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“We only started carrying ebooks in 2015, starting with Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive’s titles. In 2016, Editions Mahayana and Ediciones Dharma agreed to let us host their French and Spanish titles, respectively. And now in 2017, Wisdom Publications worked with us to find a way to carry its titles, like Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s How to Enjoy Death and Lama Yeshe’s The Bliss of Inner Fire, too. There are even some ebooks that are only available by donation, such as Tenzin Ösel Hita’s Do Not Believe Everything You Think.
“Forty percent of our customers live outside of the United States so it was important to spread Dharma while bringing shipping costs to zero. Fewer print copies means we potentially make less of an impact on global forests, which is something really important to me. Also, I really hope that more young people engage with Buddhism, and since they are into digital devices of all kinds, making popular titles available in ebook format is one way to encourage that. I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made in this area so far.”
Check out the Foundation Store’s 108 ebook titles today:
https://shop.fpmt.org/View-All-eBooks_c_551.html
Mandala 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 in Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with devotees in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, September 2017. Photo by Ugo Gorvaia.
This September, His Holiness the Dalai Lama took a short tour of the Italian island of Sicily. During a visit to the town of Palermo, His Holiness was awarded the status of “Honorary Citizen” by the mayor, Professor Lealuca Orlando.
The brief presentation took place at the Teatro Massimo, the venue for a talk in which His Holiness addressed the subject of peace and the meeting of peoples. The talk, in front of 1,400 attendees, took place ahead of a smaller gathering of media and Italian students at His Holiness’s hotel.
Centro Muni Gyana students Fabio Gariffo and Grazia Asaro were in attendance at the theater and hotel. They recorded their experiences:
At the hotel, His Holiness addressed the practitioners from Centro Muni Gyana, saying, “And now I want to speak with the group of Lama Zopa.”
The center, established in 2009, occupies a villa that local authorities confiscated from the mafia. To this audience of students, whose center is housed in a building that has changed purpose with the times, His Holiness spoke on the importance of studying Buddhism with an evolving, modern perspective.
His Holiness remarked that when he teaches in Europe or in the United States, he has no interest in proselytizing. However, he emphasized that understanding the function of mind and emotions, a study that Tibetan Buddhism has inherited and preserved from the Nalanda tradition, is very valuable and useful for everyone. He added that many people wish to study the tradition of Nalanda, brought to Tibet from India in the 8th century by the great scholar, philosopher, psychologist, and logician Shantarakshita. It can be said that authentic Buddhism, the one based on logical reason, was imported by him, and that Tibetans are the only ones who have fully maintained this ancient tradition.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Sicily, Itlay, September 18, 2017. Photo courtesy of Centro Muni Gyana.
“The Buddha himself,” continued His Holiness, “has recommended not to follow blindly his teachings, but to analyze them and to examine their effectiveness in our own experience. This analytic spirit is the most useful way to embrace the Buddhist teachings.
“The scientists I periodically meet are very amazed by the depth of the intuitions of Nalanda’s scholars. Let me say that modern psychology is far from the science of mind that comes from this ancient monastic university. For this reason, the bases of this tradition are necessary, and there is a great benefit in their integration with Western subjects of study such as psychology and quantum physics.
“For about forty years I have made great changes within the Tibetan community, emphasizing that the most important thing is not the rituals, but the study of the texts—a message that is also valid for the nunneries, where today it’s possible to obtain the complete curriculum of thirty years of study required to become a geshe. Therefore, Dharma centers must be, first of all, academies and centers of study.
“So in your center, even if it’s small, you must consider yourself students! I’m eighty-two and I still consider myself a student.”
“In this way,” he concluded, “we can contribute to society. Today there is a great emotional crisis all over the world and this secular knowledge can make a big contribution toward eliminating it.”
Read more about Centro Muni Gyana:
http://centromunigyana.it/
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.
Paul from New Zealand at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, October 2017. Photo by Paola Sala.
Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) in Pomaia, Italy, is currently hosting the month-long 100 Million Mani Retreat, guided by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. From October 4 to November 5, hundreds of participants will collectively recite OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), the Buddha of Compassion, 100 million times.
