His Holiness the Dalai Lama about to enter the Jokhang temple in Leh, Ladakh, July 14, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be offering teachings at Shewatsel Teaching Ground in Leh, Ladakh, India on July 21-23, 2023 at the request of the Ladakh Buddhist Association and the Ladakh Gonpa Association. The events will be broadcast live on the website of the Office of His Holiness, as well as on the Dalai Lama Archive Youtube channel. The teachings are translated live in Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Nepali, Ladakhi, Marathi and Mongolian. Links to the webcasts in various languages can be found on the live webcast page for the teachings.

His Holiness will offer a two-day teaching on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva on July 21-22. On July 23 he will confer the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment followed by a short long life prayer offered to His Holiness offered by the Ladakh Buddhist Association and the Ladakh Gonpa Association. 

The events schedule announced by the Office of His Holiness is below; all times shown are Indian Standard Time (IST):

July 21: 8:00am – 9:30am teachings on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva
July 22: 8:00am – 9:30am teachings on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva
July 23: 8:00am – 9:30am Avalokiteshvara Empowerment 

We rejoice and hope you will be able to tune in to these wonderful events!

You can follow important and inspiring news about His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the official website of His Holiness:
https://www.dalailama.com/news

We invite you to follow the teaching schedule of His Holiness on the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s official website.

A replica of one of the Twenty-one Tara statues from Rinpoche’s room in Kopan, June 28, 2023, Photo by Venerable Tenzin Tsultrim.

Recently, Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC) in Singapore completed an ambitious holy object project advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The project added statues of all the Twenty-one Taras, each standing twenty-four inches high, to the altar in ABC’s beautiful gompa. This was completed in August 2021 and Rinpoche offered a teaching via Zoom during the consecration ceremony in October of that year.  This project was recently further enhanced with the completion of an exquisite golden aura adorning each of the statues. ABC Director Tan Hup Cheng shares the story:

The advice to ABC to build the Twenty-one Taras was given by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche as early as 1995. First, Rinpoche had advised ABC to buy land on which to build a dedicated temple. Secondly, for the main altar, Rinpoche had advised that the central image should be the One-thousand Armed Chenrezig surrounded by the Twenty-one Taras. I wrote down the advice and we designed a graphic of what the altar should look like and showed it to Rinpoche. In this picture, you can see Rinpoche standing next to Lama Osel when he was very young. The central figure of Chenrezig is surrounded by Twenty-one Tara statues together with statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and Lama Tsongkhapa and His Spiritual Sons.

The design of the main altar drawn by Tan Hup Cheng director of ABC Singapore in 2000 based on Rinpoche’s advice.

What was initially an advice given by Rinpoche became the cause for these ideas to develop and finally, be fully actualized. The printout you see here, drawn in 2000, is not far from the reality . As you can see, the marble altar that was a sketch has actually been created. The vision of a One-thousand Arm Chenrezig surrounded by Twenty-one Taras has all been realised. Amazing, amazing, isn’t it, how the words of our guru can be transformed into such a reality?

The altar in the main gompa at ABC Singapore, June 28, 2023, Photo by Venerable Tenzin Tsultrim.

Rinpoche had given  the advice that the Tara statues for ABC would be a replica of the Twenty-one Taras in his room at Kopan Monastery, 24-inches high, in full gold, in that style. In 2018, we attempted to approach the artist in Nepal who had made that set of Tara statues, but he had passed away. Through the help of Tencho Lama, a Kopan Monk, another statue maker was found and he made a wax model of the 24-inch Tara statue. This was shown to Rinpoche and met his approval. The statue maker then proceeded to cast the full set of Twenty-one Tara statues. In 2020, the pandemic broke out and the production of the statues was delayed. It was not until August 2021, that the statues were completed and shipped to ABC.

