International Office News
April 2024

The first copy of a special limited edition of 300 copies of the Sutra of Great Liberation, printed in English by Amitabha Buddhist Centre students for the occasion of the commemoration of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, was offered to the holy body of Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, April 12, 2024. Photo courtesy of ABC.

Teachings and News About Lama Zopa Rinpoche

One Year Anniversary of Rinpoche Showing the Aspect of Passing Away

Novice students and teachers of Sera Je Secondary school gathered at the school assembly ground for the special prayer session arranged at the school on the first anniversary puja of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, April 13, 2024. Photo by Sera Je Secondary School.

April 13 marked the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.

At Kopan Monastery, around one thousand participants including high lamas, students, and friends engaged in practice in proximity to Rinpoche’s holy body including His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa; Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche; Mingyur Ripoche; Tsoknyi Ripoche; Abbots from Sera Je, Sera Mey, and Segyud Monasteries; Kusho Tengye; Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi; Yangsi Rinpoche; Namgyal Rinpoche; Kopan Geshes, Lama Gyupas, and many other monks and nuns; as well as Western students, some members of the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors, representatives from FPMT International Office, and many other local and international friends. 

At Lawudo Retreat Centre, a two-day puja was offered by Thame Rinpoche, Kyarok Lama, and Charok Tenzin Tinley Rinpoche, and other monks and ngakpas.

FPMT centers, monasteries, and various communities around the world hosted events of pujas and prayers, honoring Rinpoche’s incredibly beneficial life and praying for his swift return. The main practice offered was Heruka Lama Chopa with Tsog Offering. 

We compiled some photos of the heartfelt and devoted efforts on April 13 commemorating the anniversary of the passing of our most precious guru, we invite you to take a look and rejoice. 

The One Answer is to Practice Lamrim

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered four teachings at Kopan Monastery on April 7, 8, and 9 before leaving for Tsum Valley on April 10, 2023. As we now all know, Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away on April 13, and as such, these teachings are particularly precious as they are the last organized and recorded teachings Rinpoche offered in this life.

We recently shared advice that was offered by Rinpoche on April 9 during his longer teaching, and excerpted in two parts for inclusion in our 2023 Annual Review. This essential, clear advice is particularly meaningful to those offering service within the FPMT organization. Please read Rinpoche’s important advice.

Lamrim Year is an essential guide for meditators who want to develop their mind in the graduated path to enlightenment (lamrim). This unique study program provides a 365-day outline of the graduated path in a clear, practical format that is suitable for both individual and group practice. The daily quotes and text have been selected from four decades of teachings by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and offer a taste of their teaching style and scope.

For rejoicing: Since Lamrim Year site was launched, over 1,300 students have signed up, with dozens completing the entire year and some requesting to start over! A group of fifty students, outside of FPMT in Israel, completed their first year and are starting again. This group is making a Hebrew translation. Another initiative in India starts May 1. 

Rinpoche Sharing Details of His Early Life and the Lawudo Cave

Lama Zopa Rinpoche talking about the previous Lawudo Lama in his meditation cave, Lawudo, Solu Khumbu, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

In a talk given to a few students in the Lawudo cave in 2015, Lama Zopa Rinpoche shared details of his early life. The Lawudo cave is the location where Rinpoche, in his past life as the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe, spent the last 30 years of his life in intensive meditation retreat. Rinpoche also shares some information about this holy cave.

We invite you to watch this joyful and intimate video, filmed by Bill Kane.

Four Kadampa Deities Retreat: Enlightenment through Compassion

Recently we shared the addition to our Rinpoche Available Now page of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s 2003 twenty-three part teachings from a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat offered at Institut Vajra Yogini, France. The retreat focused on the four Kadampa deities, however, Rinpoche taught on a broad range of lamrim topics.

In teaching #5 in this series, “Enlightenment through Compassion” Rinpoche discussed the importance of helping young people and expresses a sense of urgency for Universal Education as a method that can bring peace to individuals and the world, regardless of their religious background.

Rinpoche also stressed that it is important to practice holy Dharma throughout life, as death is certain and only holy Dharma can guide one at that crucial moment.
We invite you to watch this full video and engage with a lightly edited version of this teaching which is available from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

As a reminder, this entire retreat is now available for students to explore as they wish.