Students from all over the world are in attendance, including one person who has perhaps traveled further than most. Paul, a New Zealander who arrived in Italy by way of Australia, told one of the retreat organizers about his motivation behind the journey all the way from the southern hemisphere and his experience of the retreat so far. Here’s the story:
You are from New Zealand and you live in Australia, what made you come all the way up here?
Paul: I consider Lama Zopa Rinpoche as my main teacher, the one I have a connection with. Recently, I had the feeling that I should spend more time in front of him. Fortunately, I could be away from work for the entire month of October.
Have you already attended teachings, initiations, or retreats with Lama Zopa Rinpoche?
Yes. I was at the Great Chenrezig retreat at Chenrezig Institute and the Medicine Buddha retreat in Adelaide, both in Australia. Besides, I did the Kopan November course once.
Have you seen some of your fellow students from Kopan?
Oh, yes. I met quite a few of them again. It feels like after a wedding. One finds again friends sharing one’s same experience or sharing common friends.
Can you say that there is a kind of Kopan community? Do you find it supportive?
It is nice to know that you have friends around the world following a similar path. It gives me a feeling of interconnectedness.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche arriving at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, October 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
For more information on the 100 Million Mani Retreat and the programs offered at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa visit:
https://www.iltk.org/
You can watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche teach live from the 100 Million Mani Mantra Retreat on YouTube and Facebook. For links and details:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
More information, photos, and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s webpage on FPMT.org. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT via email, sign up to FPMT News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Italy, October 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
We invite you to read the October edition of the FPMT International Office e-News now!
This month we bring you:
- News about the annual long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and how to contribute
- Highlights of Rinpoche’s Advice this last month
- Newly Available from Education Services
- New from Mandala Magazine
- Two New FPMT Study Groups!
…and more!
The FPMT International Office News comes from your FPMT International Office. Visit our subscribe page to receive the FPMT International Office News directly in your email box.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche watches Dechen Bloom reciting the Three Principal Aspects of the Path, June 2017. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
When Dechen Bloom had completely memorized the Three Principal Aspects of the Path in April 2017, he urged his mother to take a video of him reciting it and send it to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. At the time, Dechen was nine years old and it had been three years since Rinpoche had advised him to memorize the well-known lamrim prayer by Lama Tsongkhapa.
“The recording is not great, but Dechen was anxious for me to send it off because it has been so long since he was asked to do this. This week we were all sick and coughing, so he was anxious to get it recorded,” Dechen’s mother Carina Rumrill wrote when she sent the link to the video of Dechen.
This was Dechen’s second memorization project. In 2014, he recited the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra from memory for Rinpoche. He also offered Rinpoche a copy of the sutra that he had typed up, printed out, and traced in gold. Dechen dedicated both of these activities to Rinpoche’s long life. Afterwards, Dechen requested his next memorization assignment from Rinpoche. And that’s when Rinpoche recommended the Three Principal Aspects of the Path.
Dechen Bloom reading Mandala, July 2017. Photo by Carina Rumrill.
When asked why he wanted to memorize these important texts, Dechen, now 10 years old, told Mandala, “So I know them, and it’s better than not knowing them.” He added that knowing them by heart is also better than having to look them up.
“Lama Zopa Rinpoche wanted me to memorize these prayers,” Dechen further explained. “Why would I not want him to be happy? See, I want him to be happy. I don’t want him to be disappointed, do I?”
In addition to memorizing, Dechen has been slowly going through Discovering Buddhism and Living in the Path modules. He started in October 2016, and since he’s home schooled, he does thirty to forty minutes of study a day, taking breaks for Christmas and summer vacation. According to his mother Carina, who works for FPMT International Office, Dechen is close to finishing Living in the Path modules “Refuge and Bodhichitta” and “Transforming a Suffering Life into Happiness” and the Discovering Buddhism modules “Refuge in the Three Jewels” and “Transforming Problems.”
After seeing Dechen’s video and hearing about his studies, Rinpoche wrote back, thanking Dechen for everything he was doing and giving him a new assignment: to memorize Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga (also known as Ganden Lha Gyäma). Rinpoche also said it was good for Dechen to keep reciting the prayers that he had already memorized.
