed at Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, US, and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US.
   
• An annual grant was given toward the operating costs of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary in Nepal, which provides ongoing shelter and care for animals that have been rescued.
   
• Support was given for food and medical care of a horse in Italy.
   
• Sangha in Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, continued the weekly animal liberation practice, Charity to Ants, and blessing the beings in different lakes with mantras and blessed water.

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The Education and Preservation Fund supports Dharma study and contributes to the development of Buddhist education programs and the preservation of the Dharma through the publication of Dharma practice materials and translations. In 2023, US$173,156 was offered to support educational activities. Some highlights of the grants given include:

• 

  Santiniketan Bengali Translation Team with newly translated Bhavanakrama text. Visva-Bharati University, Department of Indo-Tibetan Studies, West Bengal, India.

  A grant for the Bengali translation and editing of Bhavanakrama by Kamalashila.
   
• Sponsorship for the translation from Tibetan to Bengali and English of Bodhipathapradipam (Atisha’s Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment, Suhrllekha (Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend) and Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattva.
   
• Support for the development of new education programs and materials.
   
• Support of educational activities in Mongolia.
   
• Through the Translation and Scholarship Fund grants were given for the translation of Vajrayogini self-initiation, Heruka Chakrasamvara Body Mandala commentary by Trijang Rinpoche. and A Precious Garland: A Commentary on Engaging in the Deeds of a Bodhisattva (Bodhicaryāvatāra).
   
• Grants were also given for FPMT Masters Program scholarship and toward the support and education of a geshe studying at a university in the United Kingdom.

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The table and chart outline the direct grants of US$3,486,569 during 2023 to FPMT’s Charitable Projects.

¹ The disbursement figures do not include expenses for administration fees and credit card merchant fees and are inclusive of some interfund disbursements, which will be subject to audit adjustments during our annual independent financial review.

² Bodhichitta Fund disbursements includes offerings to various monasteries and projects in India and Nepal of $881,608, donation to FPMT centers and projects of $81,170, offerings and sponsorship of holy objects of $24,320 and sponsorship of Tibetan and Western Sangha, offering practices for the organization and care of our Spiritual Director of $124,905.

We offer a range of programs suitable for those at the introductory, foundational, and in-depth levels.

Introductory and Foundational Education Programs
FPMT’s introductory courses are short courses that allow students to try out different meditation techniques, learn the basics of Tibetan Buddhism, and explore essential advice for the time of death and for making life meaningful.

In 2023, two new programs have been successfully piloted, revised and made ready to be launched in 2024.

Buddhist Mind Science: Activating Your Potential is a new introductory level course on Buddhism. It features the study of key Buddhist concepts from both Buddhist and comparative scientific perspectives. The course design emphasizes an experiential approach to the materials and flexibility in its presentation. Its seven modules explore the cultivation of mental balance, warmheartedness and wisdom on a journey toward lasting happiness.

The foundational level program, Exploring Buddhism, was well received during its pilot starting from 2021. It has been revised with a new curriculum covering both Buddhist philosophy and practice in eight modules. This program helps to familiarize students with the concept of text-based explanations featured in our in-depth programs. It also provides an explanation of prayers and practices commonly done in the FPMT, as well as the preliminary practices (ngondro) performed in the tradition.

In-Depth Education Programs: FPMT Basic Program (BP) and FPMT Masters Program (MP)
The FPMT Masters Program (MP) provides an intensive, full-time study of Buddhist sutra and tantra, based on the unique vision of Lama Thubten Yeshe and developed with the help of the late Geshe Jampa Gyatso. Inspired by the geshe studies curriculum in traditional Gelug monastic universities, it provides serious students of Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition greater depth of study and practice and the opportunity to become qualified FPMT teachers.

The FPMT Basic Program (BP) is a five-year, twelve-subject course of studies designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It provides a practice-oriented transmission of the Buddhadharma to committed students ready to progress beyond foundational level study and practice. They develop a thorough understanding of the complete path to enlightenment, supported by meditation, retreat, and integration in daily life. Graduates offer service as Introductory and Foundational level teachers and facilitators, and support centers’ programming as teaching assistants, online tutors, and coordinators.

At the beginning of September 2023 Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy started their fourth FPMT Masters Program. Throughout the year we worked with Nalanda Monastery, France, to prepare for their second MP, starting early 2024, ensuring that conditions are met for sponsoring the salary of the MP teaching assistant.

