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Villagers and nuns came together in Tsum to recite manis and Guru Rinpoche mantras, Rachen Nunnery, Tsum, Nepal, July 2016. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Lhundrup.
“During July, a nine-day community mani retreat was held in Tsum, Nepal, during which also Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) mantras were recited,” shared Kopan Monastery’s Ani Fran Mohoupt. “On the last day, there was also 100,000 tsog offerings. The mani retreat was attended by a minimum of 200 people from the villages around Rachen Nunnery, a project of Kopan Monastery. For the day of tsogs, more than 500 people came.”
The Tsum community came together to practice extensively, Rachen Nunnery, Tsum, Nepal, July 2016. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Lhundrup.
The gompa where various practices were completed by the Tsum community, Rachen Nunnery, Tsum, Nepal, July 2016. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Lhundrup.
“At this time of the year it is raining a lot, but still people come from far away, walking for many hours, or by horse, to participate in this retreat. We collected over 39 million recitations of OM MANI PADME HUM and about 73 million recitations of Guru Rinpoche’s mantra.
Villagers offered dance and music at the end of the retreat, Rachen Nunnery, Tsum, Nepal, July 2016. Photo by Ven. Tenzin Lhundrup.
“Lunch was offered to everybody and, of course, tea several times a day. The expenses of the retreat were mostly covered from the donations of the local villagers, and lunch was offered by a group of sponsors from Malaysia.”
One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT is having “one hundred thousand 100 million Mani retreats around the world.” Learn more at: //fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Maitreya Project Trust chairperson Ven. Kabir Saxena, special secretary deputed by Uttar Pradesh State Government Mr. Surya Mani Lalchand and Maitreya Project Trust legal advisor Atul Chopra signing the papers for the transfer of land, India, August 19, 2016. Photos courtesy of the Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar.
At the Light of the Path Retreat on Friday, August 19, there was tremendous rejoicing when Lama Zopa Rinpoche announced that the land for the very large Maitreya Buddha statue in Kushinagar had been officially signed over by the state government of Uttar Pradesh.
The official statement from the Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar shared the news as follows:
“We are delighted to announce that on August 19th 2016, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh formally and most generously, handed over about 200 acres of land in Kushinagar to Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar.
The handover team at the registrar’s office in Kushinagar, UP, India, August 19, 2016
“The land is extraordinarily precious in that it is adjacent to the Maha Parinirvana Temple denoting the place where Shakyamuni Buddha passed into Maha Parinirvana. On three sides the land encloses the Ramabhar Stupa – the cremation site of Shakyamuni Buddha. The land is even more auspicious as it is predicted that when Maitreya Buddha appears on this earth, he will be born in Kushinagar.
“Maitreya Buddha Project is most grateful to Honourable Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and all the State Government officials who have assisted over the years, in the complex legal process culminating in today’s handover.
“The Project is indebted to Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche who since the passing of Project founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, has ensured Maitreya Project continues despite many difficulties.
“The Project is equally indebted to FPMT Inc, the lead sponsor of the Project and to the other amazing individual donors who have so generously continued to fund the Project even though at times it seemed this moment would never come.
“The Project is also deeply grateful to the local population who have graciously facilitated this historic moment.”
Ven. Kabir Saxena addressing the media outside the registrar’s office in Kushinagar, UP, India, August 19, 2016
The Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar has already begun its work in the area with humanitarian programs such as the the distribution of mosquito nets in the summer and blankets during the coldest months of the year. Now having officially taken possession of the land, they can begin work onsite. Here is their list of upcoming projects:
- “The first critical task is fencing the 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) of site boundary.
- “Also of major importance is to relocate the 7.4 meter (24 feet) high Maitreya statue, from Bodhgaya to the Kushinagar land. The Project is planning a ceremony to receive Maitreya Buddha onto the land as soon as possible.
- “The Project will also build a shrine to accommodate the amazing collection of Holy Relics that Lama Zopa Rinpoche has kindly assigned to the site.
- “The skeleton team that has overseen the legal work for the last 16 years must now expand to include local onsite management, a small office, security, communications and basic infrastructure.
- “We begin strategically master planning the site and are seeking professional help with the process.”
Back at the Light of the Path Retreat in United States, retreat participants were very moved by Rinpoche’s announcement of the good news after so many years of waiting to acquire this land. On the same day, Rinpoche got a fortune cookie and the message inside was “You have a potential urge and the ability for accomplishment,” which was taken as a sign for the Maitreya Project.
To learn more about the Maitreya Buddha Project Kushinagar, visit: http://mbpkushinagar.org. You can directly offer your support at this link: http://mbpkushinagar.org/donations/general-donation/.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Bear Mountain, New York, US, July 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
The August FPMT International Office e-News is out now!
