Rending of the finished Stupa of Complete Victory as it will look at Kopan Monastery.

We are so happy to share with you an update on the progress of the building of the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery. This stupa is being built for the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and for all his wishes to be actualized exactly as he planned.

In May, the building work was completed up to the second story. This was a huge task due to the extensive excavation, foundations, and pilings. In the next months, the actual building of the stupa will begin on top of the second story. You can view a short video of the progress. 

Stupa of Complete Victory in progress at Kopan Monastery.

The estimated cost for the entire project has been updated, as previously we did not have the completed budget for the overall project. The major expenses involved are related to the civil works required to prepare the ground, including the excavation, and building up from the lower level, the construction of the stupa, the extensive landscaping, as well as all the decorative painting, ornamentation works on the main stupa, and the construction and installation of an additional 32 small stupas that will go around the perimeter. This is a short animated video showing the plans for the stupa.

We have raised just over 34% of the funds needed to complete this project, which is incredible! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to date. We also offer tremendous thanks to all those working on the actual stupa.

This is a short video of the Kopan monks carrying the soil on their backs for the building of the stupa: https://youtu.be/2FTFyU1vSOA?si=ZZUoj6zjCHlEhnxf

Padmasambhava explained the incredible benefits of building stupas to King Trisong Detsen:

 “All those who brought earth and stones for the stupa will have all obstacles to a long life and dangers to their life pacified; they will have a long life, free of disease, and a good holy body.

 “All those who put effort with their body, speech, and mind for the stupa will have every single blessing of the holy body, speech, and mind of the buddhas enter their body, speech, and mind.

 “All those who rejoice in the stupa will generate every single quality of a buddha in their mental continuum.”

 “Holy objects make it so easy for sentient beings to achieve realizations and enlightenment,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained. “No matter how much negative karma they collect, and how many negative deeds they do, they give hope in life. We can see very clearly what an incredible opportunity and hope we have in our life. Through holy objects, the resulting benefit of every single action is inconceivable and immeasurable, creating the cause of happiness, because the object has inconceivable qualities, like the limitless sky. Because of that, everything you do regarding a holy object, such as prostrations, making offerings and so forth, has benefits as vast as the sky.” 

To learn more about this stupa project and to offer support: https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/lzr-complete-victory-stupa/

Please read more about the holy objects supported through the Holy Objects Fund.

Statue of Lama Yeshe for the main altar of Langri Tangpa Centre, Australia, per the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The statue was designed by Denise Griffin. Photo courtesy Langri Tangpa Centre.

The International Merit Box Project began in 2001 as a generosity practice for the international FPMT community. For many years, students and centers kept Merit Boxes close by so they could gradually make offerings throughout the year, before sending them in to be used for annual grants to FPMT centers, projects, services and study groups, and any project aligned with the FPMT mission.

Although we are now in a digital age and no longer distributing new physical Merit Boxes for student use, the Merit Box Project continues to receive generous support from FPMT students and communities around the world. Since 2001, an amazing US$1,239,580 in funding has been distributed through 354 Merit Box Project grants. We invite you to rejoice in the immense generosity received from thousands of students around the world!

This year we have already received over a dozen new applications for 2024 grants. All Merit Box offerings collected until April 30 will be used for this year’s grant awards.

As a means of rejoicing and outlining one project that has benefited from the International Merit Box Project, we are sharing today a recent update from a Merit Box grant recipient about their successful project. Laura Laakso, the director of Langri Tangpa Centre in Brisbane, Australia, shares her report:

Langri Tangpa Centre Shares their Merit Box Report

The Centre commissioned Denise Griffin to sculpt a statue of Lama Yeshe to complete Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s instructions regarding the Centre’s main altar. Peter Griffin was involved in certain steps and one is the gilding of the statue. The grant was to cover this step of the project.

The accomplishment is an awe-inspiring statue of Lama Yeshe that Lama Zopa was very happy with.

Denise Griffin wrote an email to Ven. Roger on February 22, 2023, and said in part “I have been working on a new Lama Yeshe Statue for Langri Tangpa Center, Brisbane, to be one of the statues on their altar. They have generously said once the statue is complete, for me to make a mould of the statue (so there is the possibility for casts being made by others). Also as part of this commission, they would like Venerable Lama Zopa to have the opportunity to give feedback on the artwork, and for me to make any requested changes.”

Ven. Roger replied in email dated February 28 to say, “Rinpoche said this is very good! very good! this is excellent, on the basis of this you can make life size! this is extremely good!”

The process involved:

1. Denise finishing the statue and implements to the point photos were sent to Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
2. Peter then made the mould of the statue.
3. A cast was made from the mould and this was gilded by Peter, see photo below.
4. Denise painted the face and other finishing touches.
5. The statue is now ready to ship to the Centre from the Griffin’s studio in France.

Peter griffin applying the gold guilding to the beautifully crafted statue of Lama Yeshe by Denise Griffin. Photo courtesy Langri Tangpa Centre.

The grant received in 2021 was US$1,000. It was used for the labour of gilding for US$743 and made a contribution of US$257 to the materials for gilding, the gold leaf and Nepalese powdered gold, which had increased in cost with COVID to US$861.

A key reason for the delay in the timing for this statue was the priority on the time of Denise Griffin to complete a large White Tara statue to be offered to Rinpoche during the long life puja in December 2022.

Denise visited Kopan in mid-November for two weeks. She took a cast to show Ven. Roger and discuss the process of having other centres knowing about the statue and the ability to commission. Denise is very appreciative of the fact that Langri Tangpa Centre has funded the cost of the mould to enable this to happen.

We rejoice and share our thanks for all the positive effects and generosity shown through the Merit Box Project and the kind support of all the Merit Box practitioners, coordinators, and friends. All are welcome to support the continuation of these grants. Support received until April 30 will be used for this year’s grants.

The International Merit Box Project is a charitable project of FPMT International Office. You can learn more about the Merit Box Project or offer support for future grants, or explore our many other FPMT Charitable Projects.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche welcomed by the children of Sangag Dechholing Gonpa School on arrival at Taplejung, Nepal, March 3, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Last week we shared FPMT International Office’s 2023 Annual Review, Repaying the Kindness, Looking to the Future.  We hope you have enjoyed reading about our various accomplishments from the past year. Today we would like to bring your attention to the Charitable Work section of this report. 

The FPMT Charitable Projects exist to benefit others in the most extensive ways possible. In 2023, US$3,486,569 was offered to initiatives including: supporting ordained Sangha, investing in the main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition; providing essential support and health care to the elderly, children, and disadvantaged in India, Nepal, and Mongolia; sponsoring holy objects such as statues, stupas, and prayer wheels; and offering continuous prayers and practices for the success and benefit of the entire FPMT organization and all beings.

Young students of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery School with new school supplies.

