FPMT Community: Stories & News

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during a press conference at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, June 12, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.

During His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) this week, filmmakers have created beautiful videos documenting the event. The short videos, available on the Dalai Lama Italy YouTube channel, show an up-close view of His Holiness during his stay at the center and a behind-the-scenes look at the event preparations.

His Holiness arrived at ILTK on Tuesday, June 10, and is giving a teaching there on compassion and the importance of philosophical study in spiritual practice on Saka Dawa, June 13. His Holiness then teaches in nearby Livorno on the “Wisdom of Compassion” on June 14-15. 

Press conference with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, June 12, 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.

The video “Backstage-Day 3” shows the preparations that went into creating the press conference with His Holiness on Thursday, June 12. (You can also watch the video of the entire press conference on YouTube.)

The short video on Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, which was founded in 1977 and is the oldest FPMT center in Europe, offers an informal tour of the stunning center and its picturesque surroundings in the Tuscany region of Italy. Organizers have also posted photos from the events at ILTK on Flickr.

Perhaps more than anything else, these videos illustrate the amazing amount of work, love and joy that go hand-in-hand with hosting an event with His Holiness. For that, we can rejoice in what is being offered and experienced by all who come into contact with the events and teachings.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with event staff and volunteers at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, June 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.

More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s homepage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Geshe Konchog Kyab, resident geshe at Tubten Kunga Center. Photo courtesy of Tubten Kunga Center.

Mike Mordis, secretary of Tubten Kunga Center (TKC) in Deerfield Beach, Florida, US, reflected on some of the major events that have occurred at the center in 2014:

This year has been fast moving and packed with great activity at Tubten Kunga Center in Deerfield Beach, Florida. 

In February, Ven. Robina Courtin blessed us with two full weeks of profound Dharma teachings. Ven. Robina had not been back to TKC for nearly a decade, and it was an absolute treat to meet and learn from her again.

March 2014 concluded with Ven. Amy Miller’s dynamic teaching’s focused on self-help for mental afflictions like addiction, depression, and coping using the Buddhist teachings. 

TKC is very excited to host Yangsi Rinpoche for the first time in June 2014 for a two-hour teaching. 

Director Maggie Bustamante, after almost 12 years of compassionate, skillful service to TKC will step down, and a new director will begin around August.

TKC resident teacher Geshe Konchog Kyab was in India visiting his family, monastery, and teachers until early May. Plans to resume teachings on Je Tsongkhapa’s three volumes of commentaries on lam-rim are scheduled. Additionally, new FPMT-based programs will kick in for late 2014. 

TKC has taken on a shopkeeper and plans to greatly expand its selection of statues, Dharma crafts, and books for our members and friends.

Elaine Blumenkranz. Photo courtesy of Tubten Kunga Center.

TKC recently lost our beloved membership director, Elaine Blumenkranz (1936-2014), who battled serious health issues over the past three years. Elaine Blumenkranz came to Tubten Kunga Center in Deerfield Beach more than a decade ago. Elaine not only attended teachings, but also became the membership director and de facto ”mother” to Geshe-la. Some of the most profoundly moving cards, letters, emails and calls received by January, one of Elaine’s two daughters, in her last months, were from center members extolling Elaine’s spirit and grace and their gratitude for her presence in their lives.

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 with Geshe Tenzin Tenphel and Fabrizio Pallotti at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, June 10, 2014. Photo by Matteo Mangherini courtesy of Dalai Lama Italia on Facebook.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) in Pomaia, Italy, on Tuesday, June 10. His Holiness was welcomed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, ILTK’s resident geshes, Sangha, staff and community members as well as other dignitaries. His Holiness will offer a teaching at ILTK on June 13 and then give teachings in nearby Livorno on June 14-15.

His Holiness being greeted by Sangha at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, June 10, 2014. Photo by Matteo Mangherini courtesy of Dalai Lama Italia on Facebook.

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, located in the Tuscany, was founded in 1977 and offers retreats and teachings, including the 7-year FPMT Masters Program. 

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 will bless the land for the future Lhungtok Choekhorling monastic complex in mid-June 2014, Pomaia, Italy. Photo courtesy of Lhungtok Choekhorling.

Ven. Massimo Stordi, coordinator for Lhungtok Choekhorling Monastic Project, a nunnery and monastery in the hills of Pomaia, Italy, shared this exciting news about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s upcoming visit:

Lhungtok Choekhorling Buddhist Nunnery and Monastery eagerly awaits and prepares for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s June 13 visit. His Holiness has agreed to bless an as-yet-undeveloped hillside, located just under 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Pisa, Italy. 

