FPMT Community: Stories & News

Geshe Losang Tengye. Photo courtesy of Institut Vajra Yogini.

Geshe Losang Tengye, who played an important role in helping establish Tibetan Buddhism in the West, stopped breathing in his room at Institut Vajra Yogini in France on Friday, October 19. Geshe Tengye stayed in clear light meditation for five days. He was 92.

Geshe Tengye was born in Lhatse, Tibet, in 1927. He went to the local monastery at the age of six. He followed a traditional path of in-depth monastic Buddhist study until the 1959 Chinese takeover of Tibet. He went into exile in India and continued his geshe studies at Buxa Chogar, the camp for refugee monks in Buxa Duar, West Bengal, India. Despite illness and hardship, Geshe Tengye received the lharampa geshe degree in 1969.

In 1980, at the request of FPMT co-founder Lama Thubten Yeshe, Geshe Tengye became the resident teacher at Institut Vajra Yogini (IVY), the newly established FPMT center located in the south of France near Toulouse. Due to Geshe Tengye’s infinite patience, wisdom, and compassion, IVY has grown into a large and flourishing Dharma center. He was much loved by his students and will be deeply missed.

Sangha and lay students doing prayers and practices for Geshe Tengye, Institut Vajra Yogini, France, October 2019. Photo courtesy of Institut Vajra Yogini.

Yangsi Rinpoche, who was a close student of Geshe Tengye, arrived at IVY from the United States on Saturday, October 21. He joined with Geshe Tenzin Loden, the current resident geshe at IVY, and Geshe Losang Jamphel and Geshe Jamphel Gyaltsen, the resident geshes at the nearby Nalanda Monastery, doing daily pujas as advised by Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, who was a close friend of Geshe Tengye. Western Sangha and lay students also did daily prayers and practices for Geshe Tengye. On Monday, October 28, the body of Geshe Tengye was taken to a local crematorium for cremation. IVY students will continue to do prayers and practices for Geshe Tengye through the forty-nine days, which ends on December 5.

Sangha and lay students gathered for Geshe Tengye at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, October 2019. Photo courtesy of Institut Vajra Yogini.

Read the obituary for Geshe Losang Tengye published in Mandala Issue One 2020.

Learn more about Institut Vajra Yogini, on their website:
https://www.institutvajrayogini.fr/indexA.html

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Ven. Thubten Gyalmo and liberated animals, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

In August 2019, Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, the FPMT center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, successfully liberated four male goats and ten male sheep. They now have a new home in Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, approximately 400 kilometers (248 miles) from the capital Ulaanbaatar, and are in a peaceful environment with beautiful green surroundings. They are now no longer in danger of being eaten. Center director Ianzhina Bartanova shares the story.

Clearly, the tradition to liberate animals from life-threatening conditions was well-known and practiced in Mongolia in the past. However, nowadays it is so rare, and many people do not have an awareness of this. But Ven. Thubten Gyalmo, the FPMT resident teacher at Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, is sharing information about animal liberation via radio in Mongolia and during her weekly classes at the center in Ulaanbaatar.

The reality in Mongolia is that there is a high consumption of meat. It is one of the main reasons that seven years ago Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommended that the Mongolian center host a 100 million mani retreat on an annual basis. (A 100 million mani retreat is where retreatants recite the Chenrezig mantra OM MANI PADME HUM a 100 million times.) In addition to the mani retreats, Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling has initiated an animal liberation, the very first one for the past twenty years. The animals were rescued from the butcher market during Mongolia’s national festival of Naadam, a time of great celebration when mutton dishes are widely served.

The liberation combined two traditions: the Mongolian one and lineage of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. According to Mongolian tradition, only male sheep and goats should be liberated, and a special animal liberation sutra must be recited for removing obstacles, obtaining longevity, and attainment of nirvana. Also this tradition requires one to sprinkle blessed water over the animals, to put mani pills inside their mouths, anoint their heads and hooves with some oil, and shower flower petals over them while reciting auspicious mantras. Moreover, our liberated animals have their own ID cards and names. Male sheep are called Yamuchil One, Yamuchil Two, etc., up to number ten, and male goats are called Tsevel One, Two, Three, and Four respectively. These names are mentioned in the sutra.

