Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in Kopan Monastery’s main gompa, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

28 April 2015, 9 p.m. Kathmandu time

From Ven. Roger Kunsang:

Services have started to come back. Kopan just got electricity and internet just now.

Rinpoche taught this afternoon, but still no initiation. Rinpoche taught mostly on emptiness and how earthquakes and Chöd are similar– they raise fear and you can use that. Rinpoche also taught, “The earthquake came from one’s own self-cherishing mind. … So take all the blame and put it on one’s own self-cherishing. … Don’t blame outside, don’t point the finger outside to others.”

Rinpoche is keen to help Thame, the town where he was born [near Mount Everest in the Solu Khumbu region], in particular, two families he has connections with. And so he sent US$3,500 for both families to help them with a tent and food. Through a lama there who does all the pujas for the dead of the poor families, we are trying to identify the families who now need help with food and tents. (Nobody wants to stay inside buildings.) We are going to try and focus on helping poor families in the area who have lost their homes. [FPMT International Office has established the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to support these efforts.]

Still people are camped out and won’t go into their homes, if still standing. They are too scared another tremor will come. People were really freaked out with the big aftershock quakes and their effects.

I’m inside while writing this and am ready to run if tremors happen. That’s happened a few times and quite freaky as the building really shakes and trembles! And we really don’t know if the building will come down or not!

Lots of commercial flights coming in now to the airport, so I think things should be more settled by the time we need to leave. [Rinpoche’s teaching tour begins in New Zealand next week.]

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in the gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

Damage to Chenrezig gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015

From Ani Fran, who works as a manager at Kopan Monastery:

The damage is heartbreaking [at Kopan], especially the Chenrezig gompa. It is possible it will have to be pulled down and rebuilt. 

But we are so lucky that Rinpoche is here, camping out with everybody else. Can you believe it!

Damage to Chenrezig gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 27, 2015

For the latest updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit: 
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see: 
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Roger Kunsang in the enlightenment garden at Kopan Monastery, where they have been camped out, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Ueli Minder.

Looking down at Kopan Nunnery after the earthquake, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Sangpo Sherpa.

27 April 2015, 10 p.m. (Kathmandu time) 

From Ven.Roger Kunsang:

All at Kopan Monastery are spending the third night sleeping outside. Most people in the area are doing the same. People are very scared to sleep inside the houses as many homes are poorly constricted and damaged.

Today Rinpoche heard that half of the houses in Thame, which is Rinpoche’s birthplace in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal, have been completely destroyed. Rinpoche immediately offered to sponsor tents and food to help the people in Thame.

I have asked FPMT International Office to set up a Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. This fund will begin the task of supporting Kopan Monastery and Nunnery and other affected FPMT centers in the area with any initial emergency needs, and then later on, will offer ongoing support for rebuilding. We will also use these funds to help others, as in the example of Thame.

This evening Rinpoche did prayers for all those who have died or are injured with all the Sangha of Kopan. Rinpoche gave the motivation for Most Secret Hayagriva initiation and is planning to give the initiation tomorrow.

Thank you all for your support of prayers and offering support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.

27 April 2015, 8 p.m. (Kathmandu time) 

From Kopan Monastery staff: 

Nepal chaos by nature (Report from day one)

It’s the biggest tragedy from a powerful earthquake to happen in Nepal in 82 years. It was at 11:54 a.m., just after the lunch here at Kopan Monastery. Afterwards, we learned that it measured 7.9 magnitude, which is considered as very strong. It is officially report that more than two thousands people died within 3-4 hours from the initial quake. Fortunately, it hit during the daytime, otherwise the number of human casualties may be doubled.

Image from Kopan Monastery School Facebook page, Nepal, April 27 2015

At first there’s nothing much to do except stay away from the any building. All the monks moved back to Ri-gyab. Rinpoche started to pray along with monks, while we were looking around trying to find any casualties. We found that Chenrezig gompa and old guest room got pretty bad damages. All the staff members are busy sorting out problems. Tents were prepared for Rinpoche, monks and all the guests.

As soon as we came to know about the many tragedies that had happened in the city, we setup an Emergency Relief Team. The first thing that came into our minds to do was to donate blood. We went off to the Red Cross blood bank of Nepal to check. On the way, we witnessed on the roads and heard from the radio that many people were dead. 