 In this year’s Annual Review you will read details about the following accomplishments in 2023:

• The Social Services Fund offered US$263,938 in support to eight different schools in Nepal and India that benefited over 1,500 students; US$169,067 in grants for operations expenses to hundreds of Tibetans living in six different homes for the elderly in India; and US$219,091 in support for health and essential services to those disadvantaged in Mongolia, Nepal, and India. 
• US$529,466 was offered to support the precious ordained Sangha with food, accommodation, education, practice support, and medical expenses. 
• The Puja Fund and other funds arrange and sponsor continual prayers for all within the FPMT organization and beings. US$397,697 was offered toward these activities, including offering to thousands of Sangha who undertake the practices. 
• Due to the power of the holy objects, one can purify negativities and create merit simply by making contact with them. US$930,405 was offered  toward holy object creation around the world. 
• Through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, US$960,228 were offered in grants 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 his wishes to the best our ability.
•  US$18,930 was offered through the Animal Liberation Fund which offers support for saving animals from untimely death and to  different to organizations that are saving animals from death and caring for them with food, medicine, and shelter for the rest of their lives. 
• US$173,156 was offered through the  Education and Preservation Fund in support of contributions to the development of Buddhist education programs and the preservation of the Dharma through the publication of practice materials and translations, as well Dharma education. 

We invite you to read more information about these initiatives and how the various funds were used in the Charitable Work section of our 2023 Annual Review. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing six goats that were purchased and saved from the butcher. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lamp of the Path, Mongolia soup kitchen offering meals to those in need.

Please read more about all of the FPMT Charitable Projects. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Rendering of the Stupa of Complete Victory being built at Kopan Monastery.

The Fifteen Days of Miracles (Feb 10-24 this year) is an auspicious time when merit is multiplied by 100 million each day.

We want to take this opportunity to invite everyone who wishes to, to support the building of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Stupa of Complete Victory. 

The 42-feet high (12.8 meters) Stupa of Complete Victory is being built at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, for the swift return of our most precious and kind teacher Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It is also fulfilling Rinpoche’s wishes for building many large stupas around the world for the benefit of all beings.

Rendering of the placement in Kopan’s garden of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Stupa of Complete Victory.

We invite you to take a virtual circumambulation of the stupa.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained:

“If you go around the stupa thinking that it is your root guru, the merit is far greater than just going around a stupa, a statue, a scripture. Going around the stupa without thinking that still col­lects the most unbelievably powerful merit, but by thinking of the stupa as the guru, there is no comparison, it’s like the difference between the earth and the sky.

 The merit that you collect by seeing the stupa, statues, scrip­ture as the guru is unbelievable, unbelievable, the most extensive merit. And it also becomes the most extensive purification, purify­ing all the defilements.”

Holy objects bless the land and plant the seed for enlightenment. Every time beings see holy objects; their minds are purified. Just by seeing a stupa, you collect numberless merits. In addition, if you make offerings, you collect much, much more merit.

Padmasambhava explained the incredible benefits of building stupas to King Trisong Detsen:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in front of Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal, June 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

“All the three-time buddhas and bodhisattvas have actually absorbed into the holy object of the mind and are abiding in it, any request or prayer done to this great stupa will spontaneously and effortlessly succeed, for it is like a precious wish-granting jewel.

 “Anyone who sees the stupa with their eyes closes the door of rebirth in the lower realms.

 “Anyone who hears about the stupa with their ears leaves the seed of supreme enlightenment.

 “Anyone who remembers the stupa is saved from the harms of craziness and paralysis and generates a special concentration in their mental continuum.

 “All those who treat the stupa as a Guru will become a holder of tantric realizations having control over life.

 “All those who put clay on the stupa will become thousand wheel-turning kings who reign over as many thousands of world-systems equal to the number of particles of clay.

 “All those who brought earth and stones for the stupa will have all obstacles to a long life and dangers to their life pacified; they will have a long life, free of disease, and a good holy body.

 “All those who put effort with their body, speech, and mind for the stupa will have every single blessing of the holy body, speech, and mind of the buddhas enter their body, speech, and mind.

 “All those who rejoice in the stupa will generate every single quality of a buddha in their mental continuum.”

Rendering Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Stupa of Complete Victory.

Please consider supporting the building of the Stupa of Complete Victory for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return:
fpmt.org/support/lzr-stupa-complete-victory/

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

15-inch gold stupa containing Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy tooth relic. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.

Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche always emphasized the importance of holy objects and how they are wish-fulfilling. This is evident in the amount of teachings that Rinpoche has given on their benefits and importance, how to make extensive offerings to them, circumambulate, prostrate, and how to regard holy objects.

Rinpoche expressed in his Vast Visions that it his wish for FPMT to build many holy objects everywhere, as many as possible. Making it so easy for sentient beings to purify their heavy negative karma and making it so easy for sentient beings to create extensive merit. Which makes it so easy to achieve the realizations of the path and so easy to achieve liberation and enlightenment.

The Holy Objects Fund is dedicated to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish and provides the resources to create holy objects around the world for the success of the FPMT organization and for the benefit of all beings.

An incredible US$930,405 was granted for holy objects in 2023 and we are so happy to share some of the new holy objects that have come into being recently, and how the funds of the Holy Objects Fund and others such as the Stupa Fund, Padmasambhava Project for Peace, One Thousand Buddhas Fund, Prajnaparamita Project, have been utilized, for rejoicing in.

 One Thousand Buddhas

Offering the one thousand Buddha statues offered directly to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

One of the most amazing achievements in 2023 was the creation and offering of one thousand statues of Shakyamuni Buddha. Lama Zopa Rinpoche wanted to make this offering during the long-life puja that was offered by FPMT to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The work started in February 2023 with the commission of one thousand statues to be created by various statue makers in Nepal. The art of the statues had been carefully checked by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the statue makers created each statue based on this. Each statue was gold gilded, faces painted, and carefully filled and consecrated before they were offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. How amazing that we were able to create one thousand statues of Buddha and how unbelievably fortunate to be able to offer these to His Holiness the Dalai directly. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

Holy Objects in Lawudo

Victory Stupa

The 12-foot tall Victory Stupa built for Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lawudo. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Michael.

In Lawudo Retreat Centre, Solo Khumbu, the Everest region of Nepal, fourteen thousand feet above sea level, we offered most of the funds to build the 12-foot high Victory stupa, this beautiful stupa was consecrated on Lhabab Duchen with fifty-five monks and nuns as well as the three main lamas in the valley—Thame Rinpoche, Charok Lama, and Kyarok Lama—along with locals and foreign guests. Inside the stupa is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy relic.

Kalachakra Statue

Kalachakra statue at Lawudo, to create the cause for future Zangdog Palri.

In addition, a new seven-feet high Kalachakra statue was commissioned for Lawudo. Lama Zopa Rinpoche had indicated this statue was needed first, in order to create the causes to build the future Zangdog Palri . Zangdog Palri refers to the Glorious Copper Colored Mountain, and is the pure land of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the great tantric master who brought Buddhism to Tibet. This ambitious project will span several years as all of the building supplies for the four storey three dimensional pure land palace needs to be carried up to Lawudo.

