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Lama Zopa Rinpoche helps celebrate the 40th birthday of Chenrezig Institute in the Garden of Enlightenment, Eudlo, Queensland, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Chenrezig Institute was the first FPMT center in Australia, begun in 1974 after a teaching with Lama Yeshe near Eudlo, Queensland. Today, the thriving center offers a packed program of study, practice and retreat.
Releasing butterflies at Chenrezig Institute’s 40th birthday celebration, Eudlo, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Kerry Murphy.
During his recent visit to the center, Lama Zopa Rinpoche joined the 40th anniversary celebration held on September 6. In addition to a public talk, “Purification, Healing and Joyful Living,” Rinpoche took part in a butterfly release with the children of the center. Rinpoche also gave a Great Chenrezig initiation while at the center.
In Mandala July-September 2009, we shared the story about how the center came to be. (You’ll also find how the other oldest FPMT centers around the world took root.)
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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving the children little koala bears holding little OM MANI PADME HUM flags during 40th anniversary celebration at Chenrezig Institute, Australia, September 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Dzambala benefited from Animal Liberation Sanctuary until his death in March 2013. Photo courtesy of Animal Liberation Sanctuary.
Animal Liberation Sanctuary co-director Phil Hunt sent Mandala a recent update on the animal-welfare projects taking place in Nepal:
The Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Nepal, has experienced its first monsoon on the new land. Fortunately, there are now several dry areas where the goats and sheep can rest, including one of their favorite places, around the stupas which provides some coolness from the heat (not to mention many blessings!).
We had our first operation in our new treatment room, with Nyingjey, a goat, who has had ongoing urinary problems. It has certainly been much less stressful for the animals to have treatment on the property where they live rather than having to transport them all the way into the city and back. Plus, our facilities are a lot cleaner.
We also have two dogs at the sanctuary now, Poppy and Lhamo, since the Nepali caretakers feel safer with dogs. We were also able to spay Poppy in our treatment room whilst we neutered one of the Kopan cats in a room in the Medicine Buddha Clinic. We thank Tree of Compassion, an Australian animal-welfare organization, for donating sterile instruments and materials for surgery, a rarity in Nepali animal care.
Meanwhile, the cows who remain within the monastery grounds at Kopan have more vegetation to eat since there are no longer any goats in their territory to graze it all away. Several of them have had problems with their feet, wounds which have been exacerbated by the wet and muddy ground. Treating the foot of a 500 kg [1,100 lb] cow is not such an easy task but distracting them with a bowl of food and a good scratch under the chin helps! Meanwhile, Christmas, our crippled cow, has been sporting his “wrap-around shades,” modified horse netting, to keep the ferocious flies at bay.
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.
The new issue of Mandala magazine, October-December 2014, is in the mail and the supplemental online content is published!
In this print issue, graduates of FPMT’s in-depth Buddhist studies programs talk about transformation and the power of in-depth study. We also share new, unpublished teachings from Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, plus a report on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy.
If you’d like to receive Mandala directly, consider supporting Friends of FPMT, which gives you complete access to Mandala as quickly as possible as well as access to the FPMT Online Learning Center.
Be sure to peruse this issue’s online edition, which includes:
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the benefits of the Golden Light Sutra,
- “Origin and Spread of the Buddha’s Doctrine,” an excerpt from Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron, published by Wisdom Publications,
- An interview with Ven. Thubten Chodron about the new book Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions,
- Ven. Chönyi Taylor’s new Dharma Realities column: “Procrastination,”
- “You Are Not Alone” by Namdrol Miranda Adams and other homilies from Maitripa College students,
- Plus much more.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT activities, teachers and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
Geshe Sopa Rinpoche during long life puja, Deer Park Buddhist Center, Wisconsin, US, July 20, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Geshe Lhundub Sopa Rinpoche passed into clear light meditation on August 28 at Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon, Wisconsin, US. Geshe Sopa was a preeminent scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, a gifted teacher and an embodiment of the qualities of humility, tolerance and compassion.