At night, all the people across the city are camped either in the road or open places. There is no light. All the medium of communication are jammed. You can feel the fear from people’s faces. Hospitals are full of corpses. Helicopters are flying all over the city. The government announced to stay away from any tall buildings or the like. It was declared five days off for all the schools across the country. It’s so creepy to see the affected area. Many buildings got cracked. Some might go down if it shakes again. People across the country are scared and tense. The government announced relief teams are on the way and international teams are arriving.

Updates from Ven. Roger Kunsang at Kopan Monastery:

27 April 2015, 10am (Kathmandu time) Lama Zopa Rinpoche, all the Kopan monks and nuns (approximately 800) and about 25 foreigners who are at Kopan slept outside for a second night, tremors continued, many people piled in tents and outside, trying to keep dry from the rain. No one wants to stay inside the buildings while tremors are still happening. The situation is unclear, so we are conserving water and food.

Many of the 800 monks and nuns are very young (7-15 years old) so the older sangha are trying to look after them, help them not to be scared and try to answer their questions on why the earth moves.

Please continue to do prayers for all those affected. 

From Ven.Sarah Thresher: From shortly after the earthquake began the main center at Kopan has been the garden of enlightenment where the big stupas of Geshe lama Konchog and Lama lhundrup are built. Rinpoche has been living there, daytime and nighttime, leading prayers, teaching, greeting people who come up, keeping people relaxed and in a positive state of mind. The very first day Rinpoche told us there is no point being worried and afraid, we must pray. So we have been doing prayers to control the earthquake, prayers for the people who have died, prayers to destroy the self-cherishing and self-grasping minds from where the negative karma as arise that cause all the suffering. With Rinpoche always present and the two great stupas as well, it feels like we are in a tranquil oasis of calm protected by all the BUDDHAS.

Last night was cold and wet and many more people slept in the tents. I heard they could hear Rinpoche chanting mantras loudly all night for sentient beings, for all sentient beings. 

Tents around the stupa at Kopan Monastery

26 April 2015,  7pm (Kathmandu time) Lama Zopa Rinpoche and all the monks, nuns and students staying at Kopan are still sleeping outside (some in tents) as there continue to be aftershocks, some as big as 6.7.

There is still no internet, phone lines jammed and no electricity (although once a day generator at Kopan is turned on so phones can be charged). 

Rinpoche is well and has been in the Kopan garden all day doing prayers, right now doing the  King of Prayers dedicated for all those who have died in the earthquake.

Earlier today Rinpoche requested the monks and nuns to recite the Golden Light Sutra many times to prevent the continuing aftershocks and also the recitation of the Kangyur.

There is substantial damage to Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, a number of buildings are seriously damaged.

Ven.Sarah Thresher reports: The earthquake happened yesterday around lunchtime. It was Saturday and a holiday. Many people were gone. We were in the dining room when everything started to shake and most people ran out. In Rinpoche’s room there are many things and they were falling down. Rinpoche was sitting in the main room doing tonglen, taking the suffering of others and giving happiness. Rinpoche said this is the best practice, lojong, using whatever negative situation arises to destroy the self cherishing. After a while the attendants carried Rinpoche down to the stupa garden and everyone gathered around him. For hours Rinpoche led us in prayers. We did the prayers for earthquakes and we did tonglen. As we prayed the earth was shaking, sometimes quite strongly. Then Rinpoche began to teach and also give lungs for thought transformation practice. We were all so fortunate that Rinpoche, Osel and Khen Rinpoche were here along with the senior monks who took full control of the situation. Amongst the damage at Kopan is broken pipes. The internet also became very scarce and electricity off. We were fortunate we could get dinner and then many people slept outside. Rinpoche also was outside.
This morning again people were outside. The monks did prayers and also relaxed a bit. Rinpoche had lunch out in the garden and we listened to chanting and spent time with him. This evening Rinpoche led prayers for all the people who died until it started to rain heavily. There are still tremors and there has been a lot of destruction and deaths. But at Kopan we are all safe. Now it is raining and people are outside. Thankyou all for your concern and prayers.

Please continue to do prayers for all those affected.