The new Kalachakra statue, which took a few years to be made, was carried to Lawudo this year and now graces the gompa.

31-Foot Tall Amoghapasha Painted on a Cliff 

31-foot tall Amoghapasha painting on Druka Karma Cliff, Lawudo.

We rejoice in the incredible 31-foot tall Amoghapasha on Drak Karma Cliff Above Lawudo. For many years Lama Zopa Rinpoche had expressed the wish for this new holy object. The deity has been painted directly on the cliff face overseeing the whole area. Funds for this project were raised by the Thamichowa community; Anila Ngawang Samten (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s sister) provided all the necessary materials and tools needed for painting; and Ven. Nyima Tashi, Ven. Thubten Tendar, and Pasang Dekyi helped to actualize this incredible project. It was an incredible feat and an unbelievable task to complete. For instance it took ten days just to get the scaffolding up to the site, there the conditions were freezing and windy making the scaffolding and painting quite dangerous. The actual painting took seven days by Nepali artists and was completed the day before Lhabab Duchen and consecrated on the day of this merit-multiplying occasion. 

114-Foot Tall Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in India

In March 2023, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered $150,000 towards the building of a new 114-foot tall (34 meters) statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in Dhondeling Kollegal, India. The foundations for the statue are currently underway. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was very moved when he heard about this project and immediately wanted to help with funds and was very happy about the size of the statue and the amount of benefit it will bring the area. We will provide updates as the statue progresses.

New Tara Statue in USA

New Tara statue made in the USA.

A long-time student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche passed away in 2023 and Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised that a 3-foot tall statue of Tara was important to be created for her future rebirth. Immediately also Rinpoche wanted to sponsor the statue and we rejoice that this beautiful new Tara that has come into being and now resides in the USA.

Displaying the 75-Foot High Guru Rinpoche Thangka Twice in 2023 in Nepal

Large Guru Rinpoche thangka displayed at Kopan Nunnery.

In 2023 we had the incredible fortune to display the very large thangka of Guru Rinpoche two times at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery). The thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high, and 87 feet (27 meters) wide is stitched in appliqué, and depicts the Padmasambhava merit field in the center. Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally designed and oversaw the creation of this huge thangka and also raised funds for it. Creating and displaying huge thangkas is also one of the Vast Visions of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as dedicating a day to display the thangka with a puja and extensive offerings, as well as offering dances and music and a meal to all who attend.

Rinpoche 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.” Both of the events displaying the thangka in 2023 were entirely sponsored, including the 100,000 tsog offerings and lunch to all who attended. The puja is an incredible undertaking by Kopan monks and nuns as it takes days to set up and arrange and the cost in 2023 for these two pujas was over US$34,000.

Writing the Prajnaparamita Sutra

Lama Zopa Rinpoche checking the writing of the Prajnaparamita sutra in Nepal in 2022 with Ven. Tsering and Jane Seidlitz

The live creation of the Prajnaparamita sutra, which is being written out daily in beautiful calligraphy in gold ink is in its eighteenth year. Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained in a teaching in Bendigo, Australia, his clear wishes for the writing of the Prajnaparamita sutra to continue for as long as FPMT exists. Even when completing the twelve volumes of the sutra currently in process, Rinpoche asked that this project begin again and in this way the sutra is continually being written out as it is a powerful holy object. Currently Ven.Tsering is on the fifth volume and Jane Seidlitz in the USA is writing out the second volume. The gold for the sutra costs about $10,000 a year.

Even writing one letter or syllable from the Prajnaparamita, the benefits you receive are unbelievable, unbelievable, more than making skies of extensive offerings to all the buddhas for so many eons. The merits are far more greater than that. — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

New Padmasambhava Statue in Pokhara Nepal

The planned new Guru Rinpoche statue in Pokhara Nepal.

We have the incredible news that a new statue of Guru Rinpoche statue is being built in Pokhara Nepal. The comprehensive cost of this remarkable project encompasses both land procurement expenses and the construction of a grand monument and is expected to be US$2,993,217.  Situated alongside the esteemed Annapurna Cable Car, the Guru Rinpoche statue, to be erected in Pokhara, will seamlessly blend with the surrounding natural landscape, creating a serene and captivating environment.

Covering a total site area of 3,226 square miles (34,728 square feet), the project includes various features such as a meditation hall capable of accommodating 100 individuals, additional rooms and a prayer hall, a mantra wall, vast green areas, and a magnificent 15-meter-tall statue that gracefully rises 1556 meters above sea level. The land was successfully acquired in 2023 and through the Padmasambhava Project for Peace we were able to offer US$285,000 to this amazing project.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery

The Stupa of Complete Victory being built at Kopan Monastery.

We rejoice in the beginning of the work for building of the Stupa of Complete Victory in Kopan Monastery.  This magnificent stupa will be 42-foot high (13 meters) and is dedicated to the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

The intention is to create a significant monument situated on ground level covering an area of 180 square feet (55 square meters) and a semi-basement level spanning 715 square feet (218 square meters). The stupa is located on the northeast side of the Stupa Garden at Kopan Monastery where the stupas of Geshe Lama Konchog and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundup are also situated. This stupa will be facing exactly mid-way between Swayambhunath stupa and Boudhanath stupa. While maintaining the vastness of Kopan’s beautiful gardens, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s stupa will be built from the level below thus enlarging the whole area and enabling for two retreat rooms under the stupa. We expect that the building below the stupa will be finished in about 4-5 months and then the building of the actual Stupa of Complete Victory will begin. The building of the stupa will take some time due to all the extensive artwork, but we are hoping the stupa will be finished in about a year.  

Ksitigharba Statue Arrival at Kopan Monastery

We also rejoice in the beautiful new Ksitigharba statue that was completed and placed in a beautiful house on the top of the hill at Kopan Monastery. Lama Zopa Rinpoche had advised for this statue to be made. One of the incredible benefits is from protection from earthquakes among any other things. The statue has been placed on the highest part of Kopan Monastery.

New Ksitigharba statue at Kopan Monastery.

Maitreya Project in Kushinagar, India

Funds were also sent for the master plan and ongoing work for the Maitreya Project in Kushinagar India. In 2023 the new Master Plan was completed, and a number of important meetings happened such as with the Director General of the International Buddhist Council (the key office that plans and executes all the support work for Buddhist projects in India and internationally), when the Master Plan was presented. Work was done to bring special statues of Sixteen Arahants, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Twenty-one Taras, that Lama Zopa Rinpoche had commissioned many years ago for Maitreya Project, from Nepal to Kushinagar as well as to bring the 24-foot high statue of Maitreya that has graced the land in Bodhgaya to Kushinagar.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained:

“Every time you look at holy objects – pictures of the Buddha, statues, scriptures, stupas – they plant the seed of liberation and enlightenment in your mental continuum. So, every time you look at them they purify your mind. How? When you look at them, they plant a seed or positive imprint on your mental continuum so that later when you meet Buddhadharma, either in this life or in future lives, you are able to understand the words and the meaning of the teachings. From that, you are able to practice the meaning of the Dharma you have understood, which causes you to cease the gross and subtle defilements by actualizing the path and then your mental continuum becomes omniscient mind. This is what is meant when we say that by seeing holy objects it plants the seed of enlightenment on the mind – it contains the whole path from guru devotion and the three principles up to the two stages of tantra and enlightenment.”