Born in 1923 in Tsang, Tibet, to poor farmers, Geshe Sopa took novice vows and entered Ganden Chönkhor Monastery at age eight. A decade later, he entered Sera Je Monastery in Lhasa, where he distinguished himself as a devoted and talented scholar. At Sera Je, he taught many important future teachers, including Jangtse Chöje Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, Khensur Jampa Tegchok and Lama Yeshe. Geshe Sopa served as a debate partner for His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ geshe exams. He went into exile in 1959 in India and received his lharampa geshe degree in 1962 while at Buxa Duar.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Geshe Lhundub Sopa in 1989. Photo by Kalleen Mortensen.
In 1963, His Holiness sent Geshe Sopa to the United States, accompanying three young Tibetan reincarnate lamas to learn English. A few years later, he was invited to teach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he went on to become a full professor, retiring in 1997. The long list of students Geshe Sopa taught and advised at University of Wisconsin includes many internationally recognized Buddhist studies and Tibetan language academics.
In 1976, Geshe Sopa Rinpoche established Ganden Mahayana Center in his home in Madison, which later became Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon, Wisconsin. He invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to give the first Kalachakra initiation in the West, which was held in 1981 at Deer Park. In 1996, Geshe Sopa became a trustee of the International Peace Council, an interfaith organization that promotes peaceful resolution of differences. In his last decade, Geshe Sopa oversaw the construction of the impressive large temple at Deer Park, which was consecrated by His Holiness in 2008.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing prayers with Geshe Sopa Rinopche, Deer Park Buddhist Center, Wisconsin, US, July 20, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited Geshe Sopa at Deer Park a month ago and attended a long life puja for Geshe Sopa. “Geshe-la is not talking anymore and always has his eyes closed,” Ven. Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant, reported after the visit. “Geshe-la seems to be constantly in meditation.”
In 2012, Wisdom Publications released Geshe Sopa Rinpoche’s autobiography, Like a Waking Dream. In it, Geshe Sopa shares detailed memories of his youth and early days in the Tibetan monastic system and offers a first-hand perspective on exile and establishing Tibetan Buddhism in the West. In coordination with the publication of the autobiography, Mandala published remembrances and essays by more than a dozen students of Geshe Sopa and an excerpt from Like a Waking Dream.
On the evening of August 28, Deer Park Buddhist Center wrote in an email, “For our friends who do not live in the area and would like to recite prayers on their own, it would be greatly beneficial at this time to recite the ‘King of Prayers,’ and the mantra of the Buddha of Compassion, OM MANI PADME HUM.”
UPDATE: The Wisconsin State Journal has published an obituary of Geshe Lhundub Sopa.
Deer Park Buddhist Center offers a concise biography of Geshe Lhundub Sopa. You can find more stories from Mandala on Geshe Sopa online.
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.
“Aitken, publisher Tim McNeill, editor Andy Francis, and I all attended BookExpo America in June where we learned about the trends and forecasts for publishing.
“The coming months bring the publication of many titles, including Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron in November and Himalayan Passages: Tibetan and Newar Studies in Honor of Hubert Decleer edited by Benjamin Bogin and Andrew Quintman in August. Wisdom continues to add new digital editions of our new and backlist books to our website for direct sale.
“On a more personal note, Wisdom’s production editor, Laura Cunningham, gave birth to a happy and healthy baby girl this June!”
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.
Prayer wheels at the entrance of O.Sel.Ling, 2014. Photo by Ruud van Arhem.
Ven. Fabio Poza, spiritual program coordinator at O.Sel.Ling Centro de Retiros in Órgiva, Spain, sent Mandala some photos of the center’s 11 new prayer wheels, located at the main entrance. “With these 11 prayer wheels, O.Sel.Ling wants to contribute to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish of constructing 100,000 prayer wheels around the world.”
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.
Embossed detail on O.Sel.Ling prayer wheels, 2014. Photo by Ruud van Arhem.
