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A monk offering robes, made of best quality cloth, to Buddha statue at Mahabodhi Stupa. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche carefully choosing the cloth that will be offered as robes for the Buddha statue at Mahabodhi Stupa.
Every month Lama Zopa Rinpoche arranges for a new set of robes to be offered to the precious Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India.
In February, Rinpoche went to the market to choose the exact, best quality cloth for the robes and then offered prayers as a monk offered the robes to the Buddha very slowly and precisely (even though it was a busy evening with many pilgrims). This material, chosen by Rinpoche, will now always be used when offering the monthly set of robes to the statue.
The beautiful cloth Rinpoche chose for the offered robes.
In addition to offering robes every month to the Buddha statue in Bodhgaya, Lama Zopa Rinpoche also offers gold to the Jowo Buddha in Tibet and offer saffron flower petals, white wash, and material for umbrellas to Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal.
Please rejoice in these incredible monthly offerings.
You are welcome to contribute any amount to these ongoing offerings to holy objects in India, Tibet and Nepal.
Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, has a beautiful 50 feet high thangka that they unfurl for celebrations.
Amitabha Buddha Centre (ABC), Singapore, has undertaken several projects which are in alignment with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast visions for the FPMT organization.
Recently, they commissioned a 50 feet high x 30 feet wide large thangka depicting Amitabha Buddha in Sukavati pure land accompanied by the eight great bodhisattvas. Sewn entirely by hand by Tibetan artists in south India, it took over one year to complete the detailed applique work. Rinpoche requested ABC to arrange this thangka so the center could hold regular festival days where many offerings and practices could be done in front of the thangka as an incredible way to create merit and for people to connect with Amitabha Buddha.
Other centers are also contributing to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast vision for FPMT centers to display large thangkas and host festival days where these thangkas can be enjoyed. Please rejoice in the incredible large thangkas currently being utilized in FPMT centers around the world!
Please enjoy this video of ABC hoisting up their large thankga for the 2014 Vesak Celebration.
The incredible and precious Jowo Buddha statue in Tibet.
The extensive range of monthly and annual practices and pujas that are offered in India, Nepal and around the world through the Puja Fund is astounding. As Charitable Projects Coordinator, Ven. Holly Ansett, commented, “It is like Rinpoche has taken on the personal responsibility to care for all the main holy objects in the world on behalf of FPMT.”
All are welcome to participate in the activities sponsored by the Puja Fund by offering any amount toward these ongoing beneficial pujas and practices which are performed by as many as 9,000 Sangha members:
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. 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. After this, then you liberate numberless hell beings, pretas, animals, humans, suras and asuras from the ocean of samsaric sufferings and bring them to full Enlightenment. When all beings are brought to Enlightenment, only then are all the results of offering achieved.
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Scribe Ven. Tenzin Namdrol. Kopan, December 2012.
If you were Sangha but you didn’t wear robes, then people would not know [that you were ordained], but with robes on there is no question. That is how the robes have such incredible benefit for the mind. It is planting the seed for enlightenment when people show respect to your wearing of the robes, or to the robes themselves: This is planting the seed of liberation, and is a way of benefiting sentient beings.…
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Monks at Sera Je Monastery after lunch sponsored by the Sera Je Food Fund.
“Path to Geshe” by William Judge and Bodhi Leaf Productions tells the story of monastic life at Sera Je Monastery. You can learn more about this wonderful film on the Bodhi Leaf Productions website. You can also view the trailer below.
Sera Je Monastery is the learning institution of many of FPMT’s teachers. Nearly all of the 46 geshes teaching in FPMT centers around the world come from Sera Je Monastery. Since 1991, the Sera Je Food Fund has been offering meals to all the monks studying at this monastery. The fund currently offers three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks studying at Sera Je.
This film is now available to the public and can be purchased via Amazon.
Most Secret Hayagriva torma offering.
Every month on the Tibetan 29th day, an important day to offer protector pujas, The Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in the practice of Most Secret Hayagriva, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja (Hayagriva Tsog Kong). This is an all day puja with an elaborate torma offering (pictured above) and extensive prayers and meditation.
The Puja Fund just offered funds to cover the last 12 months of these pujas. The total amount for this is US$5,250.82
The Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja is dedicated to all FPMT centers, services, projects; the success of all Dharma activities and removal of obstacles; to all students who are facing obstacles; to the benefactors of the Puja Fund and to all beings.
You are welcome to contribute any amount to these powerful monthly pujas:
Land of Medicine Buddha’s stupa plans. This 39 foot stupa will be a replicate of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, India.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche had previously pledged to support Land of Medicine Buddha’s planned 39-ft stupa which is a replication of the holy Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, India, the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
We are happy to report that $50,000 has now been offered, through the Stupa Fund, to this incredible stupa project.
One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast visions for FPMT is to build 100,000 stupas around the world. Please rejoice that yet another stupa will be completed toward this long-term aim!
You are welcome to offer any amount directly to the completion of this stupa.
If you would like to support the Stupa Fund, to help ensure that pledges like this continue, you may do so at any time.
Land of Medicine Buddha will be building a Mahabodhi stupa, dedicated to the promotion of peace.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Maitripa College, Portland, OR, April 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently offered a series of teachings at Maitripa College in Portland, OR. These teachings were streamed live and are now available to watch at any time.
Rinpoche was very inspired by the work being done at Maitripa College, which has a strong focus on community service in addition to an impressive academic program. To help Maitripa continue this valuable work, Rinpoche offered, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, US$10,000 to the college.