Some of the damage at Kopan, 26 April 2015

Lama Zopa Rinpoche leading prayers at Kopan

Emergency relief set up at Kopan

26 April 2015, 10.30am: Last night everyone slept outside, there were many aftershocks. There is substantial damage to a number of buildings at both Kopan Monastery and Nunnery (the Chenrezig gompa, guest house, Norbalinka, Nunnery old gompa and kitchen) exact details will come later. Kopan Monastery and Nunnery will need our support soon. Currently there is no electricity, no internet and limited lines open for calls.  So this is just a short update.

25 April 2015, 4pm: Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Tenzin Osel Hita and all at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery are fine after the strong earthquake that hit Nepal today. There has been some damage in Kopan (to buildings). Rinpoche’s sister –  Ani Ngawang Samten and those in Lawudo are also fine (also some damage).

Please hold all those who have been affected by the earthquake in your prayers.

Prayers that can be done:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given advice on practices to do after earthquakes and also always recommends Medicine Buddha practice, Golden Light Sutra and King of Prayers.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Root Institute, Feb 2015. Photo by Ven.Thubten Kunsang

Tenzin Ösel Hita, Losang Dragpa Centre, Sengalor, Malaysia, February 2015. Photo courtesy of Ldc Fpmt Facebook.

On February 19, Tenzin Ösel Hita, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe, made a surprise visit to Malaysian center Losang Dragpa Centre to participate in its Guru Puja for Losar, Tibetan New Year. Just before the puja began, Ösel gave a short talk, which was transcribed by Carolyn Chan and edited by Yeo Puay Huei and Mandala for publication on FPMT.org:

“I just wanted to mention something quickly. The prayers that you are reciting refer to emptiness. I read somewhere not so long ago that quantum mechanics actually says 99.999% of atoms are empty. When we talk about material things, that which we can really touch or is tangible is only 0.001% of the atom. This means that if only the tangible parts of all the atoms of human beings were put together, all 7 billion humans would fit in a single sugar cube. Can you imagine that? Scientists are saying that all 7 billion humans could fit in a sugar cube. That is how ’empty’ we are.

“It is very funny how in this age, spirituality and quantum mechanics are coming together. Their paths have finally crossed. We are living in an age, a very, very big crystal age where thousands of years have passed and people have evolved a little bit. Times have changed: science has evolved, spirituality has evolved, but people are not ready for this kind of information.

“Three thousand years ago in Egypt, there was a pharaoh called Akhenaten. He started a revolution because he could not agree that there were many gods. He tried to explain to the people that the real god is within yourself. You possess the path within yourself. He was way ahead of his time. People did not understand. People were not prepared for that. So there was a huge revolution. Now here, 3,000 years later, we are actually ready for this kind of thinking. We have passed the Dark Ages, we went through the Middle Stone Age, we have been through World Wars. Now, finally people have the means to see all of these and learn from past mistakes. So, we are very lucky to be here at this age, today, everyday; this moment is very lucky. Of course, we think of the time as it is. Time has changed as it is. 

“When talking about spirituality, we say that time is precious. We are here, with the precious human rebirth, possibly only once because they say human rebirth is like a turtle which comes up from the ocean bed only once every 100 years. In that vast ocean is a floating ring and this turtle comes up only once every 100 years. What are the chances of it placing its head through that ring? That is how difficult it is to get the precious human rebirth. That is the metaphor Tibetan Buddhism gives us to understand how lucky we are. This is something for us to cherish all the time.

“But then, we live in a society where the education system teaches us always to cherish ourselves and to think about ourselves, ‘me, me, me,’ right ? Capitalism is based on that. If people stop thinking like that, capitalism will fall apart. So, I am not saying this is good or bad, I am only saying it is good to be aware of this. Because the moment we stop only cherishing ourselves, we can actually start cherishing other people. When it really happens, it really starts feeling good. If everybody did that, thinking about the person next to you before you think about yourself, what a beautiful, lucky place. There will be no war, no famine, no hardship. You should really think about this and check it out. The more you think about yourself, the more you are going to suffer. If you think about the person next to you more than yourself, all you have is happiness. Your well-being will be linked to the universe, linked to karma and linked to human mind. Buddhism says this, so I do not have to say it. All of you know it. I think this important point should be put into practice and not just doing meditation or reading a book or coming to a puja, although these are also very good in making imprints and keeping us on the right path.  