Thank you to all who supported these different projects that enable the creation of new holy objects around the world for the benefit of all beings. In 2024 we will be mainly focusing on actualizing the Stupa of Complete Victory for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and appreciate any support.

To help ensure our support to the creation of holy objects around the world, we invite you to offer a donation of any amount to the Holy Objects Fund.

FPMT Basic Program students at Nalanda Monastery, France.

In 2023, an incredible US$173,156 was disbursed in grants from the FPMT Education and Preservation Fund to promote the development of Buddhist education programs and the preservation of the Dharma through the publication of Buddhist practice materials and translations. We invite you to read some of the activities supported this year below and rejoice!

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

• US$4,607 in grants were provided for translation projects of Dharma texts from Tibetan into Bengali and Hindu, to the Indo-Tibetan Translation Team at Visva-Bharati University of West Bengal, India. West Bengal was the birthplace of great masters such as Shantideva, Lama Atisha, and Shantarakshita, and the intention for the translation projects was to aid in the revival of Mahayana Buddhism in the region. One of the translations sponsored was the Bengali translation and editing of Bhavanakrama by Kamalashila. The other translation from Tibetan to Bengali and English was of Bodhipathapradipam (Atisha’s Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment), Suhrllekha (Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend), and The Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattva. The books were completed by teams of university translators and advisors. The translated Bhavanakrama text was also offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya recently.
• Further grants were given for the development of new FPMT education programs and materials, including support of FPMT educational activities in Mongolia.
• Grants were given this year through the Translation and Scholarship Fund 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). In addition, ongoing translation progress continues on the following texts: Sutra of Golden Light (21 Chapter, 29 Chapter, and 31 Chapter), Chittamani Tara practice texts, A Detailed Commentary on the Six Yogas of Naropa, Sunlight That Causes the Lotus of Faith to Blossom: A Guidebook to the Supreme Sacred Place of Clear and Cool Mountain, and Ornament of the Essence.  
• Grants were also issued in support of the FPMT Masters Program scholarship and toward the support and education of a geshe studying in a University in the UK.

We rejoice in all these inspiring activities, the work of all those involved, and in the kind generosity of supporters to the Education and Preservation Fund, which provided the much-needed resources for these projects.

Learn more about the Education and Preservation Fund, and all of our FPMT Charitable Projects that are working to build a more compassionate world.

Puja to bless the site of the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery

We are so excited to share the news that the Stupa of Complete Victory being built at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return is well underway. 

Extensive work underway for the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery.

In October 2023 special pujas for the groundbreaking and blessing of the area and asking permission from the local spirits were carefully conducted by Kopan Lama Gyupa monks. These elaborate pujas are very important for the overall success of the project and auspiciousness.

Video of the blessing of the site where the stupa will be located:

Area where the Stupa of Complete Victory will be built, Kiopan Monastery.

In December, the area where the stupa will be built was carefully marked out, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Gen Tenpa Choden, and Gen Shenphen were present with the main builders for this important step.

Gen Shenphen with the main builder of the Stupa of Complete Victory.

 The stupa will be located on the northeast side of the Stupa Garden at Kopan Monastery where the stupas of Geshe Lama Konchog and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundup are situated.

This stupa will be facing exactly mid-way between Swayambhunath stupa and Boudhanath stupa. Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s stupa will be built from the level below, enlarging the whole area and enabling for there to be two retreat rooms under the stupa.

In late December extensive excavation of the project began, digging into the hill, removing the vast amount of soil, and then placing the pilings and foundations for the building on which the stupa will be built.

In January 2024 the building continues, Gen Shenphen and Gen Tenpa Choden are the main people overseeing this incredible project.

Video of the building work underway:

We expect that the building below the stupa will be finished in about 4-5 months and then the building of the actual Stupa of Complete Victory will then begin. The building of the stupa will take some time due to all the extensive artwork. We are hoping the stupa will be finished in about a year.

The excavation site for the Stupa of Complete Victory.

All of this effort and the building of this stupa is dedicated to the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

We rejoice in this incredible work, in all those working on the stupa, the kind donors, and in this beautiful new holy object that will soon grace the Stupa Garden in Kopan.

We will keep you updated on this progress. Please consider supporting the building and completion of this incredible stupa: https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/lzr-complete-victory-stupa/

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

The incredible 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. Displayed during Guru Bumtsog at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2016. Photo by Charok Lama.

For the eighth year in a row, a very large thangka of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) was displayed and an auspicious 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru Bumtsog) took place at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery) on December 16, 2023, in the presence of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Thame monks and other Sangha, Kopan monks and nuns, and local lay people. The event was even aired on the local news! Prayers were offered for all beings and for the swift return of our precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the actualization of all of Rinpoche’s holy wishes, and for peace in the world. 

Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche receiving attendees of the 2023 Guru Bumtsog at Kopan Nunnery. Photo by Charok Lama.

The puja is an incredible undertaking by Kopan monks and nuns as it takes days to set up and arrange, plus lunch offered to all in attendance requires major preparation. This short video captures the energy, joy, and community involvement of this event:

Extensive offerings at the base of the large Padmasambhava thangka during Guru Bumtsog event, Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Photo by Charok Lama.

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. Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally designed and oversaw  the creation of this huge thangka and also raised the funds for it, thanks to the kindness of two generous donors. The thangkha was also blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

With great rejoicing we share that this will now be an annual event at Kopan Nunnery on December 3, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday, to commemorate Rinpoche’s life and fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes. Students of Rinpoche are encouraged to plan to come to this extremely joyous and auspicious event. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche 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.”

Guru bumtsog event with the large Padmasambhava thangka on display, December 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.

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. 

Young monks receiving lunch during the Guru Bumtsog event at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Lunch was offered to all in attendance. Photo by Charok Lama.

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 could 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! 

Locals enjoying the Guru Bumtsog event at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Photo by Charok Lama.

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 entire world.  The costs of offering this yearly are substantial and will be covered by the FPMT Puja Fund. Anyone interested in contributing to this yearly event held on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday may offer any amount to the Puja Fund. 

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.

The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world. 

2023 Winter Debate Participants, Drepung Monastery.

The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund (LTKTF) is dedicated to upholding the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism and has been instrumental since its establishment in 1997 at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Named after the Gelug lineage founder Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419).

Below are the activities that the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund supported through a total of US$174,162 in grants in 2023. Please join us in rejoicing!

Supporting Our Lineage Teachers, the Annual Gelug Exam, Winter Debate, & Memorization Exams

One of the significant endeavors the fund supports is the annual Winter Debate, as well as assistance to the monks who successfully passed their examinations. The Winter Debate, a prestigious event that attracts the brightest scholars from the eight major Gelug monasteries, was hosted at Drepung Monastery in 2023 with the fund covering the travel expenses for 600 monks from Sera Je Monastery to attend.

