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FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at the Light of the Path retreat, North Carolina, USA, 2009
Going on a meditation retreat can be an amazingly rewarding experience for a Dharma practitioner, but sometimes the conditions for an extended break from daily life aren’t there. The FPMT Online Learning Center, however, offers students a variety of educational programs to support their home study and also their stay-at-home retreats. Even if you have only one free day or afternoon, consider finding a quiet space and following one of the free modules offered on the Online Learning Center.
Students inspired by FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche might try the first module of the Living in the Path program called “Motivation for Life.” In five separate sessions, students receive guided instruction aimed at developing their appreciation of precious human birth, the truth of impermanence, karma and the power of bodhichitta. The sessions include video teachings from the 2009 Light of the Path retreat, readings, meditations, mindfulness exercises and service activities all to help make daily life and practice most meaningful.
August 2011 eZine
“The Diamond Cutter Meditation” is another course freely available from Living in the Path. This course feature instructions from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on how to meditate on the well known verse on emptiness and impermanence from the Diamond Cutter Sutra (also known as the Vajra Cutter Sutra). In two sessions, students receive instruction, accompanied by readings and activities, to help them learn to apply the verse’s meaning in daily life.
Read more about Living in the Path in a feature from the August 2011 issue of Mandala‘s eZine. (You can also find it by clicking the archive tab from the eZine page.)
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
Geshe Ngawang Tenley, a new U.S. citizen, celebrates at Kurukulla Center near Boston (hence the Boston Red Sox baseball cap), July 26, 2012. Photo courtesy of Kurukulla Center’s Facebook page.
Members of Kurukulla Center in Medford, Massachusetts, gathered on July 26 to celebrate the naturalization of resident teacher, Geshe Ngawang Tenley. The center hosted tea and refreshments after Geshe Tenley became a U.S. citizen in a ceremony held in the historic Faneuli Hall in Boston. Michael McGlynn, the Mayor of Medford, stopped by the late afternoon event to share in the festivities. The celebration continued with a Tara puja and a late dinner afterwards. Visit Kurukulla Center’s Facebook page to see more photos of the day.
Kurukulla Center has been busy with activities, including marking Chokur Duchen (Wheel Turning Day) with a Sangha and community lunch. The center is also preparing for a visit and talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in October. To learn more about the regular Dharma teachings, education programs, pujas, meditation sessions and yoga classes happening at the center, visit Kurukulla Center’s webpage.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
Lam-rim course at Atisha Centre with Thubten Gyatso, April 2012. Photo by Liam Chambers.
From Cherry Rattue, Director of Atisha Centre
In April 2012, over a dozen students participated in the extraordinary and beneficial nine-day Lam-rim Retreat led by Thubten Gyatso. Thubten Gyatso traditionally leads an annual retreat at Atisha Centre and details of his next retreat will be posted on the website. Julie Sloan shares this experience from the retreat:
With Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s increased emphasis on retreat and practice, I was so fortunate to participate in the Lam-rim Retreat to work towards meeting Rinpoche’s wishes right here in Bendigo at Atisha Centre, our very own retreat, meditation and education center. Thubten Gyatso’s loving kindness, peerless retreat guidance and stainless teachings on the Graduated Path to Enlightenment had a profound impact on my mind, deepened my understanding of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings and helped clarify life’s direction. To be on retreat with a group of like-minded people, supported by a precious team of staff and volunteers is like finding a treasure of jewels and gold in a field of mud, a rare event indeed. Thank you everyone. May I create vast benefit for all beings by any virtue I have accumulated on this beautiful, precious and glorious retreat.
Retreats like these happen frequently at various FPMT centers around the world. In addition to the retreat schedule available on fpmt.org, contacting your local FPMT center is a great way to see what other courses are available.
Find dozens of articles related to retreats on Mandala’s “Subduing the Mind, Actualizing the Path” Retreat Resource Area.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
New altar at Centro Nagarjuna Valencia, Spain. Photo by Erwan Grey.
By Steve Milton
Centro Nagarjuna Valencia in Valencia, Spain has just completed construction of a new altar. Center director Steve Milton recently shared with Mandala the inspiring story of the altar’s creation. The center has created a photo gallery documenting the construction process.
During the puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday in 2009, Dagri Rinpoche, who was visiting our center at the time, said that he was very pleased with the emphasis on in-depth study at the center and that we were very lucky to have such a learned resident lama as Geshe Lamsang. Dagri Rinpoche said that he would like to offer the center the complete collection of Buddha’s teachings and their commentaries (Kangyur and Tengyur) to have on the altar as this would be very beneficial.
Dagri Rinpoche during visit to Centro Nagarjuna Valencia, July 2009. Photo by Erwan Grey.
