Charitable Activities

Lelung Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Richard Gere, Bodhgaya, India, January 2018. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lelung Rinpoche was born in 1970. When he was twelve years old he visited Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and following Ling Rinpoche’s advice, he went to study at Drepung Monastery, India. Two years later, he went to Dharamsala to receive teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. During this visit, His Holiness recognized him as being the eleventh incarnation of Lelung Pema Zhepai Dorje.

Lelung Rinpoche completed his studies at Drepung Monastery at the age of 24 when he received a Geshe degree. In 1993, Lelung Rinpoche met the only master alive who held the complete teachings of Dakini Sangwa Yeshe before they were forever lost. Rinpoche received the oral transmission from that master. To carry on this lineage of teachings, he founded Lelung Dharma Trust.

One of the very important projects of Lelung Dharma Trust is the Geden Phacho Bhucho Preservation Centre (GPBPC). This was conceived of by Lelung Rinpoche and has been widely applauded and endorsed by many great masters and tulkus of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the Supreme Patron of the project and Professor Samdhong Rinpoche is the Honorary Patron. The goal of GPBPC is to preserve the sanctity and purity of the teachings of the Buddha for present and future generations. Since its inception in 2006, the following objectives have been realized:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has a close connection with Lelung Rinpoche and recently has received a number of oral transmissions from him. Lama Zopa Rinpoche considers the work that Lelung Rinpoche is undertaking, especially under Geden Phacho Bhucho, as very important for the preservation of Mahayana Dharma.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Lelung Rinpoche. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang in Singapore, 2019

Recently Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered, through The Education and Preservation Fund, sponsorship for the printing of an extremely rare commentary on the Prajñaparamita in 8,000 Verses that Lelung Rinpoche found and then arranged to be printed and distributed in India. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche also has committed to sponsor the salary of two geshes for two years. These geshes are undertaking an extremely important task under GPBPC. They are are researching the Senyigs (List of Hearing Texts) by different masters in order to find out existing rare empowerments, oral transmissions, personal instructions and then to find the living masters who hold these lineages.

They will also search for the texts if they are not commonly available. If the texts are not in common font (Ume) then they will transcribe the texts into the common font (Uchan). Once all this has been completed then the GPBPC office will organize teachings in order to pass on the lineages to the younger generation. Also, if there are very rare texts they will organize the publishing of these in order to make them more widely available.

In addition, the geshes will add more information to the current index (which GPBPC has created) which holds information on the texts, authors, oral transmissions, personal instructions, who possesses the empowerments, whether those teaching lineages are still alive or extinct and also a list of the names in the teaching lineage.

The importance of pure lineage transmission in the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet is immense. It ensures a stream of undiluted blessing from the Buddha himself to contemporary students and is considered essential for the ultimate realization of Buddhahood. If a lineage is broken, then the teachings themselves are threatened. Without qualified teachers giving correct personal oral transmissions, the extraordinary blessings, enlightened understanding, and spiritual energy of previous masters cannot be passed on effectively.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been offering support when he can to the important undertakings of Lelung Rinpoche, that preserve Lama Tsongkhapa’s lineage for future generations, and are vital for the continuation of the Buddha Dharma in an unbroken form.

Thank you to the kindness of a generous donor who made many of these offerings possible, and please rejoice that FPMT is able to offer support in this way to such important projects benefiting the Buddhism.

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. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche prostrating in front of the large thangka of Guru Rinpoche at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Thubten Choying.

For the fifth year in a row, a very large thangka of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) was displayed and an auspicious 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru bumtsog) took place at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling, Nepal, also known as Kopan Nunnery on January 23, 2020. The thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high and 87 feet (27 meters) wide depicts, in stitched appliqué, the Padmasambhava merit field in the center.  Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) attended this offering festival and the monks accompanying her, led the chanting for the puja. 

Construction of the display area for the Guru bumtsog offering events. Photo by Ven. Thubten Choying.

Last year, due to the kindness of a benefactor, the nunnery was able to build a stable permanent structure for displaying the thangka. This will also help protect the thangka long-term and is a lot safer than the previous set up. 

Giant Guru Rinpoche thangka displayed at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Thubten Choying.

Guru Rinpoche is perhaps the most universally cherished realized being in all of Tibetan Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche came to Tibet from India in the 8th century and helped establish a pure lineage which is still practiced today by all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism around the world.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that displaying large thangkas is an auspicious way for anyone in the area to make a Dharma imprint and connection to the deity depicted. “You may think that a statue or thangka is just a statue or thangka,” Rinpoche has said, “but it is the transcendental wisdom of dharmakaya, which understands and directly sees absolute truth, as well as conventional truth.”

