Charitable Activities

His Holiness during long life puja offered at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, January 2016. Photo by Bill Kane.

During the 2015 Jangchup Lamrim teachings (18 Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the newly inaugurated Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered tea to 32,000 participants, money offerings to the 18,100 Sangha present, and Rinpoche also composed a dedication which was made during these offerings. The cost of this was US$21,273 and made possible through the Preserving the Lineage Fund. Rinpoche commented that all of the thousands of people present were students of the same guru, including the 18,100 ordained Sangha, so the merit of making these offerings was incredible. 

32,000 participants attended His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Jangchup Lamrim teachings this year. Tea was offered to all and a money offering to all 18,100 Sangha in attendance. This is a small section of the entire crowd.

This teaching series began in 2012 and concluded with the 2015 event. The teachings themselves are incredibly precious and rare. His Holiness received the transmission by the former incarnation of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche and in this life, Ling Rinpoche, who was the main organizer of this four-year teaching event, requested His Holiness to offer these commentaries and transmission. This is the only time His Holiness has ever given teachings on 18 Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.

At the conclusion there was a long life puja for His Holiness at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered a silver Dharamchakra on behalf of FPMT and all beings to his Holiness directly (pictured in top photo). 

Audio and video of this rare teaching event can be found on the Jangchup Lamrim website: www.jangchuplamrim.org/media/video/2015-video-audio

You can learn more about the Preserving the Lineage Fund and how it has supported His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Jangchup Lamrim teaching event in previous years. 

For over eighteen years Wisdom Publications has been working on publishing a series of commentaries, Steps on the Path to Enlightenment, on Lama Tsongkhapa’s Lam-rim Chenmo by Geshe Lhundub Sopa. Volumes, 1 (The Foundational Practices), 2 (Karma), 3 (The Way of the Bodhisattva) and 4 (Śamatha) are currently available through Wisdom’s website and a final volume (5) on emptiness (the perfection of wisdom) will be released in 2017. 

Due to a gift from a very kind and generous benefactor, the FPMT Education and Preservation Fund was able to set up a special fund to sponsor this project. To date, over US$300,000 has been offered to this invaluable series.

Here we offer an excerpt from Volume 4 of Steps on the Path to Enlightenment, which, while available now on Wisdom’s website, will not be officially released until next month: 

While mindfulness is keeping your focus on your chosen object of meditation, the function of introspection is to constantly check whether excitement or laxity have arisen or are about to arise. This mental spy subtly examines your mental state again and again. “To preserve introspection” means to continually re-engage in examination; this is how you maintain introspection and reinvigorate your mindfulness. These are two different but complementary skills. When you are trying to meditate, you maintain your focus on your chosen object with mindfulness while repeatedly checking for the two obstacles with the vigilant mental spy of introspection. These two techniques work together to keep your mind from coming under the control of excitement and laxity. You must gain facility in both of these skills if you want to be successful in your meditation practice.

You can learn more about the Steps on the Path to Enlightenment series by Geshe Lhundub Sopa: www.wisdompubs.org/author/geshe-lhundub-sopa

Healthy and hearty vegetarian soup is often offered, through the Sera Je Food Fund, as dinner to the monks of Sera Je Monastery.

Since its inception in 1991, the Sera Je Food Fund has strived to assess and make adjustments and improvements to operations, procedures, and services offered to help ensure that this project is bringing the most benefit to those it serves. In 2015, two major changes were implemented which will not only benefit the monks as they partake in their daily meals, but also will benefit those who work very hard in the kitchen to get three vegetarian meals out every single day to all of the 2,500 monks.

in March of 2015 a dietitian visited the monastery and gave suggestions on how to improve the monks’ nutrition through the food offered. Changes include: an increase in protein, an increase in the amount and variety of vegetables and seasonal fruit, less oil and salt, wheat has been introduced to the white flour used in breads (most prefer the white flour so this is a gradual transition), more variety of healthful dishes are now being offered as well. The dietician also spoke to all the monks regarding healthy food and diet. 