We were all very moved by Dagri Rinpoche’s generosity and kindness. It became clear we would need to make a new altar in order to place all these sacred texts. We started fundraising right away. I researched advice on making altars from Lama Zopa Rinpoche [information on this is available in the FPMT Affiliates Area]. Fernando Sanz, a member of our center who is a professional designer, drew up a plan for an altar that would fit along the wall of our gompa and be able to hold the hundreds of texts. Geshe Lamsang also gave us his advice and input. And as soon as we had a design we were happy with, local carpenters set to work.
As the altar is so large, it was made in modules that would all fit together in the center. When the day came to assemble the altar, the carpenters took pride in doing the best job possible as it was obvious to them that this was something that was of great importance to the center. While we were working, I mentioned to the main carpenter, Luis, that what he had built will hold many holy objects and will inspire the many people coming to the center and that for him it will create a lot of positive energy. He said he hoped so as business had been really bad and he had to lay off people. There had also been a break-in at his workshop and to top it off, he said, the other day someone had smashed his car side window and stolen his mobile phone.
The next day Luis came later than the other workers. Arriving by taxi, his glum mood had changed. “I think your right, Steve,” he said. “You won’t believe it, but last night I got the go-ahead on a big job that I’d put a quote in for a long time ago. And then this morning, on the way here chatting to the taxi driver, he asked me to give him a quote for a job. I think my luck is changing at last!”
“Luck” for a Buddhist practitioner is explained by merit and karma; how skillful the lamas are in encouraging us to have holy objects in order to create merit! Even someone who comes to the center for a yoga class and sees all those texts, statues and stupas, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, purifies “countless eons of negative karma!”
We have just received one of the life-size Maitreya statues offered by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and we plan to put it in the reception area so it will be the first thing you see when you come into the center. Luis, the carpenter, is making Maitreya’s throne, and if you want a share of the good merit, you just need to rejoice!
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
Creative Compassion Day Cake enjoyed at Lama Yeshe Ling’s potluck dinner celebrating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 77th birthday, Canada, July 6, 2012.
On July 6 our Compassion Day celebration included a potluck dinner where members were engaged in many ways to honor the 77th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the spirit of the day.
The community was invited to bring a new friend, compile a list of books on compassion, participate in a book exchange and offer gifts for His Holiness.
Three dozen people ranging from youth to seniors enjoyed a vast array of delicious food and the friendship found in our community.
Dekyi-Lee, Deborah K., Beverly and Alana designed, baked and iced the birthday cake which was enjoyed by all! Dave Gould led our dedication to His Holiness with OM MANI PADME HUM and long life prayers. Our youngest guest, the around-seven-years-old Maeve, read aloud her heartfelt message for His Holiness to all in attendance who discovered this child truly is wise beyond her years!
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
Resident teacher Geshe Lamsang greets Khadro-la at Centro Nagarjuna Valencia, Spain, July 2012. Photo by Erwan Grey.
Khadro-la visited Centro Nagarjuna Valencia in Spain July 10-12, giving two-hour public teachings during two evenings. Topics included practicing the good heart and the wisdom realizing emptiness. The students were so moved by the teachings and Khadro-la’s presence that the center was filled to capacity, with over two hundred people squeezed together. However, during her teachings, there was a stillness and silence that I have never seen before, all the more suprising as it was so hot and cramped. There were tears in the eyes of many students, especially at the end when Khadro-la began to sing the dedication prayers.
The teachings were translated by our resident translator Karen Molina and the photos were taken by our official photographer Erwan Grey.
Karen Molina, Steve Milton, Khadro-la, Geshe Lamsang, Ven. Paloma (SPC) and Teddy, Valencia, Spain, July 2012. Photo by Erwan Grey.
The visit was very important for our center as we have been inviting Khadro-la for a few years now. She nearly came last year, but it was canceled right at the last minute. This time there was a lot of uncertainty right up to a few days before the scheduled teachings, but it seems in the end we had enough merit, and there was a great sense of relief when finally she arrived.
The sense of relief soon changed into a sense of awe as even our lofty expectations were surpassed. Khadro-la taught with such clarity and a confidence that only comes from someone who has experienced the truth, and it was clear that she really wanted us to see reality as well.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
Panoramic view from Lawudo Retreat Centre, Lawudo, Nepal, April 2012. Photo courtesy of Ven. Lobsang Deden.
After her ordination on March 27, 2012 at Kopan Monastery, Christel Hammerby (now, Ven. Lobsang Deden) went on pilgrimage to Lawudo, the site where Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s previous incarnation, Lawudo Lama Kusang Yeshe (biography available in print), meditated and attained profound realizations.
Ven. Lobsang Deden with Ani Ngawang Samten, Lauwdo Gompa, Lawudo, Nepal, April 2012. Photo by Simone Fry.
