International Office News
July 2025

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Sangha, Nalanda Monastery, France, June 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The Sangha Are the Real Heroes Because They Are Defeating the Delusions

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering a teaching to the Sangha, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

With International Sangha Day approaching on July 28 this year (see more information below), we want to share one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s talks from 2021, which was given to Sangha but contains inspiration for us all on how to think about those who live in ordination.

“Monks and nuns are the real heroes because they are defeating the delusions. What causes all the suffering to you and to sentient beings? Your delusion, the three poisonous minds. You are defeating them. You are the real hero. Those other people who the world calls “heroes” for killing people, they may be leaders, but they are also totally a slave to their egos, totally a slave to the self-cherishing thought, totally a slave to ignorance from beginningless rebirths, which made them kill so many sentient beings. You are the real one defeating the delusion from where all your suffering and other sentient beings’ past, present, and future suffering come from. You are defeating the delusions by practicing morality! By living in ordination! You have to know that! You have to recognize that! That’s why you became a monk or nun. You are a real hero.” Please enjoy a video and transcript of Rinpoche offering this advice.  

Rinpoche offered other powerful teachings to the Sangha during this period and we invite you to explore all of these teaching summaries, transcripts, and videos. These teachings are particularly powerful at this time as we, as a community, celebrate our most precious Sangha leading up to International Sangha Day.

Valuable Resources for Students

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

Living in Awareness

Lama Yeshe teaching in Ibiza, Spain, 1977. Photo by Francois Camus, 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 the importance of cultivating mindful awareness in our actions and a clear understanding of karma, in Ibiza, Spain, October 1977. This teaching is published in Chapter 16 of Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe.

“When we watch something on television, we see it as a fantasy. Instead of seeing it as presenting the evolution of cause and effect, we are shaking with fantasy and become even more deluded. Are we communicating? But if we have Dharma wisdom, when we watch movies or television, we see that these are showing us cause and effect in the evolution of samsara. Unfortunately, we aren’t generally able to see actual reality. We only see things in a polluted way, and so we become more deluded.

“Every movement of karma has a reason. Every movement of karma is connected, is an evolutionary link. If you understand that, you understand karma. Your mind transforms, your body transforms, your nervous system transforms; they are all changing, changing, changing. You can see karma. And when you can see karma, then you are aware of your actions—what you are supposed to do, what you shouldn’t do. You have some control of your own mind. You become more discriminating with regard to your own behavior. Then it becomes the practice of Dharma. If you are unconscious about your own actions, if you don’t know what you are doing, then there is no way you can see what action brings what result. Not being able to see clean clear which results come from which attitude or action is actually a cause of your continuing ignorance. That is not Dharma practice.” Read the full excerpt.

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What We’re Rejoicing About

Celebrate International Sangha Day!

Chokhor Duchen, upcoming on July 28, is the day on which FPMT celebrates International Sangha Day! International Sangha Day provides an opportunity for monastic and lay communities to come together in recognition of their interdependence and celebrate the ways in which they mutually rely on each other’s practice of the Dharma.

We have a collection of ways in which FPMT centers, projects, and services can honor monastics on International Sangha Day, in the Sangha section of the Affiliates Area.

One Hundred Buddha Statues Offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai Lama receiving a Shakyamuni Buddha statue on behalf of the FPMT organization and praying for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s incarnation.

On July 5, 2025, five FPMT representatives joined in the long life puja being offered in Dharamsala by the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in honor of His Holiness’s ninetieth birthday. We rejoice in the offering of 100 Buddha statues during His Holiness’s long life puja. These statues were offered on behalf of the whole FPMT family. When one of the statues was directly offered to His Holiness, he touched it to his head and made prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s incarnation. Thank you to everyone who made the offerings possible: Gen Tenpa Choden, Ven Topgye and others at Kopan Monastery, the statue makers, those who transported the statues to India, Gyudmed Monastery who filled the statues and consecrated them, and especially to all the kind donors who made all of this possible. Following on from a request from Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, we will continue offering 100 Buddha statues each year to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Please see an incredibly moving video of this offering, and additional photos.

We will be sharing a detailed report on the long life puja from one of the participants shortly, so please look out for this over the next few days. 

Support Offered to Nine Elder Homes in India in 2025

Residents of Jampaling Elders Home, Dharamsala, India, during Ven. Roger Kunsang’s visit in May 2024.

We are sharing the incredible and inspiring recent update regarding the support offered through FPMT’s Social Services Fund toward nine different elderly homes in India in 2025. This year’s support includes not only food, accommodation, and medical care for the elders, but also upgrades to elderly homes and assistance to the most at-risk in the settlements. Supporting the elderly is one of Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization. Rinpoche visited a number of the homes we support and was deeply committed to offering support to the elderly in this way. Please read this year’s report. 

The support provided through FPMT’s Social Services Fund is on behalf of our entire international FPMT community and reflects our deep ongoing commitment to Rinpoche’s Vast Visions and to the care of elders in need.

