International Office News
July 2026

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, India, Dharamsala, May 2026. Photo by Tenzin Choejor from dalailama.com.

Welcome to this month’s newsletter!

July is a very powerful and special month for practice and celebration. On July 6, communities of students and supporters around the world celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 91st birthday. In his thank-you message to the public, His Holiness expressed: “… When I look back on my life, I see that the core of my practice has been to be of benefit to others. That is the altruistic motivation with which I wake up every day.

“Spreading compassion and kindness continues to be my life’s primary mission. Such an attitude is essential to making our world a better place for everyone. I therefore call on my brothers and sisters everywhere, both young and old, to practice warm-heartedness and compassion, with genuine concern for the well-being of others. To be able to do so is, I believe, what it means to lead a meaningful and purposeful life of service.”

July 18 is the day known as Chokhor Duchen, “Day of Turning the Wheel of Dharma,” and commemorates the anniversary of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching. You can find all of Lama Zopa Rinpcohe’s advice for making the most of this merit-multiplying day. 

Chokhor Duchen is also the day on which FPMT celebrates International Sangha Day! As a special way to observe this occasion, we are so happy to share a recent interview with Ven. Roger Kunsang discussing 50 years of ordination! 

Advice from and News Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, India, 2022. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

“He Lived His Life Totally for Others”

On May 23, 2026, His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was asked about his relationship with Lama Zopa Rinpoche during a teaching session at Yeshin Norbu Meditation Center in Stockholm, Sweden.

“He was a wonderful human being and teacher, something that you don’t realize when he is with us physically but when the person is gone then we really realize how he was. He lived his life totally for others, and this is something very hard to find – he neglected his own welfare, his health and always lived for serving others, something very unique. He lived his life very simply, down to earth, totally simple, no luxury, almost without belongings, only his books and prayer objects. This is one of the main reasons I respect him.” Please watch a video of His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche’s full remarks about his relationship with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Whatever You Are Doing, It Should Become Meditation on Emptiness

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered a teaching in 2020 from Kopan Monastery entitled, “Whatever You Are Doing, It Should Become Meditation on Emptiness.” In this teaching, Rinpoche discusses three ways that you can meditate on emptiness while going about your daily activities.

1. Meditate on everything as a hallucination: In every activity you do, look at the “I,” action, and object as a total hallucination, as they are a total hallucination. Whatever you do—such as shopping, using the toilet, eating, or going to work—transform it into a meditation on emptiness by seeing it as a hallucination or a dream.
2. Meditate on everything as merely labeled: Another method to meditate on emptiness in daily life is to think that the merely labeled “I” is doing the actions of your day. For example, when you are eating, think that the merely labeled “I” is doing the merely labeled action of eating merely labeled food.
3. Meditate on everything as empty of true existence: Whatever you are doing, meditate that the real “I” that is doing the activity is not there, the real action you are doing is not there, and the real object of your action is not there. They are all empty of true existence; they are not there at all.

Please explore this entire teaching and watch the full video. 

Memorial Stupas Inauguration at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, December 2026

Rendering of the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery.

We are pleased to share a reminder about the grand inauguration ceremonies of the Memorial Stupas of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery.

On December 11, 2026, the Stupa of Complete Victory, enshrining the sacred relics of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, will be consecrated at Kopan Monastery.

On December 14, 2026, the Mahabodhi Memorial Stupa at Kopan Nunnery will be consecrated to honor both Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup.

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 digitally 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

H.H. Dalai Lama with Lama Yeshe and his entourage, O Sel Ling, Bubion, Spain, 1982. Photo Credit Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

In 1982, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama made his first visit to FPMT centers in Europe, a month-long tour from Spain to Italy for which FPMT handled administration, security, accommodation, transport, and public relations. When His Holiness departed from Pisa airport, Lama Yeshe wept and said: “You have no idea what it means to have His Holiness set foot in our centers. Now I can die. My life is successful. I have completed my life’s work.”