This month you’ll find:
- Links so you can listen to Rinpoche’s teachings during the Light of the Path Retreat
- What is a holiday from Rinpoche’s point of view
- Rejoice in Offerings made on Chokhor Duchen
- New Materials from Education Services
….and more!
From your FPMT International Office
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi with ABC’s prostration group, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, July 2016. Photo courtesy of ABC.
Students prostrating, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, August 2015. Photo courtesy of ABC.
“While there were group sessions initially, it eventually panned out into personal practice by those taking part. Altogether, 90 people contributed to the 1 million prostrations, which were performed in relation to the Thirty-five Confession Buddhas. To encourage more people to take part, those who were physically unable to do full-length prostrations could contribute short prostrations.
“What’s next after 1 million? Taking Khen Rinpoche’s latest advice, the group is now aiming for 3.5 million prostrations to match the incredible number that Lama Tsonkhapa had completed while in retreat at Wolka Cholung in Tibet. With the purifying benefits of prostrating in mind, Khen Rinpoche has encouraged them to continue the practice of prostrations for as long as they can. The organizers are calling for more prostrators to join them in following the great example set by Lama Tsongkhapa.”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Lama Yeshe at a family gathering, Vajrapani Institute, California, US, 1983. Photo by Carol Royce-wilder, courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
The new issue of Mandala features the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW), the UK-based FPMT international project that oversees the development and dissemination of Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom (UECW) programs, such as the 16 Guidelines for Life and the new A.R.T. of Fulfillment program that is launching in 2017. UECW is the manifestation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s vision of Universal Education, Buddhist-inspired learning for everyone. Under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FDCW is bringing these exciting and transformative programs to the world.
You can read Mandala‘s story “The Foundation for the Development of Compassion and Wisdom Carries Lama Yeshe’s Vision into the Future” as a PDF now available online to learn more about FDCW and UECW programs.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
The students of Choe Khor Sum Ling attending Discovering Buddhism lectures, 2016. Photo by Sveta Guralnik.
In May 2016, five students of Choe Khor Sum Ling in Bangalore, India, completed all the lectures for the first 13 modules of the 14-module FPMT Discovering Buddhism (DB) program series, a process that took three years to complete and is a first for the center. Although still waiting for the 13th exam to be scheduled, these same students also completed all the exams and retreats associated with the earlier modules. The 14th module is practice-based and is done according to one’s own schedule.
“We’ve been blessed to have four fantastic teachers, with three of them dedicating much of their precious time and effort to the DB program,” said student Sveta Guralnik. “Ven. Tenzin Legtsok’s lectures have been so captivatingly brilliant that even a clock on the wall would hold its breath and forget to tick.
“DB retreats led by Ven. Tenzin Namdak were all just equal to vacations spent in a real pure land, where we have had a direct experience of how studying the Dharma can become the most meaningful and joyous thing to do in the whole world.
The students of Choe Khor Sum Ling attending Discovering Buddhism lectures, 2016. Photo by Sveta Guralnik.
“Ven. Tenzin Namjong, while facilitating regular highly inspiring DB sessions, has tackled the most time-consuming and, perhaps, the least pleasant part of the teacher’s duties: the DB exams. Thanks to his firm determination to set (and keep!) the bar pretty high, and to his almost supernatural attentiveness to each student’s individual needs, the DB students have been able to achieve a level that they themselves did not believe was ever achievable.
“While the DB course was going on, our forth and very dear teacher Ven. Gyalten Rabten kept enriching our minds and hearts through the series of his delightfully artistic lectures and heart-warming pujas.”
“This fabulous DB journey would not have been possible without its navigator and devoted coordinator Shanti Gopinath, to whom we all owe a big thank you.”
In total, 56 students from Choe Khor Sum Ling took one or more modules over the last three years.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel. Photo via Facebook (Osel Hita).
We are sad to announce that on July 31, 2016, Sera Je abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel suddenly passed away. Among Khen Rinpoche’s many students is Tenzin Ösel Hita, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel was born in 1941 in Karze in eastern Tibet. He later joined Sera Je Monastery in 1955 and went into exile in India in 1959, joining the Buxa Duar community to study and practice. He was among the foremost group who re-established Sera Je in Bylakuppe, South India. After earning his Lharampa Geshe degree, Khen Rinpoche began teaching at the monastery and did so for the rest of his life. He was enthroned as the 75th abbot of Sera Je Monastery on July 18, 2016.
