International Office News
August 2014

You can have this translated into your preferred language by using our
convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page.
French and Spanish speakers will find the FPMT International Office e-News translated
each month in the “Bienvenue” and “Bienvenidos” tabs on the FPMT homepage!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Washington, US, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s News:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the long life puja for Geshe Sopa Rinpoche at Deer Park Buddhist Center, US, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

New Advice:

FPMT Mission Statement:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wished to update the FPMT Mission Statement in order to make it clear that FPMT’s mission of preserving the Mahayana tradition includes listening to correct teachings of the Buddha, then reflecting, meditating on, practicing and actualizing those teachings – and then with that experience, spreading the teachings to sentient beings.

The FPMT Inc Board has now finalized the edits, so we are delighted to share the updated FPMT Mission Statement.

Peace in the World:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered advice to help bring peace to Israel and Palestine. Find this together with other advice from Rinpoche for peace in the world.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche after shopping for flowers for offering to holy objects with Vens. Sherab and Sangpo, Washington, US, July 2014.

Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Extensive Advice on Practices to Dispel Fire:
Last month, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered advice regarding the wildfires that were burning in Washington State, US, close to a number of students’ homes. We’ve combined that advice with advice which Rinpoche gave in 2007 so you have a complete set of Rinpoche’s advice on practices to do in case of fire. Find this and other advice from Rinpoche for natural disasters.

Find a wide range of advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Rinpoche’s Advice page. Go to the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for lots more advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Annual Long Life Puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The annual long life puja offered on behalf of FPMT students, centers, projects and services to our most kind and immeasurably precious spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, source of our inspiration and guidance, will be offered following the CPMT meeting at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia on September 19, 2014.

You are welcome to donate to this long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Please donate no later than September 10 if you would like your name to be included in the list of donors.

Rinpoche’s Schedule

Please contact the hosts directly with any questions regarding the event. Subscribe to our RSS feed on Rinpoche’s Schedule to receive updates automatically as soon as they are available.

August 27 – September 1 Rinpoche will lead the 100 Million Mani Retreat hosted by FPMT Mongolia

September 6 Purification, Healing and Joyful Living (part of 40th anniversary celebrations), Chenrezig Institute, Australia
September 7 – 9 Great Chenrezig initiation, Chenrezig Institute, Australia
September 13 – 19 CPMT meeting, Bendigo, Australia
September 20 Public talk on The Bodhisattva Attitude, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo, Australia
September 25 – October 23 Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa retreat, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo, Australia

November/December Teachings during the one month lam-rim course, Kopan Monastery, Nepal

Videoed teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are online 24/7
on FPMT’s livestream webpage.

International Office News:

News from Education Services

New Foundation Service Seminar Facilitators:
We have just registered our first three Foundation Service Seminar facilitators. Congratulations to Sarah Brooks (North America), Wendy Ridley (Europe), François Lecointre (Europe)!

Newly Organized Webpages:
To help students access all that is available from FPMT Education Services, we have been working to restructure the Education Services pages, links and downloads on FPMT.org, both through the pages in the FPMT Education section of the website and also under the “Education” tab. Please take a look at all that is available to you and let us know if you have further suggestions for the improvement of these pages. Also, you can always keep up to date with news and announcements from Education Services by visiting the “Education News” page.

Un Nouveau Livret en Français: Les Voeux de Bodhisattvas:
Le service de traduction francophone de la FPMT vient de publier un nouveau livret Les voeux de bodhisattvas, qui propose un descriptif de chacun d’entre eux, faisant en sorte de les mettre en pratique correctement.

Benefit Beings Whenever They Pass under Your Door

Lama Zopa Rinpoche reminds us that beings only receive the benefit of Purifying the Cause of Samsara – Above the Door Mantra Card if they walk directly underneath the mantra on the card. With that in mind, we recommend that you print out the mantra card large enough, or, acquire a sufficient number of pre-printed mantra cards, to take up the width of the door frame. Download the poster version here.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund
Supports Nepal Buddhist Federation

Members of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism – Nyingma, Kagyü, Sakya and Gelug – formed an umbrella organization called the Nepal Buddhist Federation (NBF) in 2006, a first in the history of the Nalanda tradition. Since its formation, the NBF has engaged in many activities. Kopan Monastery has been very involved, with many senior monks serving as members.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, recently made an offering toward the organization of a regular broadcast of Dharma teachings on television and radio in Nepal. Additionally, support was offered to NBF’s Rimé Chirim Tendo Chenmo Monlam, a prayer festival for Saka Dawa. Four hundred Sangha members were invited from each of the four schools and breakfast, lunch and dinner were offered to each along with a small offering. All four schools contributed to these projects, demonstrating growing harmony within Tibetan Buddhism.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, June 2014. Photo by Olivier Adam.