Dechen thinks it’s a good idea for kids to memorize prayers and study Dharma and that it can be fun. When asked why kids should memorize, he said, “A lot of people will want to memorize things when they are older, but when they are young and memorizing, that means they learned it at a young age and know it for longer.”
Dechen Bloom and a sidewalk drawing of planet Earth, April 2017. Photo by Carina Rumrill.
In addition to studying Dharma, Dechen enjoys learning about science and astronomy. He said that he’s been learning about the stars lately. In August, Dechen was excited to see the complete solar eclipse that passed over Oregon in the United States. “It was pretty cool. I didn’t scream and jump up and down, but it was amazing,” he said. “I felt lucky to see it.”
Dechen and his family have just relocated to Vermont from Oregon, but since Living in the Path and Discovering Buddhism are online programs, moving won’t impact his studies.
An illustration by Dechen Bloom comparing exoplanet types, June 2017.
Find out what Dechen Bloom asked Ven. Robina Courtin about the Heart Sutra when he was five years old:
https://fpmt.org/mandala/archives/mandala-for-2014/july/dechen-writes-to-ven-robina-courtin-about-the-heart-sutra/
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.
The candlelight procession of the opening ceremony, Sakyadhita International Conference, Hong Kong, June 2017.
In June 2017, Drolkar McCallum, regional coordinator for FPMT North America and member services coordinator for the International Mahayana Institute—FPMT’s international community of nuns and monks—visited Hong Kong to attend the Sakyadhita International Conference. Drolkar, who additionally serves as acting president of Sakyadhita Canada, shared experiences from the six-day event:
The fifteenth conference of the Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, held at the University of Hong Kong from June 22 to 28, was attended by over 800 Buddhist nuns and laywomen from thirty-one countries!
The name Sakyadhita means “Daughter of Shakya,” harkening back to the clan name of the historical Buddha. Sakyadhita International is an alliance of women and men whose goal it is to empower the world’s 300 million Buddhist women to work for peace and social justice and to advance their spiritual and secular lives.
They hold an international conference every two years, the first of which was held in Bodhgaya, India, in 1987. This year celebrated Sakyadhita’s thirty-year anniversary with the theme, “Contemporary Buddhist Women: Contemplation, Cultural Exchange & Social Action.”
Batik Making Workshop at the Sakyadhita International Conference in Hong Kong. Photo by Drolkar McCallum.
For one week laywomen, nuns, laymen, and monks from many different nations and backgrounds gathered in harmony to share their ideas and experiences. The program included a rich mixture of panel presentations, workshops, Dharma talks, meditations, chanting, and cultural performances. At the end, there was a two-day tour of several Buddhist sites around Hong Kong.
The conferences, held in different, usually Buddhist, countries aim to bring together scholars, monastics, and members of the public to forge pathways forward for the interests and needs of Buddhist women around the world. Its primary purpose is to promote world peace through the practice of the Buddha’s teachings.
In the opening ceremony on the first day, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, who is president of Sakyadhita International, and Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, who is co-founder and the event organizer, gave short but inspiring welcoming speeches in the vast Grand Hall of the university.
Jetsunma emphasized that the conference aims to empower laywomen and monastics around the world and to bridge scholars and practitioners. It also shares practices such as loving kindness, thereby helping to bring peace and wisdom into the world.
She also expressed the hope that this year’s meeting could serve as a bridge, strengthening the connection between East and West. She emphasized that the conference celebrates the achievements of both monastic and lay Buddhist women, but also stressed that even though the conference was about women, it is certainly not anti-men, and that all the lay and monastic men present were most welcome!
Nuns from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition at the conference, including Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo. FPMT IMI nuns are Vens. Lozang Drolkar from Australia and Tenzin Lekdron from Sri Lanka. Missing from the photo is Ven. Lozang Tseten also from Australia. Photo by Drolkar McCallum.
The last day started with more than twenty focus groups on such topics as social engagement, justice, the future of Sakyadhita International, science and Buddhism, and monastic training in East and West. Most of the Western nuns joined the focus group on monastic training. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo shared about the difficulties of Western nuns, particularly the lack of financial support from their Tibetan teachers and from lay people. She brought up examples of monastics who have not been treated well or lived under difficult circumstances although contributing greatly to the developments of Buddhist centers.
