International Office News
August 2025

Panel of guests during the birthday celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Main Temple, Dharamsala, July 6, 2025. Photo by Tenzin Choejar, courtesy of OHHDL.

Teachings and News Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Forty-four New Video Teachings from 2004 Ganden Lha Gyama Retreat

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, September 29, 2004. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

In 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche covered many topics during a Ganden Lha Gyama retreat from September 3-30 at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy. The 44 teaching sessions covered many topics including bodhichitta and compassion, emptiness and appearances, the Four Noble Truths, the perfect human rebirth, and many others.

We are so pleased to share that all these teachings are now available for students to explore as they wish. On this page, you can also find a full combined transcript of these teachings, more information about the sessions, and MP3 audio download.

The Importance of Retreat

Describing the significance of one of his Vast Visions for the FPMT organization, supporting practice and realizations, Lama Zopa Rinpoche said, “Anybody who dedicates their life to achieving lamrim realizations with the goal to liberate numberless beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and to bring to enlightenment, this is what I regard as the most important thing in the world.” In Rinpoche’s book, Heart Advice for Retreat, he further explains:

“What is the importance of doing retreat? Why do people need to do retreat? It is not simply to be quiet, to have a break from one’s family. Instead, there are very crucial reasons for doing retreat, very urgent reasons.

“One simple reason is happiness. The peace and happiness of parents, for example, depend upon their children’s having affection and compassion towards them. And the children’s peace and happiness depend upon their parent’s affection and compassion. The same is true for couples or partners: each member’s peace, happiness, and success depend upon the compassion and kindness of the other person. For teachers and students as well, their peace and happiness depend upon one another.

“On a larger scale, the relationship between the leader of a country and its population also depends upon their cultivation of a proper attitude, a good heart, and compassion. And if one person is avoiding bringing problems such as violence to a country or even to the whole world, that too depends upon his or her development of compassion, loving kindness, and a good heart. …”

Please read a letter Rinpoche wrote to a student who had been engaged in retreat for fifteen months and learn more information about the FPMT centers conducive for retreat around the world.

Valuable Resources for Students

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching from his room at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, October 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

We would like to draw your attention to some valuable resources for students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Compendium of Precious Instructions: A Catalog of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Works is a collection of Rinpoche’s literary and graphic works which are available electronically and/or in print, with particular emphasis on key teachings that Rinpoche especially wanted his students to take note of and put into practice, as well as a guide on where to find the audio and video.

Life Practice Advice is a resource based on Rinpoche’s essential daily practice and lifetime practice advice. This is his essential advice and by following this advice, students can feel confident they are following and practicing according to Rinpoche’s heart advice.

FPMT.org offers a collection of practical advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Students can also find Rinpoche’s advice on a wide range of topics in the form of short talks and letters at the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Lama Yeshe’s Wisdom

Limitless Enjoyment and Freedom from Grasping

Lama Yeshe teaching at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, 1979. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archives offers a growing index of teaching excerpts from Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe. In addition to the fascinating historical narrative from students of Lama Yeshe, Big Love is also filled with Dharma teachings. Here we share an excerpt from a teaching by Lama Yeshe on tantra at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, on July 12, 1979. This teaching is published in chapter 17 of Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe:

“Every sense object that we experience appears to us as a concrete entity. There is a kind of concreteness that appears from the object itself. Normally we say that whatever we perceive in the world is real. “Everything I see or hear or touch is true, true, true!” We never question this at all. But this is wrong.

“So now we are checking philosophically. You might think that checking philosophically is difficult … right view, wrong view. It’s not difficult; it’s simple. Whatever appears to your eye, to your ear and so on … instead of accepting it, believing it, be skeptical. Don’t accept how things appear at face value. Be a little suspicious, a little bit “I’m not sure.” To find the right view, you don’t need to look at space, you don’t need to look at your lama’s face or at Buddha’s face. You need to look at the face of your normal way of looking at things, your normal view. If you observe your view you’ll see that the right view isn’t there. In other words, you find the wrong view in your normal way of looking at things. …” Continue to read the full teaching.