The monks have to work very hard with big equipment and huge quantities of food to help offer three meals every day.

In October of 2015 a wage increase has also been granted to the Sera Je kitchen staff. The kitchen staff work incredibly hard for the Sera Je Food Fund; monks can be expected to work from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. on a rotating basis. This increase in salary will help increase staff morale with the hope that this will encourage experienced kitchen staff to stay in these jobs for longer periods of time. Having experienced staff is key to maintaining the standard of food served by the kitchen.

Please rejoice in the ongoing improvements to the operations of the Sera Je Food Fund which, for twenty-five years, has been offering meals to the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery. 

You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund: fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/seraje

Kshitigarbha statue and large thangka with offerings during Kshitigarbha Day celebration at Land of Medicine Buddha in California, 2012.

After receiving news that scientists were forecasting a huge earthquake and possible tsunamis on the West Coast of the United States, Lama Zopa Rinpoche began offering advice about how to help mitigate the effects of karma that can result in this kind of suffering. Recently Rinpoche suggested that Bay Area students and centers, supported by others from around the world, should complete the following:

1. 1,800,000 recitations of the long Kshitigarbha mantra done as part of a Kshitigarbha practice.
2. Taking the Eight Mahayana precepts 300 times.
3. Performing the extensive Medicine Buddha puja – ongoing.
4. Reading of the Tengyur four times – to be done at Sera Je Monastery.

FPMT Bay Area centers have created a website with more information and ways to make pledges and report mantra recitations; contribute to the Tengyur recitations; and report the taking of the Eight Mahayana precepts. This website also has a weekly blog to help students keep up on how many accumulations have been reported. 

As of Tuesday, January 5, the following has been completed:
Kshitigarbha Mantras: 389,782 out of 1,800,000; Tengyur Recitations: $23,810 out of $28,000 needed; 8 Mahayana Precepts: 1,677 out of 300. 

All are welcome (and encouraged) to contribute to the global efforts to pacify and minimize harm due to an earthquake on the West Coast of the United States (including subsequent tsunami caused by the earthquake). With only three weeks remaining to reach the goals put forth by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, a strong effort from many will be required. 

To learn more about the recommended practices for pacifying earthquakes and to make pledges and report mantra recitations: www.pacifyearthquakes.org

The nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery were forced into temporary shelter due to their nunnery being rendered uninhabitable following the April earthquake in Nepal.

A young nun of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery .

Following the earthquake of April, 2015, the conditions at Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery (also known as Bigu Nunnery), located in a remote area of Nepal, were such that the nuns living there had to evacuate and take up temporary shelter in Kathmandu. The earthquake destroyed all of the buildings at the nunnery and there was no safe housing for the seventy-five nuns. Additionally, there was no accessible health care facility or place for the nuns to study as all roads were blocked due earthquake destruction. 

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund was recently able to offer US$5,875 to the nuns, to help with food and health care needs while they are in their temporary shelter in Khatmandu. 

These nuns have been offering two 100 million mani retreats every year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been supporting this through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund; the sponsorship of 100 million mani retreats is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization. The nuns are still engaged in this retreat while in Kathmandu, 200 million mani mantra recitations are nearly finished. 

You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund and the support it has offered following the Nepal earthquake, the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, or about the 100 million mani retreats that the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery have offered in alignment with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Vision for FPMT.

A kind benefactor has enabled the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund to sponsor the building of a new IMI retreat cabin at Thakpa Kachoe Retreat Land, France.

Due to the kindness of a generous benefactor, the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund was able to sponsor the International Mahayana Institute’s building of a retreat cabin specifically to be used by Sangha at Thakpa Kachoe Retreat Land. 

This new cabin, named “Olka Cholung” after the place in Tibet where Lama Tsongkhapa did extensive retreat. It is run by Thakpa Kachoe and administered by IMI for IMI Sangha wishing to engage in medium-length and long retreats in Europe. 

