receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
FPMT Community: Stories & News
A very long, winding queue at the Thimphu event, Bhutan, October 2013. Photo courtesy of Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour.
The Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour, a collection of sacred relics of the Buddha and other Buddhist masters assembled by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, broke a record for most visitors in Thimphu, Bhutan, the country’s capital. The relics were showcased in RAPA Hall to an estimated 62,000 according to Ugyen Wangdi in an email to Rinpoche.
“A lady in yesterday’s TV interview on Bhutan Broadcast Service,” Ugen adds, “said that the relics came to Bhutan through your auspices.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche replied:
Thank you very, very much your kind letter and photos and thank you so much supporting the relics. It becomes great purification, way to collect extensive merits for sentient beings, plants the seed of the path to enlightenment that makes it more possible to achieve enlightenment and to free all the sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric sufferings and bring to enlightenment.”
After Bhutan, the Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour continues its European and Asian tour in Sikkim and then with an extended stay in Australia. The concurrent Americas tour is in Miami, Florida, United States until November 17 before moving on to Texas, New Mexico, California and Washington.
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.
Past editions of the FPMT International Office e-news are always available to enjoy.
Ven. Tenzin Gyeltsen, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Dagri Rinpoche going to the ocean to bless sentient beings, Aptos, California, USA, October 2013.
Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang
Geshe Kelsang Wangmo at Kadampa Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, US, October 26, 2013. Photo by David Strevel.
Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, who became the world’s first female geshe in April 2011, nears completion of her US teaching tour, which includes several FPMT centers.
Geshe Kelsang Wangmo speaking in New York, NY, US, October 2013. Photo courtesy of Shantideva Meditation Center’s Facebook page.
On October 16, Shantideva Meditation Center, in New York City, co-sponsored with Tibet House US a talk with Geshe Wangmo on scriptural presentations of the Buddhist understanding of reality.
Geshe Wangmo then traveled to North Carolina to meet the enthusiastic students at Kadampa Center in Raleigh. Over three days in late October, she explained the purpose of debate in Tibetan Buddhism and her journey to become the first female geshe. On October 28, she left students with advice on how to establish their own daily practice, drawing from the materials in FPMT’s Discovering Buddhism courses.
Next, Geshe Wangmo traveled to Northern California for a three-day visit to Land of Medicine Buddha (November 1-3) to talk about the sixteen aspects of the four noble truth. She visited Vajrapani Institute on November 6 and gave a public talk on how her intensive studies transformed her personally.
Geshe Wangmo returns to the East Coast and will meet with Guhyasamaja Buddhist Center students in Virginia on November 8-10. She will give a public talk and weekend retreat on the four noble truths and how they are “relevant to contemporary life and how we can use them to define a balanced, realistic sense of happiness.”
Geshe Kelsang Wangmo with (from left) Vajrapani Institute director Fabienne Pradelle, Land of Medicine Buddha director Denice Macy and Geshe Wangmo’s mother, LMB, California, US, October 2013. Photo courtesy of LMB’s Facebook page.
In co-sponsorship with Jewel Heart Center in New York City, Shantideva Meditation Center welcomes Geshe Wangmo back for the tour’s concluding event, an explanation of the Heart Sutra in relation to emptiness and the two truths.
In Mandala’s exclusive October-December 2012 interview with Geshe Kelsang Wangmo – “The Joy of Study: An Interview with Geshe Kelsang Wangmo” – Geshe Wangmo shares how she became a geshe, the obstacles she overcame, and the benefits of rigorous study.
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.
Occasionally Ösel shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this update, he pleads with us to shift our minds from oriented toward gaining wealth, self enjoyment and power, toward taking care of the earth and its inhabitants.
Tenzin Ösel Hita. September 2013, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, USA. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
Today I woke up with a very strong feeling in my being. I felt that Mother Earth is suffering immensely and whatever we are doing every day, if it is not to help Earth get better, there won’t be a planet for us to live in 50 years from now. If these atrocities keep happening then we have no possibility of life, of practicing loving-kindness or Dharma. But worst of all, the opportunity for all the sentient beings who will be born in the future on this planet will become null.