Rinpoche also expressed that it is his wish for many FPMT centers to have huge thangkas and once a year to display the thangka and have a festival day for the public based around the holy object. During the festival day, Rinpoche requested for there to be many thousands of offerings in front of the thangka, as well as offering banners. There could be some introduction to Buddhism offered to those in attendance, and then a puja, that is based on the deity of the thangka. Then, people can offer music, dances, and so forth to the thangka (and also for everyone to enjoy). People can also circumambulate the thangka. For example, the center could have a horse and carriage and children can ride along. In this way, even the horse collects merit, as well as any animal that comes on that day and goes around the thangka. This makes their life so meaningful! The main goal is to think that all are offering to Buddha. By offering to Buddha this becomes such a beneficial event.

The Padmasambhava for Peace Project sponsored the puja (offerings, lunch and small offerings to all the Sangha). 

Please rejoice in this auspicious yearly event which is fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions and has profound effects on those in Nepal and the the entire world. 

The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world. All are welcome to donate to this fund to ensure grants like this continue long into the future. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Losang Namgyal Rinpoche visiting Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling and the new statues, September 2020. Photos courtesy of Jyangchub Choeling Facebook page.

Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling is a monastery in Boudha, Nepal, established in 2008 by Losang Namgyal Rinpoche who is also the present director. Losang Namgyal Rinpoche studied at Kopan Monastery and is a highly regarded lama of the Tamang people. Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling is a new Rime monastery in the Mahayana tradition, representing and respecting all the traditions of Buddhism. It will be a center of Buddhist study and spirituality for both the monastic Sangha and the lay community and it will also contain a clinic and be the coordination center for outreach Dharma and social work.

Offerings in Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered grants toward different projects and holy objects, such as large stupas, prayerweels and gompas that Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is building in outlaying areas in Nepal. In 2020 Lama Zopa Rinpoche was also very happy to offer a large grant toward the building of four large Buddha statues that will be in the new gompa of Namgyal Jyangchub Choeling and in September Rinpoche visited the new gompa and blessed the statues, that are currently still being built.

“When you see a holy object you should think: All of these holy objects are my root guru who manifested this to liberate me from the lower realms. You should think of the kindness manifesting in every single holy object. Prostrate whenever you see any holy object because it causes you to achieve Buddha’s holy body, speech, mind, and all qualities.  Whenever you are in a place with many holy objects, put your hands together while turning your body toward the holy objects and think, I prostrate to all the gurus.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Thank you to all the donors who make it possible to offer these grants and in this way offer substantial help for the continuation of Buddhism throughout Nepal.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. All the offerings from the fund are used toward the creation of holy objects and extensive offerings around the world; sponsoring young tulkus, high lamas and Sangha in India, Nepal, Tibet and the West; supporting FPMT centers, projects and services and sponsoring Dharma retreats and events.

Hayagriva tsog kong puja offered at Kopan Monastery on October 26, 2020, for the long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and all beings, Nepal

Following the advice of Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drolma (Khadro-la), a Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong puja was offered at Kopan Monastery in Nepal on October 26 for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life. In addition, this puja was dedicated for the health and success of the entire FPMT organization, an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for a number of individuals and geshes within the organization who were specifically advised to have this puja done for life obstacles.

Hayagriva tsog kong torma.

This is the third Hayagriva tsog kong offered at Kopan Monastery, following the advice of Khadro-la for pujas needed to remove obstacles to Rinpoche’s health in 2020. Hayagriva is the wrathful manifestation of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. This puja is very powerful as a means for removing obstacles and generating merit, and is very important for FPMT, due to the organization’s close connection with the deity as this is FPMT’s main protector.

Please enjoy this short video of various scenes from this powerful puja:
https://youtu.be/APW_NSlxn54

Lama Zopa Rinpoche attended this puja as well as Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, the Lama Gyupas, and senior monks of Kopan Monastery. The puja took many hours with extensive prayers and meditation, and elaborate tormas were made by the Kopan Lama Gyupas and offered within the puja.

Please rejoice in the successful completion of this third Hayagriva tsog kong for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life, the removal of obstacles and creation of merit for the entire FPMT organization, the end of the coronavirus pandemic, and the benefit of all beings.

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.

Every month, the Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in this practice, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja for the success and longevity of the entire FPMT organization. 

Nalanda monks and Ven. Tenzin Namjong during their visit to Swayambhunath, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Nalanda Monastery.

Supporting monks and nuns is one of the highest priorities for the FPMT organization. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said, “The value of Sangha is more than the whole sky filled with wish-granting jewels.”