“The most important moment is when you put this cherishing others into practice, then it is like the phrase, ‘When the shit hits the fan,’ it spreads everywhere; it’s a strong metaphor! Keep the middle path. Think about the other person more than yourself. Even if you are suffering, forget about that. Think about the person next to you. For me, it is very easy to say, but very difficult to do. I also have a lot of suffering, difficulties and many frustrations. When these happen, I would do my best to think about the other person. But even then, it is so hard. After I make all the mistakes and mess up everything, I sit down and think, ‘Ah! I wish I had thought about it before. Now it is too late.’ Still, you can learn from your mistakes and slowly, slowly make an effort to be a better person and try to make the person next to you happier. This is my advice from my experience and difficulties that I have gone through. We are all going through this in the same way. So it is not like I am speaking and you think I am enlightened – blah, blah, blah – because I am not. (Laughter) I am of the worst quality.  

“You know we cannot change the world, but what we can do is change ourselves. And that is the first step. So, we focus on that, OK? That’s the first step.”

Find a short video excerpt taken from this talk on YouTube, made available by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

The Big Love Fund supports Ösel‘s educational endeavors. You can follow news and updates about Ösel on the Ösel Hita news feed.

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.

Ösel at Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore Nov 2012. Photo by Tan Seow Kheng and Stephen Ching.

A message from Ösel Hita

What to do when our mind gets in the way of finding peace of mind and comfort with oneself? Even though the circumstances are amazing, if our mind is unhappy then it makes no difference. The same is true if we have horrible circumstances. If our mind is happy, then everything becomes positive. The more we desire the less we have. The more we have the more we desire. The less we desire the more we have. When we let desire get in the way, forget about keeping your peace of mind.

¿Qué hacemos cuando nuestra mente nos impide encontrar paz mental y bienestar con uno mismo? Aunque las circunstancias sean increíbles, si nuestra mente es infeliz entonces no hay diferencia. Lo mismo pasa si tenemos circunstancias horribles, pero nuestra mente es feliz, entonces todo es positivo. Cuanto más deseamos, menos tenemos. Cuanto más tenemos, más deseamos. Cuanto menos deseamos más tenemos. Cuando permitimos que el deseo se interponga en tu camino, olvídate de mantener paz mental.

The Big Love Fund helps support the educational endeavors of Ösel. You can learn more about this project, follow Ösel’s news or discover other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi led a three-day retreat on the bodhisattva vows, Milarepa Center, Vermont, January 2015. Photo courtesy of Milarepa Center.

“During the past few months Milarepa Center has had the honor of hosting an array of teachers that have benefited the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in the United States greatly,” said office assistant Tommy Nimrod. “Geshe Konchog from Florida visited in November and held our concentration with the seven-point mind training. Members from Tubten Kunga Center, Geshe Konchog’s place of residence, flew in to attend a four-day Medicine Buddha retreat. Geshe-la’s last teaching left us with a unique representation of Mount Meru, using fruits from the kitchen.

“Transitioning into the holiday spirit, it was only appropriate for Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi to deck the halls with a Big Love day retreat. Ven. Chogkyi also led a beautiful five-day New Year’s Vajrasttava retreat. We ended the retreat by letting biodegradable lanterns, decorated with mantras and positive thoughts for the new year, into the crisp, winter night. In January, Ven. Chogkyi also led a three-day bodhisattva vows retreat which gave insight into the origination of the vows and how to implement them in daily life. She finished her teachings with a visit to the Kellogg Public Library in Montpeliar, the capital of Vermont, and spoke about dealing with emotions.

“At the end of January, director Felicity and kitchen manager Devon visited Land of Medicine Buddha for a delightful Foundation Service Seminar and the FPMT North American Regional Meeting. Felicity and Devon had a wonderful time learning more about the FPMT and exploring ways to keep a strong connection to Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. They loved connecting with the FPMT sangha from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“In the upcoming Tibetan New Year we hope to continue to actualize the mission of FPMT in ‘creating a harmonious environment and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion.’ We hope to see you at Milarepa Center soon for a personal or a group retreat. We are looking forward to serving you.”

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.

Detail of an outside fountain at Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California. Photo by Chris Majors.

Long gone are the days when we only received news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT organization through the mail. Between blog posts, Mandala’s expanded online features and social media like Facebook, engaged FPMT students around the world have countless photos and updates at their fingertips, shared sometimes as they happen. In response to this tremendous growth and availability of digital media, Mandala magazine is being reimagined.