Furthermore, the fund ensured that 134 monks from the eight monasteries who passed the memorization examination of classical texts (that are very long) such as the The Five Treatises of Maitreya, Six Collections of Reasoning by Arya Nagarjuna, General Meaning of the Middle Way by Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen, Bodhisattvacaryavatara (Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life) by Shantideva and  texts on Abhidharma, Vinaya, Paramita, Madyamika and Lekshay Nyingpo all received a full sets of monks’ robes.

Another notable initiative supported by the fund is the support to the basic needs of 137 main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition by providing small monthly stipends, freeing up their time to focus on their service in teaching students and deepening their own practice. The fund also sponsored the Gelukpa Examinations by covering the food and travel expenses of 540 examinees and 118 staff members, as well as providing cash offerings and meals to all participants.

These efforts, including the support provided to the Winter Debate, the stipends to teachers, and the Gelukpa Examinations, reflect the ongoing commitment of the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund to preserve the Gelug tradition, in line with the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and other senior Gelug masters.

The total amount disbursed for the supported activities in 2023 is US$44,162. This includes the $20,672 for the Winter Debate Program and Monk Support, as well as the US$23,489 for the stipends to teachers and support for Gelukpa Examinations. 

Specialized Studies for Geshes and Geshemas

Each year we are offering support towards the Research and Training of Specialist Geshes and Geshemas, with a grant of US$77,500 being provided for the stipend to candidates, supervisors, and instructors. This initiative supports the specialized studies for 35 geshe lharampas and geshemas in the subjects of Pramana, Prajnaparamita, Madhyamaka, Abhidharma, and Vinaya, allowing them to deeply focus and expand their knowledge on one of the five main monastic treatises. This project, advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and initiated by the Geluk International Foundation in 2020 with the guidance of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation and Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, aims to provide tools for developing new interpretations or synthesized presentations of ancient Buddhist wisdom, making them practically suitable and theoretically digestible to modern mindsets. 

Participants in the 2023 Winter Debate.

Researchers in each field of Buddhist studies have been engaged in intense individual research activity for a period of three years, culminating in the presentation of a written thesis on their chosen topic. The full funding for this project has been provided through the generous support of the US-based Kaya Mandala Foundation, with the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund agreeing to support the administering of grants until the geshes and geshemas complete their specialized studies. The recipients of the grant funds come from the six major monasteries in India and various nunneries, including Geshema Namdol Phuntsok from Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery (Kopan Nunnery) in Kathmandu, Nepal. This year marks the conclusion of phase one of the project.

The first phase of the Geluk International Foundation’s major research project was the Research and Training of Specialist Geshes and Geshemas. The second phase, launched in June 2023, will focus on the topics of Vinaya, Abhidharma, Madhyamika, Prajnaparamita, and Buddhist Logic. We are pleased to offer the support required for 15 exceptional scholars from three esteemed monasteries: Gyume Lower Tantric Monastery (5 scholars), Gyuto Upper Tantric Monastery (5 scholars), and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (5 scholars). This second phase will span 8 years, with the fund committed to granting US$37,500 each year. We are eagerly anticipating the upcoming new phase and are hopeful for fruitful results.

Funding Educational Research for Future Tibetan Medical Doctors

Committed to backing educational research and training programs aimed at cultivating the next generation of Tibetan medical practitioners. This support not only benefits Tibetan communities by providing them with qualified doctors but also contributes to the preservation of this invaluable medical science and cultural tradition. Tibetan medicine, an ancient yet relevant discipline, is regarded as the time-honored science and art of healing from Tibet. It promotes the belief that the ultimate purpose of life is happiness and emphasizes that wellbeing is a continuous journey of living in harmony with one’s constitution. For centuries, Tibetan medicine doctors have engaged in research, and now modern Tibetan researchers are carrying on this authentic tradition. 

Doeguling Branch Clinic Participates in World Diabetes Day Awareness Program, November 2023. Photo courtesy of Men-Tsee-Khang’s official website.

A sum of US$15,000 was allocated to the Tibetan Medical & Astro-science 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. The Nyepa Sum Project focuses on researching the three principal energies: baekan (water & earth or cold energy), lung (air or movement energy), and tripa (fire or heat energy); and their impact on various health conditions. The dedicated doctors are conducting research on imbalances in lung, tripa, and baekan energies to address conditions such as depression, insomnia, headaches, heart and blood pressure issues, mental health problems, skin rashes, inflammations, indigestion, hormonal issues, respiratory disorders, kidney and bladder dysfunction, obesity, and diabetes.

We express our deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to all the kind sponsors of Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund for their generous support towards these projects! Your assistance is invaluable and immensely beneficial to humanity. The total of US$174,162 in grants offered in 2023 has contributed to these impactful initiatives. We invite you to join us in celebrating the positive outcomes of these endeavors!

All are welcome to support the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund, which preserves the unbroken Tsongkhapa lineage, and cultivates the foremost scholars of tomorrow. We also invite you to read about all the other charitable projects of the FPMT organization. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing a buffalo that he named Bodhichitta, Kopan Monastery, August 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Benefiting animals in any way possible is a high priority for  the FPMT organization and was one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions. Rinpoche explained many ways that we can benefit animals, not just by saving them from untimely death and caring for them for the rest of their lives, but also by blessing them with mantras, prayers, and holy objects in order to create merit and purify negative karma. 

We are delighted to announce that the Animal Liberation Fund provided US$18,820.70 in 2023 to support the below remarkable initiatives. 

Goats being blessed at Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal.

Khadro-la and Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing goats in Nepal, 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Kopan Animal Liberation Sanctuary in Nepal provides a safe haven for a group of 60 male goats, three ducks, one dog, and two cats. The sanctuary is conveniently located just a short 10-minute walk away from the monastery, offering a serene and picturesque environment. Additionally, three cows and one buffalo continue to reside in Kopan Monastery’s original area of the sanctuary, providing ample space for each animal to live a healthy and comfortable life. 

Every single goat at the sanctuary has been personally rescued by Rinpoche or at his request, saving them from the destiny of being slaughtered for meat, a common occurrence during autumn festivals in Nepal. By offering these goats a chance to live out their lives in peace, Rinpoche provided them with an opportunity for a higher rebirth. The goats at the sanctuary are given daily blessings through the presence of holy objects, as they circumambulate around three stupas and listen to recorded mantras.

Beautiful and safe environment for dear animals at Kopan Animal Liberation Sanctuary.

The sanctuary employs a local family (a husband, wife, and three kids) to oversee the needs of the animals. A small house has been provided for the family so there is always someone present. Additionally, a dedicated manager and veterinary assistant, with the assistance of an experienced vet, makes sure that the goats receive proper care and attention.

