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International Office News
July 2017
The Sera Je Food Fund Endowment
News from FPMT Education Services
New Arrival in the Foundation Store
Best Day to Donate to the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund
Affiliate Area Highlight: Annual Donations
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Birthday Celebrated
FPMT Australia Offers 100,000 Tsogs
Thank you and Farewell, Xavi Alongina
Have this translated into your native 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 News translated each month in the “Bienvenue” and “Bienvenidos” tabs on the FPMT homepage!
Lama Zopa Rinpoche News:
Activities and Advice
Highlights from our blogs:
The Buddha guides us, Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, through the guru, and the guru is like a magnifying glass through which we receive the Buddha’s blessings. In this video, Lama Zopa Rinpoche talks about the importance of the guru. And how should we serve the guru? Lama Zopa Rinpoche discussed the question. Read in full …
Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the Environment
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has commented several times on environmental issues, including climate change…. “Your happiness depends on others, and others’ happiness depends on you. We all have to live in this world, so we need to be harmonious and happy in a healthy way. No matter who you are or where you are, we all have a responsibility to protect this world.” Read in full …
Find a wide range of advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Rinpoche’s Advice page.
Schedule
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s schedule for 2017 and 2018.
Subscribe to our FPMT news blog to get updates as soon as they are announced. Enjoy livestreams of many of the teachings above and recordings of Rinpoche’s most recent teachings via Rinpoche Available Now!
International Office News:
The Sera Je Food Fund Endowment
For the last ten years FPMT International Office has been building an endowment large enough to support the long-term health of the Sera Je Food Fund, whereby the interest from the endowment would cover the annual costs associated with offering three nutritious meals daily for all the monks of Sera Je Monastery, for as long as the endowment remains. Amazingly, due to the kindness of so many generous donors, we reached our target for the endowment fund. This is an amazing accomplishment for the entire FPMT organization. As such, FPMT no longer needs to fundraise for the Sera Food Fund. We are so happy to be able to offer the entire endowment to Sera Je Monastery to administer and manage. This offering allows the monastery to be self-sustainable in the offering of food to all the Sangha studying there. In May 2017 the first installment of the endowment was transferred to the monastery and the remaining funds of the endowment will be transferred over the next few years.
A BIG thank you from us to every single person who has been a part of the Sera Je Food Fund and enabled FPMT to make this incredible offering!
FPMT International Office is now developing the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund, which is not limited to any one monastery or nunnery and offers financial support to Sangha in need of food, accommodation, health care, education, and conditions for practice.
News from FPMT Education Services
In June 2017, we redesigned the homepage for Education Services in order to make it easier for you to connect with hundreds of pages of free information and materials to support your Dharma practice. Come visit us and learn about all of the programs, prayers, practices, mantras, sutras, death and dying materials, and advice we make available.
Recently, two Bhutanese singers, Pema Lhamo and Pema Samdrup, composed two tunes for the long life prayer for Lama Zopa Rinpoche spontaneously composed by Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) in 2016. Lama Zopa Rinpoche enjoyed both tunes, and asked that their recordings be played at big retreats during break times or while students are waiting in the gompa. He also asked that both or either of these tunes be learned and used when offering the prayer. We are delighted to offer Rinpoche’s students these lovely tunes—with music or with guitar—and we hope that you will download and learn them for your own practice.
New Issue of Mandala Magazine
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Mandala July-December 2017 is published and making its way around the world! In the issue we share news from Kopan Monastery—where the seed of the FPMT organization first sprouted—including a story on the enthronement of Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Kopan Monastery’s former abbot, the beloved Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel; a report on the two Kopan nuns receiving their geshema degrees; and a look at the state of Buddhism in the Himalayas. We also explore the transformative power of ritual with a collection of pieces. Plus, teachings from Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, new photos, interviews and much more!
Mandala is a benefit of the Friends of FPMT program. Copies are also available through the Foundation Store.
Free Merit Boxes
We invite you to order a Merit Box to have on your home altar or elsewhere as an inspiring method to develop generosity by making offerings (however small) throughout the year. Merit Box offerings are collected once a year and turned into grants for Dharma projects around the world through the International Merit Box Project. Imagine your spare change being used to build a new statue, publish a new Dharma book, help others do retreat, and other Dharma activities! Click here to order your free Merit Box today.
New Arrival in the Foundation Store
The Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi: British Feminist, Indian Nationalist, Buddhist Nun is now available through the Foundation Store. Freda Bedi helped Tibetan refugees arriving in India in 1959, including the young Lama Zopa Rinpoche. FPMT centers, projects, and services have a special discount. Get it today and add it to your library!
Read “Freda Bedi’s ‘Big’ Life: An Interview with Vicki Mackenzie,” Mandala’s online feature, to learn more.
For Center, Project and Service Directors, SPCs, Board Members, Registered Teachers and Coordinators:
(This advice is specifically for those offering service in these roles.)
Best Day to Donate to the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund
FPMT’s 15th International Sangha Day is on Chokhor Duchen (July 27). Please rejoice and make your center, project, or service’s annual donation to support the Sangha via the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund on that day! Celebrate the Sangha on Chokhor Duchen, or, if more suitable for your community’s needs, choose another date.
Affiliate Area Highlights: Annual Donations
Donating to the IMI Sangha via the Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund is one of four annual contributions required of FPMT centers, projects, and services. Read about this and other policy and helpful guidelines in the Financial, Business and Fundraising Guidelines section.
FPMT World:
Rejoice!
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Birthday Celebrated
On July 6, the 82nd birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was celebrated around the world by Tibetans and students of the Dharma. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is a devoted student of His Holiness and service to His Holiness is an important aim of the FPMT organization. Many FPMT centers around the world held celebrations.
FPMT Australia Offers 100,000 Tsogs
FPMT Australia recently organized a Guru Rinpoche bumtsog (100,000 tsog offerings to Guru Rinpoche [Padmasambhava]), dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long and healthy lives, and to world peace. FPMT Australia education coordinator, Stephanie Brennan, commented: “It went very well indeed and people expressed a wonderful sense of togetherness. We had over 150 people attend, with a core group of at least 70 directors, SPCs, and students, and also many children from around Australia.”
Thank you and Farewell, Xavi Alongina
Xavi Alongina passed away earlier this month. He created the FPMT publishing service, Ediciones Dharma, almost 35 years ago, the most prominent Spanish language Dharma publisher in the world. He will be missed by his family and his FPMT Dharma family.
New Opportunities to Offer Service in FPMT
Would you like to spend your days in a really meaningful way? Have 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, UK is looking for a new director;
LRZTP, India needs a local program director and Tibetan language teacher; Root Institute, India, has new volunteer opportunities;
Mahamudra Centre, New Zealand, needs an operations manager, a housekeeper, cooks, and a groundsperson.
Impermanence at Work
Bengungyal Center, Mexico
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Maria Dolores Santillan
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC – Aldo Galaviz
Land of Medicine Buddha, USA
We welcome new director – Mer Stafford
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Denice Macy
Nagarjuna C.E.T. Granada, Spain
We welcome new director – Luz Álvarez-Manzaneda Roldán
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Juan García Lázaro
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