FPMT Community: Stories & News

His Holiness the Karmapa offers gifts to Maitreya School children, Bodhgaya, India, January 31, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

His Holiness the Karmapa visited Maitreya School and Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India, on January 31. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was also at Root Institute and welcomed His Holiness. 

The Maitreya School is a project of Root Institute and offers children a well rounded education that includes instruction in compassion, honesty and loving-kindness as emphasized by the 16 Guidelines, a Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom program.

While visiting the school, His Holiness the Karmapa gave a talk to more than 100 Maitreya School students and teachers and offered the children gifts. His Holiness also gave a talk at Root Institute.

Maitreya School children waiting for a talk by His Holiness the Karmapa, Bodhgaya, January 31, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

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 Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the giant Guru Rinpoche thangka, Sera Je Monastery, India, December 29, 2013. Photo copyright Rio Helmi/Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee.

The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, under the instruction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, sponsored an enormous Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) thangka stitched in appliqué. During the recent Jangchub Lamrim teachings at Sera Monastery, His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the thangka early one morning before the teachings.

Rinpoche advised on the design of the thangka, which with its brocade board measures 90-feet (27-meters) wide by 70-feet (23-meters) high. The thangka took two years to make and was completed in 2013. It is for the Guru Rinpoche Bum Tsog (100,000 tsog offerings) in Nepal. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessing the thangka, Sera Monastery, India, December 29, 2013. Photo copyright Rio Helmi/Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee.

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 8th Khangser Rinpoche helped Choe Khor Sum Ling celebrate its 10th anniversary, Bangalore, India, November 2013. Photo courtesy of Choe Khor Sum Ling.

Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL) in Bangalore, India, celebrated its tenth anniversary on November 17, 2013. To celebrate, CKSL organized a special teaching event about transforming everyday experiences into sources of great joy. The teachings also addressed eliminating stress and obstacles; generating boundless joy by cultivating pure love towards others; focusing less on self; focusing more on benefiting others; and reducing expectations and abandoning the thoughts of results.

CKSL is an active study group offering regular instruction in meditation and Buddhist philosophy, including FPMT’s Discovering Buddhism program. International Mahayana Institute monks studying at Sera Monastery regularly give teachings to CKSL students, who are “a lively group of kind, open-minded Indians, Tibetans and foreigners, both young and old.”

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.

Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa ordained Guhyasamaja Center student Matt Gausman, now Ven. Losang Dondrub, Fairfax, Virginia, US, October 2013. Photos courtesy of Guhyasamaja Center.

From Fairfax, Virginia, US, Guhyasamaja Center spiritual program coordinator Gabriel Mata shares the exciting news of one student’s transition into monkhood:

On October 11, 2013, Guhyasamaja Center celebrated the ordination ceremony of one of its members and membership coordinator, Matt Gausman. The ceremony was conducted by the center’s resident teacher Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa assisted by some of his own students, Geshe Dargye, Geshe Tashi and other monks. Matt, whose ordained name is Losang Dondrub, studied Buddhism for nearly 10 years and says one of his reasons for ordaining was the understanding that in Buddhism the monastic life presents the best way to take advantage of this precious human life.

“I hope to spend the rest of my life working to actualize the Dharma in this world, and I hope that when people see me, a person with a disability living in ordination, they will see that as long as you are able to develop the mind, you have a precious human life that shouldn’t be wasted,” Ven. Losang Dondrub said.

All friends and families of the Guhyasamaja Center would like to wish Ven. Losang Dondrub a successful journey on the spiritual path!

Ven. Losang Dondrub is ordained by Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa, Guhyasamaja Center, Fairfax, Virginia, US, October 2013.

Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Screen shot of www.compassionandwisdom.org

The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) is an FPMT-affiliated project “dedicated to promoting peace in the world through Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom [UECW], a system of inner development that enables people of all ages, cultures and traditions to lead a happy and meaningful life and to be of service to others.” Inspired by FPMT founder Lama Yeshe, FDCW works to carry out his vision for “a new kind of education for the world.”