Beautiful surroundings at Thakpa Kachoe Retreat Land, where a new retreat cabin for IMI Sangha has been built.

Thakpa Kachoe has twenty-two acres of pasture and forest and is located in the amazingly scenic South Alps region at Guillaumes in the hamlet of Villetale; a 1.5 hour drive from Nice. The cabin is a single room cabin with kitchenette, shower and adjacent dry toilet.

Olka Cholung has welcomed its first occupant who has already started a fourteen month retreat. Having recently arrived there she mentioned how easy will be to meditate on dependent arising as well as the kindness of others while in retreat because the cabin “would not have been possible without all the people who support the project.” She continued saying,  “I call it a ‘five star retreat hut’ because it indeed has all the conducive conditions. The surrounding is amazingly beautiful, the valley is quite vast, giving a gorgeous open view. The air is clean and the water pristine. There is silence. The hut is within a forest, isolated from other buildings. All the materials used are the most eco-friendly possible. This is crucial for the environment and also for the people living in it. And last, but not least, the indispensable condition of having good caretakers.”

Please rejoice in the building of this cabin which will benefit FPMT Sangha for years to come. 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monks and nuns. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Italy, 2014. Photo by Matteo Passigato.

Over twenty years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested that the FPMT organization offers a long life puja to His Holiness the Dalai Lama every year. This year the annual long life puja will be offered on January 1, 2016 following His Holiness’ Jangchup Lamrim teachings. 

On behalf of all the FPMT centers, projects, services and students, we are offering a silver dharmachakra, silver sets of the seven precious royal objects and the eight auspicious symbols, a right-turning conch shell and a money offering. Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Roger Kunsang are both in South India and will be able to present some of the offerings directly to His Holiness during the long life puja.

All are welcome to contribute to this long life puja which is offered to purify any mistakes that occur in relation to our spiritual teacher, and to create the causes and conditions to continue to receive benefit from His Holiness for a very long time. 

 “In Praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” was composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Praise to His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a collection of comments from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book.

Robes offered to the Buddha inside Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India. Lhabab Duchen, 2015.

Every month, on the full moon, the Puja Fund sponsors an offering of robes, made of the most precious material, to the most holy Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India.
The offering and prayers and kindly offered by Sangha and students from Root Institute for Wisdom Culture.

In 2014 Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the market in Bodhgaya and personally chose the best quality cloth for the robes as an example for the ongoing offerings.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught extensively on the benefits of offering to statues of Buddha. “If someone offers a small flower or rice to a Buddha statue, a stupa, or scripture then the benefit extends from then up to enlightenment. Amazing, amazing,” Rinpoche has said. “It is said in the sutra Piled Flowers, on top of that benefit, you achieve ultimate happiness, liberation from the causes of delusion and karma, and on top of that full enlightenment, all the realizations and omniscient mind.”

This year on Lhabab Duchen, many pujas and offerings were sponsored by the Puja Fund, including the robes offered to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple. 

You are welcome to contribute any amount to these ongoing pujas and offerings.

You can learn more about the FPMT Puja Fund and the various activities it supports. You can also enjoy an overview of all the FPMT Charitable Projects which contribute to many beneficial endeavors.

Monks of Sera Je Monastery enjoying a meal provided by the Sera Je Food Fund. Photo by Losan Piatti.

Every day, an incredible effort from many individuals, and a large quantity of food and supplies is needed to prepare, cook, and serve three meals per day to all of the monks studying at Sera Je Food Fund. Over the six months, the Sera Je Food Fund has used 52,254 pounds of flour, 39,062 pounds of rice, and large quantities of other foods such as vegetables, fruits, spices, grains, tea, milk, and other ingredients. 

Many volunteers offer their time to make sure the meals are prepared, cooked and served three times per day.

The cost for offering food through the Sera Je Food Fund, including all the operating costs, supplies, maintenance, and utilities is US$280,000 a year. In six months, US$90,908.09 was spent on food alone. 

