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Monks of Sera Je Monastery engaged in debate.
For over ten years the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund has sponsored a special annual oral examination of Sera Je Monastery’s top scholars who have shown incredible aptitude for memorization. 223 students were awarded new robes and khatas (cost of US$3,268) for their accomplishments of memorization.
Memorizing any of these texts is considered an incredible feat, two of the scriptures were memorized by just a few scholars. The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is very happy to be able to recognize and support these monks in this way.
- 83 students memorized The Essence of Eloquence on the Art of Interpretation (Dang-Nge)
- 98 students memorized The Clear Meaning of the Paramita (Drelpa-Don-Sel)
- 7 students memorized Skab Dangpoi Spyi Don by Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen
- 1 student memorized Collection of the Six Treaties on the Middle Way
- 25 students memorized Shantidava’s The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life
You can catch a glimpse of the effort needed to memorize texts like these listed above, as well as the incredible dedication needed for scholars at this level, by reading an account published in Mandala from Ven. Tenzin Gache (Brian Roiter) who became one of the very few Westerners to participate in the rik chung debate held at Sera Je Monastery.
If you would like to contribute to the offerings to these top scholars:
Long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
A long life puja was held for Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at Land of Medicine Buddha in California. Dagri Rinpoche, Yangsi Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Dakpa as well as Tenzin Ösel Hita all attended the puja along with students and members of the FPMT, Inc. Board of Directors.
This entire puja, including the special dance of the five dakinis and a very moving offering of praise from Tenzin Ösel was captured on video.
Some highlights in the video: Dakinis enter @52 minutes, Tenzin Ösel reads praise to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at @3.00 hours, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teaching @3.16 hours.
In addition to hosting the long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha hung dozens of Tendil Nyersel prayer flags. FPMT centers, projects and services are encouraged to continue to do the practices for Lama Zopa Rinpoche as advised by Khadro-la, which include hanging the Tendil Nyersel prayer flags as well as reciting Most Secret Hayagriva mantra and organizing animal liberations. More information is available on the page “Rinpoche’s Health – Official Updates and Practices.”
You may contribute to future long life pujas for Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
14-foot Auspicious Stupa of Many Doors at Milarepa Center, Vermont, USA.
In 2007, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave advice about several of his Vast Visions for the FPMT organization spanning lifetimes into the future.
One of his wishes is for the organization to build 100,000 stupas around the world. About this initiative he said, “The plan is to build stupas all over the world, individual people or centers [can do this], no matter how many years one puts effort into building stupas, the benefit that this gives to sentient beings every day in so many ways is unimaginable.”
The Stupa Fund is very pleased to present you with a new page dedicated to showcasing and keeping count of this incredible effort happening around the world to fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes.
The Sera Je Food Fund Kitchen crew work together to provide thousands of daily meals.
Mandala magazine recently published the October-December 2013 issue which featured the Sera Je Food Fund in their Cooking with Bodhichitta section. The piece, written by Ven. Ngawang Sangye is a fantastic overview of the daily kitchen schedule for the Sera Je Food Fund, complete with some recipes of the healthy vegetarian meals offered to the monks and many photos.
“The Sera Je Kitchen serves food to a large resident monastic population of 2,500. Various people are involved with feeding the monks in different organizational aspects. For all of them it is a very satisfying, and at times, very challenging experience.” More….
“Kitchen work begins at 4:00 a.m. every day. The on-duty cooks initiate all the preparatory work like pre-heating the hot plate used to make bread. All resident monks enrolled in the geshe studies program, with the exception of those in the very senior classes, have to take turns to help with kitchen work for two days every month. Every day, between 50 and 70 monks are assigned to kitchen work.” More….
The Stupa Fund was delighted to offer US$50,000 in 2011 toward the building of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia. Recently a video was produced with a camera attached to a mini-drone and shows the incredible awe-inspiring 50-meter [164-foot] stupa’s progress.
