FPMT Community: Stories & News

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, August 2015. Photo courtesy of Ven. Tenzin Khentse.

“Amitabha Buddhist Centre gave a warm welcome to His Eminence the 7th Ling Rinpoche as he visited the center for the very first time on August 2,” reports Ven. Tenzin Tsultrim. “Rinpoche kindly made time for the brief Sunday morning visit in the midst of his busy schedule in Singapore.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche with Khen Rinpoche Nicholas Vreeland and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, August 2015. Photo courtesy of Ven. Tenzin Khentse.

“The previous 6th Ling Rinpoche was the senior tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and widely regarded as a foremost scholar, lineage holder and guru to a generation of scholars and high lamas.

“During the hour-long visit, a mandala offering was held, led by our resident teacher Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi. Rinpoche got to meet our members, distribute blessed pills and cords to everyone, and tour our premises. He also agreed to visit again and to teach at the next opportunity. Rinpoche was in Singapore at the invitation of Gaden Shartse Monastery’s Dro-phen Ling Centre.”

Students making preliminary prayers during His Eminence Ling Rinpoche’s hour-long visit, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, August 2015. Photo courtesy of Ven. Tenzin Khentse.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche with students, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, August 2015. Photo courtesy of Ven. Tenzin Khentse.

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.

View at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 26, 2015

“It’s exhausting,” Ven. Gyalten Yarphel told Mandala in a phone call on Thursday afternoon, August 27. “Breathing all the smoke, it’s hard to be energetic.” Ven. Yarphel (John Jackson) was speaking from Buddha Amitabha Pure Land (BAPL) in North Central Washington state in the United States, where wildfires continue to burn out of control.

On Thursday, August 20, fires came through the valley where Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s retreat house and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land are located. According to Ven. Yarphel, the fire came up to and burned around the structures — Rinpoche’s house and the retreat cabins — and the two large statues — Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha — leaving small unburned islands on the land. Sadly, their close neighbor’s house was burned to the ground.

The current residents of the 500-acre retreat property had evacuated their homes the night before, but had to stay with neighbors as the road out of the valley was blocked by fires and did not open up until early on Thursday morning, when they got out. They stayed with friends who lived about 40 miles away and returned to the BAPL on Tuesday, August 25. 

On Wednesday, August 26, the winds came up and blew an ember into the trees near one of the retreat structures on the land (not Rinpoche’s house). The trees caught fire and caused the structure to combust and burn to the ground.

Retreat structure that burned on Wednesday, August 26, 2015

On Thursday 27, the winds picked up again, and those staying on the property were told to again evacuate. While most of the ground at BAPL is charred, Ven. Yarphel said there is still a lot of fuel for fire in the trees, although he added that Rinpoche’s house seems to be safe. Fires continue to burn in the surrounding areas and across the valley. Spot fires could flare up on the property depending on the wind and other conditions. There is also very dense smoke, which prevents air assistance with the fires.

View at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, August 26, 2015

Ven. Yarphel said the firefighters are doing all they can, but simply don’t have enough resources. The Okanogan Complex fire, which is the fire affecting BAPL, is currently covering 302,224 acres and is threatening to merge with another large fire burning to the east, the North Star fire, covering 179,834 acres. In addition, wildfires fueled by drought and a very warm summer are burning throughout other parts of the Pacific Northwest. 

The residents at BAPL hope to return to the retreat land on Friday, August 28. Early reports on Friday said that no new structures were burned. The residents staying on the retreat land are without electricity, but there is one generator, which provides internet access, some light at night and runs a pump for water. They also have food and can cook on a camp stove. Gelek Sherpa, who has been staying there painting the large Amitabha Buddha statue, will be returning to California next week as it’s become too difficult to continue his work because of smoke and swarming wasps and yellow jackets. Ven. Yarphel is looking forward to getting out of the smoke, too. He’ll be leaving for Mexico next week to attend the retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Screen shot of wildfires affecting Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, August 28, 2015 (http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/firemap.aspx)

For now, fires continue to threaten Buddha Amitabha Pure Land. Some rain is forecast for the area over the weekend, however if it is accompanied by wind and lightning, which was the cause of the current fires, it might not help. Students may do prayers and practices to dispel fires as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This advice can be found in last week’s post “Wildfires Threaten Buddha Amitabha Pure Land and Pamtingpa Center.”