On October 11, a bad head cold kept His Holiness in his room in Toulouse, and Lama Yeshe stepped in to address the 700 people gathered:

“… All of us consider that we would like to be free from ego mind and the bondage of samsara. But what binds us to samsara and makes us unhappy is not having renunciation. Now, what is renunciation? What makes us renounced?

The reason we are unhappy is because we have extreme craving for sense objects, samsaric objects, and we grasp at them. We are seeking to solve our problems but we are not seeking in the right place. The right place is our own ego grasping; we have to loosen that tightness, that’s all.

According to the Buddhist point of view, monks and nuns are supposed to hold renunciation vows. The meaning of monks and nuns renouncing the world is that they have less craving for and grasping at sense objects. But you cannot say that they have already given up samsara, because monks and nuns still have stomachs! The thing is that the English word “renounce” is linguistically tricky. You can say that monks and nuns renounce their stomachs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they actually throw their stomachs away.

So, I want you to understand that renouncing sensory pleasure doesn’t mean throwing nice things away. Even if you do, it doesn’t mean you have renounced them. Renunciation is a totally inner experience. Renunciation of samsara does not mean you throw samsara away because your body and your nose are samsara. How can you throw your nose away? Your mind and body are samsara—well, at least mine are. So I cannot throw them away. Therefore, renunciation means less craving; it means being more reasonable instead of putting too much psychological pressure on yourself and acting crazy.

Continue to the excerpt, or watch the video or listen to the audio recordings on Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Excerpted from a teaching given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, in October 1982, and published in Big Love, pp 1063, and in Lama Yeshe’s book The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism.

What We’re Rejoicing About

Community Support Fund Sponsors Dharma Projects

Participants of the Mahayana Children’s Program with FPMT Mongolia’s resident teachers, Geshe Thubten Soepa and Ven. Thubten Gyalmo, alongside Ven. Roger Kunsang who was visiting.

The FPMT Community Support Fund awarded US$11,800 in grants to eight inspiring Dharma projects and activities, reflecting the diversity, creativity, and compassion of the global FPMT mandala. We invite you to read more about the grants offered.

Pujas Offered on Chokhor Duchen on Behalf of the Entire FPMT Organization

The FPMT Puja Fund will be sponsoring numerous pujas including Guhyasamaja self-initiation, Namgyalma long life puja, and Drugchuma on Chokhor Duchen (July18, 2026). In addition, 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. Animals will be liberated, sutras recited and printed, and offerings will be made to all of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, all the sangha undertaking the above pujas and to all the International Mahayana Institute -IMI Sangha communities in FPMT. These extensive practices have been specifically set up by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the benefit of the whole organization and all beings.

FPMT Global Mani Retreat: His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche Gives Chenrezig Sadhana Transmission and Commentary

On July 5, 2026, His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche bestowed online teachings for the FPMT Global Mani Retreat. We rejoice that the international FPMT family could receive the oral transmission and commentary of The Source of All Attainments: The Yoga of the Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara.

It was a rare and special opportunity to listen to His Eminence online since he rarely bestows teachings virtually. His Eminence was warmly joined by his students from around the world. The exact number of participants is difficult to gauge, as many participated in groups, at FPMT and other Dharma centers worldwide and with more than 750 separate accounts on Zoom and YouTube Live.

In this special online event, His Eminence shared the Chenrezig sadhana composed by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama when he was nineteen years old, offering detailed explanations and the oral transmission with great kindness.

At the beginning of the event, His Eminence reminded us of the importance of compassion: “You may believe in religion, or you may not. You may believe in Buddhism, or you may not. But everyone needs compassion, irrespective of whether you are a human being or an ant.”

The session was translated into Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish, allowing many members of the international FPMT family to easily participate.

His Eminence concluded by encouraging us to rejoice in the precious circumstances to receive teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to continue benefiting others through compassion. He also dedicated the merit generated from the teaching event for FPMT to continue flourishing and reaching many people around the world.