Enthronement ceremony of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel, Sera Je Monastery, Bylakuppe, South India, July 2016. Photo via http://www.serajeymonastery.org
“My dearest and most precious Teacher, Friend, Mother, Father and Khen Rinpoche, Geshe Gendun Choephel, just passed away in a very sudden way,” Ösel wrote on his Facebook page on July 31. “He was the closest person in my life, he raised me and gave me everything, taught me and loved me like no one else. It is devastating and so hard to accept, but I feel joy for having known him and it has been such an honor to grow up under his guidance. Thank you so much Gen-la, you are always in my heart.”
Mandala will have a complete obituary for Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel in the January-June 2017 issue.
Sera Je monks reciting texts for Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel, Sera Je Monastery, South India, July 2016. Photo via Facebook (Sera Jey Monastery).
Andy Wistreich and other students at the first annual Land of Joy Dharma Festival of Light and Merit, UK, July 2016. Photo courtesy of Land of Joy.
“From July 1-3, 2016, Land of Joy, a retreat center in the United Kingdom, held its first Dharma Festival of Light and Merit,” shared Land of Joy board member and FPMT-registered teacher Andy Wistreich. “The main purpose of the festival is to create merit and also to offer a time each year when people can come together to refresh their practice and celebrate Dharma in a light-hearted and sociable way.
“It was an intensely joyous experience. The festival began on Friday evening with Lama Chöpa, followed on Saturday by recitation of the Vajra Cutter Sutra and Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara. On Saturday afternoon, Ven. Mary Reavey led an inspiring talk and discussion session on the transition to Dharma in our lives, pressing us to be honest with ourselves in our practice. Saturday evening, after a tour of the center’s grounds, we participated in a moving and lengthy offering of lights in the gompa. On Sunday morning we recited the FPMT protector prayers, the Ganapati sutra and mantra, and in the afternoon explored in a motivating discussion the purpose and benefits of retreat, especially solitary retreat.
“The festival is just the latest merit-making activity of a project that from the start has focused single-pointedly on creating merit for success. We have received and followed to the letter a series of advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche – and they have worked. We are now mounting a campaign to collect 108,000 Ganapati mantras, with 108 people reciting seven mantras per day, by November 20. Please join us!
Students at the first annual Land of Joy Dharma Festival of Light and Merit, UK, July 2016. Photo courtesy of Land of Joy.
“The results of all this merit are beginning to emerge clearly. Around two years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited Greenaugh Hall, prior to purchase, and with Rinpoche’s blessing we acquired the property and are creating a land of joy. Plans for next year already include the approximation retreats of Yamantaka and Vajrayogini, a lam-rim retreat, Introduction to Tantra, the Heart Sutra, Nagarjuna’s Root Wisdom, and Tsongkhapa’s Essence of Eloquence, nyung näs, and much more. Sign up for our newsletter in order to get news of when bookings open for these retreats.”
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering Ven. Thubten Kunsang a khata blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Ven. Kunsang, Sera Monastery, India, January 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
We are sad to share the news that the French monk Ven. Thubten Kunsang (Henri Lopez) passed away on Sunday, July 24, at 11:46 a.m. in India due to cancer. Ven. Kunsang traveled with Lama Zopa Rinpoche for many years, recording Rinpoche’s talks and spontaneous teachings for the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and taking thousands of photos that have been shared on FPMT.org and in Mandala magazine. He was a familiar and friendly face within the international FPMT community, known for his incredible warmth, generosity and kindness. He will be missed by many, many people around the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Thubten Kunsang, Sera Monastery, India, January 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche sent the following message to ordained Sangha after Ven. Kunsang had passed away.
Dear Sangha,
We believed there was real Kunsang and now that real Kunsang is not there, but that’s the reality, and like that all the phenomena, yourself, action and object, all phenomena, samsara and nirvana are like that.
Please right now when you get this, please to do the short Medicine Buddha sadhana and Padmasambhava prayer Sampa Lhundrupma.
Dedicated to Ven. Kunsang (Henri Lopez) who has just passed away in India at 11:46 a.m.
Dedicate that he may be immediately born in a pure land where he can achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible or to receive at least a perfect human rebirth, meet the Mahayana teachings, meet a perfectly qualified Mahayana Guru, who reveals the path to enlightenment and by pleasing the holy mind of the virtuous friend, then by himself to achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible.
With much love and prayers,
Lama Zopa
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Thubten Kunsang, Sera Monastery, India, January 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Jean Yves took care of Ven. Kunsang in the last few months of his life and sent a photo of Ven. Kunsang, his brother Emile and Jean Yves to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who asked his attendant Ven. Sherab to Photoshop Rinpoche into the picture. Ven. Sherab did and sent the photo back to Ven. Kunsang, his brother and Jean Yves with the message: “Rinpoche looking after Kunsang , JY and brother Emile from behind and above!”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche added to a photo of Emile, Ven. Kunsang and Jean Yves, India
Many pujas were arranged for Ven. Kunsang. In addition, Nalanda Monastery is making 400 long-life tsa-tsas and Peter Iseli will make a White Tara thangka.