You can see a short video after the August 20 fire of Buddha Amitabha Pure Land on Facebook. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Ven. Drimay during choir session, Gethsemani Abbey, May 2015. Photo by Martin Verhoven.

In May 2015, Ven. Losang Drimay, teacher and resident at Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, California, was one of 12 Buddhists to meet with 17 Catholics at Gethsemani Encounter IV. The first Encounter took place nearly 20 years earlier at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, the home and retreat of the late Trappist monk, writer and mystic Thomas Merton (1915-1968) in New Haven, Kentucky in the United States. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was a friend of Merton, attended the first Encounter. Ven. Drimay shares her experience in Mandala‘s newest online feature: “Finding Freshness: Ven. Losang Drimay Attends the Interfaith Gethsemani Encounter IV.”

“I think it helps both parties freshen up their own practice and way of doing things. After you’ve been in a certain place for a while, things can either get stale, or you just forget there could be a different way to be doing things or thinking about things. It’s not that either side will stop being Catholic or stop being Buddhist, but you may get a new angle on what you’re already doing. For example, by hearing the presentation on lectio divina (“divine reading,” the practice of prayerful and contemplative scripture reading), I will continue thinking about how this applies to my own reading practices.

“In fact, I was reminded of what Ven. René Feusi mentions in The Beautiful Way of Life: A Meditation on Shantideva’s Bodhisattva Path, the book that’s recently been published, which basically came out of a retreat practice of what could be called divine reading. He doesn’t call it that, but he would read a verse, think about it, make it his own – you roll it around in your own psyche and see if it speaks to you. What does it say to you, how would you put it in your own words? It was important to hear that there’s another tradition where that’s not accidental, but rather that this is the way to work with scripture.

“The Catholics in this particular group were very liberal. The fact that they’re having conversations with Buddhists is a sign that they are liberal. The Gethsemani group has been very interested in learning meditation, and one of the monk-priests who participated took himself over to Japan years ago and learned zazen. Zazen is now a part of his daily practice, not that he’s Buddhist – he’s not giving up his Catholic world-view. But every day he practices on a cushion the way he learned from a Zen master.” Read more …

In case you missed last month’s online feature, “How Do Holy Objects Work?” you can read it now. If you like Mandala’s online features, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work as well as the education programs of FPMT.

Screen shot of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive’s redesigned hompage

“Thanks to your support, the LYWA team has just launched a brand new responsive website (http://www.LamaYeshe.com) that we think is very beautiful and exceptionally functional. We hope you agree!” the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive wrote about their brand new website.

We hope you enjoy the August edition of the FPMT International Office E-news – out now!

This month we bring you:

• Highlights from Lama Zopa Rinpoche News
• Recent Grants Offered by our Social Services Fund
• Newest Online Feature from Mandala magazine
• Celebrating FPMT’s International Sangha Day…with pizza!

and of course more…….

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Khyongla Rato Rinpoche, New York, USA, July 2015. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been receiving oral transmissions from Khyongla Rinpoche. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche greets is His Eminence Ling Rinpoche, Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India, March 2015. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre.

Spiritual program coordinator Ven. Tenzin Kunphen shared a very brief summary of all that Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India has accomplished over the first half of the 2015 season:

Tushita’s latest news is out and there is much to rejoice in!

During the first half of our 2015 season we have not only hosted nine introductory, two intermediate, and one advanced courses; one pre-ordination course; and three tantric retreats; but also hosted our precious guru Lama Zopa Rinpoche twice, in addition to His Eminence Ling Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, Dagri Rinpoche (twice), Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme), Jetsünma Tenzin Palmo, Tenzin Ösel Hita and Gen Gyatso.