The sanctuary itself is thoughtfully designed to provide a healthy environment for the goats, catering to the varying seasons of Nepal. It incorporates facilities to separate weaker animals from the main flock and employs measures to minimize water consumption and waste. The sanctuary comprises an animal shed, a treatment and isolation building, a quarantine area, and a caretaker house. Goats at the sanctuary have been offered Dharma names (for example Sherab (Wisdom), Jangsem (Bodhichitta), Atisha (named after great Indian Buddhist master) etc, creating imprints for their minds and anyone who addresses them. 

We are thrilled to share that the Animal Liberation Fund offered a grant of US$9,800, which will contribute to the ongoing food and care expenses for the animals throughout 2023.

Future Animal Sanctuary land in Nepal.

In 2022, Kopan Monastery began the process of acquiring new land for the Animal Liberation Sanctuary. At present, half of the intended land has been successfully purchased, totaling nearly 20 acres (8 hectares) out of the planned 37 acres (15 hectares)– an area roughly totaling the space of 37 football fields. Just imagine the joy that animals would experience in such an expansive sanctuary! Some bureaucratic hurdles have hindered the complete acquisition of the land, the resolution of which remains uncertain, but despite these setbacks, the monastery is actively working toward the final purchase. When finalized, the land will be developed with infrastructure in the area including a dedicated car road, as currently they rely on a road situated on someone else’s property. Additionally, they plan to install electricity and build animal sheds and a caretaker’s house. The location of the planned sanctuary is in a remote area, approximately 3.5 hours east of Kathmandu. It is a predominantly Buddhist region, primarily populated by the Tamang ethnic group.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Sangha blessing all the beings in a lake in Washington State, US, June 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

In Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington State, and for the first six months of 2023 at Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, USA,  Sangha members engage in a weekly practice of animal liberation, specifically dedicated towards those who are experiencing illness or facing life obstacles. During this practice, the Sangha liberates up to 1,500 animals each week, predominantly worms and crickets that can survive in the area. They carry these creatures around the stupa or holy objects while reciting mantras and blessing them with mantra-infused water. After the blessings, these animals are thoughtfully released in a safe and suitable environment. In Washington, the monks also perform a range of practices to benefit animals. They engage in making charity to ants and blessing birds. Additionally, every month (excluding winter months), the monk bless all beings residing in lakes. Last summer, the monks dedicated themselves to building a worm pit. This way, they could continue their practice of animal liberation even during the colder months of winter.

The feeder which blesses birds. The front mantra is OM PADMO USHNISHA VIMALE HUM PHAT, backside, ON HA NU PHASHA BHARA HE YE SOHA. Underneath are Namgyalma mantras.

Blessing the beings according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s instructions at one of the local lakes in Washington State called Blue Lake.

New worm pit.

When the Sangha carry out these liberations, they also offer powerful prayers for those who are ill, recently deceased, or have requested prayers. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has introduced a unique approach to liberating animals, leading them toward enlightenment. Since 2005, approximately 1,037,338  beings of various species, including crickets, mice, worms, fish, ants, birds, goats, and more, have been liberated or blessed in Washington and California. To date, the incredible number stands at 1,037,338 beings. The Animal Liberation Fund will be providing US$3,000 to support animal releases conducted in Washington and California in 2023. 

We are also happy to share that we sponsored the food for one rescued horse in 2023, the amount of this food was US$6,020. 

We express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every compassionate donor who has supported the Animal Liberation Fund in the past and will continue to do so in the future.  With great appreciation, we dedicate all the merits accumulated through animal liberation and blessing towards the great enlightenment of all sentient beings. Thank you for your kindness and dedication to this auspicious cause!

Please explore more resources and inspiration for benefiting animals:
fpmt.org/education/prayers-and-practice-materials/benefiting-animals-practices-and-advice

All are welcome to contribute to the Animal Liberation Fund to help ensure that our work sponsoring animal rescue, care, and liberation continues. 

The monks of Sera Je Monastery offering prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return.

The Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund (SOSF) is offering comprehensive support to nunneries, monasteries, and individual monks and nuns across the globe. With a wide range of charitable activities, including providing food, accommodation, healthcare, education, and practice resources, the SOSF aims to cater to the diverse needs of those in the Sangha community. This fund is not limited to any specific institution, allowing it to extend its benefits to numerous nunneries, monasteries, and Sangha members seeking assistance.

Within the FPMT organization, the support of monks and nuns holds a position of utmost importance. Recognizing that the preservation of the Buddhadharma is linked to the existence and well-being of the Sangha, prioritizing their support becomes essential.

In 2023, the SOSF has contributed a total of US$330,468.02 towards various projects aimed at benefiting and uplifting the Sangha. We invite you to take a closer look at the reports provided below.   

The nuns of Tashi Chime Gattsal Gumba in their new gompa with Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 2022.

In Tashi Chime Gatsal Gumba Nunnery, located in the heart of Bigu, a rural municipality in Northeastern Nepal, a truly inspiring story of courage and perseverance took shape. The small village of Bigu, which bore witness to the aftershocks of the devastating earthquake that shook Nepal in May 2015, suffered greatly, and the nunnery was not spared from its relentless force. But amidst the ruins, a remarkable story of reconstruction emerged. In the face of adversity, the FPMT extended their hand to alleviate the profound impact of the earthquake. It has played a pivotal role in the gradual rebuilding of the nunnery, ensuring a safe and secure environment for the seventy nuns who call it their home.

Twice a year, these dedicated nuns of Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism embark on a spiritual journey known as the 100 Million Mani Retreat. This retreat involves the recitation of the mantra of the Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion, OM MANI PADME HUM, a staggering 100 million times. This profound practice brings immeasurable benefits, not only for themselves but also for the entire world.

Within the vast visions of Lama Zopa Rinpoche lies the aspiration to sponsor the 100 Million Mani Retreats across the globe. In line with this cause, the SOSF has 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 retreat.

In 2023, the SOSF contributed $18,873.56 to support this auspicious endeavor. Engaging in the practice for approximately six hours each day, nuns dedicate their virtues towards the success of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy wishes and the utmost benefit to all sentient beings.

We rejoice so much in the incredible journey undertaken by these nuns, a testament to their unwavering faith, spirit, and loving kindness. May their virtuous actions inspire us all on our own paths towards compassion and enlightenment. 

The monks of Shalu Monastery.

Located in Himachal Pradesh, India, Shalu Monastery is an embodiment of devotion and dedication. 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. Recognizing the importance of this lineage, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has blessed and supported the establishment of Shalu Monastery in 2005 within the Paonta Tibetan settlement.

Since 2018, the SOSF has been offering funds to Shalu Monastery. In a joyous continuation of this support, the SOSF is delighted to contribute $15,417.10 in 2023, catering to the essential food expenses of the 55 monks residing within the monastery. This year, the monastery is also welcoming a new group of young monks from the Himalayan region, bringing the monk community to even greater numbers.