The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund was established after the success of the Sera Je Food Fund, which offered three meals daily to all the monks of Sera Je Monastery for over twenty-six years. Over this time, the food fund established an interest-bearing endowment and offered this to Sera Je Monastery. The interest from this endowment is now covering the cost for all the food at the monastery indefinitely.

The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund offers support to nunneries and monasteries around the world for food, accommodation, health care, education, and practice. The fund is not limited to any one institution so it can benefit many nunneries, monasteries and Sangha in need. In addition, FPMT offers support to Sangha through the International Mahayana Institute, which supports the non-Himalayan Sangha of FPMT through the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund; the Practice and Retreat Fund, which provides grants and sponsorships to individuals engaged in retreats such as 108 nyung na retreats and 100 million mani retreats; the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund, which helps to preserve the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism by offering monthly stipends and annual offerings to all the main teachers of the main Gelugpa monasteries, the past and current abbotts, and also the top scholars; and through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, which offers substantial grants to numerous monasteries, nunneries, and ordained individuals— particularly teachers and tulkus.

“Taking responsibility for supporting these practitioners is extremely worthwhile because they are preserving and spreading the entire teaching of the Buddha.” –Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Yearly Commitments

Through the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund the following offerings are made as part of our ongoing yearly commitments: 

The young monks of Idgaa Choizinling Dratsang.

Idgaa Choizinling Monastery, Mongolia
We offer daily lunches to the monks of Idgaa Choizinling Monastery. This Monastery was established in Mongolia in 2003. The Monastery building was sponsored by FPMT. In 2019, we were also able to sponsor the expansion of the monks accommodation in the amount of US$470,000. Idgaa Choizinling has a branch also in Sera Je Monastery in India and serves as a focal point of Buddhist learning in Mongolia. Since the monastery’s inception we have been offering food every day to the 60 monks studying there and the annual cost for offering the lunches is approximately US$12,000.

Some of the monks of Shalu Monastery.

Shalu Monastery, India
We offer all the daily food to more than 50 monks studying at Shalu Monastery, Himachal Pradesh, India. In 2018 we also issued a grant for the building of a 15 ft stupa surrounded by prayer wheels that the resident monks and visitors can utilize for circumambulation. The annual cost for offering the food is US$12,360.

The nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery

Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal
We sponsor two 100 million mani retreats each year (100 million recitations of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum) at this small Kagyu nunnery in Nepal. Each retreat takes about three months and the sponsorship covers the costs of all the food for the nuns. In recent years we have also offered medical expenses to some of the nuns with serious medical conditions. There are currently 85 nuns living at the nunnery receiving a traditional Tibetan Buddhist education. About 40 nuns, under the age of twenty, are also receiving a modern western education at the school that is also a part of the nunnery, this is also attended by 20 local children. Teachers include: three nuns, two lharampa geshes, and five lay teachers. The annual cost for sponsoring the two 100 million mani retreats, and all the food expenses is approximately US$24,000.

Some of the monks of Thame Monastery, Nepal.

Thame Monastery, Nepal
We offer three meals per day to the monks of Thame Monastery. There are currently 22 monks in this monastery. Thame is in Solu Khumbu, high in the Mount Everest region of Nepal. It is a special place for FPMT as Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born there and it is located near Lawudo which was the home of Rinpoche’s previous incarnation. After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, FPMT also offered US$300,000 for the building of the magnificent Thame stupa which now stands nearly 46 feet tall. The annual cost for offering food to the monks of Thame Monastery is US$11,000.

Recent Grants Offered

The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund also makes substantial individual grants each year. Here are a few examples from 2020:

Dry food offered to Gaden Shartse Monastery.

Gaden Shartse Monastery, South India
US$160,205 was offered for five months of food for all the monks at the monastery. This was due to a number of monks in the monastery becoming affected by COVID-19 and due to that, the monastery had to close their communal kitchen and offer dry food to the monks directly and this increased the food costs substantially.

Nalanda Monastery, France
US$100,000 was offered toward the purchase of new retreat land for Nalanda Monastery in France. This land will be used to facilitate lamrim retreats. Rinpoche commented that it would be excellent for those who have studied at Nalanda, both monastics and lay people, to do semi-isolated retreats at this new retreat land in order to realize the teachings.

Monks from the house of Bragri Yongzin Khalkha Dhamtsig Dorjee .

Bragri Yongzin Khalkha Dhamtsig Dorjee
A substantial grant was offered for improving the monks accommodation of this labrang (small house) in Sera Je Monastery. Bragri Yongzin Khalkha Dhamtsig Dorjee is an incarnate Mongolian lama and his previous incarnation had a very special connection to the Most Secret Hayagriva lineage.