The strong karma we are creating by egoistically focusing on wealth, self enjoyment, and power is keeping alive the ignorance in our beings. This karma is creating a vortex of energy which is drowning Planet Earth and everyone else. The planets may look lifeless from our perspective, but this is just like the perspective that bacteria and ameba have of our individual self. We are composed by millions of living organisms. They don’t understand what we are going through, but they are affected by our emotions and experiences even though they don’t know why or have the capacity to understand.
The main reason why I’m talking about this is because I saw it so clearly this morning. The doctor prescribed me a double dose of the strongest antibiotics due to an infection that suddenly appeared on my leg for no particular reason. After a week it kept growing, no clear cause of why it started, it just popped out by itself. Even with antibiotic cream it kept getting worse. The doctor said it is very dangerous if the infection gets into my bloodstream.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ösel. October, 2013, Aptos, California. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
So I’ve been taking antibiotics for two days now and last night i had the two pills on an empty stomach. This morning i was so dizzy and weak, I couldn’t stand up. I felt that my little infection is so small compared to what happens every day on this planet just because people are chasing continuously after wealth, power and self-enjoyment. This is the direct cause of so much suffering everywhere, and I believe very strongly that each of us can make a huge difference if we just try to be more conscious of our actions and our thoughts. Personally i am thinking of studying permaculture and starting work for the planet. To sleep near the earth and be far from all these distractions and chaos created by society. It doesn’t make sense to burn down your own home while you are in the office struggling with what society expects of you. The true richness is inside of us, the true wealth is inside of us, the real understanding of what our potential is. We are not here to make money and pollute the planet, we are here to evolve and help the planet improve. Each individual has the power to do this, and it is our job to make this a reality. Already there are many people involved in this movement, and I really want to help this energy flower everywhere.
Thank you for participating and please keep up the good work.
Take care and Big love. osel
Jetsün Pema with Sangha at Nalanda Monstery, France, October 21, 2013. Photo courtesy of Nalanda’s Facebook page.
Jetsün Pema at Nalanda Monastery, France, October 21, 2013. Photo courtesy of Dana Lissy’s Facebook page.
Jetsün Pema, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s sister, recently visited Nalanda Monastery. Jetsün Pema was welcomed by the resident Sangha and lay community on a sunny autumn Sunday in October. A large outdoor lunch was organized in Nalanda’s garden in honor of her visit.
Nalanda, located in rural France, is FPMT’s monastery for Western monks. In September, Nalanda began offering the residential Masters Program for the first time. Nalanda also welcomed Jangste Chöje Rinpoche in October.
Lunch at Nalanda with Jetsün Pema, France, October 21, 2013. Photo courtesy of Dana Lissy’s Facebook page.
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.
Foundation Service Seminar, Jamyang Buddhist Centre London, October 2013. Photo courtesy of Tara Melwani’s Facebook page.
A successful FPMT Foundation Service Seminar wraps up on Saturday, October 26. The gathering drew more than 40 people from 17 countries for five full days of sessions on skillfully offering service within the FPMT mandala. Jamyang Buddhist Centre London hosted the event, which was put together by FPMT Education Services.
A collection of FPMT regional coordinators, center directors, spiritual program coordinators, center board members, resident Sangha, interpreters, touring teachers and study group coordinators participated in the seminar, organized around the Four Means of Drawing Sentient Beings. With time for reflection and meditation, participants were led through sessions focusing on various aspects of the Four Means, which are:
- Giving (resources, Dharma, protection from harm, loving kindness)
- Speaking kind words
- Teaching according to the level of the student
- Practicing what you teach
Following the Foundation Services Seminar, many participants are attending a three-day training in order to lead the seminar in their home region, country or center. In this way, they will be able to share inspiration and guidance on skillfully offering service with hundreds of people actively engaged at FPMT centers, projects and services around the world.