Ven. Jampa from Sravasti Abbey in the United States mentioned: “This topic of support for nuns came up throughout the conference. I learned quite a bit, especially during the discussions and sharing, not just about the lack of support for Western Buddhist nuns in the Tibetan tradition, but also about the cultural gap between East and West in that regard. Westerners still tend to support their spiritual Tibetan teachers and Tibetan monastics in exile more than the Western monastics of the Tibetan traditions, even though the nuns help their Buddhist centers, teachers, and many students. Few Western monastics who either live in Asia, work in Western Dharma centers, or who have supported their Tibetan teachers receive financial support in return.”
During the breaks and meal times, I participated in valuable discussions with nuns and laywomen from all over the world and all traditions. We discussed a wide range of topics from reviving full ordination for nuns, building monasteries, support and training for Westerners, and even FPMT International Sangha Day!
It was indeed a unique and rich celebration of all Buddhist traditions coming together to better understand, help support, and appreciate each other.
Read more about the work of Sakyadhita International and find a review of the Hong Kong conference: http://www.sakyadhita.org/
Support ordained Sangha—women and men—through the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund:
https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/supporting-ordained-sangha-fund/
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.
The Australian bush of Atisha Centre, June 2017. Photo courtesy of Atisha Centre.
A group of students from Tara Institute in Victoria, Australia, took the initiative to commence study of the Yamantaka sadhana. A small but devoted number of people soon developed a regular practice, culminating in the decision to undertake retreat this past June.
The result of the group’s practice combined the energy of three centers, each bringing a component part of support to the retreat. A member of the study group, Cynthia Karena, shared some of her reflections on the process in Mandala‘s latest online feature story “Community and Commitment: A Yamantaka Study Group at Tara Institute in Australia”:
… “The study group is good to become familiar with the meditations. Having them read out so you can actually meditate on them allows you to start memorizing them. Then when you do them yourself, you meditate more than just read the words.”
The meditations are outlined in the short sadhana practice, so people know where and how they fit in, said Tara Institute student Jill Lancashire.
“It’s good to introduce the short sadhana to people who were newly initiated and either had no previous experience with the format of a sadhana or for whom Yamantaka was a new practice.
“The definite thing is that having a schedule and a dedicated group of co-practitioners makes it much easier to do the practices properly and keep them going.” …
Read Cynthia Karena’s new article “Community and Commitment: A Yamantaka Study Group at Tara Institute in Australia” in its entirety:
https://fpmt.org/mandala/in-depth-stories/community-and-commitment-a-yamantaka-study-group-at-tara-institute-in-australia/
Lama Zopa Rinpoche being welcomed on the first day of the 100 Million Mani Mantra Retreat at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, October 2017. Photo by Piero Sirianni.
Earlier this week Lama Zopa Rinpoche traveled to Italy to lead the month-long 100 Million Mani Mantra Retreat at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) in Pomaia, Italy. Mani mantra is the mantra of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), the Buddha of Compassion. During the retreat, participants will collectively recite the mantra more than 100 million times. The retreat’s host, ILTK, plays an important role in FPMT history and serves as a center for in-depth Dharma study, offering many courses, including FPMT Education Services’ Masters Program and Basic Program. ILTK shared the following report about the beginning of the retreat:
The 100 Million Mani Mantra Retreat started Thursday morning, October 5, with a welcome speech from Filippo Scianna, the director of Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa. Filippo expressed his happiness that ILTK is able to host the event and his gratitude to all those, staff and volunteers, that worked hard to make it possible.
Filippo reminded those in attendance that ILKT celebrated its forty year anniversary this year, something which was due to the kindness and inspired vision of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and by the “worldly condition of generosity” from the Corona family.
Filippo Scianna, Ven. Siliana Bosa, and Massimo Corona at the beginning of the retreat, ILTK, October 2017. Photo by Piero Sirianni.
Massimo Corona spoke on behalf of the Corona family and gave a colorful description of the very beginning of ILTK, with the old main building’s timely rescue from ruin and geshes teaching twice in a flooded room.