At an altitude of 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), Lawudo rests in the highest area of Solu Khumbu, the northeastern region of Nepal bordering the Upper Tsang in southern Tibet. Although Lawudo is extremely isolated, active construction at the site meant Ven. Deden was never too far from either Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s brother or sister – Sangay Sherpa and Ani Ngawang Samten – or the other various residents and builders.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s cave was the cover of Mandala’s April-June 2012 issue. Photo by Sirianni.
“Every morning I had the good fortune to spend a few priceless, blessed hours in Lama Zopa’s cave (a very cozy fridge!) wrapped up in several heavy blankets,” Ven. Deden shares. “In the afternoons I talked a lot to Sangay about his and, of course, Lama Zopa’s vision for Lawudo … The vision for the project is to create a small Padmasambhava’s pure land from which concentrated positive energy can spread throughout the world. At present, the old gompa (meditation hall) is being restored and the construction of a new library and an additional gompa has begun. Thereafter, the retreat facilities will be improved and extended. A new building for resident Sangha is also in the works.”
However, Ven. Deden points out that the project is not entirely “spiritual,” but also contains elements of social service in order to “reinvigorate and breathe new life into the whole fragile region, now suffering severely from the consequences of decades of governmental neglect.” Plans include a school for local children to receive a Buddhist education and a home for elderly people in need of care.
This future library and school will provided much needed education to local children in the region, April 2012. Photo by Simone Fry.
The high altitude and harsh environment means that construction in Lawduo is almost impossible (and relatively expensive!) as materials have to be flown in from Kathmandu to Lukla by plane or to Syangboche by helicopter and then brought up to Lawudo on the back of the legendary Sherpa porters.
Local craftsmen restore the old gompa which was in disrepair and threatening to collapse, April 2012. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Deden.
“After a conversation with Tulku Tenzin Sherpa in Munich, who like Rinpoche comes from Thame in Solu Khumbu and was one of the first young monks who received an education at the [now defunct] Lawudo School and then later at Kopan, I asked him, ‘Why is virtually nobody talking about Lawudo and this beneficial project?’ He responded, ‘You know, for Lama Zopa, promoting Lawudo would be similar to asking a favor for himself and his family – that is almost impossible – he is far too humble to do that!’”
Ven. Lobsang Deden welcomes any questions or comments about her travels to Lawudo and her work for Lawudo Retreat Centre.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
Image by Louise Light shared on the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday
July 6 was His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 77th birthday, and in recognition of the day, FPMT North America (FPMT NA), the regional group representing centers, projects, services and students from Canada and the United States, launched Compassion Day, making special effort to remember not only His Holiness’ presence and contribution to the world, but also “to come together and celebrate compassion.”
FPMT centers, projects and services in North America celebrated Compassion Day with gusto. Compassion Day’s Facebook page has dozens of photos and we’re happy to share some of our favorites here for those of you that still haven’t had the chance to get online and start exploring.
Guhyasamaja Center celebrated Compassion Day early by making donations to a food bank and reciting the “Golden Light Sutra” for world peace, Centreville, Virginia, USA, June 30, 2012.
Milarepa Center in Barnet, Vermont, USA hosted an animal liberation, buying all of one store’s bait worms to release in the center’s garden. Later, Ven. Amy Miller led a meditation on compassion. The group also celebrated with birthday cake and prayers, July 6, 2012.
In Austin, Texas, USA, Land of Compassion and Wisdom organized a "hike-and-bike" trail cleanup in addition to hosting a compassion meditation, community potluck, face painting and gift making, July 6, 2012.
Tubten Kunga Center in Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA celebrated Compassion Day with long-life prayers and a Lama Chöpa tsog. Geshe Konchog Kyab distributed $10 pre-paid cards that each participant could use to make a donation to a charity of their choice. The cards were donated by a generous benefactor, July 6, 2012.
Children at Kadampa Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA prepared and offered handmade gifts to His Holiness’ throne. Other events from the day included Ven. Choekyi Lhamo reading a biography of His Holiness and students picking vegetables in the center garden to offer to a food bank, July 6, 2012.
Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, California, USA hosted a contemplation on compassion followed by Chenrezig Guru Yoga, July 6, 2012.
Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, USA had tsog with Yangsi Rinpoche and gathered 130 pounds (59 kilograms) of food for Oregon Food Bank, July 6, 2012.
It seems to us at Mandala that the inaugural Compassion Day was a huge success! Check out Compassion Day’s Facebook page to see the other photos that we were unable to post here.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Lama Yeshe, with babies and Italian students, Taceno, Italy, 1976. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. You can find scores of photos like these on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive Image Gallery.
You don’t? Then let’s get you two acquainted.