Mandala has taken different forms over the three decades that it has been published. In June 2015, we unveil the newest, and we hope a very timeless and beautiful, version of Mandala!

The redesigned Mandala magazine will be published twice a year, in June and December, containing stories and teachings tailored to best make use of print media’s capacity for sharing quality, long-form pieces, thoughtful interviews and sharp, high-resolution photos. We are increasing the number of pages of each issue and updating the magazine’s design in order to create an enduring publication that students will want keep and read over again. We also will be publishing special Mandala ebooks, which will share some of the best stories from Mandala’s archive. Mandala’s first ebook will be available in September 2015.

In the July-December 2015 issue*, published June 16, 2015, readers can look forward to authentic and timeless teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe, an in-depth feature on preparing for death, a profile of the profoundly compassionate Khunu Lama Rinpoche and much more.

To receive Mandala, become a Friend of FPMT supporter at the e-Friends level or higher. By joining Friends of FPMT, not only are you supporting the communications and education work of FPMT’s International Office, you receive Mandala magazine, Mandala’s new ebooks, and free access to Online Learning Center courses, FPMT Education practice and study materials and ebooks by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe. For more details and to join as a Friends supporter, see our Friends of FPMT page.

While you are waiting for the next issue, please take a look at Mandala’s expanded online publishing, which includes a new feature story every month. In this month’s feature, read the story of how FPMT student Tai Vautier helped develop FPMT’s microfilm mantras for filling prayer wheels, stupas and other holy objects. In case you missed March’s feature, “Bringing Dharma into the Corporate World,” Potential Project director Rasmus Hougaard talks with Mandala about how they are training corporate employees to be more kind and clear-minded with “Dharma in disguise.”

To receive daily emails from FPMT.org, digesting the day’s blog post, sign up on our news page. If daily email is too much, consider receiving the FPMT eNews, our monthly newsletter with updates from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT International Office and information on transitions and opportunities at the 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the world.

*As part of our transition, we are forgoing the April-June 2015 issue.

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.

Foundation Service Seminar attendees during visit to Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, January 2015. Photo by Laura Miller.

By Laura Miller, Mandala managing editor

In late January, I had the pleasure to be among the more than 40 people who attended the FPMT Foundation Service Seminar held at Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) near Santa Cruz, California. The five-day seminar brought together staff and dedicated volunteers from several FPMT centers, projects and services in North America and Mexico. In addition to sessions focused on the worldwide efforts of FPMT, we spent time developing skills in speaking kind words, resolving conflicts, avoiding burnout and turning all aspects of working at a center into authentic Dharma practice. Ven. Drimay, a resident Sangha member at Land of Medicine Buddha, and Drolkar McCallum, coordinator for FPMT North America, skillfully facilitated the instructive sessions.

On one day, we had an afternoon field trip, which included an inspiring visit to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s house, Kachoe Dechen Ling. After Ven. Holly Ansett led us on a tour of the house, many commented on how incredible and mind-blowing it was to see all the beautiful holy objects, altars and offerings throughout the house and gardens. Ven. Tsering, a Kopan monk who lives at the house and is writing out the Prajñaparamita Sutra in gold, showed us his beautiful work and talked about his process. And Ven. Anet baked delicious cakes that accompanied a relaxed tea break on the back deck. After leaving Rinpoche’s house, we watched a lovely sunset over the Pacific Ocean on a nearby beach and had an informal and friendly dinner at a local vegetarian restaurant. 

Another highlight of the seminar was an evening of stories about FPMT founder Lama Yeshe. Robbie Solick, Jon Landaw and Karuna and Pam Cayton took turns sharing memories of some of Lama Yeshe’s incomparable qualities like kindness, humor and wisdom. The informal program of stories was more than a nostalgic walk down memory lane, it was a transmission of FPMT Wisdom Culture that palpably energized the room and the rest of the meeting. 

Felicity Keeley, director of Milarepa Center, with Jon Landaw, Land of Medicine Buddha, January 2015. Photo by Laura Miller.

Land of Medicine Buddha was a generous and accommodating host for the seminar and the FPMT North America Regional Meeting that followed. LMB director Denice Macy gave a tour of the center’s extensive grounds, which has many prayer wheels, incredible artwork and holy objects, and the amazing Mahabodhi Stupa that is being built. 