Pujas and Prayers Offered on Chokhor Duchen

On Chokhor Duchen, the FPMT Puja Fund will be arranging numerous pujas including Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja, and Heruka self-initiations; Mitrugpa and Namgyalma pujas; and Drugchuma. The stupas of Boudhanath and Swambyunath in Nepal will be freshly painted and the umbrellas will be offered at the pinnacle of each stupa. A new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya. Additionally, animals will be liberated, sutras recited and printed, and offerings will be made to all of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and to all the IMI Sangha communities in the FPMT. These offerings and extensive prayers are all dedicated for the benefit of the whole FPMT organization and all beings.

Video of Three Buffalos Saved from Death in Honor of His Holiness’s Birthday

Buffalos rescued from slaughter, now living out their lives at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary near Kopan Monastery.

In honor of His Holiness’s 90th birthday, health, and long life, we rescued three young buffalos that were otherwise going to be killed for meat. These buffalos are now living at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, managed by Kopan Monastery. H.E. Ling Rinpoche gave them names: Losang (meaning: wise), Ngawang (meaning: Lord of speech), and Jampal (meaning: gentle glory).

Jamyang Creates Dedicated People & Community Manager Role

In a move that reflects the evolving needs of modern Dharma centers, Jamyang London has created a new People & Community Manager role. Jamyang explains, “Volunteers cook meals, sweep the gompa, water the garden, run the bookshop, and welcome new faces. They are the living infrastructure of the centre. And yet, many organizations rely on ad hoc or overstretched and outdated systems to support them. Taking a conscious and vital step in a new direction is one of the ways in which we can repay the kindness of those who offer service.” The People & Community Manager role is designed to give shape and care to this area of the center’s life. Please read about this innovative new role, and how such a position might benefit your own center!

Tara Lanka’s Pilgrimage to Sri Pada Mountain

In April 2025, a group of seven pilgrims gathered in Sri Lanka to ascend the sacred mountain Sri Pada—known also as Adam’s Peak, Mount Malaya, or Samanala Kanda. Please read about this journey and why the pilgrimage was so meaningful for the group.

Resources and Opportunities for Study and Practice

Chokhor Duchen Upcoming on July 28

Chokhor Duchen, one of the four annual holy days of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha, takes place this year on July 28.  On these holy days of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha, the power of any meritorious action is multiplied by 100 million, as taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

Please read all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice for making the most of this meritorious opportunity!

Of course, in any activities done during Chokhor Duchen, please do take the opportunity to dedicate all of the merit generated for the swift return of our most precious Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Please read the latest advice offered by His Holiness to continue reciting Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as well as Migtsema.

New and Updated Materials

We are pleased to share Additional Confession Verses that Lama Zopa Rinpoche sometimes recited after the Confession of a Bodhisattva’s Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas (Tung shag) and General Confession (Chhi shag).

Shakyamuni Buddha Puja is one of the practices Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends to do on the four great holy days which commemorate extraordinary deeds of the Buddha. A beautiful and deeply inspiring practice honoring Shakyamuni Buddha, its extensive seven-limb practice includes paying homage to the Buddha while recollecting his heroic and compassionate deeds as a bodhisattva in his previous lives. The puja text has been newly formatted into two parts:

• Part 1 – Author’s Preface and Opening Section
• Part 2 – Shakyamuni Buddha Puja

The following materials have also been updated recently:

• The Body Mandala Rite of the Display of the Combined Peaceful and Wrathful Kagye PDF
• Most Secret Hayagriva Request and Mantra PDF
• Amitayus Praise and Mantra PDF
• Buddhist Mind Science (all modules)

New 16 Guidelines Meditation Course for Centers

A new course is available for centers to utilize! The 16 Guidelines Meditations Course is a secular program developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW). This course contains 16 x 1-hour sessions for facilitators to lead with their groups, with time for reflection, discussion and meditation.

The meditations focus on cultivating positive inner qualities that transform how we relate to ourselves and others. Anyone at an FPMT center who has experience leading group discussions and meditations can lead this course. No previous experience of 16 Guidelines is needed to either lead or participate in the course.
The course can be offered in person, online or in hybrid format. It can be led at the center or as part of the center’s outreach community projects or both. It can be offered in weekly sessions or as a weekend retreat.

To promote the course, FDCW suggests centers may change the name to suit individual audiences, for example one pilot leader chose to name the course Meditations for the Heart.

To discover more about the course, download the materials and access promotional assets, please visit the FDCW website.

Retreat Opportunities

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

Ask a Teacher

Addressing Doubt in the Buddha’s Teachings

Ven. Tenzin Gache, FPMT registered teacher and current director of Sera IMI House in South India, recently took the time to answer this question from a student: “How can we gain confidence in aspects of the Buddha’s teachings that are not accessible to our perception, for example, reincarnation?” As this question is familiar to all of us wishing to establish deep faith in Buddha’s teachings, we are happy to share his thoughtful answer. Please read the full discussion.

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? Please let us know!

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

Changes in the FPMT Organization

Choe Khor Ling Centre, Bengalore, India
We welcome Deepthy Shekhar as new director

De-Tong Ling Retreat Centre, Kangaroo Island, Australia
We welcome Jill Stoner as new director
With grateful thanks to outgoing Patrick Moran

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 France, India, North America, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Newly added: Mahamudra Centre (New Zealand) is looking for a Centre 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.

Institut Vajra Yogini, France, is organizing an FSS on September 24-28, 2025. 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.