“The new website aims to present a clear and up-to-date overview of our aims and activities for everyone from seasoned UECW ‘elders’ to people who are encountering Universal Education for the very first time,” wrote FDCW director Alison Murdoch. FDCW programs include the 16 Guidelines for a Happy Life, Seven Steps to Knowledge Strength and Compassion, Transformative Mindfulness Methods for Inquiry and Intervention, Corporate-Based Mindfulness Training.

You can learn more about FDCW by visiting their website and signing up to their newsletter.

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 mother and child receiving blessing from relics, Mullumbimby, Australia, 2012. Photo by Andy Melnic, courtesy of Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour.

The Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour has a new name: the Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour. The tour brings the sacred relics of Buddhist masters to Buddhists and non-Buddhists around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people on six continents have viewed the relics, which started touring in March 2001.

In addition to a new name, the FPMT-affiliated project has a new Facebook page and has update their website with news photos from the tours as well as images and biographical information for the Buddhist masters whose relics are part of the tour. Tour dates and locations for the Americas tour and the tour of Europe, Asia and Australia can also be found on the project’s website.

Roadside blessing with relics in Mongolia, 2012. Photo by Andy Melnic, courtesy of Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour.

For more, including tour schedule, photos, video and relic information, visit the Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour 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.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with European FPMT Center Directors, Osel Labrang, Sera Monastery, India, December 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

The directors of FPMT centers in Europe met with FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche while he was at Sera Je Monastery in December. The directors made a heartfelt request for Lama Zopa Rinpoche to come to Europe and offer teachings. To the directors’ pleasure, Rinpoche said that he would visit.

Directors from FPMT centers in Europe making request to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Sera Monastery, India, December 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger 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.

Ven. Tsering writing the Prajnaparamita sutra in pure gold

According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, one of the main ways to create the causes needed to build the Maitreya Buddha statue in India, is to write out the Prajnaparamita Sutra in pure gold. FPMT’s Prajnaparamita Project has undertaken this project and just shared an interview with Ven. Tsering who has spent the last 11 year working on writing the 12,000 verse Prajnaparamita in pure gold. 

“I have a strong wish to do this — perseverance — and this comes from understanding why I am doing it and the reasons,” Ven. Tsering explained. “Once you know this you develop sincere interest, then the handwriting comes out because of the wish to make this effort. So you take it as your practice. … So in this way, I don’t have to do retreat, but just having one project you receive from your guru, you take it as your project and carry on. Then if you have an attitude like that, I think that is one reason to be able to carry on.”

Another FPMT student, Jane Seidlitz, is also working on writing out the 12,000 verse Prajnaparamita in pure gold. “[Jane is] working on the 2nd volume. I’m on the 4th volume [and] completed the 3rd. So we are working on the same project but on different volumes,” Ven. Tsering said. “If I had to do it by myself, this would not be possible in this one life. … When finished it will go into the heart mandala of the Maitreya statue.”

Read the complete interview with Ven. Tsering on the FPMT Project News blog.

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 greeting the gathering as he arrives at the Sera Lachi Temple in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India on December 24, 2013. Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL; courtesy dalailama.com.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama taught the first session of the current round of Jangchup Lamrim teachings at Sera Monastery in South India on December 25. The teachings can be viewed on streaming video, available in six languages, and will continue through January 3. The first series of teachings by His Holiness on Jangchup Lamrim — the 18 Treaties on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment — took place in late 2012 at Drepung and Gaden Monasteries. His Eminence Ling Rinpoche is the main organizer of the event.

On December 24, His Holiness arrived at the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, where Sera Monastery is located. Many important lamas, including FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and several thousand monks from Sera are attending the teachings as well as monks and nuns from Kopan Monastery. In addition, many FPMT geshes, registered teachers and students from Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe are also present.

Visit the Jangchup Lamrim website for more information and to view streaming video and photos of preparations for the event. More photos from the event and news are available on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website, dalailama.com.