To enhance the display of the statues, the artist Peter Griffin had advised that we should adopt a floating display effect of the statues. He proposed to construct the lotus seats for the Tara statues and filigree auras to enhance the statue. We accepted his proposal and he proceeded to construct the lotus seats. To support the lotus seats we had to make a special engineer-designed metal frame secured to the back wall. The background wall was painted with a special “ultramarine blue,” which gave the gold-colored statues a stunning effect. Electrical wiring was laid during the installation. Peter completed the gilded lotus seats and shipped them to Singapore for the consecration in October 2021. Our precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche consecrated the statues by Zoom from Kopan Monastery, as we were still in lockdown. It was not until April 2023 that the twenty-one auras were completed and shipped to Singapore. The gilding and painting of the auras was done at ABC and on June 20, 2023 the auras were fully installed with the help of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and the Kopan monks.

Tara statues on their lotus seats with auras, June 28, 2023, Photo by Venerable Tenzin Tsultrim.

During the journey of making the Twenty-one Taras, which took four years, one very important lesson we learned was to have full faith and trust in the guru’s advice. We adopted a “ Just Do It” mindset, and do whatever it takes to fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes. The result of doing so will be astounding, this project is an example of this.

If FPMT centers or study groups plan to set up a Twenty-one Taras altar, they are welcome to contact ABC Director Tan Hup Cheng for advice.

To help ensure the creation of holy objects around the world as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, all are welcome to offer a donation of any amount to the Holy Objects Fund.

You can learn more about Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore: www.fpmtabc.org

His Holiness meeting with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Dharamsala, India, November 2, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

On July 6, 2023, the world celebrates His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday! We’ve collected several resources for students to use in their celebration of His Holiness and in their ongoing Buddhist study. FPMT International Office wishes  His Holiness a very auspicious 88th birthday and sincerely requests His Holiness to live for a very long time and to continue bringing his universal message of compassion to the world. 

Great Festival Celebrating His Holiness

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered extensive advice on prayers and practices to do for His Holiness’s birthday, remarking that by doing these prayers and practices, students also benefit their own Dharma practice. You can find Rinpoche’s collected advice in the booklet How to Do the Great Festival of His Holiness’ Birthday in the Best Possible Way.

Long Life Prayers

The PDF booklet Prayers for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibet contains prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and for Tibet.

Praises and Requests

“Praises and Requests to His Holiness the Dalai Lama” is a collection of praises of, comments about, and requests for His Holiness by Lama Zopa Rinpoche found in the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive Online Advice Book.

Online Teachings by His Holiness

Teachings by His Holiness are usually live streamed, and also available for viewing later as video recordings. The DalaiLama.com also has links to live web streams, scheduled events, summaries of events, and more. Look out for the two teaching events coming up in July, at Leh, Ladakh and Dharamsala, India!

During teachings, His Holiness often conducts the ceremony of generating the awakening mind, where he would urge students to meditate on the two types of bodhicittas. His Holiness himself does the meditation everyday, and he strongly encourages his Dharma friends to likewise do, and put effort into. You will find His Holiness’ typical advice on the practice in the FPMT booklet, The All-Encompassing Yoga Mind Meditation, which is a translation of an oral teaching given by His Holiness in June 2021.

Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara) Practice Materials

His Holiness is respectfully held as a manifestation of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), the buddha of compassion, by his disciples. At their request, His Holiness had composed these two Chenrezig guru yogas centering on the inseparability of the guru and Chenrezig: 

• Staircase to Potala Pure Land Guru Yoga – A Practice of Avalokiteśvara – a short Chenrezig guru yoga that references the Compassion Buddha’s pure land, was composed by His Holiness for our ease of practice. 

Additional prayers to Chenrezig recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found under Chenrezig Practices and Mantras, including the following:

• Request to the Supreme Compassionate One – a request prayer to Chenrezig that Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommended as inspiring and effective. “[This is] a very good prayer, in which you are expressing your mistakes,” Rinpoche explains. “You are trying to practice Dharma with your body, speech, and mind, but when you check, in reality, nothing has become Dharma. Nothing has become pure Dharma because your motivation has always been the eight worldly concerns.” This practice helps you to receive Chenrezig’s guidance, generate compassion for others, and purify heavy negative karma.

To further explore the practice of Chenrezig, visit the FPMT website for more information and materials.

Special Announcement: Today we received the news that His Holiness will visit the Main Tibetan Temple for his 88th birthday celebration on July 6 from around 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. where he will give some remarks to the public and view a few cultural presentations before returning to his residence.

