FPMT Community: Stories & News

Portrait of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, New York, USA, August 2015. Photo by Edward Sczudlo.

Please enjoy the September 2015 edition of International Office News, FPMT International Office’s monthly e-newsletter.

This month, discover:

• Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on “How to Overcome Depression”
• Ways to stay up to date on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s ever-changing schedule
• A newly revised edition of Daily Meditation, a Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s compilation of prayers, practices, and meditations needed to start one’s day
• A recent update from Kopan Helping Hands, Kopan Monastery’s and Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery’s organization to help those affected by the Nepal earthquake
• Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive’s new website
• … and more!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing an incense puja for those who are sick on his first day in Mexico, where Rinpoche was leading retreat, September 6, 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Subscribe to the monthly International Office News to receive the latest information on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s schedule and advice; new Dharma practice materials; FPMT centers, projects and services around the world; and opportunities to offer service.

Tushita Meditation Center, Arbúcies, Montseny, Spain

Marina Brucet, the spiritual program coordinator at Tushita Retreat Center, sent us this update about the wonderful opportunities for practice in this peaceful Catalan retreat center.

Twenty years have passed since Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited this beautiful and quiet place in the Montseny Natural Park, near Barcelona in Spain, and gave it a name: Tushita. Since then, we have been organizing courses and retreats with the aim to be of the maximum benefit to all.

According to several lamas who have visited us here, Tushita is an ideal place for meditation. And because of this, we are trying to open the center to the world, to offer the opportunity to people, not only from Spain but also from afar, to come and join group retreats here. We are putting special emphasis on introduction to meditation and on preliminary practices, which are so crucial for seriously advancing in the path.

Tushita celebrates its 20th anniversary by organizing a water bowl marathon in October 2015 and a three-month Vajrasattva retreat in 2016

This year we have a Vajrasattva retreat, a vipassana retreat and a nyung nä retreat, among many others. In October 2015 there will be a water bowl marathon retreat. Yangsi Rinpoche commented that the region where Tushita is located is ideal for doing water bowl offerings. We are also organizing a lam-rim retreat (2015-2016) and a 3-month Vajrasattva retreat (2016) — the third being organized at the center and a great opportunity to do such a retreat in Europe. We also expect that Dagri Rinpoche will come to Barcelona in January 2016, before the retreat, to give the Vajrasattva initiation.

In the future, we are thinking of organizing a Dorje Khadro retreat as well, among others.

Tushita Retreat Center is a small place and we are just a few people, working on a volunteer basis. We do our best to be of good service to others and to give people the opportunity to come and enjoy a conducive place for meditation.

Visit Tushita Retreat Center online at http://www.tushita.es. For more, see Mandala‘s “Spain’s Tushita Retreat Center Celebrates 20 Years.”

Tushita Meditation Center, Arbúcies, Montseny, Spain

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.

Welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the UK, September 2015. Photo courtesy of Open Arms 2015 Facebook page.

In preparation for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to the United Kingdom, a group of FPMT students has been working with the office of Tibet and the local Tibetan community to ensure that His Holiness gets the warmest possible welcome when he arrives in the UK. Calling themselves, Open Arms 2015, they have organized a social media campaign to welcome His Holiness with khata offerings.

Ani Barbara offering a khata to His Holiness the Dalai Lama over Facebook, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, September 2015. Photo via Jamyang Buddhist Centre on Facebook.

UPDATE: FPMT student Alison Murdoch writes:

“Following an overwhelming response to the Open Arms 2015 initiative www.openarms2015.net, we are now inviting friends and supporters in any country to post an image of themselves offering a khatag (offering scarf) to The Dalai Lama.

“Every image received by midnight UK time on Friday 18^th September will be presented to The Dalai Lama, as a joyful international expression of support for his message of peace, compassion and universal responsibility in his 80th birthday year.   

“Please encourage friends, colleagues and family of any age, culture or walk of life to join us in creating the world’s largest katag offering.

“The easiest way to upload your photos is via the Open Arms 2015 Facebook page. Alternatively, for those who don’t use facebook, you can send them to info@openarms2015.net.”