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 Ösel Hita is doing very well and continuing his college studies in California.

Ösel offering long life words of praise to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Rinpoche’s long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, California, September, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.

While Lama Zopa Rinpoche was in the United States this year, Ösel visited Rinpoche at his residence many times. In September, Ösel participated in a long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche on behalf of FPMT, Inc. board members and FPMT North American centers. Ösel offered moving long life words of praise to Rinpoche which can be viewed on video or read in their entirety.

In November, Ösel participated in the FPMT, Inc. board meetings in California.

In 2014, Ösel plans to travel to India and take teachings from his teacher at Sera Je Monastery, Geshe Gendun Chompel, following the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

 Supporting Ösel, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT’s founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, is of great importance to the FPMT organization. The Big Love Fund was set up to provide financial resources which support the educational endeavors of Ösel. The fund currently covers all of his educational expenses related to attending college in California as well as the cost of Ösel to travel to India so he can receive teachings from his teacher.

Tremendous thanks to all of the kind donors who have already been supporting Ösel and his education. It is greatly appreciated.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche being greeted upon arrival at the ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

By Ven. Gyalten Samten

The Maitreya Project is an FPMT project to build a very large statue of Maitreya, the future buddha, in Kushinagar and Bodhgaya. Just last week, the project took an enormous step forward, receiving land upon which to build from the Uttar Pradesh state government. Ven. Gyalten Samten was part of a team overseeing aspects of the foundation stone laying ceremony held on Friday, December 13, 2013. She shared with Mandala her experience of the historic event.

On December 13, 2013, history of sorts was created in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. On that misty morning, what unfolded could be a scene from a Bollywood potboiler. A helicopter lands, interrupting the peaceful quiet. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, accompanied by Maitreya Project trustee Sanjeev Chaudhry, emerges. We were all in tow, welcoming them in the traditional Tibetan style, with the monks chanting, playing cymbals and gyalings.

Then another helicopter lands and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, enters the scene. More greetings. And a crowd of over 100,000 farmers and locals, Buddhist monks and other dignitaries has gathered, eager to see the holy guru and the chief minister.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav arriving at the ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Kushinagar, a small non-descript town, is popularly known as the place of the last leg of Shakyamuni Buddha’s journey before he passed into parinirvana. Innumerable precious relics were found after the Buddha’s cremation, which were divided amongst eight kingdoms. The Mallas of Kushinagar built a stupa to store the precious relics of Buddha.

Starting in the 1980s, Lama Yeshe had a grand vision of building a large Maitreya statue in India. Lama Zopa Rinpoche took this vision forward and the project has developed to build a 500-foot (152-meter) statue. One of the first things to do was to acquire land to carry out this mammoth task. The chosen place was Bodhgaya. Due to many factors, the Maitreya Project struggled for 13 long years. Lama Zopa Rinpoche sought advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding the project, having watched it face many obstacles for many years. It was confirmed to build a Maitreya Buddha statue in Kushinagar as this was the place of parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Obstacles to acquiring land continued to arise in Kushinagar, and after another 13 years of planning and waiting, when everyone had nearly given up hope, the trustees sent a letter to the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, withdrawing the project. But the chief minister took notice and approved 200 acres (81 hectares) of land to be given to the Maitreya Project immediately.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

The Uttar Pradesh state government and Maitreya Project trustees agreed on December 13 for the formal laying of the foundation stone – a grand event that was to be organized in less than a week. Since the chief minister was going to attend, the event assumed a political flavor, which meant arrangements needed to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.

Andy Melnic, Ven. Labdron, Ven. Samten and District Magistrate Rigzin Samphel, Kushinagar, India, December 2013. Photo courtesy of Rigzin Samphel.

A team of three people – director of Root Institute Ven. Thubten Labdron, photographer Andy Melnic and myself – were sent to oversee the arrangements and coordinate the cultural and religious aspects of the event. A team of a dozen monks from Kopan Monastery, a replica of the Maitreya Buddha statue from Root Institute in Bodhgaya and a dance troupe from Dharamsala were en route to Kushinagar as well.