In preparation for the Chenrezig empowerment being given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Ven. Olivier Rossi gave an explanation of the tantra vehicle, so that participants, including those never having received a tantric empowerment, could attend the event with full awareness and understanding.
Ven. Olivier Rossi explains the tantra vehicle at the beginning of the retreat, ILTK, October 2017. Photo by Piero Sirianni.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s daily teachings at the 100 Million Mani Mantra Retreat in Italy are being broadcast live over Facebook and YouTube:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
You can watch recordings of previous teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche online:
https://fpmt.org/RinpocheNow/
Read advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche about the benefits of Chenrezig Practice:
https://fpmt.org/education/prayers-and-practice-materials/chenrezig-mantra-and-practice/
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.
Medicine Buddha thangka by Peter Iseli
From FPMT International Office:
Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of the tragedy that occurred on the evening of Sunday, October 1, 2017, in Las Vegas.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche always advises to make strong prayers to Medicine Buddha for anyone who is dying, sick, injured, or who has already died from violence such as that which occurred in Las Vegas or elsewhere.
Please make prayers for the sick and injured to recover. For those who lost their lives in the tragedy, please make prayers for their families and survivors to be blessed by and receive healing from Medicine Buddha. Also, please make prayers for those who have died to be born in a pure land and become enlightened, or to receive a perfect human body, meet with the precious Dharma, receive teachings and to achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible.
Medicine Buddha practice can be done for anyone who is sick, dying, or even who has already died. Reciting the mantra of Medicine Buddha is one of the best practices we can do at this time.
The mantra of Medicine Buddha is:
TADYATHĀ / OṂ BHAIṢHAJYE BHAIṢHAJYE / MAHĀBHAIṢHAJYE [BHAIṢHAJYE] /
RĀJA SAMUDGATE SVĀHĀ
You can download a PDF of the Medicine Buddha Sadhana which includes Medicine Buddha practice and mantra.
Students may also recite King of Prayers.
Ani Baljid, Ani Gyalmo, Ani Nyima, Ani Kunkyen, and Ani Dechen taking part in the fifth 100 Million Mani Retreat at Idgaa Choizinling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2017. Photo courtesy of Ianzhina Bartanova.
Throughout the month of June 2017, the fifth 100 Million Mani Retreat was held at Idgaa Choizinling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and hosted by Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling (GDNSL). Center director Ianzhina Bartanova and resident teacher Ven. Thubten Gyalmo shared their reflections of the retreat:
This year marked the fifth major annual retreat event for the center, so staff and volunteers are now very familiar with what needs to be done to help enable the event to run smoothly and harmoniously. Just two weeks prior to the commencement of the event, we were extremely fortunate to receive the Great Chenrezig initiation bestowed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the venue, which brought many rich blessings to the retreat and its participants.
In any one session, approximately 200 people were in attendance, appearing to be inspired by the knowledge of the incredible merit in doing the Chenrezig practice.
The gompa filled with participants of the 100 Million Mani Retreat, Idgaaa Choizinling Monastery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2017. Photo courtesy of Ianzhina Bartanova.
Even though the schedule was quite full and demanding, people were happy to come, participate, and make consistent effort in order to accumulate 108,548,100 mani mantras.
Tireless in their service GDNSL staff and volunteers provided conducive conditions to all participants—from a 7 a.m. morning welcome breakfast, to a vegetarian lunch, to four servings of tea through to the evening, to a daily gompa cleaning at night. Other essential daily tasks included providing information to all participants, answering visitors’ requests, and the writing down, counting, and safe recording of the dedications from a constant stream of people offering mani mantra accumulations.
This annual event is one of FPMT Mongolia’s significant contributions to the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia, and it is interesting to note that apart from one Australian student and several casual tourist visitors lured to the monastery by the loud and melodious chanting, the participants were all Mongolian, a large percentage of whom were females forty years and older.
Refreshments being served during the 100 Million Mani Retreat, Idgaa Choizinling Monastery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 2017. Photo courtesy of Ianzhina Bartanova.