Dagri Rinpoche and Khadro-la consecrating new statues, Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India, February 2015. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre.

We also completed construction on three beautiful retreat huts, two new stupas, and consecrated our new statues.

There was so much news that we organized it all on our website for interested students: http://tushita.info/news/the-first-half-of-our-season-much-reason-to-rejoice/

Introduction to Buddhism Course with Shahar Tene, Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India, May 2015. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre.

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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, Perth, Australia, August 2015. Image courtesy of Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.

Long-time student Owen Cole shares exciting news about Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche’s recent visit to Hayagriva Buddhist Centre in Perth, Australia:

Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the diminutive 12-year-old reincarnation of the great yogi and meditator Geshe Lama Konchog, has been secretly attending school for the last three-and-a-half years in Perth.

He ended the seclusion by attending a blessing at Perth’s Hayagriva Buddhist Centre on August 10. Accompanied by his attendant in this and the past life, Geshe Tenzin Zopa, he was welcomed by the resident teacher, Geshe Sonam, Ven. Robina Courtin and more than 90 students.

Geshe Zopa explained they had kept their presence in Perth quiet as Phuntsok Rinpoche couldn’t say no to the many visitors he had while in Kopan Monastery, which interfered with his studies.

Geshe-la said he decided Rinpoche should receive a Western education, a decision opposed by many but which came with the blessing of their guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Geshe-la also said that the move had been planned with the late former Abbot of Kopan Monastery, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup.

Perth was chosen because of a friend in the city. They lived in the suburb next to Hayagriva Buddhist Centre throughout their stay.

Geshe Zopa said they passed the center often and it broke his heart that they couldn’t go in, but he knew it would interfere with Rinpoche’s education if word got out that they were in Australia. Rinpoche attended a private school in lay clothes and Geshe-la picked him up from school similarly dressed. The school had no idea they were monks.

During their stay, Geshe Zopa did Yamantaka retreat in the suburban house in which they stayed. He said this showed you don’t need a cave in Nepal to do a retreat!

Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, Perth, Australia, August 2015. Image courtesy of Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.

Speaking fluent English, Phuntsok Rinpoche told Hayagriva students that his favorite subjects at school were maths and philosophy. He is also highly interested in science. Geshe-la said many lamas, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, emphasize the importance of understanding science to understand the culture to teach the Dharma in the West.

Geshe Zopa said high lamas now spend more time teaching in the West than in India or Nepal as Buddhism is becoming more established there and that it will take root in the West as it did in Tibet.

Phuntsok Rinpoche’s time in Perth has ended and next month he will start studying in India’s Sera Je Monastery where his attendant will be Geshe Zopa’s brother, who also served Geshe Lama Konchog.

During his visit to Hayagriva, Rinpoche had total control of the event. He led the prayers and gave transmissions of the mantras of Hayagriva (a practice of Geshe Lama Konchog), Chenrezig and Manjushri. This followed the offering of the body, speech and mind mandala and the traditional offering of sweet tea and rice which was given to Rinpoche and all the guests.

Answers to questions from students were short and precise, in the best Geshe Lama Konchog tradition, showing a wisdom and maturity way beyond what could be expected of a 12-year-old. Topics ranged from how to develop a good heart in the young to overcoming fear, dealing with the environment and preparing for death. For one student who wanted to know about her past and future, “Just focus on the present,” was his reply.

Rinpoche and Geshe Zopa visited the Hospice of Mother Tara in Bunbury last weekend and will visit other Australian FPMT centers in coming weeks.

A lightly edited 15-minute video of Phuntsok Rinpoche’s session at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre is now on YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjEYe6CZbQk

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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Choe Khor Sum Ling students with Geshe Dorji Damdul, Bangalore, India, July 2015. Photo courtesy of Choe Khor Sum Ling.