The monks of Shalu Monastery serve as shining examples of true devotion and profound gratitude. They have courageously taken upon themselves the responsibility of preserving their unique tradition while demonstrating deep respect and appreciation for the unwavering support of Lama Zopa Rinpoche throughout the years. Their daily prayers include the heartfelt request for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. May their auspicious prayers be fulfilled!

Abbots of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries attending the Annual Examination
of Gelugpa University 2023 at Sera Lachi.

Sera Thekchenling Lachi Cultural Society, situated in the region of Bylakuppe in South India. In Tibet’s history, Sera Lachi played a crucial role as the administrative and unifying institution for the three esteemed colleges: Sera Je, Sera Mey, and Ngakpa. The term “Lachi” represents its prominence as the main or head monastery.

Presently, two of these colleges, Sera Je and Sera Mey, have been re-established in India. The purpose of Sera Lachi remains to bring together and support both monasteries, hosting grand events such as the Monlam Prayer Festival, annual examinations, and other big events. These occasions attract thousands of monks, fostering a sense of unity and spiritual growth.

Recognizing the importance of these events, Sera Lachi has recently identified the need for renovations in their kitchen and dining hall. These upgrades are vital to ensure that they can continue hosting these significant gatherings. In the past, Sera Lachi Cultural Society has received assistance from the SOSF for various renovation projects. This includes the construction of a new elevator for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the renovation of sewerage facilities, and the procurement of a new power generator.

We are thrilled to announce that this year, the SOSF has provided a donation of US$12,292 for the cause of renovating the kitchen and dining hall. This contribution will undoubtedly aid in creating a better space for preparing and taking meals and enhance the overall experience for all those who attend these vital events at Sera Lachi. 

The resident Sangha at Sera IMI House, October 2023

International Mahayana Institute (IMI) represents a devoted community of Buddhist monks and nuns associated with the FPMT. Within the surroundings of Sera Jey Monastery, the IMI House stands as a resilient and determined minority, striving to make meaningful contributions to the cherished traditions of the one of the Great Gelug Monasteries. This accomplishment is made possible through the whole-hearted and sustained efforts of its eight current resident monks and Sangha in the past.

Established in 2002, the Sera IMI House became a home, providing a supportive environment for Western monastics seeking to engage in the profound program of studying Tibetan Buddhist philosophy according to Lama Tsongkhapa tradition. It serves as a place where these dedicated individuals can come together, offering mutual support, and fostering growth in their spiritual journeys.

At present, the Sera IMI House finds itself in urgent need of renovation to continue its vital work. The priority improvements include the installation of a new tile roof, the acquisition of a water tank and solar water heater, and the necessary plumbing works. Additionally, there is a pressing need to refurbish the bathrooms and renovate the aging kitchen facilities. These improvements are crucial to maintain a conducive environment for the monks and to ensure a comfortable and efficient space for their daily activities.

We are delighted to share that the SOSF has extended their support to this noble cause. Their contribution of US$29,589 will significantly assist in meeting these renovation needs. The donation will go a long way in revitalizing the Sera IMI House and enable its residents to continue their essential studies, preserving and spreading the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Thame Dechen Chokhorling Monastery monks.

Thame Dechen Chokhorling Monastery holds a special connection with the FPMT organization and is nestled in the breathtaking region of Solu Khumbu, high in the majestic Mount Everest area of Nepal. It carries a special significance as Thame is also the birthplace of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and is situated near Lawudo, which served as the residence of Rinpoche’s previous incarnation. Following the Nyima tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the monastery is perched upon a rock, nearly four thousand meters above sea level, providing a picturesque panoramic view of the entire valley.

Dating back 350 years, the Thame Monastery holds a cherished place in history. Each year, it organizes the Mani Rimdu festival, a joyous occasion that spans 19 days. Buddhists in the Everest region of Nepal come together to celebrate the founding of Buddhism by Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava during this festival. The festivities are characterized by vibrant masked dances, heartfelt prayers, and delightful feasts, creating an atmosphere of spiritual richness and cultural celebration.

Since 2017, the SOSF has been providing three nourishing meals per day to the 22 devoted monks residing in Thame Monastery. We are pleased to announce that this year, we have offered an annual grant of US$8,950.93 to support their well-being. This grant reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that the monks receive adequate nourishment, allowing them to focus on their spiritual practices and contribute to the growth and harmony of the monastery.

The monks of Sera Je Monastery gathering to offer prayers for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Monastery.

During the 49-day period following Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing, many heartfelt prayers were made for Rinpoche’s swift return. FPMT International Office offered US$170,551.97 and these funds were dedicated to making 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 SOSF contributed US$74,896.99, forty percent of total amount offered. Geshe Ngawang Sangye personally visited a multitude of monasteries and nunneries on the 49th day, making offerings to the Sangha. Overall, offerings have been made to 15,000 dedicated Sangha members, as well as to the actual monasteries and nunneries, all with the sincerest intention of requesting them to make prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return.

Monks of Zigar Thupten Shedrupling Institute.

Zigar Thupten Shedrupling Institute, located in the serene surroundings of Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, holds a profound significance as it diligently carries on the mission of preserving the lineage of Drukpa Kargyud. It is said that the first Zigar Rinpoche Sonam Gyatsho (1608-1669) was a manifestation of Guru Padmasambhava and that the following Zigar Rinpoches are incarnations of the King Trisong Detsen, that is manifestation of Manjushri, the Wisdom Buddha. In demonstrating a strong commitment to the monastery, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the compassionate endeavors of the SOSF, has pledged US$200,000 to assist in fulfilling the needs of this place. The SOSF is deeply honored to provide ongoing support to this exceptional monastery since 2019, specifically covering all necessary food expenses.

This year, the SOSF extends a contribution of US$34,000, enabling a two-year provision of necessary sustenance for the dedicated community of 62 monks who reside in the monastery. At present, a total donation of US$92,562 has been provided to the Zigar Monastery, which amounts to nearly half of the pledged amount by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Monks of Idgaa Choinzinling Monastery.

In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Idgaa Choinzinling Monastery shares a longstanding relationship with the FPMT organization. Understanding the importance of preserving the Buddhadharma in this region, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has wholeheartedly dedicated Himself to various charitable activities.

Among the initiatives undertaken, one significant contribution involves providing essential food support to the monks of Mongolia. Since 2015, the SOSF has been providing funds for sustaining the dietary needs of the monks, in addition to supporting the renovation and expansion of the monastery grounds.

In 2023 we are delighted to extend an offering of US$10,800 specifically allocated for lunch and dinner expenses. This contribution will ensure that the 32 Mongolian monks are provided with nourishing meals throughout the entire year, fostering their spiritual practice and well-being.

Lunch offering at Gyudmed Tantric Monastery.

Established in 1433, Gyudmed Tantric Monastery has served as a distinguished center for the study, practice, and preservation of the Guhyasamaja Tantra lineage in Tibet. Following the exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the monastery was resettled in Hunsur, Karnataka, where it accommodates approximately 575 monks. In an effort 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, shielding them from food price fluctuations and inflation.