Please read a recent statement from FPMT in support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 

Through comprehensive study programs and practice materials, FPMT Education Services nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.

LRZTP 9 started on April 24, 2023. The first two-year course since the pandemic.

Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program (LRZTP), an FPMT project in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, had not been able to start a two-year Tibetan language and interpreters training course since the COVID pandemic . We are pleased to report that the new course, LRZTP 9,  successfully began on April 24, 2023, with twelve new students.  Please rejoice! LRZTP has produced many gifted Dharma interpreters-translators for FPMT Dharma centers since its conception over twenty-two years ago. In addition to the two-year intensive training program, LRZTP also runs short Tibetan language courses and offers private online Tibetan language lessons.

Please read this report from LRZTP about the first two months of the course, and how new students can still join if they have an interest:

It has already been two months since LRZTP 9 started. On April 24 2023 the LRZTP school inaugurated its first two-year intensive course in Dharamsala since the Covid-19 pandemic. With twelve new students the ninth program in the history of the school officially began.

As is always the case, some students already had some background in Tibetan language, with several being actually quite proficient already. Others began learning from scratch. A couple had also attended the online course and one participated in a short beginners’ course in 2019. Regardless of the level at the start of the program, all students have already made a huge progress in Tibetan language over these past two months. They participate in modern Tibetan language classes, have conversation lessons, classical (literary) Tibetan practice as well as cultural presentations.

This study program is quite demanding and the students can feel it especially in the beginning. In particular, the month of May was intense, as apart from regular classes, many guests visited the school and everybody participated in the FPMT Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The day after the puja all students joined the FPMT members for an audience with His Holiness in the residence in McLeodganj, receiving blessing and a surprise tea and snacks. This was truly an auspicious occasion, especially for the beginning of the program, an inspiration in studies.

In order to inspire the new students even more several guests visited the school in the month of May. Graduates of the program shared their experiences and gave guidance on how to study and live in Dharamsala. One particularly distinguished graduate was Ven. Kartsön (Yaki Platt), who until recently served as an interpreter at the Chenrezig Institute in Australia. He not only shared his experiences from the time when he was a student, but also talked about the ups and downs of the life of a Buddhist teachings’ interpreter.

Another inspirational guest was Isabelle Henrion-Dourcy, Tibetologist and anthropology professor who studied Tibetan opera in Tibet. Since, contrary to most students of Tibetan language she did not come to learning Tibetan through Buddhism, she could offer yet another perspective on studying the language. Her story was exceptional as she spent much of her time in eastern Tibet and could speak dialects of that area.

One more distinguished guest in May was Ven. Tashi Choedup, coordinator of FPMT India. Tashi was a student of LRZTP in the past but the general discussion between them and the students focused on the problem of translation in a gender neutral way. Tashi talked about how Dharma is (not) translated into modern Indian languages and how difficult it is to make Dharma language fair towards genders. The insensitivity of gender based expressions was a topic of a short debate which followed.

Currently the LRZTP 9 students are already able to express themselves in all three tenses (past, present and future) and can hold conversations about Tibet, their families and countries, weather, food and school. Before the first module ends in mid-July they will also acquire the ability to count in Tibetan, do shopping in Tibetan and make polite requests. They are getting ready for their first attempts in making short translations of scriptures.

And, as we always want to stress, LRZTP is by no means closed to new students just because the ninth program has already begun. In fact, we are happy to announce that in August the current batch will be joined by two new people – from Poland and Sweden. Since they will not be joining the program from the start, they will need to pass an entry exam, which will be the first module final exam. However, since both of them studied before and already attended private classes at LRZTP, this should be a piece of cake for them.

For more information about the Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, visit their website: http://www.lrztp.org

FPMT Board member and Abbot of Kopan Monastery Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi making one of the traditional offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the May 24 long life puja offered on behalf of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the entire FPMT organization. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

This month’s e-news brings you important news, updates, and causes for rejoicing including:

• A moving overview of the long life puja offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and accompanying events in Dharamsala
• Prayers and practices done at Kopan Monastery and Lawudo during the 49 days of Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away. 
• Two compositions from Lama Zopa Rinpoche newly available
• Great lamas teaching at FPMT centers in Europe
• Update on the Light of the Path Retreat and Foundation Service Seminar at Kopan

• News of two FPMT Basic Programs are starting September 2023

An much more!