Student Deepthy Shekhar from FPMT center Choe Khor Sum Ling in Bangalore, India, shared with Mandala their recent news:

Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL) celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday on July 6, 2015 with an extensive Guru Puja with extensive offerings and prayers and practices for the long life of His Holiness. This was led by Gen. Tenzin Namjong who also released a book complied by CKSL to commemorate His Holiness’ birthday. This book contained various prayers and practices composed by His Holiness and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and even His Holiness’ Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

Geshe Dorji Damdul. Photo courtesy of Choe Khor Sum Ling.

Starting on July 10, CKSL hosted teachings by Geshe Dorji Damdul, who visited from Tibet House in Delhi and gave a seven-day teaching, which included two long days of teachings on the topics of dependent origination, the four mindfulnesses, meditations to establish emptiness on the four essentials, bodhichitta and meditations on Mahamudra. These teachings brought forth many students to the center, who had many questions to ask. These teachings were engaging, illuminating and inspiring. Students requested Geshe Dorji Damdul to visit the center again. 

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.

Cake in celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday, Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, July 2015. Photo courtesy of Root Institute.

Spiritual program coordinator Ven. Lozang Khadro from Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India shared with Mandala how the center celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday and recent staff changes:

The celebrations for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday in July began with a recitation of his long life prayer in Hindi in our main gompa, followed by offerings of khatas by the staff and volunteers. A beautifully decorated birthday cake along with lamps were offered and everyone sang “Happy Birthday.”

Pema Tse, a teacher from our Maitreya School, one of the many projects at Root Institute geared towards serving the needs of the poor, gave a special talk in Hindi about His Holiness’ exemplary qualities. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” he said, “is a precious, inspiring, living example to all of us showing us how to live our lives with compassion, wisdom and loving-kindness.”

Ven. Trisha Labdron served Root Institute for 14 years, Bodhgaya, India. Photo courtesy of Root Institute.

Later that evening, the Sangha and lay community met again for protector prayers and pujas and dedicated them for the long, stable life of His Holiness. May we always be guided by His Holiness and receive teachings, blessings and initiations from him so that we too may become quickly enlightened for the benefit of all sentient beings.

In late June, the staff and volunteers of Root Institute expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation to Ven. Trisha Labdron who dedicated 14 years of selfless service to Root Institute at a farewell tea party. She initiated many projects including the Tara Children’s Project, the only orphanage for HIV-affected children in the state of Bihar. These projects have greatly benefited the local and regional communities.

On June 15 we welcomed our new director, Ven. Tenzin Paldron. Ven. Paldron worked alongside Ven. Trisha for three months before taking over her position. We look forward to the continuing success and growth of Root Institute and all of its projects.

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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Screen shot of “The Heart of Our Happiness”

In 2014, Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC) in Singapore celebrated its 25th anniversary. To commemorate the anniversary, the center commissioned two videos, one of which was The Heart of Our Happiness, a short documentary reflecting on ABC’s growth and accomplishments over 25 years. The 22-minute video, thematically structured around Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s contributions to the center’s success, was made public in late April 2015 for all FPMT students to enjoy.

Watch the The Heart of Our Happiness on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFGs59b4w9g

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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Tormas and offerings in preparation for statue consecration, Choe Khor Sum Ling, Bangalore, India, April 2015. Photo by Jeffrey Butts.

On April 25-27 FPMT center Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL) in Bangalore, India carried out the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche by organizing the consecration of its gompa statues. Student Danyèle Grignon shared the news with Mandala:

The auspicious set of dates had been identified as April 25-27. Saffron water was poured in the offering bowls and garlands of flowers ornamented the altars. The monks from Gyume Monastery had collected scented substances, medicines, different types of grains and other items. Tormas were prepared in red and white colors.

Fifteen monks from Gyume Monastery attended the consecration, Choe Khor Sum Ling, Bangalore, India, April 2015. Photo by Jeffrey Butts.