For more information, visit Open Arm 2015’s website (http://www.openarms2015.net/) and their Facebook and Twitter pages.

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

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Eminence Choden Rinpoche, New Delhi, India, August 29, 2015. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Monastery.

We are very saddened to share the news that His Eminence Choden Rinpoche passed away on September 11 at 1:30 a.m. India time at Sera Je Monastery in South India. Choden Rinpoche was a highly respected Buddhist master and a much loved teacher, who taught at many FPMT centers over the years.

Choden Rinpoche was born in 1933 in eastern Tibet and was recognized at age three. At age eight he entered Rabten Monastery, and at age fifteen he went to Sera Je Monastery, where he studied the five main texts. Choden Rinpoche became an expert on the teachings on Vinaya – monastic discipline. He was a highly respected scholar and was chosen as one of two Sera Je monks to debate with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ geshe exams.

During the communist Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959, Choden Rinpoche stayed in Tibet and went into solitary retreat. He never left his small, dark room in Lhasa from 1965 to 1985, and was virtually unknown in his monastery for this reason. In 1985 he was allowed to leave Tibet for India and has since taught for many years at Sera Je Monastery in South India as well as at Dharma centers throughout the world, including many FPMT centers.

On August 29, 2015, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with Choden Rinpoche in New Delhi.  His Holiness told Choden Rinpoche that he remembered the first time that Choden Rinpoche came to his attention. It was many years ago during an audience with monks at Norbulingka, the summer palace of His Holiness in Tibet. His Holiness said that he remembered seeing how the rays of the sun were falling on Rinpoche’s head and how a bee landed on his head. Choden Rinpoche said he had no memory of that. His Holiness said that at the time he thought that Choden Rinpoche was a magnificent lama. [Photos and translated English text provided by Ven. Tenzin Gache and Ven. Tenzin Namdak of Sera IMI House at Sera Je Monastery. Rebeca Cuan Corral provided a Spanish language translation of the meeting.]

His Holiness also said that since arriving in India, Rinpoche has done his best in many ways such as giving teachings, imparting philosophy lessons to the monks and sharing the Buddhadharma with students throughout the world. His Holiness said that it is important to rejoice in this work.

If you would like a more detailed description of the event of his transition, as well as the collection of prayers that were advised by Choden Rinpoche himself before he showed the aspect of passing away, for all of his students to offer at this time – please click here.

Read updates on the Facebook page set up for this.

See “The Life of a Hidden Meditator: Choden Rinpoche” from Mandala July 2000 to read more about Choden Rinpoche’s experiences in Tibet at Sera Monastery and in Lhasa after 1959. The complete multi-part feature “The Life of a Hidden Meditator” is available as a PDF. You can also read more recent stories about Choden Rinpoche on FPMT.org.

Mandala will have a complete obituary for His Eminence Choden Rinpoche in the January-June 2016 issue.

As a way to encourage and expand the practice of mindfulness, Wisdom Publications is promoting Mindfulness Day. Celebrated annually on September 12, Mindfulness Day “aims to raise awareness in the general population about the value and benefit mindfulness brings,” Wisdom Publications wrote.

For ways to celebrate MIndfulness Day with “friends, family and even strangers,” Wisdom offers these ideas:

• Set aside time during the day to unplug and meditate — even if it’s only for a few minutes, breathing deeply while acknowledging and releasing your thoughts can help calm your nerves and relax your body and mind.
• Take a yoga or meditation class.
• Hold a “mindfulness flash mob” or “meditation flash mob” in your community.
• Invite your neighbors over for a “mindfulness party” where you sit in quiet contemplation, prayer, or meditation.
• Attend a retreat. 
• Hold a special prayer or meditation circle with your spiritual community.
• Join together with your family for a special meal to reconnect with relatives.
• Organize a quiet commute or moment of silence with your car pool, bus, or train.
  
• Start reading one of the many books on mindful living, follow a mindfulness blog, or join an online mindfulness forum.

For more information, visit Mindfulness Day on Facebook.

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

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.