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FPMT International Office News
April 2011 If you received this from someone else, or unformatted, visit our subscribe page to receive this newsletter directly. You can have this translated into your native language by using our convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s News:
Rinpoche’s Schedule
For more information as it becomes available please go to Rinpoche’s Schedule. For details of how to register for these events please contact the relevant center directly. 2011
2012
and the ultimate peerless happiness of full enlightenment. Everybody is gathering here for sentient beings, for Dharma, to subdue one’s own mind and to actualize bodhichitta, the most important thing in life, the most important project in life. On the basis of that, to actualize the resultant vehicle – the Secret Vajrayana – and to liberate numberless sentient beings from oceans of samsaric sufferings and bring them to full enlightenment, that is the ultimate goal of our life. I don’t have any qualities to help with that, but I know two or three words – the Buddha’s words. We will see what happens, maybe something crazy. You never know where it leads. First, I want to say thank you to all the old students who I have met many times in the past who are gathered here. I want to express thank you very much for that. Life is not long, life is short, so it is very good to do something most worthwhile in life. Death is definite and the actual time when it will occur is uncertain and nothing at all will benefit at the time of death except Dharma. Nowadays, in the world, it is over-degenerated. Due to degeneration of the mind, there is degeneration of life and life becomes shorter and shorter. There are so many sicknesses happening, so many people dying from cancer – millions and millions of people – and then there are other sicknesses, life-threatening diseases. Then there is the degeneration of sentient beings, degeneration of time, and so many wars, tsunamis, earthquakes. Just referring to recent times, there was New Zealand and then Japan [where there was the] most unimaginable tsunami. They cannot find out how many people died. And a few days ago an earthquake happened in Burma. There are so many dangers happening – danger of the four elements: earth, water, fire, wind. This is happening more and more; you can’t really tell in which country it will happen next. Nowadays, there are so many people dying due to that. Therefore, it is time to do the best in your life … to do the best in our life, do the most worthwhile, most beneficial thing in our life. Therefore, what we are going to do here is the answer: listening to teachings, doing meditation, actualizing the path, living in morality – the basis of all realizations – by taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts. This is the solution for world problems, global warming and all that. This is the solution to global problems and individual problems. What we are going to do here is the solution.” Colophon: Teaching given on April 2, 2011 at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo, Australia. Typed simultaneously as Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught by Ven. Joan Nicell, edited by Claire Isitt and Michael Jolliffe. Go to Rinpoche’s Advice page and to the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for lots more advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche Life on the Road with Lama Zopa Rinpoche: In the Aussie Bush
spent time in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, Rinpoche’s second visit in three days! This is unusual as Rinpoche hardly ever does the “tourist thing.” Rinpoche said in all his world travels he has never seen anything like it and it is a great place for practice! It is an amazing place. The design and layout is really something. So we spent most of the time in the cactus area. So many there! Rinpoche explains the meditation: the designs of the flower petals, the patterns in the plants, etc., this all comes from the mind, based on karma, intention. Rinpoche kept repeating to be mindful how everything comes from the mind. Then we sat on the lawn, visualized a pure land, offered it to the merit field and dedicated extensively. Now we’re still driving in the bush, Rinpoche is doing prayers out loud. Galahs on the road, a kangaroo racing through the fields … it is near sunset.” International Office News:
Education Services
Three short teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche have been added regarding the purpose and importance of practicing Lama Chöpa and the meaning of tsog. You’ll find these teachings in “Commentary on Lama Chöpa” under Special Commentaries. A new Living in the Path module, Happiness of Dharma, is now available online! In this course, Lama Zopa Rinpoche inspires us to recognize the opportunity that is our perfect human life and to take full advantage. We are reminded that while life is short, we can still ensure success in obtaining all levels of happiness. Program News
Basic Program‘s newest graduate is Alan Carter, currently resident teacher at Chandrakirti Centre, New Zealand. Congratulations!
Chenrezig Institute will begin Supplement to the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatara), a subject of the Masters Program in mid-2012. Thanks to all who have sent in their Discovering Buddhism course and retreat dates! The Discovering Buddhism Retreats page is being updated to reflect this new information. Practice Materials News
Charity for Ants: This short practice specifically designed to benefit ants was compiled by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and is inspired by a text written by Ngulchu Dharmabhadra. Available now!