Liberated animals ID cards, Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

Traditionally, liberated Mongolian sheep were not shorn so people could easily recognize them from their long fleece. Upon the advice of the local herder and drawing from today’s practice of animal husbandry, the health of the sheep will be compromised if not shorn, especially during the summer heat. Therefore, we will shear them at a suitable time. We had quite a chuckle imagining sheep with very long “wool,” their limbs and horns “massaged” with oil, and having passed through some detox diet of mani pills, and emerging from a flower-spa procedure. So we called them “hippie animals,” our Mongolian flower children.

Following Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice, various preliminary prayers, mantra recitations, and other practices were done and concluded with special FPMT dedication prayers. We had a beautiful altar with a Buddha statue, sutras, stupas, and tsa-tsas arranged in the middle of their new home so animals could do korwa around the altar. It was challenging—however quite fun—to lead them in their first circumambulation.

First korwa with the liberated animals, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

Third korwa with the liberated animals, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

During the auspicious 25th lunar day, Idgaa Choinzinling monks and Dolma Ling nuns led a naga puja near the local water source and a Lama Chopa puja in the local herder Jigmed’s ger. Early in the morning while doing the naga puja, we were blessed with a clear blue sky and the appearance of the sun and moon at the same time; a thangka painting became a reality.

Monks and nuns leading a Naga puja, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

The Lama Chopa puja was done in a traditional tent (ger or yurt) with around twenty participants. It was amazing how such a small ger could fit so many people.

Herder Jigmed offering tsog, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

Animal liberation team with some local residents: Ani Choinzom, Ani Cunchen, local student, Ani Gyalmo, local driver, animal liberation coordinator Munkhtuvshin, spiritual program coordinator Khulan, local driver, center director Ianzhina, monk Zoksonbaatar, herder Jigmed and his friend posing on top of an extinct volcano’s crater, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo courtesy of Ianzhina Bartanova.

Special thanks to our local herder Jigmed, who has kindly offered to take care of the animals. Jigmed has been participating in 100 million mani retreats in Ulaanbaatar since 2013, and he was very inspired by Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings on kindness to animals. Jigmed specially built the fence around his ger and will provide all necessary supplies and care to several Tsevels and Yamuchils. We are also very grateful to local and foreign sponsors, and we encourage everyone to participate in our virtuous activities of saving animals’ lives next year. Let’s make a Dharma herd!

Animal liberation practice, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

Monks reciting prayers through a loud speaker, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

Jigmed and our dear animals, Bulgan province, Northern Mongolia, August 2019. Photo by Ianzhina Bartanova.

Animal blessing practice can be done by students on their own, in other words, a teacher or ordained Sangha member is not needed to lead the practice. For more on practices to benefit animals, see:
https://fpmt.org/education/prayers-and-practice-materials/benefiting-animals-practices-and-advice/

For more information about Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, visit their website:
http://www.fpmtmongolia.org/shedrub-ling-center

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Nalanda monks viewing the property they hope to transform into Maitreya Pure Land, Lavaur, France. Photo courtesy of Nalanda Monastery.

Two monks from Nalanda Monastery are currently touring North America to talk about a new project to create Maitreya Pure Land. The monastery, which is an FPMT affiliate located in the South of France, has an opportunity to buy neighboring property and create a place for semi-isolated retreat. You can read more about the project in Mandala‘s just-published article “Nalanda Monastery’s New Project: Maitreya Pure Land.”

While on their North American tour, the two Nalanda monks, Vens. Gyalten and Tendar, are sharing information on the Maitreya Pure Land project and raising funds for it. The monks have already visited three California FPMT centers—Tse Chen Ling, Ocean of Compassion, and Land of Medicine Buddha—and Kachoe Dechen Ling, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s house in Aptos. The tour, which is schedule from October to December, is taking the monks to the US states of California, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Florida, and Vermont, and the capital, Washington, D.C. More locations may be added soon.

Read the new article “Nalanda Monastery’s New Project: Maitreya Pure Land”:
https://fpmt.org/mandala/in-depth-stories/nalanda-monastery/

Learn more about Nalanda Monastery’s Maitreya Pure Land project, including how to invite Vens. Gyalten and Tendar to visit during their tour and how to offer support:
https://maitreya.nalanda-monastery.eu/

Follow Vens. Gyalten and Tendar on their North American tour on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/nalandastour/

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

H.E. Ling Rinpoche with Geshe Lobsang Jamphel, Geshe Jamphel Gyaltsen, Geshe Lobsang Yonten, Geshe Tenzin Loden, and Ven. Tenzin Khentse at Nalanda Monastery, Labastide-Saint-Georges, France, May 2019. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunkhen (Nico Balthazar).