Please read this month’s e-news in its entirety.

Have the e-News translated into your native language by using our convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page.

Visit our subscribe page to receive the monthly FPMT International Office e-News directly in your email inbox.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama entering the Main Tibetan Temple for the long life puja offered to him by the FPMT organization, Dharamsala, India, May 24, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Three hundred and fifty members of the FPMT organization, including 150 who joined the event from abroad, participated in a moving long life puja offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, on May 24, 2023. This event was the culmination of months of concentrated effort, and was a sincere request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche that was years in the making. Following the long life puja, a small series of important and auspicious events took place in Dharamsala. Ven. Tenzin Legtsok was in attendance for all of these events and provided a moving overview of the activities and the impact on those in attendance. 

Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Ven. Tenzin Legtsok (the author of this article, toward the middle of the assembly) joins Kopan monks and nuns waiting for His Holiness the Dalai Lama before the May 24 long life puja. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

It is said that among offerings to the guru, the offering of practice is supreme. Last November, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, sole refuge and guide of the world, accepted Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s request to offer a long-life puja on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. On May 24, headed by the precious Abbot of Kopan Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, Ven. Roger Kunsang, the FPMT Board, many tulkus, geshes, geshemas, monks, nuns, and hundreds of students and sponsors from all reaches of the FPMT family came together to fulfill this wish of our inexpressibly kind lama. In this way it was not only an elaborate offering to His Holiness, but also an offering to Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche by working together to fulfill Rinpoche’s holy wishes.

FPMT Board members Paula de Wys, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and Ven. Roger Kunsang offering a mandala to HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama, May 24, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

After months of preparation, especially by the staff of International Office and by the Kopan monks and nuns, raising funds, commissioning and filling statues, coordinating with His Holiness’ Private Office, and with all the participants, preparing texts, bringing many offerings from Nepal, everything was nearly ready. On the evening of May 23, the Main Temple was a swarm of activity with passes being distributed, the procession line being organized, tormas being set up, orchids arranged, and many old friends meeting once again. The puja began at six in the morning with preliminary prayers, and tea and bread offered to all in attendance. His Holiness came from his palace gates a little before eight and slowly walked to the Main Temple past a line of FPMT geshes and geshemas standing to receive him, smiling and greeting all in the crowd.

As soon as His Holiness was seated, the Chant Master of Kopan, Geshe Lobsang Sherab, led the entire assembly in reciting Lama Chopa. After tea and sweet rice had been served His Holiness made his only remarks during the ceremony. [Please enjoy this short video including many moving aspects of the long life puja offered to His Holiness which includes translated words shared by His Holiness about Lama Zopa Rinpoche.]

Key points made by His Holiness include:

“These long-life prayers are being offered today by the FPMT, an organization with many centers around the world that has for quite some time been led by the late Zopa Rinpoche. He has been my friend and a very trustworthy person. Recently, he passed away. An excellent reincarnation of his will definitely come. For this to happen I will pray, and I urge all of you, Rinpoche’s acquaintances, to make strong prayers that an excellent reincarnation is able to come. … 

“Lama Zopa Rinpoche really made outstanding efforts during his lifetime. Rinpoche himself definitely has strong aspirational prayers for an excellent reincarnation. I also hope that an excellent reincarnation is able to come and I request all of you to pray for this. …

“I am determined to work for the flourishing of the Buddha’s teachings and welfare of all sentient beings, as Je Tsongkhapa wrote in a verse at the end of his Great Treatise on the Stages to the Path to Enlightenment:

Wherever the Buddha’s teaching has not spread
And wherever it has spread but has declined
May I, moved by great compassion, clearly elucidate
This treasury of excellent benefit and happiness for all.”

Tsog offerings in front of the Main Tibetan Temple, Dharamsala, India, May 24, 2023. Tenzin Choejor, courtesy of DalaiLama.com.