The Lhungtok Choekhorling project is working toward the creation of an ideal environment conducive to study, meditation and a lifestyle based on the Vinaya, the monastic discipline. The name of this monastic project was conferred by His Holiness and translates as “a place where the Dharma is transmitted and realized.” 

The future monastery will be built at this site on the bare rock, similar to many monasteries in Tibet. In January 2007 at Sera Monastery in South India, Lama Zopa Rinpoche himself suggested building the new complex in the Tibetan style. 

On the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the project has requested His Holiness to give the oral transmission of Ganden Lha Gyäma and also, if there is time, of the prayer Spreading the Teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa.

His Holiness will give teachings in the nearby city of Livorno, Italy on June 14 and 15. He will teach on Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend, confer a Chenrezig empowerment, and hold a public conference on the theme of ”Compassionate Ethics.” These three events will take place at Livorno’s Modigliani Forum.

For more on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Italy, www.dalailama.it.

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.

A new Namthose statue arrives at Rinchen Jangsem Ling, Triang, Malaysia, April 2014. Photo courtesy of Rinchen Jangsem Ling.

Selina Foong, director of Rinchen Jangsem Ling (RJL) in Triang, Malaysia, shared news about the latest holy object to arrive at the center:

Wonderful things are happening at RJL after our Sanghata Sutra retreat on the Day of Miracles weekend! Our collective karma finally ripened in mid-April, and we are now rejoicing at the arrival of holy Namthose after almost two years of carving in Vietnam and an arduous journey by sea and road. 

Namthose is gently set into his new home at Rinchen Jangsem Ling, Triang, Malaysia, April 2014. Photo courtesy of Rinchen Jangsem Ling.

It was all quite an exercise in logistics, as the statue weighed 12 tons and, due to the height of Namthose’s parasol, was unable to fit into a standard container. Three trucks, one crane, and hours of delicate handling finally enabled the lotus base to be lifted into position first, while Namthose was invited into a tented pavilion to be gilded. When Namthose was placed on the lotus throne several days later, our sculptor, Tho, who we had flown in from Vietnam, then got to work by applying the final touch-ups. The result is simply beautiful!

Tho commented that this Namthose is by far the most complicated statue he has ever worked on. He also mentioned that the marble used to carve Namthose was of extremely good quality and very even in texture. Such qualities only become evident upon carving, and there is no way to know this when the stone is first procured. Tho also mentioned that the marble he used to carve RJL’s Kwan Yin statue had been of similar high quality. Indeed, this is a reflection of RJL’s wonderful karma, and a great cause for rejoicing.

There were many sponsors of holy Namthose, and we are grateful to them all. 

Final touches are made to the Namthose statue while his throne is installed, Rinchen Jangsem Ling, Triang, Malaysia, April 2014. Photo courtesy of Rinchen Jangsem Ling.

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 Eminence Ling Rinpoche with Ven. Elisabeth Drukier seated to his left, Centre Kalachakra, Paris, France, April 7, 2014. Photo courtesy of Centre Kalachakra.

Long-time student Ven. Elisabeth Drukier, director of Centre Kalachakra in Paris, France, joyfully shared this news about an April visit from His Eminence the Seventh Ling Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the principal organizer of the Jangchup Lamrim with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and experienced a tragic car crash in November 2012.

Ling Rinpoche was on his way to the United States for surgery when he stopped in Paris at the request of Dakpo Rinpoche. Our resident geshe, Geshe Dakpa Tsoundou, invited him to the center and on April 7 Ling Rinpoche came to give some advice.

“I already came in 2005 and I am so happy to be here this evening to meet you,” Rinpoche began. “I like to emphasize how important it is to study. It has to be with the motivation to transform our mind, to practice what we study. The center isn’t only a place where you can heal transitory problems, you have to eradicate desire and attachment.

“Western people are attracted to tantric initiations, but you should be careful. Check the [teacher] and if you’re capable to do the practice. Tantra is based on sutra and shouldn’t be practiced to gain powers and fame.”

At the end, Rinpoche said he would pray for us to have harmonious lives and then offered students the opportunity to receive a blessing from him.

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.

Group water bowl retreat participants Inge Eijkhout, Ven. Tenzin Chodron, Diana Carroll, Jaclyn Yip, Annette van Citters, March 2014. Photo courtesy of Maitreya Instituut.