His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Ling Rinpoche arrived at the Toulouse airport in France on April 30, 2019. Rinpoche was welcomed by representatives from Nalanda Monastery and Institut Vajra Yogini, FPMT centers near Toulouse. Rinpoche remained in France through the end of May 2019, teaching at several Dharma centers including Nalanda Monastery, Monastère Dorjé Pamo, an FPMT nunnery near Toulouse, Institut Vajra Yogini, and Kalachakra Centre, an FPMT center in Paris. From May 3-5, 2019, Rinpoche gave three days of teachings on “Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun,” and bestowed the White Tara Long Life initiation at Institut Vajra Yogini. Ven. Losang Gyaltsen, Nalanda Monastery director, Ven. Chantal Tenzin Dekyi (Chantal Carrerot), Monastère Dorjé Pamo coordinator, and Laura Haughey, a Kalachakra Centre student share the story about Rinpoche’s visit to France.

On May 2, 2019, Nalanda Monastery had the great privilege to receive His Eminence Ling Rinpoche. Rinpoche kindly gave advice to the community on the importance of study and also taming one’s mind. Rinpoche’s great humor and kindness were very much appreciated by the community. We hope that H.E. Ling Rinpoche will come again next year as we are hoping to develop this connection.

Geshe Lobsang Jamphel, the present abbot of the Monastery praised H.E. Ling Rinpoche, saying Rinpoche is a great hope for the Tibetans. We also feel H.E Ling Rinpoche will be a great hope for the Dharma in the West. Deep gratitude to His Eminence for sharing with us Rinpoche’s precious time, wisdom, and compassion.

H.E. Ling Rinpoche with Geshe Lobsang Jamphel and Geshe Tenzin Loden at Nalanda Monastery, Rouzegas, Labastide-Saint-Georges, France, May 2019. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunkhen (Nico Balthazar).

On the occasion of H.E. Ling Rinpoche’s visit to Institut Vajra Yogini in early May, Rinpoche honored us with a visit to Monastère Dorjé Pamo. Rinpoche was accompanied by Geshe Tenzin Loden, FPMT resident geshe at Institut Vajra Yogini, and Geshe Lobsang Jamphel, abbot of Nalanda Monastery, as well as Rinpoche’s attendants Geshe Lobsang Yonten and Ven. Tenzin Khentse.

A few nuns and volunteers had gathered, and we all had tea and refreshments on the terrace in a very relaxed atmosphere. Rinpoche blessed our gompa as well as a Tara thangka just offered to us by one of our benefactors. Rinpoche also provided advice and encouragement, highlighting the importance of harmony in developing our new community.

H.E. Ling Rinpoche with Ven. Tendreun, Marie Vaysse, Annick Lainé, Ven Chantal Tenzin Dekyi, Geshe Tenzin Loden, Geshe Losang Jamphel, Cristiana Cervantes, Ven. Irene, Ven. Michèle Paldreun, Ven. Tenzin Péma, Yves Alirol, and Annick Leclerc du Sablon at Monastère Dorje Pamo, En Baut, Fiac, France, May 2019. Photo courtesy of Monastère Dorje Pamo.

On May 25, 2019, a warm, sunny morning, Kalachakra Centre in Paris was very fortunate and greatly honored to host a visit and teaching with H.E. Ling Rinpoche. It was a short but wonderful visit. This is the third time Rinpoche has visited Kalachakra Centre, the first being in 2005 and the second in 2014. Last year, Rinpoche’s visit to Paris was a very large gathering, with over 700 people in attendance, including many displaced Tibetans now living in France.

Rinpoche prefaced the teaching on the three poisonous minds of anger, attachment, and ignorance by mentioning how truly happy Rinpoche was to again be visiting the center, whose official name is the Wheel of Life Kalachakra Cultural Association, and that it was with the idea of seeing old friends in the Dharma, including those who had met Rinpoche’s previous incarnation, that Rinpoche was making this visit.