Full-time residential BPs started in September 2023 at Nalanda Monastery in France and Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy. Several centers worldwide are continuing to offer successful BPs that are less intensive without being lesser in quality. This is the nature of the BP and was Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish: to provide centers with an in-depth Dharma education program that can be implemented at various levels, including review, retreat, and final exam.

Education Services provides translations and oversees the quality of course materials in English, Italian, Spanish, French, etc. In 2023, this included:

• commissioning translations and updates for the main Middle Way text
• producing updates of the MP Study Manual for Ornament (in three volumes)
• re-writing the Guidelines for Implementation for both MP and BP

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FPMT Education materials are essential resources for our students worldwide. In addition to creating new materials, we regularly review and update existing items in keeping with the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and to be aligned with the highest standards in translation. Being an international Tibetan Buddhist organization, we also provide translations of materials into various languages, which is essential for the success of our students and the preservation of our lineage.

New Materials and Publications in 2023

Translations Commissioned on the Advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

• The Sutra of Great Liberation, translated by Ven. Gyalten Lekden
• The Kshitigarbha Ten Wheels Mahayana Sutra, translated by Gavin Kilty
• The Innermost Essence of the Arya Manjushri Tantra, translated by Ven. Tenzin Namjong

Publications Composed, Arranged, or Translated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Practice Series

• An Abbreviated Chakrasamvara Tsog, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• An Abbreviated Meditation-Recitation of the Goddess Kurukulla, by Lozang Thinle
• The Heart’s Utmost Need, by Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo
• Morning Prayers and Motivation, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• A Tea Offering Prayer: The Incomparable Guide, by Gendun Gyatso
• Song Possessing the Four Mindfulnesses, by the Seventh Dalai Lama, Lozang Kelsang Gyatso

Lama Zopa Rinpoche Teaching Archive

• Advice on Death
• Circumambulating Holy Objects at Home
• Create Skies of Merit by Making Offerings and Circumambulating Stupas
• How This Human Life Becomes the Method for Achieving Complete Buddhahood through Study and Service
• Patience Is of Utmost Importance
• Why the Guru Shows the Aspect of Making Mistakes
• Wish-fulfillment for all Animals

Designed Cards with Quotations Provided by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

• The Four Verses
• Offerings to Buddha Statues
• Verse to Put at the Base of Paintings and Statues of Milarepa
  
  

  Card which Rinpoche designed and wanted displayed next to any Milarepa statue, or thangka.

Provisional Materials Produced in Support of FPMT Centers’ Activities

• A Compilation of Prayers for the Long Life Offering to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
• Sitting and Walking Meditations by Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Light of the Path retreat meditation guide).
• Torma Gyatsa, Hundred Torma Offering Practice by Phabongkha Rinpoche

Materials for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

• “A Prayer for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche,” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama with additional prayers by other distinguished lamas
• Heruka Lama Chopa and Supplementary Prayers for the 7th day pujas at Kopan Monastery for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return

Additional Materials

• Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri
• Praise to Avalokiteshvara (Po Praise) in three languages – Tibetan, English, and Chinese

Ongoing Works in Progress
Work continues on several other major translation projects, including the translations of all three versions of the Golden Light Sutra, Changkya Rolpai Dorje’s pilgrimage guide to Mt. Wutai and Trijang Rinpoche’s commentary on the Chakrasamvara body mandala.

Work in progress also includes translation review of the Vajrayogini self-initiation by Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo, Hevajra sadhana and a supplementary ritual text by Khedrub Geleg Palzangpo, and the extensive mandala offering to Chittamani Tara by Trijang Rinpoche. Work also began on the translation of the Chittamani Tara retreat sadhana and the editing of a detailed commentary on the Six Yogas of Naropa by Khenzur Gyume Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa.

Updates and Revisions
We also reviewed and edited old translations against the original Tibetan source texts, and/or checked and transliterated mantras in practice booklets.