Dr. Steve Line gave a lecture during a death and dying workshop hosted by Heruka Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, July 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
Ven. Thubten Osel, director of Jinsiu Farlin, reported on the events happening at the three centers – Heruka Center, Jinsiu Farlin and Shakyamuni Center – that comprise FPMT Taiwan:
Heruka Center
Buddhist Education – Satellite Program
Last year, Heruka Center expanded its education program to neighboring city Tainan, where we continue to have a steady and thriving group of students attending the weekend class on tenets taught by Geshe Tashi Tsethar, resident teacher of Heruka Center in Kaohsiung.
Together with FPMT Taiwan, Heruka Center launched an annual 100 million Tara mantra marathon from May 24 – July 4, 2014, covering the entire Saka Dawa month, with specific dedications for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. What was originally meant to be just an individual center’s Saka Dawa practice ended up to become an international FPMT endeavor, with more than 900 people from 22 countries and 14 FPMT centers taking part. Together we accumulated 9,780,941 Tara mantras.
Even though what had been achieved was less than 10% of our goal, it still caused goose bumps to think of how more than 900 people from across the globe did the same practice with the same motivation and dedicated for the very same purpose during the auspicious month of Saka Dawa! On behalf of all of us who participated in the Tara mantra marathon, FPMT Taiwan presented a letter to His Holiness on July 6 and another letter on July 7 to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, explaining and offering our Saka Dawa practice completely dedicated for them.
Death and Dying Seminar
On July 19, 2014, Heruka Center organized a full-day death and dying seminar in a lecture hall in National Cheng Kung University which was attended by over 150 people. Dr. Steve Lin, chairman of FPMT Taiwan and director of the medical research department in Kaohsiung Medical University, presented the process of birth and reincarnation with plenty of medical data and visual aids which were both informative and entertaining. Geshe Tsethar spoke on the dying process, the intermediate state, taking rebirth, as well as the practice of the five powers. The seminar was so well received that Heruka Center is now planning a second one in October 2014, when both speakers will touch on issues such as terminal diseases, karma and Buddhist healing meditation.
Jinsiu Farlin
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the newly renovated gompa of Jinsiu Farlin, Taipei, Taiwan, April 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
Jinsiu Farlin received news on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s arrival on April 2014 on very short notice. Rinpoche’s short visit was not only a big surprise to everyone, his arrival in the airport – an hour earlier than scheduled – was an even bigger surprise! There were only a few students waiting in the airport at that time. The bouquet to welcome Rinpoche was not there, the car to pick up Rinpoche was not there, and the transport to pick up Rinpoche’s entourage was not there too! News about Rinpoche’s early arrival started to spread, and we began seeing students running toward the lounge from the arrival hall entrances and car park. It reached the point that whenever we saw someone running in the hall, we could be quite sure that that person was coming to receive Rinpoche! There were only about 10 students in the beginning, but slowly as people rushed in, we ended up having nearly a hundred students greeting Rinpoche in the airport.
Vens. Drolkar and Gyaltsen painting the wall during minor renovations at Shakyamuni Center, Taichung City, Taiwan, 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
During Rinpoche’s one week’s stay in Taipei, he met the members of the FPMT Taiwan board, gave Hayagriva long life Initiation, conducted the opening ceremony for the completely renovated center and did a few private pujas for the center. Both the initiation and opening ceremony were attended by nearly 250 people. Many old students returned, and there were many new faces too. Rinpoche was very pleased with the renovations, spending time going through each floor and checking out every corner.
During the opening ceremony, Rinpoche emphasized the importance of the existence of a center. “There is a BIG difference between working in a center and working in a company,” Rinpoche began. “When you work in a company, even though you make money, it doesn’t become purification unless you work with compassion. But, when you work in a center – the center gives teaching, educates people about reincarnation, karma, taking refuge, avoiding negative karma, practicing good karma, abiding in vows, keeping precepts, or gives Mahayana teachings, like generating compassion for sentient beings, practicing bodhichitta and so forth. When you work in a center, which educates sentient beings by giving teachings, it purifies the past negative karma to be born in the lower realms. It purifies that. And it makes serving sentient beings and serving the teachings of Buddha with compassion happen. So through the center, it helps to create morality and practice; it helps to achieve higher rebirth.”