Zigar Thupten Shedrupling Institute
US$200,000 grant has been raised for the food fund for the 62 monks of this Kagyu monastery in Darjeeling.

Sera Me Monastery
A US$100,000 grant has been raised for the food fund of Sera Me Monastery.

Rinpoche has explained that one of the benefits of offering food to the Sangha is that it helps to continue the extensive learning of Buddha’s teachings. It directly sustains and continues the pure unbroken lineage of Buddha’s teachings in this world. If there is no food for the Sangha, then it is very difficult. They would not be able to stay in the monasteries and nunneries and they would have to work to earn money. Or, they would not have enough food and then would be unable to study. If this happened, then Buddhism would disappear in this world. All sentient beings’ happiness comes from Buddha’s teachings, from the study, practice, and actualization of Buddha’s teachings.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

All of these offerings have been made possible due to the kindness of all who contribute to the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund. Thank you for making it possible. This is really something to rejoice in—that as an organization we can offer this essential  support to the Sangha.

“If you make charity with the motivation of bodhichitta, then whatever you do in your life – eating, walking, sitting, sleeping, doing business and so forth – doing everything with bodhichitta, the thought to achieve enlightenment for all sentient beings who are numberless, then everything you do becomes the best Dharma. This is the path of a higher capable being and this is the best Dharma. With this motivation then, all one’s actions become the cause of full enlightenment and it becomes the most powerful way to purify all the defilements. The result is full enlightenment. Amazing, amazing, amazing, really amazing! This is how to make your life so meaningful.”  –Lama Zopa Rinpoche

If you want to support Sangha, please learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries around the world.  

Geshe Sengye and the elaborate tormas for Most Secret Hayagriva puja.

For twenty-five years the Puja Fund has been sponsoring ongoing prayers and practices dedicated to the success and longevity of the entire FPMT organization. One puja that Lama Zopa Rinpoche advises as particularly important for FPMT, due to the organization’s close connection with the deity and also as this is FPMT’s main protector, is Most Secret Hayagriva Puja (Tamdin tsokkhong).

Every month, on the Tibetan 29^th day, the Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in this practice, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja. This is an all-day puja with an elaborate torma offering and extensive prayers and meditation. Even during the pandemic, this monthly puja has been happening with strong prayers for the organization and all beings.

Dagri Rinpoche, Bakula Rinpoche, Geshe Sengye, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, and the incarnation of Kwetsang Rinpoche in Tushita Meditation Center, 1985.

Most Secret Hayagriva is the wrathful manifestation of Chenrezig and is also the main protector deity of Sera Je Monastery. Lama Zopa Rinpoche received the lineage of Most Secret Hayagiva from Sera Je Abbott Geshe Sengye, and in 2006 Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this initiation at Sera Je Monastery.

The practice of Most Secret Hayagriva is extremely powerful to grant help and support and quickly pacify obstacles. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said that one of the reasons that Sera Je Monastery has been so successful and able to produce so many qualified teachers, who have very good understanding of Dharma, good hearts, and subdued minds, is due to the blessings—or holy actions—of the deity, Most Secret Hayagriva. Not only outwardly, but also inwardly having great success, this is due to this deity.

Geshes offering Most Secret Hayagriva Puja.

At this time of global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and political unrest, these monthly powerful pujas are particularly important for the FPMT community, those serving the organization, the monks of Sera Je Monastery, and all beings. 

Thank you to all the donors who support the Puja Fund. This enables pujas and practices to be happening continually. The pujas and practices, including the monthly Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja, are always dedicated to all the donors of this fund, as well as for all the FPMT center, services, projects, and all beings. The annual cost for just this puja is approximately US$6,800 and for all the pujas offered each year by the Puja Fund totals US$85,000.

You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Lamp of the Path beneficiaries enjoying a community meal in 2019.

Lamp of the Path NGO (LOP), part of Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, has offered social services to some of the poor and homeless living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the past seventeen years. The soup kitchen, which is its main program, offers food to those in need and free medical support is offered through a health clinic. LOP also helps bring awareness to the epidemic of alcoholism in Mongolia and offers tuberculosis checkups for the disadvantaged in the area.

In 2019 the soup kitchen offered to 50-70 people a day totaling 14,793 bowls of soup. Their vegetable garden expanded and they were also able to sell some of the vegetables in the market as well as using them in the soup kitchen.

Also in 2019 they distributed clothing and blankets to women and children in need as well as toothbrushes and toys. On the new year, all of their beneficiaries were offered a pair of winter boots; and the health clinic expanded and provided home visits, medical help and also transportation to local hospitals. 