Kalachakra Centre’s director, Ven. Elisabeth Drukier, recalls that when she first met the Buddhadharma and was visiting Bodhgaya, she befriended Yvonne Laurence, a French nun and fellow Parisian. Yvonne had been a nurse when the 6th Kyabje Yongdzin Ling Rinpoche came to France for medical treatment and had ended up following Rinpoche to India and becoming ordained. Ven. Elisabeth and Yvonne’s shared love of Camembert cheese and Paris bonded them in India, and Ven. Elisabeth spent time with her friend at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, often seeing the 6th Kyabje Ling Rinpoche there at Rinpoche’s house. In 1978, Ven. Elisabeth saw the 6th Kyabje Ling Rinpoche for the last time in France.

H.E. Ling Rinpoche at Kalachakra Centre, Paris, France, May 2019. Photo by Olivier Adam.

Rinpoche very clearly elucidated the nature of the three poisons of attachment, anger, and ignorance, and the detrimental influence they have on our well-being and happiness. Rinpoche began by summarizing the essence of the teachings of the Buddha as being the act of disciplining, transforming, and most importantly acquiring mastery, or pacification, of our minds.

Rinpoche concluded by encouraging us to think positively, saying that we all have the possibility to become Buddhas. The Buddha Shakyamuni started out just like us, completely under the influence of mental afflictions and the three poisonous attitudes of attachment, anger, and ignorance. Through training his mind, he achieved the ultimate transformation and developed all virtuous qualities, eliminated all faults, and realized the state of a Buddha, perfectly awakened. Rinpoche said that we also have the potential and possibility to follow exactly the same path.

Ven. Tenzin Khentse, H.E. Ling Rinpoche, Ven. Tenzin Pemba, Ven. Jampa president of the Tibetan community in Paris, and Kalachakra Centre director Ven. Elisabeth Drukier outside of Kalachakra Centre, Paris, France, May 2019. Photo by Olivier Adam.

Rinpoche also said that we have the benefit of all the necessary, good conditions in being human beings: we have met with the teachings of the Buddha, we can meet with authentic spiritual guides, and we have not been born in a country where we suffer from hunger, thirst, or homelessness. We also don’t have any physical handicaps which would prevent us from practicing. Rinpoche continued by saying that apart from the fact that we are not applying ourselves, we enjoy a situation that is extremely favorable. There is much to rejoice about. Rinpoche added that we need to tell ourselves that certainly the influence of the three poisons exist in our mind, but instead of reacting to this negatively, we should say to ourselves, “These mental afflictions are my enemies, my true enemies, and from now on, I will fight against them.”

Kalachakra Centre hopes to have the great fortune of hosting visits by H.E. Ling Rinpoche every year, for many years to come!

For more information about H.E. Ling Rinpoche’s schedule visit Rinpoche’s website:
http://lingrinpoche.info/

Learn more about FPMT’s activities in France:
https://fpmt.org/centers/france/

Watch Rinpoche’s teaching at Kalachakra Centre, given in Tibetan with French translation:
https://youtu.be/CH4M9WkHZOU

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Rinpoche teaching and giving the Great Chenrezig Initiation, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, October 5, 2019. Photo by Ven. Losang Sherab.

We hope you enjoy our October FPMT International Office e-News.

This month we bring you news about:

• Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice about Changing Our View
• Big Love in the New Issue of Mandala magazine!
• New Practice Materials
• Protecting the Environment Every Month

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

The FPMT International Office e-News comes from your FPMT International Office. Visit our subscribe page to receive the FPMT International Office News directly in your email box.

David Machles. Photo courtesy of Dimensions-OHC Inc.

In 2008, David Machles completed the 16 Guidelines for Life Level 1 course, an initiative of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW), and later completed Levels 2 and 3. David is part of FDCW’s Universal Education community. Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom is one of FPMT’s five pillars of service. David’s exploration of the 16 Guidelines for Life methods and tools inspired him to develop a program based on the 16 Guidelines for Life for prisons in 2010. David worked with adult and juvenile prisoners as well as staff and volunteers. Victoria Coleman, FDCW executive director, asked David about about his experience with Universal Education in prisons over the past nine years. Victoria shares David’s story.

David Machles, from North Carolina, US, began his journey into the 16 Guidelines for Life in 2008. He felt inspired to offer the 16 Guidelines for Life program in prisons working with adult and juvenile prisoners as well as staff and volunteers. He developed a 16 Guidelines for Life for prisoners curriculum called “Building Inner Strength.”