In the course of the Lama Chopa, with Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi acting as vajra master, FPMT offered a mandala, representations of the enlightened body, speech, and mind, monastic robes, staff, bowl and other monastic articles, the eight auspicious symbols, the seven emblems of royalty, the eight auspicious substances, texts, medicinal powders, carpets, and several hundred of the 1000 Buddha statues.

Dedications were made with the prayers, Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsongkhapa’s Teachings, Causing the Teachings of Buddha to Flourish, Prayer for the Spreading of Ecumenical Buddha’s Teachings, and finally concluded with The Prayer of the Words of Truth composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

“So, if these prayers today are effective, everyone will benefit,” His Holiness said. “Tibet and the neighbouring lands of the Himalayan region have a long-standing connection to the Dalai Lamas. I am determined to work for the benefit of the people who live in these places, but in addition there are now scientists across the world who are interested in what the Buddha’s teaching have to say about the workings of the mind and emotions. I would like to help them as much as I can too.

“For these purposes, supported by your prayers and dedication, I feel I may be able to live another twenty years or so. I’m keen to let people, especially those who have no religious allegiance or interest in spiritual affairs, know the importance of cultivating love and compassion and achieving peace of mind.” [This quote is taken from the dalailama.com coverage of the puja]. 

All in all, the event went very smoothly, the prayers were chanted beautifully, and His Holiness showed the aspect of being pleased with the entire occasion.

Sixth Week Commemoration, Private Audience, and FPMT Lunch

Puja commemorating the sixth week

In addition to offering a long-life puja to His Holiness, all the FPMT students in attendance participated in a puja commemorating the sixth week since Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away, a private audience with His Holiness on May 25, and an FPMT lunch hosted by Tushita Meditation Center.

The Abbot of Namgyal Monastery Thamtog Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Yangsi Rinpoche, Serkong Rinpoche, Osel Hita, and Kopan Umze at the Tara Puja commemorating the sixth week since Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, Tushita Meditation Center, Dharamsala, India, May 23, 2023. Photo by Kopan Monastery.

The evening before the long-life puja, Tushita’s amazingly hard-working staff and volunteers together with a crew of monks and nuns all pitched in to set up the main gompa at Tushita for a Four-Mandala Ritual to Chittamani Tara the following afternoon. Thrones for many lamas, piles of tsog, tormas, flowers, and other offerings for the puja had to be arranged since there would be no time after the long-life puja the next morning. At 2 p.m. on the 24^th, a distinguished assembly of lamas, geshes, geshemas, monks, nuns and lay disciples packed Tushita’s main gompa to overflowing. Lead by Kopan Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, together with the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery, Thromthog Rinpoche, His Holiness’ assistant, Yangten Rinpoche, President of Maitripa College, Yangsi Rinpoche, Osel (Hita) Rinpoche, Rigsel Rinpoche, Phuntsok Rinpoche and others, the assembly offered heartfelt prayers for Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche to swiftly send forth another emanation to continue guiding us and carrying on Rinpoche’s enlightened deeds in this world.

Audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Just a few days before the long-life puja it was decided that His Holiness would grant the FPMT students gathered in Dharamshala an audience in his private residence. On May 25, after lining up for a Covid test at daybreak and passing through security screening, we slowly filled the audience hall, awestruck by the magnificent statues and thangkas, abuzz with excitement at meeting His Holiness. When some of His Holiness’s close attendants first appeared, a hush fell over the group; then from way in the back someone began softly chanting OM MANI PADME HUM. Slowly all spontaneously joined in to respectfully receive the Buddha of Compassion.

Rinpoches, Geshes, Kopan Sangha, and representatives and students of FPMT centers at the private audience
with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India, May 25, 2023. Photo by the Office of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Holiness began by recounting a dream which clearly indicated he would live until 110 years old, then said that despite the many troubles that come to his attention, his mind remains totally relaxed and positive. This, he observed, is due to his meditation on the attitude of bodhichitta and the view of emptiness. This and his determination to work for the welfare of sentient beings for as long as space remains have carried him with ease through even the most difficult situations. As His Holiness spoke with palpable warmth and affectionate concern, it felt as though he was revealing himself to us, a continuum of pure compassion and wisdom in perfect union ceaselessly appearing in life after life to benefit sentient beings.