In 2022, the SOSF contributed US$500,000 to this vital initiative, with the aim of sustaining the monks’ education, allowing them to devote their full attention to their studies and continue enriching society through their teachings and spiritual practice. In 2023, according to the personal request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the SOSF allocated an additional US$100,000 to support the new Food Fund, a cause deeply cherished by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Rinpoche’s extraordinary commitment is evident in the US$1,318,056 already raised or personally contributed. The overarching goal is to raise a total of US$3 million, with US$1,681,944.00 remaining to be raised. 

Detong Ling nuns visiting Monastère Dorje Pamo in France to meet the new Abbot of both the nunneries.

Situated in the Sierra Nevada, a mountain range around forty kilometers from the Mediterranean coast and within easy reach of Granada, Detong Ling Nunnery serves as a project of O.Sel Ling Centro de Retiros, an FPMT retreat center in Andalusia, Spain. The idyllic location offers a panoramic view over the vast valley and distant sea, nestled within a national park.

The nunnery structure includes a gompa, eleven single rooms for the nuns, a combined library and teaching room, a shared kitchen and dining area, and a spacious open terrace. During his visit to O.Sel Ling in May 2019, Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessed the nunnery, expressing his vision for it to serve as a place for older nuns to meditate and practice, and for newer nuns to engage in studying the Dharma. Rinpoche emphasized the importance, particularly for the Western Sangha, to have conducive living spaces where they can uphold their vows and dedicate themselves to study, contemplation, and meditation. The SOSF is delighted to dedicate a sum of US$10,648.44 toward constructing a separate cabin to house their new heating system.

The International Sangha Forum (ISF) in Bodhgaya, scheduled for December 20-23, 2023, aligns with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision and falls under the World Buddhist International Programs series developed by the Southeast Asia Coordinator Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since 2018. This upcoming four-day program aims to gather over 2,000 monastics from different Buddhist traditions to initiate discussions on the three Higher Trainings and the role of Buddhism in the 21st century. Its ultimate goal is to foster continual dialogue and collaboration between practitioners of the Pali and Sanskrit traditions, recognizing commonalities, appreciating differences, and ensuring the adaptability of Buddhist teachings to contemporary challenges while safeguarding their timeless wisdom and relevance. The event will also feature a prayer session at the Mahabodhi Temple, attended by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other distinguished Buddhist leaders, emphasizing the significance of this collaborative effort in promoting the accessibility and preservation of the Buddhadharma with a compassionate and inclusive spirit.

The SOSF is delighted to sponsor this event by donating US$15,000. This donation will be used to support travel, food, and accommodation for monastics attending the conference in Bodhgaya, reflecting our commitment to enabling the participation of a diverse and inclusive gathering of monastics from around the world. 

We rejoice in the opportunity to support the Sangha in India, Nepal, and Mongolia, as we jointly work toward the preservation of the Buddhadharma in the world.

We also extend a heartfelt invitation for you to join us in celebrating these meaningful activities. We express deep gratitude to each and every donor who has generously contributed towards this noble cause, making these endeavors possible. Your support is truly valued and appreciated!

All are welcome to contribute to the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, to help ensure grants like these continue for the benefit of monks and nuns around the world. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

31-foot high Amoghapasha painting on Drak Karma cliff above Lawudo, Nepal.

Twenty-five years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche began expressing the wish for a large painting of 1,000-Armed Chenrezig to be painted on a 100-foot high cliff named Drak Karma above Lawudo in Nepal, approximately 4,200 meters above sea level (over 13,000 feet) so everyone in proximity could see it. In the last few years Rinpoche specifically said for the painting to be of Amoghapasha—an emanation of Chenrezig.

With huge rejoicing, we share that this 31-foot high by 21-foot wide (9.5 meters high by 6.4 meters wide) painting is now complete! It has been painted directly on the cliff face overseeing the whole area. Funds for this project were raised by the Thamichowa community; Anila Ngawang Samten (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s sister) provided all the necessary materials and tools needed for painting; and Ven. Nyima Tashi, Ven. Thubten Tendar, and Pasang Dekyi helped to actualize this incredible project. 

Painting set up of the large Amoghapasha on a cliff above Lawudo.

As one can imagine, this was an incredible feat, an unbelievable task to complete. The whole project started a couple of months ago and it took ten days to get the scaffolding up to the site where the conditions were freezing and windy making the scaffolding and painting quite dangerous. The actual painting took seven days by Nepali artists, finished the day before Lhabab Duchen, and consecrated on the day of this merit-multiplying occasion. 

Please watch this incredible video of the painting as it occurred, by Ven. Tenzin Michael:

The unbelievable benefits of merely seeing the painted holy body of Amoghapasha are mentioned in the
Amoghapasha Tantra:

Close up of the exquisite painting of Amoghapasha on a cliff above Lawudo.

Merely by directly seeing the Compassionate Eye Looking Enriched One (Amoghapasha) and the Potala Mountain with the celestial mansion, you become free from the eight great hells and the eight great fears. It even liberates you from all the suffering of having committed the five heavy negative karmas without break (having killed one’s father, mother, or an arhat; having caused blood to flow from a buddha; having caused disunity among the Sangha). It completely purifies even the very heavy negative karma of having abandoned the holy Dharma, all the obscurations, and so forth. Just seeing this deity totally purifies all the negative karmas and obscurations from having criticized buddhas and bodhisattvas. Just seeing this painted holy body totally purifies even those who are to be reborn in the lowest hot hell, Inexhaustible Suffering. You collect hundreds of thousands of times more merit than Brahma and other worldly gods. You achieve the sublime merits (good luck or good karma) of all worldly beings.

Even when you die, the Compassionate Eye Looking Enriched One directly shows his face to you and frees your breath (which means frees you from lower realms). Even after death you will be born in Amitabha’s blissful realm. You become free from obscurations and are able to remember up to fifty thousand past lives. This will be your last life in samsara (you will be freed from samsaric rebirth) and your next life only goes toward the ultimate heart of enlightenment. Just by seeing this holy body one time, you collect inconceivable merit. If you continually see this holy body, there is no question of turning back from enlightenment. You achieve the peerless happiness of buddhahood with the cessation of all obscurations and the completion of all realizations.

 Rinpoche encouraged students to have an image of Amoghapasha printed as large as possible and displayed publicly due to the benefit.

Ven. Roger Kunsang joining others at the 100-foot high cliff that now is blessed with the 31-foot painting of Amoghapasha.

We are so happy to be able to accomplish this wish of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and pray that we may we be able to fulfill all of his holy wishes. Ven. Roger Kunsang, after visiting the finished work commented with great joy that, “Rinpoche would be so pleased” to see this completed.

In a speech from the Thamichowa community, they expressed the following:

“From the depths of our hearts, we pray that the merit accumulated from our pure thoughts to complete Rinpoche’s holy wishes and benefit sentient beings will be a cause for Rinpoche to quickly be reborn in our area recognized as the unmistaken incarnation!”

Please find practice materials, mantras, and other resources related to Amoghapasha to download from the FPMT Foundation Store. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.