The two-day FPMT North America Regional Meeting, which followed the seminar, was attended by 30 people, representing 17 centers, projects and services in the United States and Canada and one person from Mexico! FPMT Education Services director Tom Truty attended and led an engaged discussion on possible updates to the Discovering Buddhism program and other Education Services initiatives. Other agenda points included fundraising, good governance and updates from the 2014 CPMT meeting. 

“I felt that the most significant and important thing accomplished at the Foundation Service Seminar and the FPMT North America Regional Meeting was a sense of community and the realization that all center, projects, services and study groups are facing very similar problems and challenges,” Drolkar McCallum told Mandala. “By coming together, supporting each other and sharing information and problem solving techniques we can inspire each other to continue our amazing work. Everyone came away from the seminar and meeting with a better understanding and sense of Rinpoche’s large mandala and the realization that we are not alone in our work, that there is a fabulous FPMT family to inspire us and a local regional group to help every step of the way. People left refreshed with renewed sense of purpose and armed with information and the enthusiasm to continue work for all sentient beings. Service is our practice!”

Denice Macy leads some Foundation Service Seminar participants on a tour of Land of Medicine Buddha, California, January 2015. Photo by Laura Miller.

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.

During the winter 2014 months, Maitreya Buddha Kunshinagar Project distributed thick blankets to various institutions, including orphanages, India, 2014. Photo courtesy of Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project.

The Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project, a project to build a very large statue of Maitreya Buddha in Kushinagar, India, continues to make steady progress.

In December 2013, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh commemorated the project with a Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony, attended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and senior Uttar Pradesh officials.

The project is currently completing formalities with the state government. A key part of these was the submission by Maitreya Project Trust of a detailed project report. This was submitted to the government in February 2015. After what is hoped to be a final meeting, the Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project anticipates taking possession of 170 acres of land within a few weeks.

“170 acres is an enormous area,” long-time FPMT student Peter Kedge, who is involved with the project, told Mandala in February. “The land is adjacent to the Buddha Shakyamuni Paranirvana Temple and Shrine, and it borders on three sides the Ramabhar Stupa, the site of Buddha Shakyamuni’s cremation.”

Preliminary master planning of the site has begun, and the social work aspect of the project is already underway. Last year, a mobile health clinic was purchased, and it has traveled to local villages to provide primary healthcare education in aspects of primary health care and sanitation.

Mosquito nets donated by Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project help protect healing patients, India, 2014. Photo courtesy of Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project.

In the summer of 2014, mosquito nets and information on airborne disease control were distributed. In addition, during part of the winter, mosquito nets were being given to hospitals with burn wards to protect patients healing from burns. Burn accidents, especially among children, occur more often during cold months due to open fires in the home. The nets are set up around patients with open wounds to protect them from flies and mosquitos that may be in the hospital itself.

Over the recent winter months, the project distributed 2,400 high quality heavy wool blankets in three villages near the project, as well as to homeless people, street sleepers, beggars, a leper colony, orphanages, and widows homes. Many blankets were distributed to hospital patients and their families who have to stay in and around hospitals to care for their them.

Now that the weather is becoming warmer, the project plans to begin distributing mosquito nets again.

In 2014, Lama Zopa Rinpoche through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund offered US$16,000 towards the project’s social service work.

Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project workers distribute mosquito nets, India, 2014. Photo courtesy of Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project.

The project’s team is optimistic about their progress. According to Peter, there is a great team in India and there are plans to enlarge the team as soon as the project takes possession of the land as there will be a huge amount of work to do. Boundaries will have to be established and fenced; and on-site infrastructure, including roads, power, water, communications and facilities for a site office, and site security have to be set up.

There are plans to move the 24-foot [7-meter] Maitreya Buddha statue currently on the Maitreya Project Bodhgaya land to the land in Kushinagar. The installation of the statue will provide a temporary focal point for visitors, as well as a site for pujas, ceremonies, teaching, and meditation classes.

In India, generally people only acknowledge one Buddha – Shakyamuni Buddha. Maitreya Buddha is little known or acknowledged in Indian culture. It will be imperative for the project to establish a resonance with Indian culture by reflecting, acknowledging, and linking Shakyamuni Buddha’s life, teaching, and sacred parinirvana and cremation sites, with Maitreya, a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha, the future buddha of our world, and the embodiment of loving kindness.