Overcoming Laziness

Lama Zopa Rinpoche on top of Kopan Hill, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

We recently shared news that Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s newest volume from Wisdom Publications, Perseverance: The Determination of the Bodhisattva is available.

 “Overcoming Laziness” is a transformative chapter in which Rinpoche offers invaluable insights and practical guidance on how to overcome laziness, which he explains is the greatest obstacle to happiness. Please read the full chapter.

Lama Yeshe’s Wisdom

How to Meditate

Lama Yeshe, Kensington Town Hall, 1975. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

In 1975 during their first trip to Europe, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave a weekend seminar in England, once again demonstrating their charisma and knowledge, and the profound effect of Buddha’s wisdom on Western people. This seminar was published in the book Freedom Through Understanding and covers the purpose of meditation, bodhicitta, the importance of motivation, tonglen and the shortcomings of attachment, among other topics. Produced by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, this is one of the few works that feature both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This short course was also videotaped and is available on the LYWA YouTube channel.

We recently shared Chapter 4, “How to Meditate” by Lama Yeshe, available from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

What We’re Rejoicing About

Heart Sutra Retreat at Kopan Monastery

His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa teaching during the Heart Sutra Retreat at Kopan Monastery. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.

Following the commemoration activities at Kopan Monastery honoring the one year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, a Heart Sutra Retreat began on April 15 with commentary by His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa and meditations led by Ven. Steve Carlier. 

In July 2022 Rinpoche expressed his wish to lead a Heart Sutra Retreat, so it is quite significant that this retreat has been offered within the FPMT organization, as it was one of Rinpoche’s expressed wishes.

The retreat has been going well, concluding on Saturday April 20, and we look forward to sharing details of this event soon.

Grants Offered Through FPMT Charitable Projects in 2023

Young students of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery School with new school supplies.

The FPMT Charitable Projects exist to benefit others in the most extensive ways possible. In 2023, US$3,486,569 was offered to many beneficial initiatives.

In this year’s FPMT International Office Annual Review we shared details about the following support offered:

• The Social Services Fund offered US$263,938 in support to eight different schools in Nepal and India that benefited over 1,500 students; US$169,067 in grants for operations expenses to hundreds of Tibetans living in six different homes for the elderly in India; and US$219,091 in support for health and essential services to those disadvantaged in Mongolia, Nepal, and India.
• US$529,466 was offered to support the precious ordained Sangha with food, accommodation, education, practice support, and medical expenses.
• The Puja Fund and other funds arrange and sponsor continual prayers for all within the FPMT organization and beings. US$397,697 was offered toward these activities, including offering to thousands of Sangha who undertake the practices.
• Due to the power of the holy objects, one can purify negativities and create merit simply by making contact with them. US$930,405 was offered toward holy objects creation around the world.
• Through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, US$960,228 were offered in grants to monasteries, nunneries, and Sangha around the world; to FPMT centers, projects, and services; and for prayers, practices, pujas, and much, much more. Many of these grants were requests that Rinpoche made right up until early April 2023, and we are trying to fulfill his wishes to the best our ability.
• US$18,930 was offered through the Animal Liberation Fund which offers support for saving animals from untimely death and to different to organizations that are saving animals from death and caring for them with food, medicine, and shelter for the rest of their lives.
• US$173,156 was offered through the Education and Preservation Fund in support of contributions to the development of Buddhist education programs and the preservation of the Dharma through the publication of practice materials and translations, as well Dharma education.

We invite you to read more information about these initiatives and how the various funds were used in the Charitable Work section of our 2023 Annual Review.

Asia Regional Consultations at Kopan Monastery

Group participating in the Asia Regional Consultations at Kopan Monastery. Photo by Kira Dane.

The first of the four regional consultations planned in 2024 to pave the way for the CPMT 2025 took place in Kopan Monastery on April 14-15. Thirty onsite and a dozen online participants joined, representing almost all the centers, projects and services from South-Asia and East and South-East Asia, and including eight monks and nuns from Kopan. We’ll come back in more detail on this successful event soon. The next regional consultation is planned on April 26 and 27 with European affiliates in Jamyang London.

