International Office News
January 2020

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, India, January 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche News:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with a canine friend, Bodhgaya, India, January 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Long Life Puja

The official long life puja, offered on behalf of all in the FPMT organization to our immeasurably kind and precious spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, will be on January 22nd at Kopan Monastery, Nepal. If you would like to make a donation toward this and have your name included in the list of donors, we will need to receive your donation no later than January 19. This is the official long life puja for 2019 (the Tibetan new year is February 24 this year).

Schedule

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s next scheduled teaching will be in Australia, prior to the continuation of the Bodhicaryavatara and Rinjung Gyatsa Retreat.

Recordings of Rinpoche’s recent teachings are always available at Rinpoche Available Now.

Advice

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice to Dispel Fires

Lama Zopa Rinpoche circumambulating Medicine Buddha statue at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington, US, 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Australia is experiencing what is becoming its worst fire season ever, affecting tens of thousands of people and countless animals. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given advice on several occasions on practices to do in order to dispel and protect from fire. Read in full …

Prayer for Peace

Lama Zopa Rinpoche observes while incense offerings are made while new prayer flags are hung, Taos, New Mexico, August 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained in his preface to his translation of a prayer for peace, “When there was unceasing war in Kham (Me Nyak), Tibet, and nobody was able to create harmony, the Great Lord Yogi (Thang Thong Gyalpo) came to Kham, generated bodhichitta, and just by merely saying these true words and sprinkling flowers, all the vicious minds (jealousy and anger) were completely pacified and the war that had been continuous, ceased.” Read in full …

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International Office News

Dagri Rinpoche: Next Steps in Response to Concerns

FPMT Inc. received a report of allegations of misconduct by a teacher at FPMT centers, in violation of FPMT policies. Therefore we have hired FaithTrust Institute to assist us in conducting a fact-finding assessment of these complaints. Anyone who may have experienced or witnessed harm from Dagri Rinpoche in his role as spiritual teacher at FPMT centers, projects, or services, is invited to contact FaithTrust Institute. Read in full (includes FaithTrust Institute’s email address).

Complimentary Living in the Path Modules

Education Services is happy to provide further Living in the Path modules free of charge: Bodhichitta Mindfulness, and Atisha’s Light of the Path. Living in the Path is a lamrim program taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche available in FPMT centers, and through the FPMT Online Learning Center.

Rejoicing in Another Year of Animal Liberation

The Animal Liberation Fund sponsored the liberation of approximately 84,300 animals at Kachoe Dechen Ling and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, USA, in 2019. Since 2015, 812,455 small animals have been saved from untimely death by resident Sangha, taken around an incredible amount of holy objects, had mantras recited and blown on them, and been carefully placed where they could live out the rest of their life. When Sangha finish these liberations, they make strong prayers for all those who are sick, have recently died, or who have requested prayers. You can read more about the animal liberations completed this year, and explore practices and advice for animal liberation for your own practice.

Become a Friend of FPMT

Foundation Store Now Digital-Only

The Foundation Store will continue to distribute new and existing FPMT education programs and materials in digital format. Some core educational practice materials will be available by print-on-demand through Amazon, and will be shipped locally within each Amazon territory. Check out the remaining inventory of meditation supplies and practice materials: prayer flags, practice booklets, thangkas, audio & video, and pendants, among other items offered to you at cost.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, India, January 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

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

Financial Obligations

FPMT centers, projects, services, and study groups are welcome to make your annual donation towards the official long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche via our online donation page. We set this page up to make it easier for you to make your annual mandated donations, explained in financial obligations for FPMT affiliates.

Compilation of 2019’s Key Updates, Advice and Resources

Our compilation is now available for your quick and easy reference. You’ll find 2019’s compilation in the Affiliates Area, in the section Resources at a Glance/Compilations of Key Advice.

FPMT World:

FPMT Ethical Policy Translations

We’re delighted to announce that the FPMT Ethical Policy is now translated into Slovenian (as well as French, Italian, and Spanish).

Opportunities to Offer Service in the FPMT Organization

Would you like to spend your days in a meaningful way? Take a look at the regularly updated meritorious opportunities to offer service as a volunteer or as paid staff in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world. Newly added: Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, UK, is looking for a new Spiritual Program Coordinator; the Potential Project is looking for a Human Resources Administrator.

Impermanence at Work

Lama Zopa Rinpoche next to Bodhgaya FPMT directors: Ven Thubten Dekyong, Ven Paldron, and Adriana Ferranti; and attendants. Bodhgaya, India, December 2019. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

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

Aryatara Institut, Germany
We welcome new director – Cora Boer-Sakals
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Rosana Rodrigues-Herzog
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Alex Volk
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC – Robert Schwabe

Lama Yeshe House, USA
We welcome new director – Katherine Frasca
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Jane Sellers

Land of Medicine Buddha, USA
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Rolland Swing

Root Institute, India
We welcome new director – Ven Thubten Dekyong
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Ven Paldron

Thubten Norbu Ling, USA
We welcome new director – Charmaine Hughes (who was previously acting director)

Yeshe Gyaltsen Center, Mexico
We welcome new director – Verónica Amezcua
With grateful thanks to outgoing director, now new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Paula Velasco

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