More details on this ambitious and beneficial stupa can be found on Mandala‘s blog.
Some of the 2,500 monks of Sera Je Monastery.
Each month, the Sera Je Food Fund offers an incredible amount of food to the monks of Sera Je Monastery. In July, 1,308,787 Rs. (approximately US$20,872) were spent on food for meals offered at breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The expenses this month were lower than usual because some unused food was sold back to markets. Additionally, some of the pujas where food was offered were sponsored, therefore, there was no cost to the Sera Je Food Fund for those meals.
Foods and supplies offered this July included:
- Nearly 17,150 bananas were offered
- 4,931 pounds of rice and 2,866 pounds of dahl were prepared
- 7,619 pounds of baking powder and flour were incorporated into recipes
- 2,002 bundles of green vegetables and 4,362 pounds of combined other vegetables were served
- 63 bottles of soy sauce were utilized
- 2,785 cups of cooking oil and 56 gas cylinders were needed
Cooking with Bodhchitta
The October-December 2013 issue of Mandala published several recipes from the Sera Je Food Fund kitchen in their Cooking with Bodhichitta online blog. Here we include a recipe for a traditional and satisfying Tibetan dish, Vegetable Noodle Soup (Thukpa). NOTE: This recipe is meant to feed 2,500 people, so adjust accordingly!
Vegetable Noodle Soup (Thukpa)
Food is prepared in large pots and equipment able to fold food for 2,500.
Ingredients:
- diced mushrooms
- sliced radish
- spinach and other green leafy vegetables
- a freshly prepared mixture of ground turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and star anise (about 1 kilogram [2.2 pounds])
- sliced onions
- tomatoes
- refined sunflower oil (about 15 liters [4 gallons])
- salt
- dark soy sauce
- desiccated coconut
- noodles (made in our kitchen)
Preparation:
The noodles used in the Vegetable Noodle Soup are made in our kitchen. Refined white flour is kneaded with a consistency that is slightly firmer than what we have for the bread. This dough is then run through a noodle-making machine. First the dough is run through the machine to press it into flat layers. These are then rerun through the machine until the required thickness is achieved. Once it reaches the desired thickness and firmness, the flat layers are run through a cutting machine that cuts out thin long strands of noodles. These are then dried for a day.
For the thukpa the noodles are boiled separately and then mixed with the vegetable soup and cooked together until done.
First, boil some water. Add the dry noodle strands to the boiling water and cook until nice and soft. Drain the water and keep aside.
In a separate vessel, heat some oil. Add the sliced onions. Cook until they turn slightly brown. Add the mixture of spices, salt and the dark soy sauce. Add a little water to prevent the spices from burning. Cook for about 3 minutes. Then add the cut tomatoes. Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes. Then add the vegetables. Then add the pre-boiled noodles. Cook together with the vegetables for another 30 minutes.
The annual cost to offer three delicious and nutritious meals every day to the 2,500 monks of Sera Je Monastery is US$280,000. Through the Sera Je Food Fund, you can easily set up monthly secure donations in order to support this project in an ongoing way.
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Ösel (right) with his teacher Geshe Gendun Chompel (middle), and his partner, Mai (left).
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund recently offered US$14,463 for the roof repair of Tenzin Ösel Hita’s teacher, Geshe Gendun Chompel. Ösel requested that Lama Zopa Rinpoche help in this way because the roof was very old and extremely hot in the Summer, making it very difficult for anyone to remain inside.
Ösel is still taking teachings from Geshe Gendun Chompel, and said this about those teachings in 2013, “It is so wonderful to hear the Dharma in such simple and clear terms, while clearing so many doubts I’ve had during a long time of my life. Understanding the teachings without having to clarify with anybody but myself. I’m so grateful for the understanding and help I have received. Thank you for the time to find myself, thank you for the patience and dedication, dearest Gen-la. You are like my Father and Mother, and will always be in my heart.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads an animal liberation, Singapore, 2005.