The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Practice Series and Teaching Archive is available at: fpmt.org/education/prayers-and-practice-materials/lzrps/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Composition and Translations

• A Ritual to Perform When Undertaking Activities on Inauspicious Days
• Dharani Which Accomplishes All Aims
• The Exalted Zung Called “Eliminating Obscurations”
• Meditation on Kurukulla
• Kshitigarbha Practice
• Mantras to Recite for the Dying
• Prostration Instructions, Mantras, and Meditation

Updates on Some Essential Practices

• Gyalwa Gyatso long sadhana
• The One Hundred and Eight Names of Arya Kshitigarbha and the Dharani Mantra
• Mantra from the Sutra of Great Liberation
• Medicine Buddha Mantras
• The Melody of the Wings of Dancing Bees: A Tsog Song
• Name mantras and benefits
• Praises to the Twenty-One Taras in three languages – Tibetan, English, and Chinese
• Six-Session Guru Yoga
• Statues and Stupas – Part 2: Building and Blessing Holy Objects
• White Umbrella Deity Practices (Sitatapatra)
• The Yoga of the Three Purifications of Shri Chakrasamvara

Wisdom Culture Series
The Wisdom Culture series is published by Wisdom Publications in association with the FPMT under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to make available key works for the study and cultivation of the Mahayana Buddhist path, especially works of masters within the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa and the Geluk tradition. The Swift Path: A Meditation Manual on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment by Panchen Losang Yeshe, translated by Szegee Toh was released in 2023.

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The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop with a vast collection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. Items in the Foundation Store are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from them. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.

Distribution of Materials in 2023

Downloads this year included:

• 32,506 PDF and ebooks (19% more than in 2022)
• 888 online programs
• 3,643 audio recordings
• 1,293 digital cards, posters, and protection items

The Foundation Store continued to distribute PDFs, ebooks, audio from FPMT translation groups, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, Kopan Monastery, FPMT nunneries, Wisdom Publications, Ediciones Dharma, Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, and Happy Monks Publication, among others. A total of 3,853 of their titles were downloaded.

FPMT Education materials are also distributed on third party platforms like Kindle, Apple, Google Music, Spotify, and others.

• A total of 2,615 ebooks were ordered through Kindle, Smashwords, and Google Play
• Students ordered 464 FPMT titles through Print-On-Demand
• A total of 43,833 mantras and meditations were streamed

The Foundation Store processed 18,347 orders from 7,645 customers for a total of 41,563 individual items ordered. This generated a total of US$88,738 in Foundation Store donations and an additional $17,211 was offered as donations to charitable projects. Proceeds from Dharma items of $69,295 were offered to a number of holy objects and Dharma services.

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The FPMT Online Learning Center (OLC) provides an opportunity for students from all parts of the world to study Buddhism online according to their interests and needs. Programs include Discovering Buddhism, Living in the Path, FPMT Basic Program, Heart Advice for Death & Dying, Buddhist Meditation 101, and Buddhism in a Nutshell.

The Long Retreat Preparation page at the FPMT Online Learning Center was enriched with retreat instructions offered by Ven. Charles, a highly regarded Nyung Na retreat leader and experienced meditator. This teaching was recorded at Nalanda Monastery for students preparing to enter their three-month retreat that completes their FPMT Basic Program (BP) and is now available for all students who wish to do the program completion retreat of three months (for BP) or one year (for MP).

• A total of 1,097 new accounts were created on the FPMT Online Learning Center, this brings the total number of registered users to 26,116 from over 200 countries.
• Users initiated 534 new discussion posts.
• The OLC website received approximately 120,000 visits from 4,500 visitors.

During 2023, many centers, projects, services, and probationary entities (study groups) continued the ongoing reflection on their operations and the new hybrid of onsite and online activities which have become the norm. Some found that the local energy and support needed to make the entity viable was no longer available. As a result, two study groups closed, and one center stepped back into study group status. Two study groups transitioned into satellite groups of an FPMT center. Alongside this, one study group was able to successfully become an FPMT-affiliated center.

At the end of 2023, there were 107 centers, projects, and services; and 25 study groups, in 31 countries.

There are 41 geshes and 9 registered teachers resident in FPMT centers. The FPMT Registered Teacher List includes 158 Foundational Buddhism Teachers and 93 In-Depth Buddhism teachers. In 2023 we registered 16 new Foundational level teachers.

Highlights from this year include:

• Regional and National Meetings: Regional and national meetings took place in person and online. Regional and National Coordinators continued to provide considerable support to affiliates and pending affiliates.
   
• Three hundred and fifty members of the FPMT organization, including 150 who joined the event from abroad, participated in a very moving long life puja offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, on May 24, 2023.
   
• A Foundation Service Seminar (FSS) retreat was hosted by Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa, Italy, in April, with 34 participants from 9 countries. A second FSS retreat was hosted in Kopan Monastery, Nepal, in September, with 40 participants from 14 countries, including for the first time in such a seminar, ten geshes and geshemas from Kopan.