This was an alien ground for all of us. Even before we could get our bearings, we were in the thick of meetings with the local dignitaries, the commissioner and the cultural director.

The district magistrate of Kushinagar, Rigzin Samphel, turned out to be our knight in shining armor. Rigzin Samphel is a Ladhaki and is very devoted to this cause and to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. When we arrived in Kushinagar, he took us to the new Maitreya Project land of which 40 acres (16 hectares) was being turned into the event site, including two helipads, two stages, a green room, a rest area for dignitaries and a parking lot for the siren-blaring vehicles of politicians.

During our first visit to the site, I asked sheepishly how big the land given to the Maitreya Project was. “For as far as your eyes can see, Samten-la, is Maitreya land,” Rigzin Samphel replied. “Incredible,” I murmured, overwhelmed with the sight of lush green farmland and the thought of all the hardships everyone associated with the project has faced to acquire it and realize a profound dream of the holy guru. Rigzin Samphel further remarked that all the farmers were compensated suitably for the land.

A view from the stage, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Amongst much fanfare and great aplomb, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav laid the foundation stone for the Maitreya Project.

Laying the foundation stone, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo courtesy of Rigzin Samphel.

Rinpoche addressed the audience, profusely thanking the farmers who gave up their land and all in attendance for their support and enthusiasm. Rinpoche also explained the great benefits of building the Maitreya Buddha statue and that the FPMT will commence work on the project very quickly, starting with setting up a health clinic for the local residents, and that the project will bring prosperity for the people by eventually employing many hundreds of people. Ven. Kabir Saxena simultaneously translated Rinpoche’s speech into Hindi.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav emphasized the profundity of the project and how it will give a great boost to the tourism and economy of the state during his speech. Moreover, he urged the trustees of the Maitreya Project to start the work quickly.

This is just the beginning of a dream unleashed on the holy land of Kushinagar. Maitreya Buddha will manifest in ways far beyond our imagination, all we need to do is to continue to create causes for this and never give up.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all the trustees of the Maitreya Project and all the devotees who have believed in the vision of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Ven. Gyalten Samten is an Indian nun. Before ordaining, she had an active career as an actress in Bollywood movies and once held the title “Miss India.”

For more, read Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s remarks made at the foundation stone laying ceremony and Ven. Thubten Labdron’s report on arranging the big event in only five days.

Mandala’s ongoing coverage of the Maitreya Project can be read online. 

Part of the cultural program at the ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

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.

Vens. Labdron and Samten with District Magistrate Rigzin Samphel visiting the ceremony site as it is being built, Kushinagar, India, December 9, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

By Ven. Thubten Labdron

The Maitreya Project took an enormous step forward in its work to build a very large bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha, the future buddha, in Kushinagar, India, the holy site of Buddha Shakyamuni’s parinirvana. The Uttar Pradesh State Government handed over a large tract of land that it had offered to the Maitreya Project for the Maitreya statue to be built upon. The handover of the land was marked by a foundation stone laying ceremony on Friday, December 13, 2013. Ven. Thubten Labdron, director of Root Institute in Bodhgaya, was asked to be part of the team overseeing the religious and cultural aspects of the event. She shared with Mandala this report on how the ceremony came together in less than a week.

Ten days ago, Indian nun Ven. Gyalten Samten, photographer Andy Melnic and I were unexpectedly thrown together for a unique experience. One day, we were enjoying Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, anticipating offering the annual long life puja to Rinpoche. The next, we were on our way to Kushinagar, India, for the Maitreya Project, not knowing what exactly we were heading into.

We were met in Kushinagar by District Magistrate Rigzin Samphel, who also had arranged our hotel. Atul Chopra, the Maitreya Project lawyer, was in Lucknow dealing with some last minute legal details. The hotel quickly turned into the central administration hub, with small, medium and very important officials and ministers coming and going, with sirens blaring and surrounded by security guards.