His Holiness explained that his thorough familiarity with wisdom and compassion is due to his study of the classical Buddhist scriptures beginning in his childhood. He began telling stories illustrating the kindness of his own teachers, the past Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche and debate tutors. About twenty minutes into the audience His Holiness asked the attendants whether there wasn’t tea to be served. When they replied that none had been prepared, His Holiness said, “is it possible to prepare and bring some”. Twenty minutes later a group of Namgyal Monastery monks appeared with kettles of hot chai, and buns. As we sipped tea and the English interpreter translated, His Holiness playfully smiled at little Rigsel Rinpoche and called him up several times to take pieces of His Holiness’ bread.

The moment His Holiness first mentioned Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, it seemed as if we collectively got a lump stuck in our throats. But it quickly cleared as, without the slightest shadow of sadness, His Holiness fondly recalled his friendship with Rinpoche, and Rinpoche’s pure devotion and tireless service to the Dharma and sentient beings. As on the previous morning, His Holiness said that he would pray for a good reincarnation of Rinpoche to appear, one who can carry on the sacred work of Rinpoche’s life, and that we should do the same.

Then His Holiness spoke at length about the process of himself being discovered and identified as the reincarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. He told stories about visions in the sacred lake, Lhamoi Lhatso, about the Muslim warlord who first tested him, and about his reactions when the search party headed by Kewtsang Rinpoche first appeared at his home. Among the many details His Holiness related, was one thing Lama Zopa Rinpoche often used to recount – when His Holiness first met the search party, in conversation he told them, “I’m the one who works for the welfare of all sentient beings”.

In the last part of the audience His Holiness recounted more about how beneficial his studies of Buddhist scriptures have been for him. It is largely due to this that not only has he been able to navigate many difficult challenges in life with peace of mind, been able to perform well in his duties to lead the Tibetan people and serve the Buddha Dharma, but also that he feels great confidence when engaging with scientists and scholars from the West and other cultures. This is because the Tibetan lineage of Buddhism is firmly grounded in a logical approach to Buddha’s teachings as explicated by Dignāga, Dharmakīrti, Nagarjuna, Chandrakirti and other scholars of ancient Nalanda University. His Holiness explained that it is due his study of the commentaries by ancient Indian Buddhist masters that he has developed a broad understanding of Buddha’s teachings as opposed to many geshes who focus on their monastery textbooks (yigcha) and have a narrower perspective. This is also why he has been able to support his explanations with quotations from many sources, which His Holiness described as his offering of practice.

His Holiness graced us with nearly two hours of his eloquence, advice, and intimate reminiscences. There was a sense of having a close, loving connection. It was as if His Holiness were saying, now, amidst feeling the loss of your teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche, trust in me, I’m here to guide you; and trust in the Dharma, bodhichitta, the wisdom of emptiness, and the determination to serve others which have been my own heart practice. Study, practice, and serve. Finally, His Holiness gave us each the opportunity to offer a kata and receive his personal blessing. It was an inexpressibly fortunate occasion.

FPMT Board members Paula De Wys and Karuna Cayton thanking everyone for organizing the Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
at the lunch at Tushita Meditation Center, Dharamsala, India, May 25, 2023. Photo by Tenzin Tsultrim.

FPMT Lunch

That afternoon, Tushita Meditation Centre prepared a sumptuous feast of Indian curries, pizzas, pasta, an ocean of mango lassi, and varied desserts as a way for all the FPMT family in the area to connect. Right at 1 p.m. when lunch was served, the sky burst open and poured down a torrential shower that sent all 250 attendees scrambling into the main gompa, where we enjoyed our lunch amidst a chorus of conversation. To conclude, Paula de Wys, on behalf of the FPMT Board of Directors, stood and thanked all those who worked so hard to make these wonderful events happen. It was moving to see and consider how so many – Kopan monks and nuns, Western ordained saṅgha, lay staff and students, from all branches of the organization – had coordinated so well, and worked seamlessly together to fulfill Rinpoche’s sacred wishes. Throughout I did not see one temper flair or hear one ill word spoken. Rather, all appeared to treat one another with respect, kindness, and genuine dedication to following Rinpoche’s impeccable guidance. I think Rinpoche would have been pleased, and that it bodes well for the FPMT going forward.

