International Office News
August 2021

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in front of Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal, June 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

Thought Transformation Teaching Highlights

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la offering prayers, Nepal, July 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his video teachings on thought transformation from Kopan Monastery in Nepal. Here are some recent highlights:

• A Zillion Thanks to the Sangha for Reciting Manis During the Pandemic:
  During this teaching, Rinpoche also offered commentary and various transmissions, as requested by IMI, the FPMT organization for Sangha. Rinpoche was thanking the Sangha for reciting “Thangtong Gyalpo’s Prayer” together as a global community since August 1, 2020 for the benefit of all sentient beings and to reduce the suffering caused by the Covid pandemic. Read in full ….
• Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder:
  In this teaching, Rinpoche explains that the total cessation of obscurations is nirvana, ultimate happiness. It is forever, not like you are going on vacation, which is only temporary and is actually suffering, and not pleasure as your hallucinated mind believes. Because nirvana is everlasting happiness, it is worthwhile to bear hardships in order to practice Dharma. Read in full .…

New Photo Album

Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing incense puja at Kopan Monastery for all those affected by COVID-19.

For your interest and enjoyment, we’ve added a new album of photos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal, May – June 2021.

Find advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche 24/7 on Rinpoche’s Advice page.
Subscribe to our FPMT news blog to get news updates.

We’re Rejoicing About:

Exploring Buddhism: Our New Education Program

We provide structured education, aiming to fulfil the needs of beginners to advanced practitioners, and all embodying FPMT Wisdom Culture. Our new Foundational Buddhism level program, provisionally named Exploring Buddhism, is specifically designed to offer a thorough introduction to key Buddhist philosophical concepts, like the mind, the two truths, and so forth, connecting these to the context of practice. It is ideally suited for providing those who have studied Discovering Buddhism with a way to deepen their understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practice; and those wishing to pursue more advanced Buddhist studies, such as Basic Program, with a helpful preparation and familiarization of important Buddhist concepts and framework. We encourage you to connect with participating centers!

Nalanda Monastery to Host Two FPMT Service Seminars!

Small group exercise during the FSS hosted by Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa, Italy, 2010.

Nalanda Monastery, France, is hosting:

• Foundation Service Seminar (FSS), September 22 – 26, 2021:

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

• Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS), November 9 – 13, 2021: This is a powerful training for FPMT registered teachers, and those hoping to become an FPMT registered teacher.

New Practice Materials

The following items are all freely available from our Foundation Store:

• The Noble Great Dharani PDF: Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested this translation, as it has many benefits. This was one of the prayers that Rinpoche advised the Kopan monks and nuns to recite during the COVID-19 outbreak at Kopan earlier this year.
• The All Pervasive Sphere of Great Bliss, Free of Elaboration: Requesting Activities of Palden Lhamo eBook & PDF: The translation of this short prayer to the protector Palden Lhamo written by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama was requested by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
• The Array of Sukhavati Pure Land: A Concise Mahayana Sutra eBook & PDF: A powerful sutra from Buddha Amitabha.
• The Array of Sukhavati Pure Land: A Concise Mahayana Sutra – MP3 Download: Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s oral transmission of this sutra, which comes with the sutra, and commentary from Rinpoche.
• Extensive Offering Practice PDF: This newly updated practice was composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to create the most extensive merit possible when making any kind of offering.
• The Method with Additional Practices – MP3 Download: Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s oral transmission ofThe Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness (Including Enlightenment) with Additional Practices, specifically compiled by Rinpoche as the essential daily practice for his students.

Rejoicing in Recent Charitable Giving

We invite you to join us in rejoicing in the extensive support that FPMT Charitable Projects has offered so far this year.

• Through the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, the most essential necessities of food and accommodation were offered to different Sangha communities around the world.
• The Social Services Fund offered the annual expenses, food and medical support to seven old age homes for Tibetan Elders in India and also supported the education, salaries of teachers, and food to over one thousand children in India and Nepal.
• Grants were given from the Animal Liberation Fund for saving the lives and ongoing care for animals in two animal sanctuaries in Nepal and Ladakh and also saving the life of Jangchub, a horse in Italy.

All of this is made possible by the support of so many who contribute to our Charitable Projects. So far in 2021 we have offered an incredible US$1,207,220 in grants for Sangha, the elderly, for the education of children, and for saving animals. Thank you for making this generosity possible.

New Live with Compassion Posters on Display!

Live with Compassion poster at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Australia.

See how some FPMT centers have displayed the new poster inspired by Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s “Live with Compassion” quote. Read more ….

Service Offered By FPMT International Office Staff

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with some of his Dharma texts, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

We rejoice in the service offered by Tom Truty and Nicole Parisi-Smith, who have both left the staff. We are very grateful for Tom’s service in various positions over many years since he started as a volunteer helping in the Education Services Department. We also say farewell and thank you to Nicole, who worked as assistant editor on Mandala magazine. We wish them both all the best in all of their future endeavors.

We’re delighted to welcome Geshe Ngawang Sangye as our FPMT Geshe Coordinator; with deep thanks and appreciation to Ven. Pemba, who helped enormously in this role for many years.

Become a Friend of FPMT

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization:

Opportunities to Offer Service in the FPMT Organization

Would you like to spend your days making a meaningful contribution? Have a look at the various meritorious opportunities to offer service as a volunteer or as paid staff in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world. Newly Added: Land of Joy, UK, is looking for a director.

Nuns at Dorje Pamo Nunnery welcoming Vens Paloma and Begona from Spain for a visit, August 2021. Photo thanks to Dorje Pamo Nunnery.

Impermanence at Work

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

FPMT Europe Regional Office
We welcome new regional coordinator – Ianzhina Bartanova
With grateful thanks to outgoing coordinator – Paloma Fernandez

Chenrezig Institute, Australia
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Rosie Muller

Dorje Pamo Nunnery, France
We welcome Geshe Tenzin Loden (resident geshe at Institut Vajra Yogini nearby) – recently enthroned as abbot.

Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Mongolia
We welcome new director – Tuya Purevgonchig
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Ianzhina Bartanova

Gyaltsab Je Center, Reunion
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) 
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC – Nicole Neveur

Thubten Kunga Center, USA
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Patti Hansen
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC – Rebecca Smith

For Those Offering Service in FPMT Affiliates:

Translations of the FPMT Protecting from Abuse Training Course

With enormous thanks to the translators, we are delighted to announce that the FPMT Protecting from Abuse Training Course is available in Tibetan, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and French!

Come on Board with Exploring Buddhism!

There is still time for interested FPMT centers and registered teachers to join and pilot this exciting new FPMT education program! Please contact our Foundational Program Coordinator for more.

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FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.