The final decision on the land for the Maitreya Project in Kushinagar had only been made two days before, but when we visited the venue, we found they had already flattened 40 acres [16 hectares] of land, erected an enormous tent scaffolding and almost completed two helipads. A 30 x 20 foot [9 x 6 meter] stage was half built, and there was a drivable dirt road. It looked like 20 construction sites in one.

Preparing the grounds for the ceremony, Kushinagar, December 12, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

We were fortunate to arrive before the activities became super hectic. The district magistrate made time to take us personally – with an entourage of bodyguards – to the Parinirvana Temple and the cremation stupa, two holy sites in Kushinagar associated with the historical Buddha’s passing away. The peaceful energy in those places is palpable, amazingly conducive to effortless meditation. Kushinagar is still underdeveloped, which is both good and not so good.

Workers at event site, Kushinagar, India, December 12, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

The next day we were escorted by an excellent tourist guide, Mr. Mishra, to the village where the Buddha took his last meal in the house of Cunda. There is a plaque with a touching extract from the Maha Parinirvana Sutra, titled “Relieving Cunda’s Remorse.” It says:

“Ananda … there are two offerings of food which are of equal fruition, exceeding in grandeur the fruition and result of any other offerings of food. Which two? The one partaken by the Tathagata before becoming fully enlightened … and the one partaken by the Tathagata before passing into the state of Nirvana in which no element of clinging remains.

“By his deed, the worthy Cunda has accumulated merit which makes for long life, beauty, well being, glory, heavenly rebirth and sovereignty. Thus, Ananda, the remorse of Cunda the metalworker should be dispelled.”

One can imagine how Cunda had been suffering in order to have Buddha so explicitly make that point!

We also visited the riverside site where the Buddha took his last bath on the way to Kushinagar and the ruins of a small monastery and stupa that had previously contained one part of Buddha’s holy relics. All of these three sites are clean and well maintained, with new statues of Buddha and explanatory plaques. After another visit to the Maitreya Project venue, we visited a site near the cremation stupa where the holy relics of Buddha were distributed to eight different kings.

Preparing for the ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 12, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

During the days building up to the foundation stone laying ceremony, vehicles fitted with loudspeakers roamed along the Kushinagar roads, playing music and informing people about the Maitreya Project and how beneficial it will be to the local community, no matter what religion, bringing employment, recognition, peace and harmony, and exhorting them to attend the function. 

The district magistrate, the commissioner (who oversees the four district magistrates of the Gorakpur area), and the local minister, Mr. Brahma Shankar Tripathi, had all been instrumental in bringing about the signing of the land deeds, alongside the untiring efforts of Atul Chopra and Peter Kedge, who continued working behind the scenes when the project had almost been given up. We are most fortunate that District Magistrate Rigzin Samphel was posted to Kushinagar two years ago and took an active interest in the project, and that a new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, was elected. (He’s now the youngest chief minister in India.) It has to be the fruition of all the prayers, practices and dedications made by so many people.

Maitreya Buddha statue from Maitreya School at Root Institute, Kushinagar, India, December 12, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Two days after our arrival, 11 Kopan monks arrived, led by Geshe Lobsang Sherab and Ven. Ngawang Thinley. They brought with them huge thangkas of the eight great Indian pandits plus costumes for performing ritual dance. At the same time, the Root Institute vegetable shopping jeep arrived from Bodhgaya with the life-size statue of Maitreya Buddha sitting majestically in the back, borrowed from Maitreya School assembly hall. Ven. Yonden accompanied the statue, so we soon had a working team of monks, jeeps and drivers all soon involved in the program and decorations.

Meetings were held each night with the district magistrate and other officials to update each other on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s latest advice and program changes from the government. Fortunately, we FPMT wallahs are very well-trained in accepting change!

The day before the event, the town was literally filled with thousands of lathe-carrying policemen on motorbikes; very important police officials with many badges and stars; zillions of ambassadorial cars with blue flashing lights and sirens accompanied back and front by jeeps of armed police; and press.