David explained, “We chose the course title ‘Building Inner Strength’ with the help of the chaplain at the youth prison center. We felt that this was more of a macho name, yet still reflects the spirit of the 16 Guidelines for Life. Sometimes the class is referred to as ‘Meditation Class.’ Other names may be appropriate in different settings, including ‘Anger Management,’ ‘Guide to Happiness,’ ‘Well-Being,’ etc.”

One of the teenage participants of David’s program had a very difficult relationship with a prison guard. David suggested using the 16 Guidelines for Life pre-framing tool to see how it could influence the next encounter with the guard. David kept it light: “Just try this to see if it makes a difference; it can’t make it any worse.” The teenager was surprised at how his relationship with the guard gradually changed. He saw that the 16 Guidelines for Life actually worked.

David said, “We have taken a very secular approach to using the 16 Guidelines for Life. We have been accepted by the managers, administrative staff, and parents because we take this secular approach. Throughout the program we keep this neutrality and encourage the students to find examples of the 16 Guidelines for Life within their own spiritual upbringing. Certainly the role models used in the 16 Guidelines for Life book represent a variety of spiritual backgrounds.”

To learn more about the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom and the 16 Guidelines for Life visit the FDCW website:
https://www.compassionandwisdom.org 

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Brocade Dharma Text Case

Students can ornament and protect Dharma texts with brocade covers from the Foundation Store, most offered at cost!

• Brocade Dharma Text Case, Dharma text holder with a velcro strap for quick and easy access. Each case comes with a text wrap.
• Brocade Bamboo Sadhana Cover, brocade Dharma text cover with bamboo frame.
• Brocade Book Covers, prayer book covers with cotton lining, velcro closure, and internal pockets.

This Dharma item will only be available until December 31, when the Foundation Store goes digital-only.

Brocade Bamboo Sadhana Cover

Brocade Book Covers

Find book covers and other meditation supplies in the Foundation Store:
https://shop.fpmt.org/Meditation-Supplies_c_170.html

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Tara Liberation Study Group members Matt Linden, Kari Suomalainen, Hanne Iyars, Maria Suominen, and Joona Repo at VEF Kvartāla Kamerzāle, Riga, Latvia, June 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Tara Liberation Study Group, the FPMT study group in Helsinki, Finland, benefits the community by offering Dharma teachings in the country’s most widely-spoken language, taught by native Finnish speaker and FPMT registered teacher Joona Repo. Matt Linden and Maria Suominen‎ from Tara Liberation Study Group share the story.

Nowadays Dharma teachings are widely available across the globe in a variety of major languages. Smaller countries like Finland, however, often have to make do with teachings in English. But learning the Dharma is a matter of the heart, not only the mind, and we all know the power of hearing and studying the Dharma in one’s own mother tongue. Since 2017, the precious possibility of receiving teachings in Finnish has been available thanks to the hard work of Tara Liberation Study Group staff and FPMT registered teacher Joona Repo.

Some of you might have heard of Joona from his role as translation coordinator for FPMT Education Services. Joona encountered the Dharma during his mid-teens and since then has accumulated an enormous amount of wisdom, which he doesn’t hesitate to share with anyone who wishes to learn the precious Dharma.

Joona Repo standing on the frozen sea in Helsinki, Finland, February 2018. Photo by Matt Linden.

A native speaker of both Finnish and English, and with a strong grasp of classical and colloquial Tibetan, Joona relays the Buddhist teachings in a detailed and inspiring way. Holding a PhD in Buddhist art history and with several years’ experience of living in Tibet and Nepal, Joona possesses extensive knowledge of Tibetan customs, culture, and history. This helps to bring the teachings alive and opens up the sometimes cryptic Tibetan Buddhist rituals to a wider contextual understanding, bringing meaning and depth to practice.

During the regular Monday sessions at the Tara Liberation Study Group, Joona has been focusing on the lamrim teachings, which he says are the backbone of all Tibetan Buddhist practices. He has thus far taught up to the great scope and the methods to generate bodhichitta. From this autumn, Joona will continue teaching on the lamrim and will be giving an explanation of the six perfections, mainly focusing on the development of the fifth perfection, concentration. Many students have been attending Joona’s teachings for a long time, and the increasing numbers of students shows the benefits of providing the Dharma teachings in the Finnish language.