Long-time student Annette van Citters shares news about the first group water bowl retreat held at Maitreya Instituut Loenen, one of the two thriving FPMT centers in the Netherlands:

Jaclyn Yip, Maitreya Instituut group water bowl retreat, March 2014. Photo courtesy of Maitreya Instituut.

From February 28 through March 9, Maitreya Institute Loenen hosted its first group water bowl retreat. With just five participants, it was clear from the start that we wouldn’t meet our goal of offering 100,000 bowls, but we are very content to have reached 56,586.

In the very last session, we offered 4,138 bowls on 26 tables and 6 windowsills – a wonderful, colorful and inspiring sight! With an abundance of clean and fresh water, our country seems to be the perfect place for this practice. We hope to be able to make this a yearly event.

We give special thanks to Ven. Tenzin Chodron for her guidance, to Yke Krol and Geney Stans for their loving care, and to Koosje for organizing the Dorje Kadro offering. We also thank everyone else who assisted us during our sessions and to Di Carroll and Jaclyn Yip, who made a special effort to join our group.

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.

Khadro-la doing prayers in Chenrezig Institute’s gompa, Eudlo, Australia, April 2014. Photo by Eva Mueller.

Andrea Dudley, a Dharma student at Chenrezig Institute in Eudlo, Australia, and participant of the April “Illuminating the Path of Wisdom and Compassion” retreat with Khadro-la, shares her experience:

Chenrezig Institute was honored to be chosen by extraordinary Buddhist teacher and practitioner Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) as the venue for her only retreat during her recent 2014 Australian tour. At the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khadro-la has been teaching at centers around the world, imparting profound insights into the Buddhist path. Regarded as a wisdom dakini and oracle, Khadro-la’s visit to Chenrezig Institute was a precious opportunity to receive teachings from an inspired and inspiring being. The retreat, held  April 14-21, was an immersion into Dharma entitled “Illuminating the Path of Wisdom and Compassion.”

A symphony of birdsong; a sunny, subtropical morning after days of rain; breezes flowing through the rainforest into the immaculately prepared gompa; the scent of flowers and incense – what a beautiful moment it was as Khadro-la stepped into this scene, preceded by her faithful attendants and interpreter. Her radiance, truth and beauty further illuminated our surroundings – her presence incandescent!

It is no exaggeration to say that Sangha and students were transfixed by the depth of Khadro-la’s teachings. Always humbly reminding us that she was not qualified to instruct on such matters, Khadro-la’s gentle humility pervaded the entire retreat. A living example of Buddha’s words and always speaking with great tenderness, Khadro-la emphasized the importance of placing complete reliance on the guru by choosing to give most precious oral transmissions of The Inseparability of the Spiritual Master and Avalokiteshvara by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Khadro-la’s profound teachings covered aspects of the path dear to her heart, bringing fresh and rare insights into the Dharma for all, whether novice or seasoned practitioner.

Among many, many precious teachings, Khadro-la spoke of the necessity to develop the wisdom that understands reality in order for altruism to increase. She also discussed the aspiration and realization of bodhichitta and emptiness, gave a discourse on the benefits of virtue and the negative effects of non-virtue, and explained why meditation is elemental to Buddhist practice.

Chenrezig Institute is most grateful to Khadro-la, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche for this exceptionally beautiful experience of the Dharma. 

Participants on “Illuminating the Path of Wisdom and Compassion,” Chenrezig Institute, Eudlo, Australia, April 2014. Photo by Eva Mueller.

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.

Participants at the first annual Sanghata Sutra retreat, Rinchen Jangsem Ling, Triang, Malaysia, March 2014. Photo courtesy of Rinchen Jangsem Ling.

Selina Foong, director of Rinchen Jangsem Ling in Triang, Malaysia, reports on the virtuous activities the center engaged in during the Day of Miracles weekend, March 15-16:

There are so many projects in the pipeline at Rinchen Jangsem Ling Retreat Centre (RJL) that it was really no surprise when Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised us to do various practices in order to clear obstacles and accumulate enough merit in order to actualize them all! Included in the list was to read the Sanghata Sutra at the center itself, which would be “very, very powerful.” The only thing was that many RJL members and supporters do not actually live in Triang, which is approximately two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capital. Good thing then that the Day of Miracles happened to fall on a Sunday this year – giving us the perfect time to put an intensive weekend of Sanghata Sutra reading into action.

In the end, we were overjoyed to not only achieve reading the sutra, but much more than we had ever dared to imagine (and all on a weekend when karmic merits were multiplied by 100 million times!) 