Maitreya Project trustees Dr. Renuka Singh, Ranjit Walia and Ven. Kabir Saxena arrived the evening before the event. A Tibetan dance troupe arrived from Dharamsala late that evening. They had performed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama the day before, on the anniversary of His Holiness receiving the Nobel Prize, then had driven for two days to reach Kushinagar in time. Vens. Kunsang, Sangpo and Tendhar arrived by car from Lucknow a couple of hours before the event.

Thangka brought from Kopan Monastery for ceremony, Kushinagar, December 12, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

District Magistrate Rigzin Samphel stayed at the venue the whole night to ensure everything was completed in time. By 9 a.m. on Friday, December 13, a magnificent flower display was completed with flowers from Delhi as well as the local state, Uttar Pradesh; the thangkas were being hung high; Maitreya Buddha was seated on a flower-adorned throne on stage; the gifts were all ready for distribution; and the atmosphere was peaceful.

It was amazing after watching the frenetic activities of the last few days. The whole venue had been completed in only five days, including two “Swiss Cottage” restrooms for Rinpoche and the chief minister. A separate stage was constructed adjacent to the main stage for the performers.

 A local cultural program started exactly on time to entertain the crowds who had started to arrive early in the morning.

Helicopter carrying Lama Zopa Rinpoche landing at Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

From 10 a.m., we were waiting for Rinpoche to arrive. The monks were lined up with musical instruments. The dancers were in costume. And the excitement was intense as we heard the sound of Rinpoche’s helicopter. It was a very emotional moment as it landed and Rinpoche emerged. Finally, Maitreya Project Kushinagar was happening! Rinpoche was accompanied by Mr. Sanjeev Chowdhury and his wife. Sanjeev has been very instrumental in making this happen.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arriving at Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Then the chief minister’s helicopter arrived and was quickly surrounded by commandos, heavy security vehicles and political party officials. Rinpoche, along with the monks and the trustees, greeted Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, and the event got under way.

The tourism minister, cultural minister, local minister, inspector general of police and many other ministers and officials filled the stage. The program went mostly according to plan, with speeches by various ministers; Ven. Kabir explained that the monks’ ritual masked dances were actually to dispel obstacles for the good of all, not a threat; and Sanjeev Chowdhury shared the many benefits that Maitreya Project will bring by putting Kushinagar on the world map. Rinpoche gave a lovely talk, translated by Ven. Kabir, on the benefits of the project and on the eight Indian pandits. Between the speeches, Rinpoche and the chief minister unveiled the commemorative plaque and symbolically laid the foundation stone.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Akhilesh Yadav during ceremony, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

All the speakers were very positive about the project, which was good to hear. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav made the final speech, explaining how when he took office, he had been given a letter from the Maitreya Project saying how difficult it had been as the land had been offered 12 years earlier, but successive governments had not finalized the actual handover. He also was very positive, and said he hoped that the social work projects would start very soon so that the local people will see the benefits. The chief minister also credited the district magistrate for his work with some well-deserved praise.

An estimated 100,000 people attended the event.

A view of the audience from the stage, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

After the chief minister finished his speech, he left the stage, marking the close to a perfect event. There was much good feeling. Then the two helicopters lifted off and it was all over, except for a delicious lunch in the Lotus Nikko hotel, enjoyed by politicians, hungry policemen with rifles and sub-machine guns hung over their shoulders, Maitreya Project trustees and officials, and we three — the “Maitreya Project Cultural Team.”

Ven. Thubten Labdron is the director of Root Institute for Wisdom Culture in Bodhgaya, India. 

You can also read Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s remarks made at the foundation stone laying ceremony as well as Ven. Gyalten Samten’s report on it. 

Mandala‘s ongoing coverage of the Maitreya Project can be read online. 

Ven. Thubten Labdron among the arranged flowers before the big event, Kushinagar, India, December 13, 2013. Photo by Andy Melnic.

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.