Other topics that Joona has covered include an inspiring introduction to the “Praises to the Twenty-one Taras,” as well as in-depth instructions on the Thirty-five Buddhas purification practice. Tara Liberation Study Group has also benefited from Joona’s ability to lead a wide range of pujas and practices in the traditional Gelug fashion.

The group feels incredibly privileged to have a regular teacher with such a vast capacity, and we were very touched when Lama Zopa Rinpoche publicly thanked Joona for his contribution to spreading the Dharma in Finland, during the teachings in Riga, Latvia, in June 2019.

We are enthusiastic about the current semester and eagerly look forward to Monday evenings when we get our Dharma dose in the Finnish language. May this be of benefit to all beings.

For more information about Tara Liberation Study Group, visit their website:
https://taraliberation.fi

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Geshe Tenzin Namdak with Chrissy, Ven. Barbara, Catia, Radek, Sue, Rhona, and Alison at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, UK, May 2019. Photo by Robin Bath.

Geshe Tenzin Namdak, the new FPMT resident geshe at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, the FPMT center in London, UK, led the center’s annual summer retreat from July 7-14, 2019, on “The Buddhist Path to Happiness.” In August Jamyang London welcomed new center director Ven. Fabienne Pradelle. Rhonwen Sayer, a member of the center’s spiritual program sub-committee, shares the story.

In March 2018, His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed Geshe Tashi Tsering, Jamyang Buddhist Centre’s former resident geshe, abbot of Sera Mey Monastery in South India. Everyone was delighted for Geshe-la but also concerned for the future. We were very fortunate that in September 2018 Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked Geshe Tenzin Namdak to take up the role of resident geshe at Jamyang Buddhist Centre and give teachings here for six months each year.

Geshe Namdak  completed the entire twenty-year geshe program at Sera Jey Monastic University in 2017, and the traditional one-year vajrayana study program at Gyudmed Tantric Monastic University in January 2019, the first Westerner to do so. Geshe Namdak accepted Rinpoche’s request and arrived in May, starting teachings on meditation, Buddhist philosophy and psychology, and the art of emotional intelligence. These teachings ran until July. 

Watch Ven. Fabienne Pradelle and Geshe Tenzin Namdak introduce themselves to the community in this video:
https://youtu.be/cQRgI798Ovk

Geshe Tenzin Namdak with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Sera Je Monastic University, Bylakuppe, India, November 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Geshe Namdak rounded off his teaching program by leading an eight-day retreat on “The Buddhist Path to Happiness.” Each day consisted of teachings on the lamrim based on Je Tsongkhapa’s “A Hymn of Experience” followed by question and answer session, group discussion, and meditation.

“A Hymn of Experience” is a wonderful overview of the whole lamrim. Geshe-la expanded and explained each verse, providing his deep insight to Je Tsongkhapa’s experience of the path to enlightenment.

The entire retreat had a great atmosphere generated by Geshe-la’s enthusiasm and the interactions among the students.

Everyone at Jamyang is delighted that our center has a resident teacher again, and we are looking forward to Geshe Namdak’s autumn teachings. Geshe-la’s enthusiasm and engagement are especially appreciated by our community.

For more information about Jamyang Buddhist Centre London, visit their website:
https://www.jamyang.co.uk/

To read His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commentary on “A Hymn of Experience” (also known as “Lines of Experience”) visit the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive:
https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/chapter/illuminating-path-enlightenment

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Namgyalma and Lama Atisha Protection Amulet

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends several mantras for various forms of protection and the purification of negative karma and obscurations. This Namgyalma and Lama Atisha Protection Amulet contains:

Namgyalma and Lama Atisha Protection Amulet

• The Namgyalma Mantra Wheel, which is the main mantra to purify and liberate beings from the lower realms, purify negative karma, and help those who are dying or have died.
• Lama Atisha’s Protection Stupa, which protects against mental pollution.
• The Phagpa Chulung Rolpai Do Mantra, which upon seeing, purifies 100,000 eons of negative karma and obscurations.
• The Wish-Granting Wheel Mantra, which purifies 1,000 eons of negative karma for anyone who passes beneath it.
• The Six Syllables of Clairvoyance Mantra, which after fifteen days upon seeing, purifies any heavy negative karma created in the past.

Students may place the amulet in a protective cloth or pouch and wear it around the neck.

This Dharma item will only be available until December 31, when the Foundation Store goes digital-only.