Please take a few minutes to watch this moving short video of a day in the life of one Lamp of the Path’s soup kitchen beneficiaries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7-zsdFcmpU

In Mongolia, the quarantine came into effect on January 27 and impacted Lamp of the Path immediately and directly. They were not allowed to operate the soup kitchen. In February, they arranged a “window soup kitchen” with distribution of food (mainly bread and instant noodle soup) through the window. They also shared a substantial amount of food with another NGO who is providing shelter for former alcoholics and people with disabilities. Since March, in cooperation with government social workers, they initiated a home visit project. Every week those from the NGO, or caseworkers, visit five poor families and distribute food. They have increased the number of beneficiaries since April by allowing one representative of a family to receive takeaway of soup from the premises once a week. In addition, they have distributed many items of second-hand clothing that were received from Switzerland to members of the Mongolian Blind Association.

The Social Services Fund was honored to offer US$29,400 to this incredible project this year. Since 2012, thanks to a generous donor and the support of many, we have offered over US$246,000 to the Lamp of the Path NGO.

Please rejoice in the ongoing work of this extremely beneficial social service project in Mongolia. 

The Social Services Fund contributes to many beneficial charitable projects as funds allow. You can learn more about these activities, or make a donation of any amount. 

You can offer directly to FPMT Mongolia to help ensure services such as these continue in Mongolia in the future. 

Goats being cared for at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal.

Every day around the world millions of animals are killed and mistreated needlessly. In countries like Nepal, the care and management of animals is very poor and animal sacrifices are common creating tremendous suffering for the animals and those involved.

In his concern for the welfare of all living beings, Lama Zopa Rinpoche initiated the purchase of land near Kopan Monastery for the Animal Liberation Sanctuary to provide shelter and care for animals rescued from being killed, so that they may live out their natural lives in peace and attain a higher rebirth. The sanctuary benefits rescued animals, not only by freeing from impending death, but also by exposing them to Buddha’s teachings. They regularly hear mantras and are led around holy objects. The animals (seven cattle, 46 goats, and one sheep) are receiving shelter, food, veterinary care, kindness, and Dharma. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Shenphen and his brother, Pema, who is the caretaker of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal.

In 2019 the sanctuary’s cow shed floor was replaced. The floor was concreted many years ago to improve cleaning, but unfortunately it has lead to lameness in most cows to varying degrees. Every attempt to soften the floor (mats, straw, new bedding, etc.) had not been successful so a complete replacement was needed.

A few goats were lost to illness in 2019, including the oldest goat, Mahakala, who was the last of the original goats at the monastery from before 2006. The other goats are doing well.

This year on World Animal Day (October 4), His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in a recorded message from his residence in Dharamsala, urged people around the world to move toward more compassionate and sustainable ways of living that rely less on the exploitation of animals. “It is very useful to promote vegetarianism,” His Holiness said. “We should pay more attention toward developing more vegetables [in our diet].” His Holiness likened animals to the ornaments of the world, lamenting the extreme exploitation of animals and the growing consumption of meat from industrial-scale livestock farms in countries such as the United States, which are “environmentally very harmful.” His Holiness also noted that, “In modern times, some people are really showing concern about animal rights. This is very, very encouraging.”

Please enjoy this video of the goats circumambulating the stupas on the sanctuary property:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnIoKRN2XaI&feature=youtu.be

Current goals for the sanctuary include: following up on some more much-needed construction and maintenance, extending the stupa landing area for the goats (to make it easier to circumambulate and providing a dry, leech-free area during monsoon); replace and improve the fencing around the goat shed; fix the internal pens for the safety of the resident animals; and add new fencing to allow the planting of fodder trees and shrubs (to increase locally available food sources, reduce imported food, and improve condition of the land).

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommended that the animals at the sanctuary get more blessings so he gave co-directors Phil and Tania a red bag full of holy items with which to bless the animals. Photo by Ven. Thubten Choying.

The sanctuary has a main animal shelter designed to provide a healthy environment throughout Nepal’s seasons, it has facilities to separate weaker animals from the main flock, and it is designed to reduce water use and waste. The sanctuary has an animal shed, treatment and isolation building, quarantine area, and caretaker house. 

Since 2012, a very kind benefactor has worked with the Social Services Fund to issue annual grants for the ongoing work and care of the sanctuary. In 2020 we were very happy to be able to offer US$9,800, and since 2012 US$69,600 has been granted.

Thank you to all who work for the welfare of animals. May this small support toward the animals in Nepal create the causes for all animals to be free from suffering.