Links to text recommended by Rinpoche, Medicine Buddha Sadhana:
https://fpmt.org/wp-content/uploads/education/prayers/medicine_buddha_sadhana_c5.pdf
“Sampa Lhundrupma”:
http://www.tibetanbuddhistaltar.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/SAMPA-LHUNDRUP-5x8k.pdf
There will be an obituary for Ven. Kunsang in the next issue of Mandala magazine.
For more on practices recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at time of death and other resources to support yourself and loved ones at time of death, please visit fpmt.org/death/.
Pradip Rajbhandari (center in blue) and family visited FPMT International Office and Maitripa College’s Jokhang, Portland, Oregon, US, June 2016.
On June 2, the staff of FPMT International Office in Portland, Oregon, US, had tea with Pradip Rajbhandari, the Nepali co-owner, with Birendra Shahi and founder Surendra Bahadur Shahi, of the workshop responsible for creation of all of the hand-painted thangkas found in the Foundation Store. During the tea, store manager Diana Ospina asked Pradip to talk a little bit about the history of his business and the effects the April 2015 earthquake had on his workers.
This thangka of the 35 Buddhas of Confession is painted specifically for the Foundation Store to be accurate with FPMT practice texts.
According to Pradip, there were few Tibetan-style thangka makers in Nepal in the 1950s. It wasn’t until Tibetan refugees came in the mid-1960s and established Tibetan Buddhism that thangka painting became popular as the Theravada practitioners already in Nepal preferred Newari art. Eventually, Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the workshop, which was founded in 1973, and began to recommend it to Kopan Monastery and its visitors, citing that the images were accurate and beneficial.
Over the years the workshop has done well, however, the April 2015 earthquake created difficulties. “I was in the shop when it hit,” Pradip shared. “There was nowhere really to go because it is a very narrow building – it lasted about 56 seconds. There was not a lot of damage to the shop, but if you went to the village side, the houses were razed. The brocade providers were not affected, but the 300 painters and apprentices come from the hard-hit areas, making thangkas difficult to produce.
“Domestic politics and unofficial blockades made common goods scarce for a time. And still today there might be no electricity for 14 hours a day.”
Pradip also talked about how thangkas in Nepal are sold today. “Ninety-five percent of thangkas in Tibet come from Nepal,” he said. “Our clients come from the United States and Europe, but the majority come from China – Beijing, Chengdu and Lhasa – and many buy them for practice. Individuals and the government are now beginning to restore temples that were destroyed after the Cultural Revolution. In general, business has really grown with the influx of Chinese customers.”
Co-owner Birendra Shahi (right) with Tibetan artist Robert Beer, Surendra’s Tibetan Thanka Treasure, Kathmandu, Nepal, May 2016. Photo via Facebook (Surendra’s Tibetan Thanka Treasure).
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given extensive commentary on the benefits of having and making offerings to holy objects such as thangkas. Thangkas created in Pradip’s workshop are available through the Foundation Store.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Kshitigarbha. 1.8 million recitations of the long Kshitigarbha mantra were needed to help mitigate possible earthquakes.
Recently, Land of Medicine Buddha announced that 1,840,962 recitations of the Kshitigarbha long mantra had been accumulated, completing the remaining advice Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave for preventing and pacifying earthquakes in California and the rest of the world. A total of 912 individuals and groups participated. Special thanks was offered to the students in Taiwan, who collected 423,700 recitations.
The other practices advised by Rinpoche had already been completed, reflecting the dedication and generosity of hundreds of students around the world. According to a February 2016 report, FPMT students collected US$31,100 to sponsor four recitations of the Tengyur; took the eight Mahayana precepts 2,436 times (the final total in July 2016 was 2,591); and completed six extensive Medicine Buddha pujas, all in addition to reciting the long Kshitigarbha mantra 1.8 million times.
Students contributed other practices to the effort too, including 382 recitations of the Kshitigarbha Sutra of Past Vows in Chinese and English; 110,800 short Kshitigarbha mantras; and 2,198 medium-length Kshitigarbha mantras.
You can find more advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on earthquakes and tsunami here:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/tsunami-and-earthquakes/
FPMT.org brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 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 on the way to airport, Taiwan, June 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Welcome to the July FPMT International Office e-News!
This month we bring you:
- An update to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Schedule
- How FPMT Charitable Projects support His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- What’s in the new issue of Mandala magazine!
- An introduction to a new FPMT study group
…and more!
From your FPMT International Office