receive our newsletters
join Friends of FPMT
Offerings during commemoration of Rinpoche’s parinirvana 3rd anniversary at Chokyi Gyaltsen Center, Penang, Malaysia, April 13, 2026.. Credit: Chokyi Gyaltsen Center Facebook page.
April 13, 2026, marked the third anniversary of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche passing into parinirvana. On this meaningful occasion, students, FPMT centers, and monastic institutions around the world gathered for collective prayers and practice, and to remember with immense gratitude the great kindness of our most precious spiritual guide.
“Making offerings on the death anniversary of a guru is an incredible practice in that it brings about the greatest purification of negative karma and collects the most extensive merit.” — Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Here we share, not an exhaustive list of all the activities organized in centers and monastic institutions, but rather an example of some of the activities offered:
At Kopan Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, together with the Sangha and devoted disciples of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, including representatives from the FPMT board, performed a Heruka Lama Chopa with extensive offerings followed by group recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri, dedicated to the swift return of Rinpoche. Kopan Lama Gyupas and senior monks recited The Guhyasamaja Root Tantra and Tea Offering to Dharma Protectors, in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room — a whole day of prayers for the swift return of our most kind and precious spiritual guide.
At Nalanda Monastery, in France, geshes, monks, nuns, and lay students performed the Guru Puja dedicated to the long and healthy life of the new incarnation of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A full assembly of monks gathered at Sera Jey Monastery in the main temple to offer Lama Chopa puja and Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.
At Ngari Institute, Ladakh, the community honored the third anniversary of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche with dedicated prayers including Manjushri mantra, Migtsema prayer, and Tea Offerings to Dharma Protectors.
Gaden Jangtse Monastic College, Mundgod, offered Lama Chopa as well as Chanting the Names of Manjushri, and Migtsema prayer.
Chenrezig Institute’s community, in Australia, observed a full day of practice, including Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri and The King of Prayers, in the morning, and concluding with Lama Chopa puja with Tsog and light offerings in the evening. They dedicated the merit for the swift recognition of Rinpoche’s unmistaken reincarnation.
In California, Land of Medicine Buddha’s Sangha and long-time students gathered with Venerable Yangchen and Venerable Angie to honor the anniversary of Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away. Personal stories were shared, bringing Rinpoche’s kindness vividly to mind.
Jamyang Buddhist Centre, in London, offered a hybrid program to follow in person or online starting with the recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri, the community then gathered to watch an excerpt of archival footage of Rinpoche giving a Dharma teaching at Jamyang and share personal stories from those who knew him or heard him teach.
We share below some scenes from the powerful group prayers, and we thank everyone who participated in this heartfelt collective effort to remember the immeasurable kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and pray for his swift return.
Assembly at Sera Jey Monastery, India, commemorating the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit: Sera Jey Monastery Facebook page.
Sangha at Kopan Monastery, performing a Heruka Lama Chopa and many other prayers and practices for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana. April 13, 2026. Photo credit Kopan Monastery Facebook page.
Sangha in prayers at Osel Labrang, Sera Jey, India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit Osel Labrang Sera Jey Facebook page.
Sangha in prayers at Shalu Monastery India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit Shalu Monastery Facebook Page.
Puja at Sera Je Dhakpo Khangtsen, India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit: Dhakpo Khamtsen Facebook page.
Sera Jey Drati Khangtsen offering prayers to commemorate the third anniversary of the parinirvana of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Guru Puja at Nalanda Monastery, France for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo courtesy of Nalanda Monastery.
Photo: Community at Tsum Rachen Nunnery, Nepal, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026.. Credit: Tsum Rachen Nunnery Facebook page.
Community in prayer at Ngari Institute, Ladakh, India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Ngari Institute Facebook page.
Ogmin Jangchup Sishu Tsogpa, a community association of former Kopan Monastery monks and nuns residing in New York, USA, offered prayers for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo by Ogmin Jangchup Sishu Tsogpa Facebook page.
Guru Puja at Chokyi Gyaltsen Center, Penang, Malaysia, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Chokyi Gyaltsen Center Facebook page.
Commemorations in Taipei for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026.. Photo from FPMT Taiwan Facebook page.
Prayers in Taichung, Taiwan, at Shakyamuni Center the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from FPMT Taichung’s Facebook Page .
Community at Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre, Delhi, India the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre Facebook page.
Root Institute, India, offered prayers and light offerings were made by Ani Dekyong and the resident nuns for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Root Institute Facebook page.
Prayers at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore led by Venerable Tsultrim, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo by Tan Seow Kheng, ABC Facebook page.
Community praying at Chenrezig Institute, Queensland, Australia for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Chenrezig Institute Facebook page.
Teachings at Lama Yeshe Ling, Canada. Geshe Sonam offered transmissions of Ganden Lha Gyäma, including Lama Tsongkhapa Migtsema Prayer and Name Mantra, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Lama Yeshe Ling Tibetan Group Facebook page.
This is just s small sampling of the thoughtful activity organized around the world and we offer extensive thanks to ALL who participated in commemorating Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing into parinirvana.
Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away is a short text translated by Rinpoche that explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.