The Animal Liberation Fund supports weekly animal liberations and extensive dedications offered by Sangha at the residences of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, in addition support is offered to the Animal Liberation Sanctuary in Nepal, MAITRI Charitable Trust in India and elsewhere. You are welcome to offer any amount toward this ongoing work. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche visiting MAITRI for World Leprosy Day, 2019.

Since 1989, MAITRI Charitable Trust has been operating as a beneficial example of Dharma in action. MAITRI is a registered charitable trust in India working to support the poor and disadvantaged in the province of Bihar, India. This year, MAITRI continued their hugely impactful program benefiting those with leprosy and tuberculosis, and offering care to mothers and children, as well as animals in need.

Tuberculosis patients receiving their monthly food and supplements from the MAITRI.

42 new cases of leprosy were registered and help was given to 645 people total with this disease including education on self-care to prevent the risk of deformities as well as medical care for ulcers and other conditions. They also continued very important education program to raise awareness in identification and treatment of leprosy, going directly to 2,543 isolated villages, as well as addressing 28,822 school children.

They continued their annual blanket drive with 297 blankets offered to individuals with leprosy and 255 to mothers in need.  

Dogs being cared for at MAITRI.

The animal care turned shelter program continues to be vital for so many animals that are fortunate enough to find care at MAITRI.

The very important mother care program directly benefited 264 mothers, providing care and treatment and the safe delivery of 165 babies. The child care program helped 275 children with medical check-ups and treatment as well as milk powder. MAITRI also provided support to 71 young sick girls with monthly check-ups.

In a recent newsletter to supporters of MAITRI, director Adriana Ferranti reported:

The pandemic has meant a number of our generous benefactors are no longer able to give what they have in the past, while the demand for our services in Bodhgaya has increased.
 
COVID-19 has made Bodhgaya a deserted place, full of fear and despair. So many NGOs and charities are closed and the poor don’t know where to go. Government services have always been unreliable and inconsistent and the lockdown has exacerbated their ability to respond to the crisis.
 
MAITRI has continued to operate its hospital and animal shelter throughout the long, strict lockdown, as well as distributing food packages to villagers. However, it is clear that MAITRI’s normal programs are more important than ever. Our paramedical workers continue to go into the poorest areas and they report that the need is dire. We are desperate to find ways to meet this humanitarian tragedy. Our staff members are local people and simply bearing witness has never been the MAITRI way. We all want to help where it is most needed.

Please watch this short very moving video about the compassionate work of MAITRI: 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqLTXsodMvo&feature=youtu.be

The annual budget for Maitri Charitable Trust is $189,686 and donations can be made directly through their website. The Social Services Fund was honored to offer US$49,000 to this incredible project this year. Since 2012, thanks to a generous donor and the support of many, we have been able to offer over US$510,100 to MAITRI. 

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to beneficial projects such as this can continue. 

Learn more about MAITRI Charitable Trust: www.maitri-bodhgaya.org/home 

Young monks of Samtenling Monastery.

Samtenling School is part of Samtenling Monastery, providing the young monks of the monastery a modern, progressive, secular education in Kathmandu, Nepal. Out of 140 monks, 120 are age 6-26. The school provides education from kindergarten through eighth grade. Most of the monks are from Nepal and are primarily Sherpa and Tamang, but Tibetan monks also attend the monastery and school.

The school has been operating without classrooms or a debate courtyard. Classes and debates are held under tin sheets which functions more like open space without windows, walls, and doors. Due to these conditions, disturbances of noises are common and students can easily get distracted. Due to the climate, classes regularly have to be cancelled as well.

Students of Samtenling Monastery have been able to continue philosophy classes during COVID-19.

Last year, FPMT Social Services Fund raised a substantial grant for the school to build actual classrooms. They were waiting to receive the permission from the building department for construction and then, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred and these plans were put on hold. The monastery was able to continue Tibetan philosophy and some language classes because those teachers live at the monastery, but the whole program of the school is not currently operating due to the lockdown and restrictions.

We are pleased to report that they have now received the building permission and will start building once restrictions are lifted in Kathmandu Valley.

Students of Samtenling Monastery, outside memorizing.

The school is taking the necessary precautions in response to the crisis such as: closing the main gate and asking other people not to visit and monks not to leave the property at this time and placing soaps and sanitizers in every corner of the monastery for accessible use. 

We look forward on updating you on the progress of the school classrooms as soon as they are able to continue this most important project. 

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to schools can continue. 

FPMT Charitable Projects will continue updating you on how schools supported by FPMT Social Service Fund are navigating these challenging times.  

Students of Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School in Taplejung, Nepal.