Other Highlights in the Organization:

• Originally meant to be a continuation of five teaching events with Lama Zopa Rinpoche that began in 2009 in North Carolina, US, the Light of the Path 2023 at Kopan Monastery became a retreat for Rinpoche’s students to honor his life and teachings as well as the practice lineage he had so carefully passed on to us over more than fifty years. 160 people from 30 countries attended the retreat.
   
• Several FPMT policies and guidelines were reviewed following Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing.
   
• The FPMT International Sangha Day was celebrated on July 21. International Sangha Day provides an opportunity for monastic and lay communities to come together in recognition of their interdependence and celebrate the ways in which they mutually rely on each other’s practice of the Dharma. For lay students, it’s a great time to learn about the International Mahayana Institute, which is the international community of monks and nuns in the FPMT organization.
   
• In 2023, US$22,800 in grants were awarded from the Merit Box to support affiliates with their beneficial projects (see our Fundraising Tab under Operations & Finance for more details).

Through our robust website, daily blogs, our monthly digital e-newsletter, the CPMT e-group, and various social media accounts, we keep in touch with the FPMT global community and foster a sense of connectedness. This year, our communication channels were particularly essential to keep the FPMT community informed, connected, and supported following the loss of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Highlights for 2023

• Our daily online blog, FPMT News, published 186 stories in 2023. This included news and updates following Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away and updates from the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors; summaries of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings and advice; teachings and advice from Lama Yeshe; news and updates from FPMT centers, projects, and services; FPMT Education Services; FPMT Charitable Projects; and FPMT Center Services comprised the remainder of FPMT News items.
   
• International Office’s website, FPMT.org, had over 1,321,608 million unique views in 2023, an increase of 300,000 more views from 2022.
   
• Immediately following the news of Rinpoche’s passing, we created the Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche page on fpmt.org. This page made it easier for students to find all news, updates and advice regarding Rinpoche’s passing, as well as connect students to the wider community.
   
• The daily and weekly email digests of FPMT News reached more than 3,300 subscribers.
   
• Our monthly e-newsletter, the FPMT e-News (International Office News), was sent to over 46,000 email recipients and included updates from FPMT International Office and the broader FPMT organization.
   
• We published several photo albums this year, including a four-part gallery of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s life, a gallery of Rinpoche’s activities leading up to his passing, a joyful gallery of Rinpoche’s Dharma plushy toys, and six galleries documenting all of the prayers around the world done for Rinpoche’s swift return.
   
• Hundreds of thousands of people around the world connected with FPMT through Facebook and Twitter, and with Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.
   
• Our CPMT e-group shared information with the many people working in service within the FPMT organization.

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We continued to offer access to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recorded video and audio teachings.

Highlights for 2023

• Rinpoche’s teachings from April 2023 at Kopan Monastery were published as four videos, complete with transcripts, on the Rinpoche Available Now (RAN) page. As these were Rinpoche’s last recorded teachings in this life, they are particularly meaningful to students.
   
• The complete teachings of the 2022 Kopan November Course were published in high quality on the RAN page in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese resulting in 17 videos per language. The teachings provided by FPMT Russia can be accessed from the same page.
   
• The podcast “Essential Extracts,“ received a total of 7,855 views for its 26 episodes. The full-length teachings podcast was updated with all remaining teachings given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche before his passing in April.
   
• We livestreamed many of the prayers and pujas happening at Kopan after the passing of Rinpoche to support students all over the world in their efforts to pray for the swift return of our precious guru and to stay connected to the activities around Rinpoche’s holy body. Almost 200 livestreams were made available on YouTube resulting in 300,000+ views.
   
• FPMT media resource management has started to process previously unpublished videos. Teachings of Rinpoche from 2006 at Tara Institute were published to our RAN page, as well as a three-hour interview that Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave in 2005 in Aptos, CA, on the importance of Universal Education.
   
• Video views on YouTube increased by 50% with a total of 1.4 million views and 166,000 hours watched. Subscribers nearly doubled in 2023.
   
• A set of highly edited and fully subtitled video extracts was created for the Kopan 2023 Light of The Path Retreat and was greatly appreciated by the participants.
   
• A set of teachings that had been published on DVDs and sold in the Foundation Store in the past were converted into Essential Extracts videos and will soon be published on YouTube.