Opportunities and Resources for Study and Practice

Foundation Store’s Printed and Quick Access Materials

Since 2020 The Foundation Store has become fully digital; all our materials are offered in PDF, epub, mobi, and mp3 formats. You can order printed versions of core prayers, practices, and texts, including Golden Light Sutra and Lama Chopa Jorcho, through Amazon. One-click download is available for many common texts and mantras.

Open Day for Buddhist Mind Science: Activating Your Potential

Our new Introductory level course, Buddhist Mind Science: Activating Your Potential, presents the Buddhist knowledge of the mind through both Buddhist and comparative modern scientific perspectives to stimulate reflection and inquiry. Over seven modules, it provides students with:

• Practical techniques and insight on meditation,
• Understanding of the mechanisms of suffering and happiness,
• Tools to find purpose and mental balance in our daily life, and
• The means to discover and activate our inner potential for warm-heartedness and wisdom.

Join us for an online open day on June 22 where our teachers for the course, Marina Brucet Vinyals and Hans Burghardt, will explain the content and structure of this course, what you may expect to take away from it, and also to answer your questions. The actual course will begin in September. This course is open to everyone.

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa’s MP Talks

We are delighted to share an exciting initiative from Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa! The MP Talks are a series of lectures exploring key themes of FPMT Masters Program (MP) texts. While intended for current MP students, these talks will be of equal interest to FPMT Basic Program students and many FPMT teachers, and to all who are curious about the kind of in-depth study that educated our geshes and many of our teachers.

Lecturers are senior Geshe Studies students of Sera Je’s IMI house and teachers with a similar study background. Planned for this first season, as part of The Ornament Series: Ven. Tenzin Gache, presenting the second part of his talk on Bodhicitta on May 28, Ven. Tenzin Namjong, talking on Buddha Nature on April 23, and Dan Frey, exploring the Four Noble Truths on June 11.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to learn firsthand how these topics are explored when diving deeper into FPMT Masters Program subjects. Open to all, the talks are available in English, Italian, and Spanish, and are livestreamed via Zoom.

Read more information and access freely available recordings of the talks.

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization

International Merit Box Project – Collection Season for this Year’s Grants

Through the kind generosity of supporters, the International Merit Box Project has given over US$1,235,000 to local FPMT centers, projects, services and study groups since 2003.

Hundreds of grants have been given for critical center repairs, new retreat cabins, retreat scholarships, statues, stupas and large prayer wheels, new translations and new publications, community services, and many other needs that arise in our dear local FPMT affiliates around the world.

This year we have already received over a dozen new applications for 2024 grants. All Merit Box offerings collected until April 30 will be used for this year’s grant awards.

We recently shared an update from Langri Tangpa Centre about a Lama Yeshe statue they were able to commission due to a Merit Box Project grant. 

Foundation Service Seminar in the Netherlands and California

Maitreya Institute, in the Netherlands, is hosting an FPMT Foundation Service Seminar (FSS), on August 16-21, 2024. Please read more information and reserve your place.

Another FSS is also being organized by Vajrapani Institute, California, on September 9-14, 2024.

The FSS is the “FPMT immersion retreat,” providing essential information and nourishment for all serving, or wishing to serve, in the FPMT organization.

Changes in the FPMT Organization

Bengungyal Study Group, Mexico
We welcome Rodrigo Jácome as new coordinator
With grateful thanks to outgoing coordinator Agustín Romo

Atisha Centre, Australia
We welcome Diana Secuya as new SPC
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC Andy Melnic

Centro Yamantaka, Colombia
We welcome Doris Julio as new SPC
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC David Duran

Latin America Regional Office
We welcome new national coordinator – Ram Lara
With grateful thanks to outgoing coordinator Mauricio Roa Mackenzie

Service Seminars
We welcome new coordinator – Wendy Ridley
With grateful thanks to outgoing coordinator Annelies Van der Heidjen

Opportunities to Offer Service

Read about the amazing benefits and importance of offering service in the FPMT organization, and have a look at these meritorious opportunities to offer service as paid staff or as a volunteer in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world, including opportunities in France, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA. Newly added: Oseling Center in Spain is looking for a spiritual program coordinator.

Become a Friend of FPMT

Contact information for the centers mentioned, and all FPMT centers, projects, and services can be found in the FPMT Directory.

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FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.