Since 2012 the Social Services Fund has been offering substantial support to different schools in Nepal and India that are offering education to students of Tibetan, Nepali, and Indian heritage. Investing in education through schools is one way to help break the cycle of poverty in impoverished areas and we are pleased to offer support to nearly 1,000 children each year at this time.

2020 has been an unusual year for the schools due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the schools were required to temporarily close in March and April of 2020 and have remained closed due to local restrictions. Some of the schools have been able to offer some form of online schooling or direct limited support to older children who will be sitting in on exams in 2020. Some of the schools that have hostels associated remained open and offered restricted classes to the children still living there.

Here we invite you to learn about some of the schools we currently support and also those we have offered grants to in the past.

Students of Sambhota Tibetan School, Bylakuppe, India.

Sambhota Tibetan School, located in Bylakuppe, South India, was established in 1971 to serve the children of refugees living at Dicky Larose Tibetan Settlement. 24 staff help educate 217 elementary, middle, and secondary students.

Since 2015 we have offered sponsorship for daily vegetarian midday meals, salary for one person to help look after the children after school for a year, and sponsorship of new kitchen. In 2020 we were happy again to offer US$6,706 for midday meals for all the children.

Students of Sagarmatha Secondary School, Chailsa, Nepal enjoying a meal.

Sagarmatha Secondary School in Chailsa, Nepal, is located on what was once a Tibetan refugee camp. It currently serves 170 students, including 79 young lay students who live at the school hostel and 25 young monks who live at Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery, which is a branch of Kopan Monastery and shares the school grounds. Eleven teachers and one additional employee support these students.

Since 2015 we have offered annual grants to the school that covers the salaries of teachers in addition to yearly text books and one set of school uniforms per year for the students. Grants are also offered for prize distribution for exams and sports competitions. The grants are offered at the end of each year, and in 2019 we were happy to offer US$30,495 for this purpose.

Students of Maitreya School, Bodhgaya, India.

Maitreya School, which is a social service project of Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, is a free school benefiting impoverished children from neighboring villages. The school offers children living in one of India’s poorest states a precious opportunity. Not only do they engage in a traditional education but, more importantly, they receive life skills in compassion, honesty, and loving-kindness presented through Buddha’s teachings. The core of the training and vision of the school is: making lives meaningful. The school has a total of 305 students with 12 full-time teachers including the principal. 

Since 2012 we have offered yearly support toward the operating costs as well as two new buses for transporting students. In 2020 we offered US$39,200 toward the annual costs of the school.

Tara Children’s Home, Bodhgaya, India, was also a social service project of Root Institute, Bodhgaya, but has now closed. The Tara Children’s Home was a small orphanage for about 20 HIV affected children. For six years, starting in 2012, we offered over US$172,290 in grants toward the annual operating expenses of the orphanage. 

Some of the Ngari Institute students, Ladakh, India.

Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics is located in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh, India, in a small village called Saboo. The campus is spread over twenty hectares of deserted land. The Institute helps children in need from different remote parts of Ladakh, and sends them to three different local schools, by covering all the costs for the children to attend the schools. The aim of the Institute is to empower and enrich the poor and remote-area students by offering them a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom. It was founded by the Ladakh alumni of Sera Je Monastery in South India.

You can watch this video of the children of Ngari Institute enjoying breakfast:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWj03fV9Lk8&feature=youtu.be

Since 2014 we have offered lunch every day of the year to the children and staff of Ngari Institute. There are currently 62 school children, including young monks, and 21 teachers who benefit from this offering. In 2020 we were happy to offer support in the amount of US$30,741 toward all the lunch expenses for the year.

Rolwaling Sangag Choling Monastery School educates 15 children from poor families across the Dolakha District of Nepal at the primary school level and provides free boarding, medical attention, clothing and other needs to its students.

The Social Services Fund raised a substantial grant to assist with a desperately needed hostel for the children in 2015. After raising this money, Nepal suffered the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and the school also endured considerable damage. As a result, the grant offered to the school was not only used to assist with the hostel, but also to help with repairs needed elsewhere on the property.

Students of Sangkpa Dechhholing Gonpa School.

Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School in Taplejung, Nepal, was established in 2007 to serve the Buddhist community in the area. Seven teachers currently educate 80 students, starting at age three. The curriculum is taught in English and Nepali and focuses on modern subjects such as math and science, while being grounded in Buddhist teachings and culture.

In 2018 we offered a US$53,587 grant to support the work of this school.