The previous four retreats were held in the cooler August-September months. However, this year and for the first time, the retreat was held in June before the July Naadam holiday—the long national celebration when people travel to the countryside for horse racing and camping. The weather was rather hot, and temperatures of up to 32 degrees Celsius (89 degrees Fahrenheit) presented some extra challenges to keeping the mind focused on prayers and sustaining long periods of mani recitation.
The real heroes of the retreat were the Sangha to whom we are deeply grateful—especially Lharampa Geshe Thubten Zopa, who oversaw the preparation and decoration of the beautiful tormas, supervised the entire altar set-up, and who gave an inspirational public talk at both the opening and closing ceremonies. Also, we’re grateful to the nuns of Dolma Ling Nunnery, who were leading the retreat, and the monks of Idgaa Choizinling Monastery, who were ever-ready to help serve tea and food, clean the temple, and offer assistance where needed.
Looking to the future, we are already discussing the possibilities of next year’s event, including organizing a strict retreat that concludes with a fire puja for participants who can commit to full participation and reciting the required number of mantras. For further information on next year’s event, please watch this space!
Learn more about the work of the FPMT in Mongolia: http://www.fpmtmongolia.org/. Read more about the 100 Million Mani Retreats in Mongolia in 2013, 2014, 2016. See photos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s May 2017 visit to Mongolia: https://photos.app.goo.gl/eweNmY1wsVQ3PBRe6.
The 100 Million Mani Retreat at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy begins on October 4! Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings from Italy, as well as from Vienna on September 29-October 1, will be live streamed:
https://fpmt.org/media/streaming/lama-zopa-rinpoche-live/
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.
Indila Dora with Tenzin Osel Hita.
Osel with baby Tenzin Norbu.
On September 15, 2017, a tsog day, Tenzin Osel Hita and partner Indila Dora welcomed Tenzin Norbu into the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche was offering prayers during Tenzin Norbu’s birth.
Warm wishes for much happiness in this new chapter for Osel, Indila, and precious Tenzin Norbu.
Lighting the inauguration lamp for the Liberation Prison Project in Bangalore, August 2017. Photo courtesy of Choe Khor Sum Ling.
Rashmi Krishnan, a student and volunteer of Choe Khor Sum Ling in Bangalore, India, shares news about the center’s encouraging expansion of its prison outreach through the Liberation Prison Project (LPP) to women:
For over two years, students at Choe Khor Sum Ling have been visiting male prisoners at a facility as part of their work with the Liberation Prison Project. Over the last year, the program has been expanded to include the female inmates’ section.
Between fifteen to twenty women attend the sessions, which are held every Saturday, except for second Saturdays and public holidays. As part of a session, teachings of the Buddha, which include the subjects of impermanence, karma, forgiveness, and compassion are discussed. It is very encouraging to note that the discussions are very participatory and interactive. Techniques like analytical meditation and calm abiding are also imparted during the classes.
The impact of the teachings has been heart-warming. Patience levels have improved considerably among inmates, and the willingness to be equanimous through forgiving oneself and others is eagerly implemented.
Between discussions on karma, faith, and equanimity, there are times when inmates acknowledge the improvement that has occurred in those who used to be very angry.
A drawing by Sadhana Nagendra depicts the teaching of the Liberation Prison Project run by the Choe Khor Sum Ling in Bangalore, August 2017.
One of the inmates very profoundly said that regardless of whether she is inside or outside the prison, she is constantly worried and wanted to learn how to put an end to her worries.
Our work with the inmates clearly showed that it doesn’t matter whether one is at the tenth floor of a posh high-rise or in a dreadful nine-to-five, working endless hours of a soul-numbing job or in prison—the mind that is not at peace is imprisoned and undergoes punishment.
The path of liberation is practiced by both the volunteers and the inmates as discussions and the lessons on impermanence and equanimity are internalized. During the process, the mind gradually shifts gear to higher levels of acceptance. We’ve especially begun to internalize the lesson that we may not be free to change our external circumstances, but we can use the mind to utilize present circumstances to become a better human.
Read student testimonials, program details, and teacher information on the Liberation Prison Project:
http://www.liberationprisonproject.org/
FPMT.org 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.