International Office News
August 2020

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

Ongoing Thought Transformation Teachings

Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Khadro-la enjoying a break during a day of fire and incense pujas, Kathmandu, Nepal, August 2020. Photo by Ven. Lhundrup Topgye.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, via his video teaching series, continues to help us engage with the Dharma and transform any situation into the path to enlightenment. Recent topics include Fulfilling the Guru’s Wishes is the Most Enjoyable Thing in Life; the Benefits of Vows; and The One Mistake is Not Remembering Impermanence and Death. We invite you to go deeper into these and the other topics covered, by watching Rinpoche’s videos and reading the transcripts of Rinpoche’s teaching. Find them all collected for you.

How to Think While Watching the News

Lama Zopa Rinpoche during a fire puja, Kathmandu, Nepal, July 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche made these comments in April 2014 after seeing images of the suffering of many people on television.
“It’s important to use the situation to remind yourself how fortunate you are to still have a human body and a perfect human rebirth, which is most difficult to find, and that you have met the Buddhadharma and the virtuous friend. Remind yourself how it’s most fortunate to still be a human being and not to waste it, and to practice the holy Dharma to purify and collect merit and actualize the path.” Read in full …

Retreat Postponed

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID–19, the team organizing the Bodhicarayavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa Retreat at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia, have decided to postpone the retreat, and are hoping it will be possible to host it in early 2022. More details on Rinpoche’s Schedule.

We’re Rejoicing About:

1,000 Shakyamuni Buddha Statues for His Holiness

One of the 1,000 statues completed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life.

Last August we shared Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish to offer 1,000 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Thanks to the support of many generous donors, we quickly raised the funds needed for the statues to be created, filled, painted, gold gilded, and consecrated. In January Rinpoche met with His Holiness in Bodhgaya and offered the 1,000 buddhas symbolically. Then, on His Holiness’ 85th birthday, July 6, one of the statues was offered directly to His Holiness as a symbol of the 1,000 statues. The remaining 999 statues will be offered at an appropriate time. His Holiness will be able to use these statues as auspicious offerings to others. Read more …

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in prayer, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, August 2020. Photo by Ven. Lhundrup Topgye.

New and Updated Practice Materials

FPMT Education Services is delighted to present:

• The Source of All Attainments: The Yoga of the Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara, an Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) guru yoga sadhana composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
• Spontaneously Accomplishing Desired Aims: An Abbreviated Way to Perform the Meditation-Recitation of Eleven-Faced Chenrezig, by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama.
• The Welfare of Living Beings That Pervades Space: The Meditation-Recitation of the Great Compassionate One, by Thangtong Gyalpo.
• Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
• Arya Avalokiteshvara Simhanada: Exalted Chenrezig Lion’s Roar Who Dispels All Diseases, practice instructions by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Big Love to IMI Sangha

Due to the kindness of generous sponsors, the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive have been able to offer a free copy of Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe (shipping included) to each IMI Sangha member who wants one. So far nearly one hundred copies have been distributed to our FPMT monks and nuns. Read what people are saying about Big Love.

Become a Friend of FPMT

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization:

Wanted: Stories on Practicing Dharma during the Pandemic

Mandala magazine is seeking short reflections on the following questions for the next issue:

• How have you been using Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s video teaching on thought transformation from Kopan Monastery?
• How have you been using/used the lockdown and pandemic to develop your Dharma practice?
• What Dharma teachings have been the most meaningful to you during this time?

Submissions should be no more than 500 words and cover one, two, or all of the questions above. You may also submit one photo to go with your submission (2100 pixels minimum width). With your submission, please include how you wish to be identified (name, center, country, etc.). Submissions may be excerpted and edited. Please email us your submissions by August 31, 2020.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing a goat that had just been saved from the butcher, and will now live at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Impermanence at Work

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

Chandrakirti Center, New Zealand
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Bengu Korkmaz
With grateful thanks to retired SPC – Jennifer Coyne

Mahamudra Center, New Zealand
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Jennifer Coyne
With grateful thanks to retired SPC – Jaki Chalmers

Luz de Nagarjuna,
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Maria Cruz Fierro
With grateful thanks to retired SPC – Perla Varela

For Those Offering Service in FPMT Affiliates:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, during the latter’s birthday celebration, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Rinpoche Gives Director Training Advice

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently gave advice about director training: developing and maintaining the correct attitude of service. Rinpoche comments:
“You definitely need director training. Before or if you become director, you need training in all the qualities which you, as the director, should have. Every day you have to think, meditate—you have to learn the kindness of sentient beings. You have to do the job as the director of the FPMT center, project, or service, with your mind on that basis. Developing that motivation stops so many problems, such as becoming an enemy to people at the center, or other people.”

Ven. Roger Kunsang added:
“Usually when you go for a job, you have to have qualifications, match the job description. How we present it in the FPMT organization is the way Rinpoche presents this—external skills are only part of it, the other part is the inner job description, what Rinpoche is saying: patience, kindness, respecting others.”

Read Rinpoche’s advice in full, as part of our collection of the building blocks provided to help become a beneficial director: FPMT Director Training.

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FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.