With strong participation and an enthusiastic response, we were able to offer to Rinpoche a total of 58 complete recitations of the Sanghata Sutra; two complete hand-written copies of the Sanghata Sutra; 16 complete recitations of the Golden Light Sutra as recommended by Rinpoche for flight MH370; one Medicine Buddha puja also as recommended by Rinpoche for flight MH370; the liberation of fish procured from the local market; the hanging of prayer flags on our new flagpoles; the consecration of a beautiful gilded Buddha statue under our bodhi tree by Geshe Tsundu, resident teacher of Losang Dragpa Centre; and the sponsorship of the recitation of 100,000 Buddha Names by Tsawa Khangtsen in Sera Je Monsatery. 

A very productive weekend it was! We are all so thrilled with how this inaugural Sanghata Sutra retreat went that we are now keen to make it an annual RJL event during the Losar period!

Geshe Tsundu consecrated gilded Buddha statue with Sanghata Sutra retreat participants, Rinchen Jangsem Ling, Triang Malaysia, March 2014. Photo courtesy of Rinchen Jangsem Ling.

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.

Jhado Rinpoche arrives at Tushita Meditation Centre, McLeod Ganj, India, May 2014. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre.

Tushita Meditation Centre is a bustling FPMT center in Dharamsala – the seat-in-exile of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Tushita staff wrote Mandala, sharing news about a recent visit from Jhado Rinpoche, a highly-respected touring lama:

We were extremely fortunate in being able to spend the weekend in the esteemed company of Jhado Rinpoche. And as if this wasn’t enough, we heard his words in English via the translation skills of the incredible Geshe Kelsang Wangmo!

Jhado Rinpoche teaches with Geshe Kelsang Wangmo serving as translator, Tushita Meditation Centre, May 2014. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre.

Jhado Rinpoche taught three sessions over May 10-11, 2014, giving commentary on Six-Session Guru Yoga. With the skill of a true master teacher, Jhado Rinpoche moved progressively deeper into the explanation of the practice session-by-session, and provided opportunity for the gathered attendees to ask questions.

Jhado Rinpoche has also been advising our gompa painters on the mandalas on canvas they are currently working on for the ceiling space above our Lama Tsongkhapa statue. He has visited Tushita a couple of times in the past months for this purpose and also took time on both these teaching days to check on their progress.

Audio of the Six-Session Guru Yoga teaching is available on Tushita’s website. Tushita’s staff apologizes for “less-than-ideal” audio quality in the third session. More photos from the event can be seen on their Facebook page.

Jhado Rinpoche talks with head painter Pema Dawa about progress on the mandalas for Tushita’s gompa, May 2014. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making offerings to ants at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land in north central Washington, US, April 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche works tirelessly to benefit all beings everywhere, including ants. While Rinpoche was at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land in north central Washington, US, Rinpoche spent time making offerings to ants for their benefit. Rinpoche’s practice for benefiting ants is described in Charity to Ants, published by FPMT Education Services.

Ants and offerings made for their benefit, Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, April 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche being offered tsog by Ven. Chantal, director of International Mahayana Institute, during Light of the Path retreat, May 2014. Photo by Kalleen Mortensen.

The Media Team for the Light of the Path retreat has been doing tireless work on the ground in North Carolina, making the best of some challenging technical issues and streaming Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings live over the internet.

For the rest of the retreat, which concludes on May 18, Rinpoche’s teachings will be streamed live in English and Spanish. Each day a live webcast will be done for the 10 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. EDT sessions – to date Rinpoche has usually come to some of the 4 p.m. sessions and most of the 7:30 p.m. sessions. 

A delayed live webcast of Rinpoche’s teachings translated into French is also available. Webcasts of Rinpoche’s earlier teachings during the retreat are available also in English, Spanish and French. 

Light of the Path Media Team members Antoine Janssen and Harald Weicharrt, North Carolina, US, May 2014. Photo by Ven. Thuben Kunsang.

Rinpoche has been teaching regularly during the two-week retreat that began on Sunday, May 4, 2014, in North Carolina, US. Kadampa Center in Raleigh, organized the retreat, which is being attended by more than 250 people.

All Light of the Path retreat resources from 2009, 2010 and 2014 are available on the Online Learning Center.

The Living in the Path online program has been created from the Light of the Path retreat teachings of 2009 and 2010. Organized into structured modules you will find this, and other, programs on the FPMT Online Learning Center.

More information, photos, schedule and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s homepage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.