Even though it was a short visit, Rinpoche’s presence itself rejuvenated and inspired everyone to want to practice Dharma and attend Dharma classes and prayers. These days we continue to see more members attending the center’s activities and more people are inspired to serve the center.
Shakyamuni Center
Geshe Gyatso leads lam-rim meditation at Shakyamuni Center, Taichung City, Taiwan, 2014. Photo courtesy of FPMT Taiwan.
In March 2014, Shakyamuni Center in Taichung thanked its outgoing director, Ven. Gyalten, a Taiwanese monk ordained by Choden Rinpoche, for his two years of service. During his stay, he did a minor renovation and adorned the main prayer hall with newly framed thangkas of the 16 Arhats and Pandits.
The center then welcomed on board its new director Ven. Drolkar, a Taiwanese nun ordained by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1995. Ven. Drolkar recently initiated a monthly lam-rim meditation weekend retreat led by the resident teacher, Geshe Ngawang Gyatso, and commenced yarne (summer retreat) with three other nuns in the center.
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.
Geshe Sherab blessing a kangaroo, Australia Zoo, Brisabane, Australia, March 2014. Photo courtesy of Langri Tangpa Centre.
“Langri Tangpa Centre near Brisbane, Australia has had a feast of amazing international teachers and events this year,” reports student Carolyn Mason. “Maybe it is the blessing of the center’s wonderful new altar put in last year, carefully following advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on design and statues, which has been much appreciated by all attending these activities.”
Ven. Robina Courtin teaches to 130 at Langri Tangpa Centre, June 2014. Photo by Kerry Murphy.
“Ven. Robina Courtin was here in June and presented to a packed gompa – over 130 on her first night. Her directness, compassion and humor on practicing in everyday life was appreciated by many who had come to the center for the first time. Attracting new people, many of who are younger, is a very encouraging trend noted this year.
“There were very young people in the gompa for the center’s first ever Family Pageant to celebrate Saka Dawa. There was storytelling and rejoicing at the birth of the Buddha and bath offering to the baby Buddha by the children.
“The center’s baby Buddha had been blessed by Khadro-la [Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme] on her visit in April when she spontaneously provided special advice on how to do the water offering ceremony. Her visit and one-evening teaching was followed by Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering giving a Great Chenrezig initiation and then Ven. Thubten Chodron giving a one-night teaching at the center, all within the space of six days!
“In late March, Geshe Sherab provided the center with the opportunity to offer the eight Mahayana precepts from a qualified lama for the first time. His teachings, including on the four immeasurables, were given to audiences of over 100 people. The director took him on a visit to Australia Zoo, founded by the late Steve Irwin, where Geshe Sherab made new friends (see photo above).
“In mid-March the Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour was very well attended and the talk on the nature of the relics provided a wonderful perspective on their significance and power. In mid-February the artisan Tibetan monks from Tashi Lhunpo monastery created a spectacular Medicine Buddha sand mandala, commencing with a Medicine Buddha puja.
“After a short mid-year break, the center will then contribute to the Australian visit of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, with the Great Chenrezig initiation at our sister center, Chenrezig Institute, and then teachings and initiations in Bendigo.”
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.
Bathing the baby Buddha, Berlin, Germany, May 2012. Photo by Andy Melnic.
“So far, 2014 has proved a busy year for Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour [a collection of over 1,000 Buddhist relics],” reports the tour’s Michael Fouts. ”There have been relic events throughout Mexico, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Belgium, France, Denmark and Finland.
“The relics were displayed in Rennes, France at the Centre Culturel Bouddhique de Rennes, which is a very special and unique place because all of the Buddhist schools in Rennes – Zen, Drukpa, Rigpa and Kagyü – take turns each week to use the center for group practices. When the holy relics came to Rennes in July this year, it was the very first time that all Buddhist traditions worked together in a joint simultaneous effort.