Mandala will offer a full report on the gathering in our next issue, January-March 2014.
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.
Cover of latest “Roots of Wisdom,” Root Institute’s newsletter
Bodhgaya, India, is the sacred location of the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Root Institute, the FPMT retreat center located just a 15-minute walk from this holy site, offers students many opportunities to study, practice and offer service.
The latest edition of Root’s newsletter, “Roots of Wisdom,” shares inspiring teachings, stories and interviews that give a flavor of the beneficial activities happening at the center, including an account of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa’s recent visit and impromptu teaching on the nature of the mind.
Root offers a full spiritual program from October through March for students of all levels. Ven. Antonio Satta is mong this year’s teachers featured in the newsletter. Ven. Sarah Thresher, Glen Svensson, Jimi Neal, Kay Cooper and Gordon McDougal are also teaching or leading retreats this year at Root.
In addition, the newsletter features advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche; an interview with Geshe Jamphel Gyaltsen, a lharampa geshe from Sera Je who has been staying at Root and who will be going to Nalanda Monastery in France to become a resident teacher; and updates on Root’s charitable projects: Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Care Programme, the Maitreya School and Tara Children’s Project.
For more information on Root Institute, visit rootinstitute.ngo.
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.
Stupa De-Tong Ling Retreat Centre, Kangaroo Island, Australia, September 2011. Photo by George Manos.
Will Abram, director of De-Tong Ling Retreat Centre on Kangaroo Island, Australia, shared some exciting news with Mandala for the October-December 2013 issue.
Australia’s De-Tong Ling Retreat Centre is located on Kangaroo Island, a 20-minute flight or a 40-minute ferry ride from Adelaide, a city of 1.2 million people and capital of South Australia. The island is unique in many ways, being one of the most recently settled places on the planet. It is estimated that even the aboriginal habitation of the island ceased between five to ten thousand years ago. Home to the second largest numbers of unique flora and fauna on planet earth, the island has benefited from the lack of invasive animals that have damaged much of the mainland’s natural habitat.
De-Tong Ling, nestled into the northwestern part of the “conservation heartland” of the island, was originally established for people to do solitary retreats. So far five retreat cabins have been built with plans for another seven. Group retreats have also been conducted on the island annually for the last 10 years. These group retreats have been held on the adjoining property owned by Kimball Cuddihy, who helped found and direct De-Tong Ling from 1988 until 2012.
This year, the first group retreat was held at the center in the room underneath the newly completed Enlightenment Stupa. Including the gompa underneath, it is the largest completed stupa in Australia, standing some 14 meters [46 feet]. …
From Mandala October-December 2013
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with FPMT Mexico students, October 2013. Photo via FPMT Mexico’s Facebook page.
FPMT Mexico, representing the FPMT students in Mexico, met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ four-day visit to Mexico City. His Holiness taught on Shantideva’s The Bodhisattva Way of Life and spoke to over 15,000 in Mexico City on the importance of teaching secular ethics. More news and photos from His Holiness’ visit to Mexico City can be found on His Holiness’ website dalailama.com.
FPMT Mexico posted the above photo on their Facebook page, writing:
El Mandala FPMT con Su Santidad el Dalai Lama en la Ciudad de México. Gracias a todos por su servicio a los seres, por abrir su corazón, fomentar la armonía y por cultivar la mente de la iluminación. Ahora, a seguir las instrucciones que Su Santidad recomendó para los Centros y Grupos de Lama Zopa Rinpoche FPMT Mexico.
Translation:
The FPMT Mandala with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Mexico City. Thank you all for your service to all beings, for opening your heart, promoting harmony and cultivating the mind of enlightenment. Now, follow the instructions that His Holiness recommended for FPMT Mexico, the centers and study groups of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
According to dalailama.com, on October 13, “Immediately after he had arrived at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico this morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with representatives of two local Buddhist groups. He was keen to explain to them that performing rituals and saying prayers is fine up to a point, but in the 21st century it is important to understand what Buddhism is about, which requires study. He also told them that scientists and others are taking greater interest in Buddhism for what it can tell them about the mind. A project is underway to compile materials from the Kangyur and Tengyur related to Buddhist science, philosophy and religion, which will make them easier to study in an academic way. He encouraged the making of such provisions in Dharma centers too.”