Ven. Roger Kunsang recently requested that all FPMT centers need to begin, or continue, regularly offering animal liberations for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life. The Animal Liberation Fund sponsors weekly animal liberations as well as large animal liberations in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche designed this table as a prototype for animal liberation tables.
Animal liberation is a specific practice done for animals which would otherwise be killed. The practice involves taking the animals-in-danger around holy objects to leave positive imprints in their minds, reciting mantras for them, blessing water to sprinkle onto their bodies, and then releasing them. This differs from general animal blessings which involve blessing any animal with mantras or a holy object. Animal blessings are, of course, wonderful to do for animals, but this is not what is meant by “animal liberations.”
Please refer to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s full advice for benefitting animals.
“Like yourself, all sentient beings want happiness and no not want suffering, problems or discomfort.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche
You can order the Liberating Animals hardcopy or eBook from the FPMT Foundation Store.
Fred Cheong is offering Rinpoche a medallion smaller than a nickel with 1,000 Namgyalma mantras on it. Photo: Ven. Roger Kunsang May 4, 2013.
Rejoice!
Student Fred Cheong of Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, has to-date organized the liberation of 181.2 million animals for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life. He plans to liberate 200 million animals by end of 2014 and has committed to liberate 10 million animals total for Rinpoche’s health and long life! Please rejoice in this amazing effort and commitment!
You are also welcome to support the Animal Liberation Fund’s efforts to sponsor animal liberations around the world.
2,918 monks received 10 days worth of dried food from the Sera Je Food Fund this year in an effort to supply them with food during the Summer Rain Retreat.
Each year, the monks in Sera Je Monastery observe the Yarney or “Summer Rain Retreat” for 45 days according to the Monastic Rules and Practices. This year’s Summer Rain Retreat ended on September 4, followed by about 10 days of break or holiday from the monastery’s routine philosophical studies or school programs. During this period, the Sera Je Food Fund‘s main kitchen will be closed but monks will still be given about 10 days’ worth of dried food for them to cook either on their own or with their respective house groups or khamtsens.
Dried food offered by the Sera Je Food Fund to 2,918 monks.
A total of 2,918 monks received the dried food. Each monk has received about 4.5 pounds of rice, 6.6 pounds of flour and 2 cups of cooking oil: all fully sponsored by the Sera Je Food Fund! Rejoice!
You can see more photos of this distribution and keep up with life at Sera Je on the Sera Je Monastery’s Facebook page.
To read more about the daily activities of the Sera Je Food Fund kitchen, and also to enjoy some recipes of this delicious food, please read Mandala magazine’s “Cooking with Bodhichitta: The Sera Je Food Fund.“
Sera Je Food Fund’s Dramatic Impact on the Monks of
Sera Je Monastery
By Geshe Thubten Jinpa
Geshe Thubten Jinpa
A 78-year-old monk walks back and forth two times every day for the meal being served in the main prayer hall of Sera Je Monastic University, situated in South India. After each meal, he comes back with a half-loaf of bread that he did not finish. I thought the leftover bread would go in the garbage bin, but I was wrong. He puts the bread in the sun and lets it dry. Later in the day when his young disciples come back hungry from class, he offers the dry piece of bread as a snack with a cup of black tea.
This old monk has been doing this for decades. Now it is just a habit, but 30 years ago he started this ritual out of helplessness and responsibility. In those days, senior monks who had young disciples had to save half of their food so that their young pupils could eat and be able to continue their studies in the evening without an empty stomach.
Young monks enjoying the daily breakfast provided by the Sera Je Food Fund.
Some of the young monks who studied with him and received his dry bread each day are the most brilliant geshes today. They are now the main teachers for the young monks in the monastery and some are teaching in FPMT centers around the world and benefiting many people.
It was not an easy job to accept any new monks before the 1990s because when you accepted a new monk, you took full responsibility for his well-being, meaning you had to take care of his lodging, food, study and other material needs. It is as if you had become a parent to the new monk.