Young monks of Samtenling Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Samtenling Monastery desperately needed classrooms and a school building to provide the young monks of the monastery a modern, progressive, secular education in Kathmandu, Nepal. Out of 140 monks, 120 of them are aged 6-26. The school provides education from kindergarten through grade eight. Most of the monks are from Nepal and are primarily Sherpas and Tamangs, but Tibetan monks also attend the monastery and school. The school has been operating without any classrooms or a debate courtyard and the Social Services Fund offered a grant of US$166,090 in 2019 for the school to be built. The actual building will begin soon.

Sera Je Monastery, India needed new science classrooms and in April 2013 the Social Service Fund offered US$100,000 toward building the new classrooms .The classrooms are used primarily to teach subjects such as science and other fields of knowledge within the monastic curriculum. This offering came as a direct request from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and was a long-term objective of Sera Je Monastery to align with the vision and recommendations of His Holiness to integrate this kind of study into the monastic education.

Since 2012, amazingly over US$1,042,644 has been offered to these schools and institutions. These grants have had a direct effect and changed many children’s lives for the better. All of this is due to the kindness of the donors of the Social Services Fund who make it possible to make these offerings. We hope that more substantial grants can be offered to these and other beneficial schools offering education to youth in India and Nepal in the future.

All are welcome to support the Social Services Fund and help ensure grants to schools can continue. 

Mahabodhi Stupa progress and many Kadampa stupas available for sponsorship. Photo courtesy of Land of Medicine Buddha.

On the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) has been building a 39-foot-tall Mahabodhi Stupa in California for the past six years. This stupa will be the main attraction of the 100,000 Stupa Project in a beautiful garden featuring an area to meditate, thousands of memorial stupas, places to perform prostrations, and areas with spots for reflection and contemplation. 

“Because we can’t see the Buddha now directly, this is something substantial that we can see, a manifestation of Buddha’s holy mind. It becomes so easy for us to purify and create merit with such holy objects. Even insects are able to purify negative karma and collect merit and create the cause to achieve enlightenment. Anyone who sees, touches, dreams of, or thinks of this stupa plants the seed of enlightenment and becomes meaningful to behold. In the Buddha’s teachings, it says that the benefits of making holy objects are like the sky.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The 100,000 Stupa Project progressed over several identified goals over 2019:

• Main Stupa: Master artist Gelek Sherpa continues to apply decorative panels to the main stupa and decorative aspects to the four corner stupas.
• Mandala Wall #1: The construction team built the first of three mandala walls that surround the main stupa. These mandala walls will be adorned with thousands of stupas: large and small.
• Garden: They continued to care for and refine the vision the 100,000 Stupa Project Japanese inspired gardens. Volunteers planted trees that were sponsored by individuals and an automatic irrigation was installed.
• Kadampa Stupas: Following advice received from Lama Zopa Rinpoche in August 2019 they began building Kadampa Stupas (3 ft tall). These large stupas will be placed along the top of the first mandala wall. Sponsorship of these stupas is now open. 

While observing proper protocols for safety of themselves and others due to the COVID-19 pandemic, progress has continued in 2020:

Progress on the impressive Mahabodhi Stupa at Land of Medicine Buddha, CA, USA. Photo courtesy of Land of Medicine Buddha.

• Main Stupa: Gelek Sherpa continues to create and apply decorative panels to the main stupa.
• Mandala Wall #1: They continue with refinements to the first mandala wall, finalizing the finishing plaster work.
• Garden/grounds: More trees were planted this year, dozens of shrubs in the garden; and expanded the drip irrigation system. The team at LMB reports that this year seasonal flowers in the gardens were “brilliant, brimming with colorful flower offerings.”
• Stupas: They are close to placing the first twenty Kadamapa stupas on the inner mandala wall. Efforts have gone into building, painting, and filling these stupas. Many people have secured sponsorships for these large stupas, one person is sponsoring seven for family members. As soon as funding allows, they will place a large order for thousands of smaller stupas to be placed in the mandala walls. These small stupas will be manufactured in Asia and will be available for sponsorship as soon as possible.

Land of Medicine Buddha continues to offer sponsorship opportunities for stupas and aspects of the garden. These directed campaigns are the only fundraising being undertaken by the center in 2020. They have deferred more formal fundraising efforts until the center has recovered financially from the impact of the pandemic on general operating funds. 

“Building stupas helps develop so much peace and happiness for numberless sentient beings. As a result, wars, disease, and desire will all be pacified. Instead of feeling hopeless, people will gain courage. This is about peace: for the beings who see it, for the whole country, for the entire world, for all sentient beings.”  — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Holy Objects Fund, has been happy to offer over US$187,053 to this incredible project. We invite you to rejoice in the ongoing progress of this beneficial stupa. 

The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world. All are welcome to donate to this fund to ensure grants like this continue long into the future.