Tenzin Legtsok is an American Buddhist monk. He will soon complete the Geshe Studies Program at Sera Jey Monastic University in Karnataka, South India where he has studied classic Indian Buddhist treatise and their Tibetan commentaries in the tradition of ancient Nalanda University. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2001.

For the past twenty years he has tried to make basic Buddhist teachings accessible to various audiences in India and the US through lectures, essays, and meditation instruction.

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.

Large Twenty-One Tara thangka by artist Peter Iseli. Photo by Cynthia Karena.

In 2014, Lama Zopa Rinpoche commissioned Peter Iseli to paint a very big (49 ft x 30 ft) Twenty-One Taras thangka.

Peter and his wife Jangchub Iseli-Sangmo spent four years creating the thangka, one section at a time, in a studio at Institut Vajra Yogini in France.

At the end of 2017, Lama Zopa offered this thangka to Tara Institute in Melbourne, Australia, “to show to as many people as possible”.

Consecrated by several lamas, including Rinpoche, after completion in France, it was displayed twice: at Hamer Hall in Melbourne and at the retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Great Stupa in Bendigo in 2018.

Rinpoche requested Peter to make further changes to the face of Tara, a rainbow around the central Tara’s aura, and the shapes of blue lotuses. In 2019 Peter made these changes and since then the thangka has been stored at Tara Institute.

Display of the large Twenty-one Taras at the Melbourne Town Hall. Photo by Cynthia Karena.

Rinpoche’s wish to show this thangka to as many people as possible was fulfilled again by Tara Institute at the Victorian Celebration of the United Nations Day of Vesak on May 13, 2023. This multicultural event included a “Sangha Dana” lunch offering to sangha of all the different traditions, a Friendship Walk through the streets, and chanting and interfaith messages in the Melbourne Town Hall, where the Twenty-One Taras Thangka blessed everyone present, to a soundtrack of Lama Zopa invoking the Twenty-One Taras. One of the main coordinators, Jane Lewis, created a short video of the inspiring work behind the scenes.

“My wish is for the big centers in FPMT to have these large thangkas.” Rinpoche explained as part of his Vast Vision for the FPMT organization. “This is a way to leave imprints for all these people [who see them], for enlightenment.”

Several FPMT centers have commissioned large thangkas and are now hosting festival days where these holy objects can be enjoyed. We are also delighted to share that Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, once again displayed their 50 ft x 30 ft Amitabha Buddha thangka at their Vesak celebration the first week of June. 

50 ft x 30 ft Amitabha Buddhist Centre thangka which was displayed at the ABC Vesak celebration. Photo courtesy of ABC Facebook page.

We invite you to rejoice in the displaying of these magnificent holy objects which, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained, make 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.”

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.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche leading students in walking meditation around the stupa and grounds of Kopan Monastery, 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

As we have previously shared, this year’s Light of the Path retreat (LOP) at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, will take place as planned from September 3-17, 2023.

Arunas Antanaitas, photo courtesy of Arunas’ Facebook page.

Arunas Antanaitas, 62, passed away peacefully on Vesak, May 5, 2023 in Dundas, Ontario, Canada, of cancer.

Arunas had embarked on his cancer journey 17 months prior with grace, dignity, and a contagiously positive outlook. His last days were filled with prayers, surrounded by his loved ones. Arunas will be remembered for his compassion, love of conversation, propensity for playfulness, and unwavering desire to help others.

Arunas served as the center director for Lama Yeshe Ling, seeing the center transform from a meeting place in his and Sharon’s basement studio to hosting our resident teacher Geshe Sonam Ngodrup (Geshe Sega) and Tibetan language interpreter Venerable Jamyang Khedrup. Our community supported Arunas in his wish to serve as director until his last breath, with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s last advice to Arunas being for him to rejoice in his having served Rinpoche in this way. During his illness, Arunas was able to fulfill all of Rinpoche’s advice, along with the support of our community. For example, Geshe Sonam conveyed the Amitayus Long Life initiation, we did many group recitations of the long life sutra, and an animal liberation. A month earlier, Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Delek taught at Lama Yeshe Ling and conferred the initiation into Arunas’ main practice. Khensur Rinpoche remarked that he was impressed that Arunas attended every event despite it being so very clear that Arunas was very weak and in pain.