Find the Namgyalma and Lama Atisha Protection Amulet in the Foundation Store:
https://shop.fpmt.org/Namgyalma-and-Lama-Atisha-Protection-Amulet_p_3021.html

Katrina Smith, Janis Dougherty, and Gary Mickey making offerings to the Twenty-one Taras at Kadampa Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, US, August 2019. Photo courtesy of Kadampa Center.

The Light of the Path, an annual retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche that began in 2009, is organized by Kadampa Center, the FPMT center in Raleigh, North Carolina, US. Donna Seese, spiritual program coordinator, shares the story about prayers and practices being done to create the causes for the next Light of the Path retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, scheduled for August 23-September 20, 2020.

At Kadampa Center, we always look forward to the Light of the Path retreats when we have the opportunity to spend so much time with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and students from all over the world. Before each retreat Rinpoche kindly advises us about prayers and practices to do to remove obstacles and create the causes for the retreat. His advice for the next Light of the Path retreat includes reciting 100,000 “Praises to the Twenty-one Taras” and to organize our own members and others to do these recitations in support of the retreat.

Wow! This was a bit daunting, but we dived right in. We added reciting “Praises to the Twenty-one Taras” to our dedication prayers at Kadampa Center events and special Saturday practice days each month when we focus on reciting “Praises to the Twenty-one Taras.”

We quickly realized that, just like the Light of the Path retreat itself, creating the causes for the retreat is much bigger than Kadampa Center. So in the spring we sent word to our North American FPMT brothers and sisters, and to Rinpoche’s students all around the world who had attended earlier Light of the Path retreats, inviting them to participate in this amazing spiritual endeavor. Within days of sending our emails, the numbers on our website counter jumped by hundreds and then thousands. We also received emails of support from many of our Light of the Path friends!

In early August, with help from our friends around the world, we reached 25,000 recitations of “Praises to the Twenty-one Taras”!

Mini-Tara Retreat with Geshe Gelek Choda at Kadampa Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, US, August 2019. Photo courtesy of Kadampa Center.

One of the blessings of Rinpoche’s advice is that it has introduced Tara practice to newer students who might be unfamiliar with Tara. In April 2019 and again in August, we held a Tara mini-retreat. For those who want to deepen their Tara practice at home, Geshe Gelek Chodha, one of our FPMT resident geshes, taught us how to do retreat on our own. Many students who were new to Tara came and took part, not just with the prayers and recitations, but also pitching in to set up the altar and the offerings, and staying after the dedications to take it all down.

We will hold another two-day Tara mini-retreat October 19-20, 2019. Anyone who wants to join in from home can tune into the livestream.

We’re looking forward to seeing old friends and those new to our FPMT family at the 2020 Light of the Path retreat! Wow! Wow! Wow!

Visit the Kadampa Center’s webpage to contribute your recitations and check the running total of recitations:
 https://kadampa-center.org/count-your-praises-21-Taras

For more information about Kadampa Center, visit their website:
https://kadampa-center.org/

FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blesses at kitten, Sera Je Monastic University, Bylakuppe, India, November 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Be prepared for the moment of death and get a Liberation Box today! This tool will only be available until December 31, when the Foundation Store goes digital-only.

Of the thousands of items offered by the FPMT Foundation Store, the Liberation Box is one of the most unique and special. It is a collection of materials to assist sentient beings at the time of death. Assembled according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s specific advice on what a loved one—person or animal—should hear, see, and have placed on their body, the Liberation Box contains powerful methods for ensuring a fortunate rebirth for those who have died or are in the process of dying.

The Liberation Box includes:

• printed instructions for how to use the Liberation Box
• a Kadampa stupa filled with the four dharmakaya relic mantras
• a powa pill
• a cord blessed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• various mantras and a copy of Shetor to place on the dying being’s body
• the Liberation Card for a Dying Person
• a Namgyälma mantra card
• the CDs Recitations to Alleviate Pain and Recitations for the Time of Death

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s book Heart Advice for Death and Dying can be added to the package optionally.

Order while supplies last and receive the Mystic Tibet DVD as a special thank-you gift!

Liberation Box

Learn more about the Liberation Box on FPMT.org:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/ensuring-a-fortunate-rebirth-the-liberation-box/

Find the Liberation Box in the Foundation Store:
https://shop.fpmt.org/Liberation-Box-Tools-For-a-Fortunate-Rebirth–Digital-Edition_p_2416.html