“It’s incredible!” Peter said, “Kushinagar is the place where both past and future buddhas meet,” noting that according to a text discovered by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kushinagar is not only the place of Buddha Shakyamuni’s passing into parinirvana, it is also the place where Maitreya Buddha will manifest.

Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar Project welcomes anyone to learn more about and support the project.

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.

Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Gelek with future homeowner Abiodun Akinsola, North Carolina, US, March 2015. Photo by David Strevel.

Student Elise Strevel from Kadampa Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the United States recently sent Mandala news about the center’s interfaith work with the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity:

Geshe Gelek Choda and Geshe Palden Sangpo, resident teachers for the Kadampa Center for the Practice of Tibetan Buddhism, kindly and happily participated in a Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Coalition Faith Leaders’ Wall Raising on March 12, 2015.

They represented the Buddhists from Kadampa Center, one of eight different faiths from 20 different faith communities, which also included Baha’i, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, and Unitarianism. The faith leaders came together to bless this first day of construction and to represent the support of their memberships.

The home is being built for Abiodun Akinsola and her sons, who are from Nigeria. Habitat for Humanity of Wake County empowers people who qualify to build and buy their own homes. To be chosen, the family must contribute 250 hours of “sweat equity” to the build, and be able to pay a modest down payment and monthly mortgage.

Twenty communities representing eight faith traditions worked together to raise the walls of the new home, North Carolina, US, March 2015. Photo by David Strevel.

Geshe Gelek and Geshe Sangpo are accustomed to hard work and had participated in lots of construction for their monastery in India. However, they had no experience with board and nail construction, which is the way this house is being built. They needed instruction on how to hammer in a nail and use the power saw and drill. They both learned very quickly and in less than an hour they were working like professionals! Others were impressed with their industriousness and careful work.

The construction of this home had special meaning because of the recent murder in North Carolina of three Muslim students – Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu Salha, and her sister Razan – who were volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. Plans were announced for another Habitat home that will be built in their honor in Wake County in May and one in their native land of Jordan.

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.

Students of Ganden Tendar Ling receive preparatory teachings from Andy Wistreich for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s July visit, Moscow, Russia, February 2015. Photo courtesy of Ganden Tendar Ling.

Maxim Severin from Ganden Tendar Ling in Moscow shares with Mandala how the center is preparing for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s July 2015 visit:

We would like to share the greatest news: Lama Zopa Rinpoche agreed to come to Moscow during July 1-5. He will give teachings on the three principal aspects of the path. Last time Rinpoche came to Moscow was back in 2003. We are overwhelmed with joy and happiness! Our preparations are in full swing and we aspire to arrange the visit the best we can so that Buddhists from all over Russia and other countries can come and benefit from the teachings.

We started a program called “Meeting Lama Zopa.” Andy Wistreich, a well-known British FPMT registered teacher gives lectures on how to relate to the spiritual teacher in an unusual format – via Skype! Basing his talks on the book The Heart of The Path by Rinpoche, Andy speaks with energy and with a very special warm humor about the importance and responsibility of choosing your guru; how to establish and maintain spiritual ties with him; and how to build respectful, caring and compassionate relations with people in a secular society. He tells us about his own relationship with Rinpoche.

We have translated the book The Heart of The Path into Russian and wish to publish it by his visit. Everybody wishing to help Russian speakers read this crucially important book is welcome to contribute to its publication.

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. For more on upcoming teaching events with Rinpoche, see Rinpoche’s schedule on FPMT.org.

Ösel Hita with Losang Dragpa Centre students.

In February 2015, Losang Dragpa Centre, Malaysia, was pleased to welcome Tenzin Ösel Hita for Guru Puja on Losar, Tibetan New Year. Following the puja, Ösel gave an inspiring talk to the group. You can see a snippet of this talk below on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive YouTube channel:

This year’s Losar marked 31 years since Lama Yeshe’s passing and Ösel’s visit was an auspicious and wonderful experience for all in attendance.

Mandala Publications will have more information on Ösel‘s talk and this visit in a forthcoming story.

The Big Love Fund supports Ösel‘s educational endeavors. You can follow news and updates about Ösel on the Ösel Hita news feed.