The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (LYWA) is the organization responsible of collecting, organizing and preserving the works of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the founding teachers of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Since LYWA’s inception in 1996 at the behest of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the archive has collected thousands of hours of digital audio and video, and tens of thousands of pages of raw transcript, and is diligently working to edit the raw material to expand its already robust collection of free (or nearly free) books and DVDs.
The Archive (as they call themselves) also makes available a huge collection of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s spiritual advice, monthly podcasts, ebooks, historic audio teachings, a YouTube channel and an easy-to-navigate image gallery.
And to no surprise, the Archive is already in the works to release more invaluable materials for students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT. In addition to the recently released Bodhisattva Attitude: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others, the second book in the FPMT Lineage Series, How to Practice Dharma: Teachings on the Eight Worldly Dharmas, is being printed and prepped for distribution. Mandala will feature an excerpt out of this collection of teachings in the October-December 2012 issue – keep your eyes peeled!
The Archive also produces an excellent e-letter filled with important announcements about the organization’s progress. Not to sound alarmist, but if you haven’t signed up for it, you probably are missing something you’d be happier knowing.
Mandala has regularly made use of archived materials over the years, a kindness that makes us feel both privileged and indebted.
So it’s with great sincerity that we say, “We’re happy that you’ve finally met.”
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
Today is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 77th birthday and the world is celebrating!
In recognition of the day, FPMT North America (FPMT NA), the regional group representing centers, projects, services and students from Canada and the United States, has launched Compassion Day, making special effort on July 6 to remember not only His Holiness’ presence and contribution to the world, but also “to come together and celebrate compassion.”
Compassion Day encourages people everywhere to participate in a variety of ways: rejoicing in His Holiness’ positive influence in our lives and sharing that with him; meditating on compassion and loving-kindness using instructions developed by Ven. Sangye Khadro; and engaging in compassionate actions for self and others.
Submissions of pictures, writing and videos from Compassion Day’s festivities can be posted on its Facebook page. You can post any time day or night to make a contribution.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible.
FPMT News Around the World
Delegates at Young Minds conference, Sydney, Australia, June 2012. Photo by Brendan Read.
Vajrayana Institute, an FPMT-affiliated center in Sydney, Australia, is celebrating the success of its recent inaugural Young Minds conference. More than 600 delegates converged on the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre to attend the youth-focused event, held June 19-22. Attendees heard presentations by some of the world’s leading speakers (of all ages) on issues concerning the welfare, potential, minds and hearts of today’s young people.
Young Minds conference, June 2012. Photo by Brendan Read.
Speakers included Dr. Larry Rosen, Professor and Past Chair of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, whose research into the effects of technology on young people shatters some long-held myths; adult and child neurologist Dr. Judy Willis, who explores creative ways to captivate kids in the classroom; teenage sailor Jessica Watson, who captivated the audience with her story of what it took to be the youngest person ever to sail around the world; and Western Buddhist meditation teacher and chant master Lama Surya Das, who hopes to fan into flames the embers of buddha-nature residing in all of us, including our young folk.
Conference organizers received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Young Minds delegates. Attendee comments repeatedly used words like “inspiring” and “affirming,” and “tears” and “laughter.”
Vajrayana Institute has had many past successes organizing hugely popular public events, including the Happiness & Its Causes and Mind & Its Potential conference series.
For the Young Minds 2013 conference, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has accepted an invitation to speak, marking the fourth time that His Holiness has participated in one of the intitute’s events. “We are very blessed!” write conference organizers. Young Minds 2013 is scheduled for June 19-20, 2013, at the Sydney Town Hall. For more information, visit the Young Minds website.
Vajrayana Institute volunteers at Young Minds conference, Sydney, Australia, June 2012. Photo by Brendan Read.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.
FPMT News Around the World
His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrapped up his latest European visit on June 28 after five days in Italy. His Holiness taught for three days in Milan, concluding with an Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) empowerment offered to a stadium of 10,000 people, including many representatives from different religions. Fabrizio Pallotti, who served for many years as Ribur Rinpoche’s interpreter and is a familiar name at many FPMT centers, provided interpretation for His Holiness in Milan.
While in Italy, His Holiness also toured Mirandola, a city in Northern Italy struck by a powerful earthquake in May, killing 17 people, injuring 200 and leaving 14,000 homeless, according to DalaiLama.com. His Holiness also visited Matera in Southern Italy at the invitation of his friend and fellow Nobel Peace Laureate, Betty Williams, who is doing humanitarian work there.
His Holiness now returns to India, where he will teach in Leh (Ladakh) in July and August and Dharamsala for the rest of the year.
For more news on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, visit DalaiLama.com. Photographer Sirianni, whose images regularly grace the pages of Mandala, has shared many beautiful photos of His Holiness in Italy on his Facebook page.
With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.