Geshe Wangchen, one of the oldest monks at Sera Je, remembers how stressful it was when he was receiving many new monks from Tibet and the Himalayas. Although he was joyful to have new monks come from far and wide to learn the Dharma, he understood the reality that they were now his complete responsibility. This was very challenging at that time, as every monk had to pay for their meals themselves. In the early ‘90s Geshe Wangchen could not afford to offer meals to his students, and so he had no choice but to share each of his own meals with three or four other monks in addition to organizing food – a heartbreaking porridge made out of just 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) of flour – for as many as 20 young disciples. Today, he appreciates so sincerely the Sera Je Food Fund that was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1991. Suddenly, the responsibility of providing for all the monks was lifted from him.
Geshe Nyima, a lharampa geshe (equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy), is now teaching hundreds of monks more than six sessions every single day, despite his poor health. He suffers from gastric ulcers and is very weak, exemplifying the dangers of malnurishment at a young age. Geshe Nyima escaped Tibet in 1982, together with 15 other young monks, and arrived in India to study at Sera Je Monastery. Most of the friends with whom he escaped from Tibet became very ill due to the lack of nutrition and hygiene. Most of them gave up and either returned to Tibet or left for somewhere else. Geshe Nyima stayed on, but he struggled. All those who survived the early times are now in poor health, like Geshe Nyima.
Today, the Sera Je Food Fund provides highly nutritious meals, hygienically prepared for thousands of monks every day. Since the food fund started in 1991, the health of all the monks improved dramatically. They are now able to devote their full time to their Dharma studies without worrying about their meals or if they will have enough food. The most significant impact of the Sera Je Food Fund can be seen by the increase of numbers of the monks, and that senior monks like Geshe Wangchen are now able to accept as many new students as they can without worry.
Approximately 2,500 monks study at Sera Je Monastery. The Sera Je Food Fund provides nutritious meals for all.
Sera Je Monastery now has the largest amount of monks studying Tibetan Buddhism and it is where most of the best scholars are produced. These scholars are, in turn, able to teach Dharma all over world and attract many new students, thus directly helping to preserve the Mahayana tradition.
Buddha’s teaching of love, compassion and interdependence is needed urgently, especially in today’s war-torn world. The complete teachings of Buddha consist of three vehicles including the Mahayana Vajrayana which is refined from the Nalanda tradition. This is alive only in Tibetan Buddhism and the survival of this invaluable wisdom depends solely on the sustainability of the great institutions such as Sera Je Monastic University. That’s why His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama says, “It is due to these great monastic colleges that the profound, invaluable Buddha’s teaching is preserved and passed on without any corruption. Otherwise, humankind would have lost its most sacred relic long ago.”
Unfortunately, we live in a world where billions of dollars spent on manufacturing weapons every year, but in comparison, a great deal of struggle is required just to get the basic needs for an altruistic purpose such as supporting Sangha communities.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Manali, India, July 2013.
Yet, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes and determination are far more powerful and effective than any nuclear missile. He works so hard in trying to find anything that benefits sentient beings. He say, “When I am requesting someone to support any Dharma project, I am not only aiming to benefit the receiver but also the donors as well.”
Dharma is not just about studying, meditating or praying. It can be practiced in every part of our life. We can make whatever we do Dharma practice. We can support the great work of eliminating the suffering of others by supporting Dharma projects. It is not possible for everyone to engage in the serious Dharma study and practice, but your single contribution to support those who live their life abiding in morality and engaging in three trainings can be so meaningful. Your support not only benefits them but also you receive equal benefit.
Whatever we possess today, whether it be life, health or wealth, this does not exist inherently, and it is in the nature of impermanence, at any time it can change. So while you have this incredible situation, use it wisely. Use it to benefit others most, for example, by supporting Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy project, the Sera Je Food Fund, which has a dramatic impact on the monks of Sera Je Monastery and the preservation of the Mahayana tradition.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche enjoying a meal offered through the Sera Je Food Fund.