In one of the last letters to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Arunas asked if Rinpoche agreed with the doctor’s view that he had now become ‘palliative’. Rinpoche’s reply was: “a good practitioner is always palliative”. Arunas had discussed and coached his family and the hospice staff about the Buddhist view and practice of dying, and everyone was supportive of how he wished to die. They found a hospice that supported leaving his body undisturbed for three days. At the hospice, Geshe Sonam and Khedrup came to visit, as well as fellow practitioners several times coming together to meditate and pray. Moments after Arunas’ last breath, Geshe la, Khedrup la, and a small group of sangha and family performed the Guru Puja, with Geshe la leading us in visualizing Arunas receiving the four initiations, and the dissolution of the guru in the heart.

One of the palliative care nurses mentioned that everyone she had cared for there was afraid of death, as was she. It was remarkable for her to observe that Arunas was not afraid, and neither were the people around him. Arunas wanted to live longer, and he did everything possible to do so, for he had more he wanted to offer. It is sad that this good person is no longer with us here. However we know this isn’t the end, and we pray that Arunas finds the way to manifest again as a good person, to connect very early with the Dharma, and continue his path of service to the guru for the benefit of beings.

Please pray that Arunas may never ever be reborn in the lower realms, may he be immediately born in a pure land where he can be enlightened or to receive a perfect human body, meet the Mahayana teachings and meet a perfectly qualified guru and by only pleasing the guru’s mind, achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. More advice from Lama Zopa Ripoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).

To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).

Front of the FPMT Office in the Debate Courtyard of Namygyal Monastery, Mcleod Ganj, India.

Joyous preparations are underway for the long life puja that will be offered by the FPMT organization to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Namgyal Monastery, Mcleod Ganj on May 24. Hundreds of statues are being filled, tormas made, consecration pujas for the statues offered, and extensive offerings prepared.

The Kopan monks and nuns are working so hard– we offer them tremendous thanks and also grateful thanks to the hard work of Geshe Ngawang Sangye and to Tushita Meditation Centre for all the kindness hosting and taking care in so many ways. This is also possible thanks to the kindness of generosity of all the donors, volunteers, and whole FPMT family. May all the prayers of the puja be actualized!

We also have very wonderful news for FPMT students who are gathering from all over the world for the long life puja!

His Holiness has accepted to give an audience to FPMT students at His Holiness’s residence in Mcleod Ganj on May 25. 

FPMT Office located in the Namygyal Monastery debate courtyard.

The audience will start at 7a.m., so please gather at the entrance to the palace (which is behind the Namygyal Monastery debate courtyard) at 6.30 a.m. Everyone will need a security pass. Those sitting inside the temple or in the offering procession for the long life puja can use the same security passes.

Other FPMT students will need and be able to get a security pass from the FPMT office in the debate courtyard (please see photo). You will need to bring your passport with your Indian visa, and a passport photo. These security passes will need to be obtained by the 24th at the latest. 

We recently shared the text that will be used in this long life puja for His Holiness. All are welcome to download this text and follow along during the event. 

You can follow important news about His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the official website of His Holiness:
https://www.dalailama.com/news

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal, March 27, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

We have a lot to share in this month’s e-news. 

We have compiled information about all of the new resources, web pages, event updates, and important information shared since Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away on April 13, 2023. 

We hope this will serve students well to access all that is available, including:

• Recent updates from FPMT International Office
• Practices for Rinpoche’s Swift Return
• Tributes and condolences received
• Information about the upcoming Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• FPMT Statement in Support of His Holiness
• Important dates and events
• Updates from within the FPMT community

Please read this month’s e-news in its entirety.

Have the e-News translated into your native language by using our convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page.

Visit our subscribe page to receive the monthly FPMT International Office e-News directly in your email inbox.