FPMT Centers: We wanted to remind you about a very kind offer from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive: They will send any FPMT center two boxes of free books (single titles or mixed boxes) with free shipping once a year. Please contact LYWA for details on this! 

What We’re Rejoicing About

Year of Compassion: A Celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

On July 5 and 6, 2025, two powerful events occurred in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, in celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, and with strong prayers for His Holiness to remain among us for a very long time. These events also kicked off the start of “the year of compassion” which will be a year long celebration of His Holiness’s many compassionate activities and qualities.

FPMT South Asia Regional Coordinator, Frances Howland, attended and participated in the long-life puja of July 5 where the offering of 100 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha on behalf of the entire FPMT organization occurred, and attended the birthday celebrations on July 6. Please read her heartfelt report of the events and enjoy these joyful photos!

Over 56 Million Mantras Offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Yeshin Norbu, the FPMT center in Stockholm, Sweden, organized the recitation of over 56 million Mani mantras which were offered to His Holiness, following their Mani Retreat Initiative, held with various FPMT centers and students around the world since last Losar. The following message was received from the Office of His Holiness: “I have been directed to thank all of you for your offering of 56 million Mani mantras for His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 90th birthday. I am happy to convey to you His Holiness prayers and good wishes.”

Grants Offered to Eight Schools in India and Nepal

Children at Sambhota Tibetan School CVP Bylakuppe studying together.

We’re delighted to share an incredible and inspiring update about the support provided to eight different schools in India and Nepal in 2025, reaching over 1,400 students. These grants helped cover essential needs such as nutritious meals, teacher salaries, classroom materials, and cultural activities. Through this support, the Social Services Fund not only strengthens access to quality education but also nurtures the values of compassion, wisdom, gratitude, and resilience in the next generation. The grants given to each school are made on behalf of our entire international FPMT community and reflects our ongoing commitment to Rinpoche’s Vast Visions. Please read more about how each grant was utilized.

Prayers and Pujas Offered on Chokhor Duchen

Through the Puja Fund, we arranged powerful pujas, practices, and offerings on Chokhor Duchen (the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni’s first teaching) that occurred on July 28, 2025. One thousand sets of offerings were made to Namgyalma by the 6000 monks of Sera Lachi; Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja, and Heruka self-initiation by the monks of Gyudmed Tantric University; Praises to Tara and recitation of Chanting the names of Manjushri and Migtsema by the nuns of Khachoe Ghaykil Nunnery; the stupas of Boudhanath and Swambyunath in Nepal were freshly painted and new umbrellas were offered at the pinnacle of each stupa; and a new set of robes was offered to the Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya. Animals were liberated, sutras were recited and printed, and offerings were made to all of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and to all the IMI Sangha communities in FPMT.

These offerings and extensive prayers were dedicated for the benefit of the whole FPMT organization, the long life of our gurus, especially His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to all who need the prayers, and to all the kind donors of the Puja Fund. Thank you for your support which enables these pujas to continue.

Recent Community Events at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa

Recently Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) hosted community events centered around the celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday and the Year of Compassion, and in observance of Chokhor Duchen. Carlota Pinheiro and Fabiana Lotito share details of these events, please continue to read more.

Most Secret Hayagriva Retreat at Nalanda Monastery: “An Incredibly Blessed Dimension”

Participants in the Most Secret Hayagriva Retreat at Nalanda Monastery, July 2025. Photo by Sonam Sherpa.

A very rare opportunity of a two-week Most Secret Hayagriva Retreat occurred on grounds of Nalanda Monastery from July 11-28, 2025. One participant described this retreat as an, “incredibly blessed dimension.”

Hayagriva is the wrathful manifestation of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. The practice of Most Secret Hayagriva is extremely powerful to grant help and support and to quickly pacify obstacles.  Both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche had a special connection to the Most Secret Hayagriva. As Ven. Roger Kunsang, who participated in the retreat explained, “The Most Secret Hayagriva retreat is the practice/commitment that Lama Yeshe gave to Lama Zopa Rinpoche to do every year for the protection and success of the entire FPMT organization. And now this is a commitment the whole organization is taking on.”