Recently, a short film on the Sera Je Food Fund featuring Lama Zopa Rinpoche was released. In this video Rinpoche candidly speaks on the importance of supporting the food fund and the role it plays in spreading the Dharma in our world. Scenes from daily life at the monastery, including the logistics of preparing meals for all 2,500 resident monks at a time.

The Sera Je Food Fund is approaching its 25th year, and the support it’s received and the impact the fund has on the quality of life at Sera Je monastery deserves rejoicing and tremendous thanks for all involved.

You can sponsor meals for the monks of Sera Je Monastery as well as keep up on news and updates for this project. 

Renovation work on the Lawudo dining hall.

As reported in July, the Lawudo Retreat Centre, in eastern Nepal, was damaged by the earthquake and aftershocks the area experienced in April 2015. The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund offered US$50,000 toward the renovation needed due the kindness of many donors who contributed generously to this fund. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s brother, Sangay Sherpa, who is the director of the retreat center, recently reported that the renovation work is now 90% completed. The remaining work will have to wait until next year due to needing more funds and materials and also because of difficulties due to the winter season. Sangay organized the renovation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s home in Thame, Lawudo’s library, all of the retreat houses and the dining hall. Renovation work on the monastery is also underway. 

Renovation work on the Lawudo Library.

Please rejoice that so much of this work has been completed! Thanks to all donors of the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund and to Sangay for overseeing these projects and ensuring quality in the rebuilding. 

All are welcome to donate to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

You can learn more about Lawudo Gompa and the history of Lawudo. 
http://www.lawudo.com/About

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the incarnation of one of his teachers, Domo Rinpoche.

Domo Rinpoche with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

As a boy, Lama Zopa Rinpoche was ordained and educated at the monastery of one of his teachers, Domo Rinpoche — Drugkar Monastery.  Domo Rinpoche’s incarnation is now being educated at Sera Je Monastery in South India and Lama Zopa Rinpoche supports him in whatever way he is able.

It is a high priority of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s to offer support, directly and indirectly, to the next generation of Dharma teachers who will continue to pass on Buddha’s teachings in an unbroken lineage. By offering support to young tulkus, at pivotal stages in their development, The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund invests in the next generation of lamas by making offerings toward a number of young tulkus’ food expenses, educational needs and accommodation needs.

The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. You can learn more about other beneficial activities this fund supports. 

A beautiful new short film on the Sera Je Food Fund featuring Lama Zopa Rinpoche was released last week. In it Rinpoche candidly speaks on the importance of supporting the food fund and the role it plays in spreading the Dharma in our world. Scenes from daily life at the vibrant monastery, including what it takes to prepare meals for all 2,500 resident monks at a time, weave through the interview with Rinpoche.

The Sera Je Food Fund is approaching its 25th year, and the support it’s received and the impact the fund has on the quality of life at Sera Je monastery deserves endless rejoicing and thanks for all involved.

Sera Je Monastery, located in southern India, is the largest Tibetan monastic university, and therefore is vital to the preservation of the tradition. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche points out in the film, “If this monastery goes down, the education and teaching goes down, if there’s no food, the means of living goes down, then we cannot have teachers around the world, and the opportunity for many sentient beings to achieve higher rebirth… and ultimate happiness.”

Before the food fund was created, the monastery was struggling to provide nourishment for all of the monks. Now with everyone’s support, the food fund offers every single monk three healthy vegetarian meals a day, everyday, totaling over 3 million meals per year.

Please take a moment to rejoice in all the generosity and hard work of all who have supported the Sera Je Food Fund over nearly 25 years, and how it’s helping Sera Monastery cultivate our future teachers and preserve the Buddhadharma. 

If you would like to get involved and offer meals so the monks can excel in their studies, visit the Sera Je Food Fund’s homepage today.  

Many thanks go out also to Matteo Passigato who so kindly filmed and edited the video, and to Lara Gatto for all her kind help.