On April 25, the 15 monks of Gyume Monastery sat in two rows to open the ceremony with the relevant prayers and offerings. Lama Choepel, in charge to lead the rituals, uttered mantras while sprinkling holy water, rice and purifying herbs.

Lay people participated throughout the days of pujas, developing patience and deep listening. They prayed, read Dharma books, meditated and copied some verses of The Sutra of Golden Light.

Lay students copied out The Sutra of Golden Light during the consecration and other events, Choe Khor Sum Ling, Bangalore, India, April 2015. Photo by Jeffrey Butts.

Later in the evening, Ven. Namjong from Sera Je Monastery gave the oral transmission of “Teaching on Ultimate Reality.”

Our collective prayers were dedicated to Nepal and a Medicine Buddha puja was offered for the earthquakes to stop and for the benefit of all the victims.

A monk with bumpa vase, Choe Khor Sum Ling, Bangalore, India, April 2015. Photo by Jeffrey Butts.

On April 26, students were offered a jenang, a tantric empowerment, and on April 27, two sur (aroma charity) ceremonies were conducted on the rooftop of the center.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche encouraged us to engage in these activities to collect extensive merits and pacify obstacles to CKSL Dharma projects, especially the expansion into a new location. 

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 on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Franziska Oertle, 2014

In October 2015 the seventh Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme (LRZTP7) will begin. LRZTP is FPMT’s only Tibetan-language interpretation program, located in Dharamsala, India. Students spend two years in Dharamsala acquiring the language skills necessary for interpretation and can spend another two years outside of Dharamsala receiving onsite training as an apprentice interpreter.

One of LRZTP7’s newest teachers is Swiss-born Franziska Oertle. After meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2006, Franziska moved to Bouddhnath, Nepal, where she lived with a Tibetan host family and studied Buddhist philosophy and Himalayan languages at Kathmandu University (Rangjung Yeshe Institute – RYI). After finishing her Bachelors degree in 2009, she worked as a Tibetan language instructor and interpreter trainer while completing her Masters degree in Tibetan grammar.

Since then, Franziska as been teaching colloquial Tibetan language on various levels and institutions in Nepal and India including: the Emory University Study Abroad semester; the RYI Intensive Summer Course; the School of International Training; and Sarah College.

Wishing to contribute to Tibetan language learners as well as the preservation of the endangered Tibetan language, Franziska is writing a colloquial Tibetan manual. Unlike other textbooks, it synthesizes traditional indigenous Tibetan grammar and contemporary language learning methods.

LRZTP7 director Yaron Bahir sat down with Franziska to talk to her about the studying and teaching of Tibetan: 

Franziska Oertle

What is the benefit of studying the Tibetan language?

Since language is inherently linked with culture, one can probably only gain a deep and thorough understanding of Tibetan people and the Dharma if one knows the Tibetan language. One of the major personal gains is being directly able to understand Tibetan lamas and rinpoches.

On a more global level, every Tibetan language student contributes to the preservation of an endangered language. And in the case of translators, they are the bridge between languages and cultures and are indispensable for the spreading of the Dharma.

What methods of teaching do you use to teach the Tibetan language?

The Tibetan language is very peculiar and its grammar extremely vast, profound, and beautiful. Therefore, I find it very important for students to understand the Tibetan language from within by studying the two major Tibetan grammar treatises, the Sum cu pa and rTags kyi ‘jug pa. At the same time, in order for the language to become alive we need to embrace contemporary (communicational) teaching methods and a large variety of different activities, supports, and materials, such as dialogues, stories, games, audio, electronic dictionaries, flash card programs on phones and iPads, etc.

Do you have any brief advice for anyone who wants to study Tibetan?

You just have to love it! When we love what we are doing, we learn more quickly and happily. And my second heart advice: immerse and connect yourself into the Tibetan-speaking world as much as you can. Ideally, if your life-conditions permit, live for some time in a Tibetan-speaking part of the world.

Registration for LRZTP7 is now open. Please visit the website for more information: www.lrztp.org

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.