When you are making a contribution through Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s projects, it is like you are selecting the best marketing agency to market your product to generate everlasting profitable revenue. Because Lama Zopa Rinpoche is someone who is living a life truly in accord solely with Dharma. In today’s Buddhist community he is known as the great yogi (practitioner) of this modern age, he knows and teaches how to make the best out of everything we do. Your single contribution and merit accumulated through that is rejoiced in and dedicated after every practice Lama Zopa Rinpoche does – whether it be the longest food offering, overnight teachings, after saving a drowning insect from the water or during hours of meditation.
Bodhisattva Maitreya states in the Uttaratantra: “Buddha’s doctrine is categorized into two parts: scriptural Dharma – studying and teaching scriptures – and Dharma of realization – attaining realization by living in morality.” By supporting the Sangha community at Sera Je Monastery you are playing the best role in the preservation of Buddha’s teachings and service to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas and in this way contributing to happiness of all living beings.
Geshe Thubten Jinpa was ordained by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1990 and since then has studied and completed the geshe course at Kopan Monastery. He graduated as a rabjampa geshe from Kopan Monastery in 2010 and then after one year of intensive study and exams at Sera Je Monastery and University he was awarded with Special Geshe degree in 2012. Geshe Jinpa has also served as Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s second attendant.
You can read another moving piece by Geshe Jinpa, “Rejoice for the Wonderful Food Fund!”
Please check out photo galleries of daily breakfast, lunch and dinner options offered by the food fund.
The current cost to offer three meals a day, every day per year, to the 2,500 monks studying at Sera Je Monastery is US$280,000.
One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT is for some FPMT centers to display huge thangkas and host festival days.
The beautiful appliquéd thangka of Guru Rinpoche. The thangka will be displayed during 1,000 Padmasambhava tsog offerings in India and Nepal and during special occasions.
A close up of Guru Rinpoche as depicted in this large thangka.
In 2011 Lama Zopa Rinpoche through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund commissioned a 55 ft x 40 ft high stitched appliquéd thangka of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). The thangka will be displayed during 1,000 Padmasambhava tsog offerings in India and Nepal and during special occasions.The total cost of the thangka was US$75,000 and was fully sponsored by an incredibly kind benefactor.
In the middle of the thangka is the Padmasambhava merit field. The right side has eight aspects of Padmasambhava and the left side displays Padmasambhava’s pure land.
In 2012 Rinpoche went to see the progress of the thangka which was quite incredible.
It was blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Jangchup Lamrim 2013 teachings.
The following advice was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche regarding specifics for this Vast Vision:
“I would like for there to be many thousands of offerings in front of the thangkas as well as offering banners. People could sit facing the thangka, or sit like they would in a puja. Extensive offerings can be set up and practices such as offering bath, prostrations, extensive offering practice etc. Students can recite the Seven Limb Prayer and offer a puja.
The beautiful appliquéd thangka of Guru Rinpoche.
“During the festival day in the beginning the centers could give some introduction to Buddhism, then also to lead a deity puja (according to what thangka is being displayed). Then people can offer music, dances, etc., to the thangka (and also for everyone to enjoy). In this way many people make a connection to the deity and connect to Dharma. Also many people who would not normally come to the centers will come: people with children, the elderly, neighbors.
“The idea is for many people to offer music to the Buddha, offer dancing, offer singing, etc. The main thing is making the offering to Buddha. By offering to Buddha then it is something so meaningful, instead of just entertainment.
“The centers can have a large umbrella above the thangka (yellow or orange color cloth). Also can have a procession up to the place where the thangka is displayed.
“The center could advertise the festival day widely and invite people outside the center.
“My wish is for the big centers in FPMT to have these large thangkas. This is a way to leave imprints for all these people [who see them], for enlightenment.