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Highlights for 2023

• 

  @FPMTInc is the organization’s official feed on X.

  We created a second administrator account for fpmt.org in order to have a backup in the event that the main administrator ever lost access. The account was set up with two factor authentication in order to keep this user role secure.
   
• We created developer accounts for each of our X accounts (formerly known as Twitter). Now that X is under new management they are monetizing posting to their platform. In order for us to continue posting to X we had to create developer accounts, submit an application process, and create secret keys and passwords.
   
• We finished converting our Google Analytics accounts for all of our websites to the new GA4 format. This required adding their new GA4 snippet code to all of our website templates, validating that the new code was pulling in analytics, and then archiving our fifteen years of previous statistics.
   
• We upgraded the Moodle software and the Lambda theme on the Online Learning Center. There was a major upgrade of both requiring testing, code rewriting, and style sheet updates.
   
• We installed a new database and file backup system on the fpmt.org website. 
   
• We upgraded our web server to PHP 8.2. This was a major software upgrade that required detailed testing of 58 plugins and our theme templates to make sure that any deprecated functions were updated to their new equivalent.
   
• We implemented a new feature in our Rocket Cache software to combine all CSS code into one file and to remove redundant style rules. This makes the site load more quickly and be more efficient.
   
• We performed weekly maintenance and security updates of our IT infrastructure, to keep all software up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes.
   
• As part of a larger project that involves migrating our photo galleries away from our current Google account, we exported all our Photo Galleries and copied the description of all pictures in Google Photos and added them to each photo’s metadata.
   
• We reviewed and updated our IT policies to make sure that they stay relevant and up to date.
   
• We also performed our annual review and update of the disaster recovery procedures, which will make possible to restore our Information Technology systems if a major event occurs and one or more of our systems must be restored or recovered from scratch.
   
• As part of our effort to provide education to IOF staff about our IT infrastructure and to improve key skills and create awareness about ongoing security threats, the IT department sent monthly educational emails to all International Office staff.

Friends of FPMT

International Office’s membership program plays a vital role in supporting our work and activities each year. Friends of FPMT supporters receive access to what they are helping International Office provide to others: free access to online study programs, downloadable FPMT Education materials, the Mandala online archives, as well as other gifts, such as Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive publications, the Liberation Tibetan Calendar, and prayers sponsored at pujas during the Buddha Days throughout the year. In 2023, 956 Friends of FPMT supporters gave US$239,506 to FPMT International Office.

Give Where Most Needed Fund

This is our unrestricted reserve fund that supports any project or activity that is working towards the FPMT mission. The Give Where Most Needed Fund can provide urgent support to new projects or activities, or help with unexpected budget shortfalls. The fund receives year-round support with a focused campaign held annually in December before the fiscal year ends. US$92,722 in donations were received from generous donors in 2023.

International Merit Box Project

After 21 years, and a global transition into digital currency, when physical Merit Boxes are no longer distributed, the International Merit Box Project still receives generous support from students and FPMT communities around the world. The Merit Box fund continues to provide much-needed grants to local FPMT centers, projects, services and study groups, as well as other projects that align with the FPMT mission. In 2023, twelve projects received grants, totaling US$22,800. In total, since 2003 the Merit Box fund has awarded US$1,239,580 through 354 grants.

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• In 2023, total unrestricted operating income for International Office was US$1,226,405 and total operating expenses were US$1,110,257 resulting in an operating surplus of US$116,148.
   
• In 2023, the total restricted income for the Charitable Projects was US$4,651,492 and the total disbursements and expenses for credit card and administration fees were US$3,749,756.
   
• FPMT also processes and manages funds on behalf of others and in 2023 these funds had income of US$1,433,056 and disbursements of US$902,387.
   
• A donation of $70,000 was also received in 2023 for our first named endowment.

Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted funds do not have any donor-imposed restrictions, and are used to fulfill the various activities and operations of International Office. The table and charts give a summary of income and expenses for 2023.

* Notes:

1. Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, Inc. (abbreviated as FPMT, Inc.) is the legal entity of FPMT International Office. The terms FPMT, Inc. and International Office are interchangeable. In practical terms, the International Office functions and serves as Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office, therefore the guidance of our Spiritual Director is implicit.

2. Restricted funds include all the charitable projects of FPMT, Inc. as outlined on our website in addition to certain other charitable projects as directed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Board of Directors.

3. Operating expenses exclude depreciation and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and exceptional items.