Nalanda Monastery shared the following report of this most auspicious and powerful retreat, we invite you to read it.

Eleven Students Receive Ornament for Clear Realization Completion Certificates

On June 25, 2025, eleven students at Jinsiu Farlin, the Taiwanese FPMT center based in Taipei, completed 16 years of study of Ornament for Clear Realization, an FPMT Masters Program text. To honor this remarkable achievement FPMT Education Services issued a special bilingual certificate. Jinsiu Farlin Center Director, Ven. Thubten Osel, recently shared the story, please read her report. 

Resources and Opportunities for Study and Practice

Newly Updated Materials

This month we are happy to share updated versions of Complete Dedication Prayer Book and Dedication Prayers.

As a reminder, FPMT Education Services has made available a variety of essential Buddhist prayer books, Buddhist practices, and Tibetan texts available by donation in a digital format. You can view our full catalogue, search for specific materials in the Foundation Store, or explore popular topics on our Prayers and Practice Materials page.

Lawudo Trek Upcoming in October

A wonderful opportunity to trek to Lawudo is upcoming—a trek and retreat from Kopan Monastery to Lawudo Gompa and back will take place October 6-21, 2025 this year.

Ven. Katy Cole will be joined by special guest Charok Lama to lead this powerful experience of teachings and practice. Since 2017 this trek has served as a fundraiser for Lawudo, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vision for a Guru Rinpoche Pure Land at Lawudo (Zangdok Palri), as well as flood relief last year for the people of Thame following the devastating glacial flood, and other contributions to the local community.

Please visit the Lawudo Trek website to learn more and reserve your spot!

Opportunities to Connect with High Lamas in FPMT Centers

We recently shared several upcoming opportunities to connect with His Eminence Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, His Eminence Khensur Jhado Tulku Rinpoche, and Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche. Many of these opportunities are still upcoming, and available online, or with hybrid opportunities, so please do check details on each. Read more.

Retreat Opportunities

Please check our retreat schedule page for group retreat opportunities upcoming in your area.

Call for Interviews and Submissions!

Road to Kopan Stories Requested

For many long-time students of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, is where they first met the teachings of Buddha, and where they saw their lives changed profoundly. In the past, Mandala magazine collected these stories, starting with the early students of the 1970s. We would like to begin collecting these stories again and need your help! If you were an early student of FPMT and have not yet shared your Road to Kopan story with us, or you know of someone we should solicit for their story, please be in touch!

FPMT Community News Stories

We welcome the submission of news stories from those within the FPMT community. This can be a story about something you have personally completed or accomplished, about someone else who has done so, or about the FPMT center, project, or service of which you are a part. Ideal submissions will give readers reasons to rejoice, share ideas, and create connections between those in the international community. Have something to share? We would love to hear from you!

Retreat Stories Needed

Are you a senior student who has engaged in long retreat, or know of someone who has engaged in long retreat that you think others in the FPMT community would be inspired to hear? Please reach out!

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization

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 Australia, France, India, North American Region, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK, the USA, and FPMT International Office. Newly added: FPMT international Office is looking for an Executive Director, our FPMT Buddhist Meditation 101 online course is looking for a course elder; and Atisha Centre is looking for a kitchen manager.

Foundation Service Seminar in France

The Foundation Service Seminar (FSS) is the “FPMT immersion retreat,” providing essential information and nourishment for all serving, or wishing to serve, in the FPMT organization. This is a wonderful opportunity for centers, projects, and services to invest in the future by training the next generation of directors, SPCs, volunteers, board members, etc. Please watch this short video we recently published on the Foundation Service Seminar. 

Institut Vajra Yogini, France, is organizing an FSS on September 24-28, 2025 and there are a few places left to attend. Read more information and reserve your place.

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.