“Then also to have tea, food, a little bit like a party. Can be a buffet, but to offer delicious food. Then people always remember that and for sure they will come next time. They will ask, ‘When will it happen again?’
“The festival days can be within the first day or Losar or the 15th day of Losar (Day of Miracles). On that day the merit is multiplied, so therefore every offering and practice you do, any virtue you do, increases one hundred million times. So if the festival is done on one of those days.
“Other ideas: people can do three circumambulations around the thangka, centers could organize to have a horse carriage so that children can go around the thangka in a horse carriage. Then the horse also collects merit. Any animal that comes on that day makes their life meaningful. Children can go around on the horse carriage and all the people that can’t walk, they can still go around too.
“This tradition comes from Tibet, where they would display a very, very large thangka on a mountainside, or on the wall once a year.
Prayer wheels are filled with mantras traditionally printed on strips of paper and tightly rolled around the core. These days mantras are reproduced onto microfilm; the more mantras, the more powerful. Prayer wheels can be small enough to be held in the hand, table-based or can be very large containing billions of mantras. The Prayer Wheel Fund is sponsoring the building of 100,000 prayer wheels around the world for peace.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering a prayer wheel to Richard Gere, Dharamsala, India, 1998.
These are some of the amazing benefits that Lama Zopa Rinpoche translated when giving his own prayer wheel to Richard Gere in 1998 in Dharamsala when he came for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Losar teaching:
The Limitless Light Buddha Amitabha said: “For the benefit of sentient beings of the degenerate age, I have explained the benefits of the mani wheel. The one who practices while turning equals the fortune of the thousand buddhas.”
The Founder Savior, the unequalled Shakya King, told the bodhisattva Dripa Namsil: “It is more beneficial to turn the Dharma wheel one time than [to be] a meditator of highest capacity who engages in one-year retreat on the essence meaning of mantra. It is more beneficial than [to be] a middle capacity meditator who does retreat for seven years or a lower capacity meditator who does a nine-year retreat.”
From The Peerless Wish-Granting Jewel Tantra: “The person who turns this wheel which possesses OM MANI PADME HUM will be blessed by all the gurus, the deities will grant realizations, those gone to bliss will pay attention to him or her, and the Dharma protectors will eliminate all obstacles.”
From The Will of the Action of the Compassionate Eye Loving One: “Each time you turn this OM MANI PADME HUM Dharma wheel equals the number (of the mantra) of the approximation retreat.”
Therefore, the fortunate capable beings turn the great Dharma wheel upright: the highest intelligent person will achieve enlightenment and work for sentient beings; the middle capable being will achieve fortunate rebirth and join the holy Dharma; and the lowest capable being will achieve good rebirth, separate from the ten non-virtuous actions.
If you place the Dharma wheel at home and turn it, the migrator beings abiding in that house will be liberated, and the home will become similar to the Potala (Pure Land of Chenrezig). At the time of death, if you place the Dharma wheel with OM MANI PADME HUM next to your head and make requests with intense devotional mind, without need of practicing powa (transference of consciousness) your consciousness will be transferred in one instant to the heart of the Compassionate One. Therefore, without qualms of a two-pointed mind in this profound supreme Dharma wheel, one should cherish it, build the Dharma wheel with perseverance, and turn it with an intense wish.
From The Tantra of the Circle of Six Thousand: “Even for the person who turns this precious wheel, any sentient being who sees, hears, remembers, or touches him or her completes the merits, purifies defilements, and achieves enlightenment.”
Thus is explained by the Buddha. When death comes, place the Dharma wheel at your crown and you won’t need to practice powa. When you carry the Dharma wheel and meet other sentient beings, even those who have killed their father or mother will be liberated. Even the sentient beings who see the wheel on the bridge will be liberated.”
You can also read “Benefits of Making Prayer Wheels” by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT Education Services has created a Prayer Wheel Resource page.
If you would like to contribute to the building of prayer wheels around the world, you can donate any amount to the Prayer Wheel Fund