Students circumambulating Maitreya Loving Kindess Tour relics, July 2103. Photo by Erika Banszky.
“At every relic event around the world visitors are invited to offer bathing water to a small statue of the baby Buddha. As they offer the healing water, they think of healing and purifying the bodies and minds of themselves and others. There is a visualization prayer they can use as a guide. Lama Zopa Rinpoche first advised this practice for events back in 2005 and since then, thousands and thousands of visitors around the world have created this pure imprint in their minds.
“While in in Oregon, US, the team squeezed in a trip between scheduled relic events to a high-security prison in Salem, the state’s capitol. Around 50 prisoners came to view the relics, read the Golden Light Sutra, offer bathing water to the baby Buddha and write the Sanghata Sutra in gold ink. Some prisoners left the room completely overwhelmed by the loving energy emanating from the holy relics.
“In Malaysia, there were events in both Penang and Kuala Lumpur, hosted by local FPMT centers. All events were very well attended. Volunteers at both centers all worked very hard to create beautiful displays and offerings.
“On July 29 we launched a new blog so that the many inspiring stories and photos from around the world may be easily shared. Rejoice!”
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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wished to update the FPMT Mission Statement in order to make it clear that FPMT’s mission of preserving the Mahayana tradition includes listening to correct teachings of the Buddha, then reflecting, meditating on, practicing and actualizing those teachings – and then with experience spreading the teachings to sentient beings.
The FPMT Inc Board has finalised the updated FPMT Mission Statement, and we are delighted to share it with you here:
FPMT Mission Statement
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings.
We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion.
Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and our spiritual director, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering all the flowers in the park to the guru, Leeds, UK, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
New Amitabha Buddha statue Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, July 2014. Photo by Merry Colony.
In early July, the residents of Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, the FPMT retreat land in Washington State in the United States, students of the near by Pamtingpa Center welcomed a large Amitabha statue to the retreat land property welcomed a large Amitabha statue to their property with a procession of incense and music. Students from near-by Pamtingpa Center also participated in the festivities. Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised the students to do many specific prayers both when the statue was installed and after the statue was filled with mantras for consecration, including Lama Tsongkhapa’s “Praise to Amitabha.”
The 13-foot (4-meter) tall statue is made of highest-quality white marble from Vietnam and weighs 16 tons (14,790 kilograms). It took over two years for the sculpting to be completed.
The Amitabha Buddha statue arrived in a shipping container and had to be unloaded with a crane, Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, June 30, 2014. Photo by Merry Colony.
Long-time student Ven. Yarpel (John Jackson) constructed a throne for the new Amitabha, which was filled with tsa-tsas and other precious items, such as ceremonial wealth vases. He also prepared the grounds for the statue’s throne and made room for the crane that lifted the statue out of its crate. Traditional Tibetan artist Gelek Sherpa has been invited to paint Amitabha and his throne.
The crane was also necessary for placing the white marble statue on its throne, Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, June 30, 2014. Photo by Merry Colony.
When Rinpoche arrived at the land later in July, he spent time buying incredible flower offerings, describing how he wants the grounds around Amitabha to be like a “pure land” filled with trees and flowers. Already, in the gardens of Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, there are recordings playing the Sanghata Sutra and the Sutra of Golden Light 24 hours a day, blessing any beings that hear them.
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.
When it comes to advice for combating sickness and poor health, Lama Zopa Rinpoche always recommends Medicine Buddha practice, and advises using “sickness for the path.“
FPMT Education has compiled some resources for students around the world who either suffer from physical or mental obstacles to their health or want to help others facing these challenges.
- Medicine Buddha Puja
- Medicine Buddha Sadhana (short)
- Medicine Buddha Mantras
- Benefits of Medicine Buddha Mantra and Practice by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
More Medicine Buddha resources can be found on the FPMT Foundation Store.