Please rejoice in this offering and in the incredible work being done by Yangsi Rinpoche and his team at Maitripa College.
For over 14 years, Yeshe Norbu Association has benefited Tibetan refugees and children struggling to survive.
Yeshe Norbu Association is an Italian FPMT non-profit association which supports important projects benefiting Tibetan refugees and children. One project that Yeshe Norbu has benefited immensely is the Sera Je Food Fund. Over the past ten years, Yeshe Norbu has contributed funds to cover over 3 million meals provided by the Sera Je Food Fund.
This is something amazing to rejoice in. Please watch this video which outlines all of the charitable work undertaken by Yeshe Norbu Association for the benefit of Tibetan refugees and children who need the support so desperately.
Every month on the full moon the Puja Fund sponsors the offering of gold and robes to the most holy Jowo Buddha Statue in Tibet.
The extensive range of practices and pujas that are offered in India, Nepal and around the world through the Puja Fund is astounding. As Charitable Projects Coordinator, Ven. Holly Ansett, recently commented, “It is like Rinpoche has taken on the personal responsibility to care for all the main holy objects in the world on behalf of FPMT.”
Every month, the Puja Fund sponsors an incredible array of beneficial activities. Please check the dates that these will be occurring in May and June so you can rejoice as they are offered:
Full Moon
May 14, 2014
June 13, 2014
Prayers and Offerings:
- Offering of white-washing, Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupa, Nepal
- Offering new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles, Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupa, Nepal
- Saffron flowers offered in each of the four directions. Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupa, Nepal
- 16 Arhant puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life, Kopan Monastery, Nepal
- A new set of robes of the most precious material with meditation practice is offered each month to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India
- A new set of robes of the most precious material is offered monthly to the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokhang, Lhasa Jokhang, Tibet
- Gold is also offered to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha, Lhasa Jokhang, Tibet
- Robes offered to special Chenrezig statue inside Potala palace (when possible), Tibet
Tibetan 8th day
May 7, 2014
June 6, 2014
Prayers and Offerings:
- Extensive Medicine Buddha puja on the 8th day of the Tibetan month to bring success to all one’s activities, and for long life and also when anyone has passed away, Sera Me Monastery, India
- Rs 20 offering to approx. 2000 monks, Sera Me Monastery, India
Tibetan 29th day
May 27, 2014
June 26, 2014
Prayers and Offerings:
- Hayagriva Tsog Kong: all-day puja to Hayagriva with extensive offerings offered by 40 senior monks at Sera Je Monastery
- Rs 150 offering to approx. 40 monks, Sera Je Monastery, India
In addition, the following is offered annually:
- Annual 100,000 Tsog Offerings to Padmasambhava
- Annual recitation of 100,000 Praises to the 21 Taras
- Annual recitation of the Kangyur
- Incredible array of pujas and offerings during the 15 days of Losar
- Incredible array of pujas and offerings during the month of Saka Dawa
- Incredible array of pujas and offerings during Chokhor Duchen
- Incredible array of pujas and offerings during Lha Bab Duchen
Please rejoice in the incredible ongoing offerings of pujas, practices and prayers sponsored by the Puja Fund and performed by as many as 9,000 Sangha. You are welcome to donate any amount to these ongoing offerings.
All of the monks of Sera Je Monastery are offered three nutritious meals daily through the Sera Je Food Fund.
Every day, the Sera Je Food Fund offers three vegetarian meals to all of the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery (with an additional 800 monks from the Sera Je School joining for breakfast). The fund currently offers 8,300 meals every single day.
The amount of food required for this offering is astounding. For example, a typical month’s worth of meals requires, among many other ingredients:
- 98 gallons of cooking oil
- 2,601 pounds of flour
- 2,280 pounds of rice
- 36 bottles of soy sauce
- 5,300 bananas
- 510 bundles of green vegetables
Monks helping prepare one of the daily meals offered through the Sera Je Food Fund.
It costs approximately US$280,000 to offer three meals every day to all of the monks.
If you would like to contribute to the Sera Je Food Fund, you may offer any amount you are able.
- US$10: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one month
- US$120: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one year
- US$780: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one day
- US$5,460: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one week
- US$280,000: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all the 2,500 monks for one year
Some of the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.
The building site of the new ten rooms for the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently raised US$20,000 for the Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal, for the building of ten rooms for the nuns’ accommodation.
The offering was made from a number of extremely kind benefactors in Singapore.
Providing quality housing for Sangha is a priority for Rinpoche, he also recently offered $US50,000 toward the building of rooms for monks at a monastery in East Asia.
Building is underway for the nuns the new accommodation.
In addition, very year since 2009, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has sponsored the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery to complete one and now two 100 million mani retreats (100 million recitations of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM). In addition to the 100 Million Mani Retreats, Rinpoche is offering all the cost of food to all the nuns for this period as well as the cost of a very qualified geshe to stay during the retreat in order to give lam-rim teachings. One of these retreats is offered through the kindness of a benefactor, and the other through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.
In addition to this, Kopan Monastery has offered robes to all of the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.
Please rejoice in this continued support to the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.
You are welcome to offer any amount to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund
Please enjoy this short video of Land of Medicine Buddha’s Great Prayer Wheel being turned by many. This incredible prayer wheel contains over 170 billion mantras as well as many sets of texts.
The Great Prayer Wheel at Land of Medicine Buddha.