***Next sessions for the Global Mani Retreat for this month: Saturday, July 18, Geshe Yeshe Kunga will lead the Chenrezig Group Practice***

We invite you to read more about the Global Mani Retreat and join the FPMT community in this precious accumulation.

We also recently shared an overview of His Eminence’s European tour, during which he visited FPMT centers and Dharma communities across nine countries.

From China to Queensland: A Chenrezig Statue Takes New Form

Chenrezig Institute in Queensland, Australia, inaugurated a new Thousand-Arm Chenrezig statue on July 11, 2026, fulfilling a wish Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche first expressed more than two decades ago. It took the generous support of sister FPMT center Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC) in Singapore, along with a new 3D-printing technique never before used to create sacred Buddhist art — to bring the statue from China to Queensland. We rejoice in the fulfillment of Rinpoche’s vision. Please read this inspiring story. 

Your News and Stories

Family Feeling News Roundup

This month, we published a digest of short community highlights from FPMT centers and individuals around the world. This list of stories is not exhaustive, just a sample of all the great activities happening in the FPMT family worldwide. Please read the June Roundup!

The FPMT family is full of inspiring activities at centers, projects, services, and study groups, as well as among registered teachers and individuals who bring our communities to life. We would love to hear about it.

Whether it’s a recent accomplishment or an activity that gives your community reason to rejoice, your story can spark ideas and create connections across the FPMT family. We hope that reading these highlights will inspire you to rejoice in the family feeling and good work happening in our global FPMT community!

Please review our submission guidelines and reach out if you have something to share— we’d love to hear from you.

Celebrating 50 Years of FPMT!

Your memories and experiences are part of this living history. We have already begun gathering some of these precious stories, but there are so many more voices we would love to hear. We would love to collect as much of this history as possible: short videos, presentations, written stories, and group shots from your center, projects, and services. We warmly invite you to please be in touch!

Recently, we shared Massimo Corona’s Road to Kopan story and Ven. Roger Kunsang’s journey to fifty years of ordination. 

Resources and Opportunities for Study and Practice

European Teaching Tours 2026 of High Lamas at FPMT Centers

We are reminding students about some precious opportunities to receive teachings from high lamas across Europe in the coming months.

His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche has recently completed his European tour, while His Eminence Khensur Jhado Rinpoche and Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche have upcoming opportunities. Students are warmly invited to join these precious opportunities for study and practice across FPMT centers and other organizations.

Newly Available from the FPMT Foundation Store

This month we pleased to share the Spanish translation of The Yoga of the Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara.

Foundation Store Resources

You can order printed copies of a selection of Foundation Store titles through Amazon’s print-on-demand service in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. In the item description, click on the Amazon market that is closest to you. Foundation Store also offers a selection of prayers and practices available for 1-click download.

Retreat Opportunities

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

Announcements, Opportunities, and Changes

Changes in the FPMT Organization

Yeshin Norbu Centre (Sweden)
Grateful thanks to outgoing spiritual program coordinator Agnija Kazusha

Land of Medicine Buddha (California, US)
We welcome Cara Liu as new spiritual program coordinator
Grateful thanks to outgoing spiritual program coordinator Diane Sturgeon

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, Italy, North American Region, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK and the USA.

Recently added: Chenrezig Institute (Australia), Buddha House (Australia), Land of Medicine Buddha (California) and Ocean of Compassion (California) are looking for a new director; Ocean of Compassion and Atisha Centre (Australia) are looking for an SPC.

European Teacher Development Service Seminar in France this September

The Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) supports the lifelong growth of current and aspiring FPMT teachers, facilitators, and meditation leaders. Returning in a hybrid format, TDSS now features updated pedagogy and a flexible delivery to meet the needs of our global community. Rooted in the FPMT lineage, the TDSS introduces the principles of contemporary Dharma pedagogy-practical, effective methods for teaching and guiding others with wisdom and compassion.

Kalachakra Retreat Centre, France, is organizing a TDSS on September 24-26, 2026 with pre-seminar online modules and places are still available. Reservations are now open.

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.