Enhance Your Practice of Generosity: Join the Merit Box Practitioners!

Take advantage of our easy method for helping you practice generosity by turning your spare coins into grants for Dharma projects around the world! Order your FREE Merit Box piggy bank today and become a supporter for 2015’s Merit Box grants.

News from
Mandala Publications

Jangtse Chöje Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche talking together while waiting to escort Geshe Sopa Rinpoche to the long life puja, Deer Park Buddhist Center, US, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Get connected to the international mandala of FPMT! Visit Mandala online where you can find news, practice advice and updates on our daily blog, look through back issues in our archive, see our most recent online stories and more!

Friends of FPMT –
Benefit Yourself and Others

You can support so many FPMT activities while enjoying Mandala magazine, gifts from FPMT Education Services, and access to FPMT Online Learning Center classes. Join Friends of FPMT!

Introducing Our Media Resource Manager

We’re delighted to welcome Harald Weichhart to the International Office team in the new position of media resource manager. Harald, who many of you will know from Light of the Path retreats as part of the media team, is based in Germany and is focusing on preserving and managing our extensive digital collection of multimedia content.

For Center, Project and Service Directors, SPCs, Board Members, Registered Teachers and Coordinators:

(This advice is specifically for those offering service in the roles listed above.)

Reminder: Make Your Annual Donation to
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Long Life Puja

Please make your center, project or service’s annual donation for the long life puja of our precious guru via the secure site in the FPMT Affiliates Area no later than September 10.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche by the large Buddha Amitabha statue newly installed at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington State, US, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.

Residential Arrangements at Retreat Centers

Find Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice regarding the residential arrangements for those living at an FPMT retreat center added to the “Retreat” advice in the FPMT Affiliates Area.

Updated “FPMT: Mission, Motive and Spirit” Chapter

Do read the updated “FPMT: Mission, Motive and Spirit” chapter of the FPMT Handbook, which also includes the revised FPMT Mission Statement and new information and quotes from Lama Zopa Rinpoche to help us understand FPMT’s mission. You can read the chapter alone, download and print it, or read it as part of the full FPMT Handbook. (For Spanish speakers, “FPMT : misión, razón y espíritu del Manual de la FPMT.”)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing prayers with Geshe Sopa Rinpoche, Deer Park Buddhist Center, US, July 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

FPMT World:

CPMT 2014:
Don’t Miss Out!

This time next month, our international meeting, CPMT, will have started! Please don’t miss out on this rare and precious opportunity to connect with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and your international FPMT family and help ensure the preservation of the Mahayana Dharma. Find more information, including the agenda, who can participate and how to book.

September News Canceled –
Sign Up Today for CPMT Blogs from Mandala!

September’s International Office News will be canceled. Instead, Mandala Publications editor Laura Miller will blog from FPMT’s international meeting, CPMT, at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Australia. During the meeting, Laura will share Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice, the daily happenings, photos and video clips. Check the blog often or sign up for email updates.

Information about Shugden/Dolgyal

Our collection of advice on this issue from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and others is always available, and now in French, as well as English, Spanish and German.

Opportunities to Offer Service in FPMT

Please check out the regularly updated exciting opportunities to offer service as a volunteer or as paid staff in FPMT centers, projects and services around the world!

Unique opportunity to build a career with LRZTP (Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Programme); Chenrezig Institute, Australia is looking for a new director; and MAITRI Charitable Trust, India has openings.

Impermanence at Work

Serlingpa Centro de Retiros, Mexico has sadly closed: we rejoice in the efforts of director Rocío Arreola to provide the Dharma for many years, and wish her well.

Buddha House, Australia
We welcome new director – Gabe Edwards
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Cathy Davis

Centro Shiwa Lha, Brazil
We welcome new (first!) SPC – Marly Ferreira

Do Ngak Sung Juk Center, Japan
We welcome new SPC – Kumiko Okitsu
With grateful thanks to previous SPC, now director – Takiko Ohtome

Gyalwa Gyatso (Ocean of Compassion) Buddhist Center, USA
We welcome new co-SPCs – Urs von Matt and Tris Adepoju

Land of Joy, UK
We welcome new (first) director – Ven. Mark Gatter

Latin American Regional Office
palomaalba.valencia@gmail.com

Thubten Norbu Ling, USA
We welcome newly returned SPC – Ven. Angie Muir

Tong-nyi Nying-je Ling, Denmark
Nybrogade 26A, 1st floor
1203 Copenhagen K
Tel: +45 60 22 77 72

Tubten Kunga Center, USA
We welcome new director – Rebecca Smith
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Maggie Bustamente

With love,
FPMT International Office

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