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 doing Dzambala offering before lunch at Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, US, October 4, 2013. Photos by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
When FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche is in California, he lives at Kachoe Dechen Ling in Aptos on California’s central coast near Santa Cruz. Life at Kachoe Dechen Ling is very busy for Rinpoche and the resident Sangha who live there. Rinpoche’s assistant Ven. Roger Kunsang captures in photos some of the activity going on at Kachoe Dechen Ling over the past few weeks.
Vens. Sangpo, Sherab and Tsering rolling mantras and filling the statues offered to Rinpoche at the long life puja, Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 5, 2013
Sangha making dinner for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Dagri Rinpoche, Kachoe Dechen Ling, October 4, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wishing everyone “Big Love!” Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 24, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Vens. Pemba, Sherab and Tsering doing puja at Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 22, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Tsering late at night circumambulating the stupas in front Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 14, 2013
Lama Zopa Rinpoche sorting through his texts, Kachoe Dechen Ling, September 13, 2013. “All these we carry in four big heavy suit cases everywhere we go!” Ven. Roger said about the texts.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche after arriving back in California from Mongolia, September 13, 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.
Maitreya School for Universal Education and Tara Children’s Project’s new bus, Bodhgaya, India
Root Institute, the FPMT center in Bodhgaya, India, helps offer care and education to children through Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Care Centre, Maitreya School for Universal Education and the Tara Children’s Project (TCP), which takes care of HIV-affected children and orphans. Tara Children’s Project kids and Maitreya School students are benefiting from receiving a new bus to take them to and from school.
Dr. Sanjay at Shakyamuni Buddha Health Care Centre, Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India
The Shakyamuni Buddha Health Care Centre is a free health care clinic that began in 1991. Dr. Sanjay works at the health care center and has been the main doctor for the children of TCP, visiting every week and overseeing the care for the physical and emotional health of each child.
Tara Children’s Project children spell out words for six essential guidelines
Juhi Pandey, from an organization called Tara Trust, spent five days collaborating with the TCP staff in engaging the children in activities that cultivate positive states of mind such as love and compassion. They engaged in many activities including listening to stories about companionship and the benefits of working together. To end the week, the children painted the letters of words of the six essential guidelines recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
His Holiness the Karmapa visits Tara Children’s Project children at Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India
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 have news you would like to share, please let us know.
Long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
Photographer Chris Majors captured in vivid and glorious detail the long life puja offered to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha in California. You can see all of his photos from the festive and beautiful day on Chris’ Flickr page.
Dakini dance at long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
The long life puja, held on Sunday, September 29, 2013, included the special dance of the five dakinis in accordance with advice given by Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life.
Tenzin Ösel Hita (in gold) greets Dagri Rinpoche while Yangsi Rinpoche and Geshe Ngawang Dakpa look on, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
Dagri Rinpoche, Yangsi Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Dakpa as well as Tenzin Ösel Hita all attended the puja, which was offered by FPMT Inc. Board of Directors and FPMT North America with logistical support from local FPMT centers and projects. Tenzin Ösel is the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe. For the puja, he composed and read praises for Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Tendil Nyersel prayer flags at Land of Medicine Buddha, California. Photo by Chris Majors.
In addition to hosting the long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha hung dozens of Tendil Nyersel prayer flags. FPMT centers, projects and services are encouraged to continue to do the practices for Lama Zopa Rinpoche as advised by Khadro-la, which include hanging the Tendil Nyersel prayer flags as well as reciting Most Secret Hayagriva mantra and organizing animal liberations. More information is available on the page “Rinpoche’s Health – Official Updates and Practices.”
If you’ve hung Tendil Nyersel flags at your center, send your pictures to Mandala!
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.