As per the March 23 advice from Rinpoche on how to protect against radiation, the White Umbrella Deity text to wear as a protection is now available on the Advice page (under Natural Disasters). Also new on the page is a short practice on how to stop rain. An updated comprehensive list of all materials available from Education Services is now available! A new protection is now available in hard-copy and electronic formats. This image is said to have been worn by Lama Atisha as protection against physical harm. Lama Zopa Rinpoche says the image can be put on the body of a person who is dying, put in the house to protect against pollution or disharmony, or worn on the body. Essential Buddhist Prayers, Vol. 1 has been updated and is available in hard-copy and e-reader formats. Service as a Path to Enlightenment: A new booklet featuring advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Although the booklet is being sent out with the FPMT Annual Review 2010, copies will soon be available from the Foundation Store for the general public. The Sanghata Sutra is now available in e-reader format suitable for iPad and Kindle. Translation News
108 Names of Tara, translated by Corey Jackson, is now available.
A Guide to the Most Sacred Five-Peaked Mountain of China (Wutaishan Mountain), translated by Tenzin Bhuchung, is coming soon! Thirty-two people are registered to attend FPMT’s first translation conference at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in May with Yangsi Rinpoche as keynote speaker. Look out for the July-September 2011 issue of Mandala for a full report. Training News
A two-day Foundation Training will follow FPMT’s first translation conference at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, May 21-22.
Mandala Publications – Road to Kopan Stories Needed
Call for submissions!
“The Road to Kopan,” a new feature of Mandala Publications, wants to hear from you. For 40 years, thousands of students from across the globe have made their way to Nepal and up to Kopan Hill. Some paths were long and winding, some direct and clear. Mandala is collecting these stories and you can help us. Have you attended one of the annual lam-rim Kopan retreats? How did you find your way there? What about the experience felt like coming home? Check out the latest issue of Mandala (April-June 2011) for Karuna Cayton’s remembrance, “Like So Many Roads.” Karuna attended the 1975 November course and writes, “I remember vividly someone putting a picture of a smiling lama on the altar and I was transfixed. I started to cry whenever I looked at the picture. I didn’t know then, but it was a picture of Lama Yeshe.” With every issue of Mandala, we’ll share another story and feature many more on our website. If you have a story or know someone else who does, please e-mail us at: laura@fpmt.org. Friends of FPMT
Become a Friend of FPMT and stay connected to all that FPMT has to offer including the FPMT Online Learning Center, Mandala Publications and many complimentary resources offered at the free FPMT Membership level.
The Foundation Store
Read the latest Foundation Store newsletter for new product arrivals and monthly specials. For Center, Project and Service Directors, SPCs, Teachers and Board Members
(This advice is specifically for those offering service in the roles listed above.) Advice Regarding Spiritual Teachers Now Available in French
Thanks to the French Translation Service for translating this essential and informative booklet into French. You can download it from the “Teachers” section of the FPMT Affiliates Area. 
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Osel in California, March 2011.
Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang
FPMT World:
Rejoice! – We Welcome A New Study Group!
Saraswati Study Group
This brings the total number of FPMT centers, projects and services to 160 in 39 countries! We Welcome Two New Resident Geshes
Geshe Drakpa Tsundue is teaching at Centre Kalachakra, France. Geshe Losang Khedup is teaching at Khamlungpa and Bengungyal Centers in Mexico. LRZTP 6 Start Date Announced
The sixth Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program will begin on March 15, 2012 in Dharmasala, India.
The LRZTP is FPMT’s interpreter training program, training people to interpret for geshes resident in FPMT centers around the world. Happy 30th Birthday to Atisha Centre and 10th Birthday to the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour!
Atisha Centre celebrated its 30th birthday day this year – a significant milestone for a center dedicate to benefiting and serving all of living beings. Congratulations! On March 14, 2011, the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour turned 10 years old. The tour began in Taipei a decade ago, and today – 58 countries, 571 events and 6 continents later – it continues to bring blessings and inspiration to people all over the world. Opportunities to Offer Service in FPMT
Please check out these and other exciting opportunities to offer service in FPMT centers, projects and services around the world!
FPMT International Office, USA is looking for a Chief Operating Officer; Root Institute, India is looking for a spiritual program coordinator and Mahamudra Centre, New Zealand is looking for a centre manager, a vegetarian cook, a housekeeper and a groundsperson. Impermanence at Work
Centro Ewam, Italy Centro Nagarjuna de Granada, Spain Chenrezig Study Group, USA Kadam Sharawa Center, Australia Thubten Norbu Ling, USA With love, |
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