International Office News
June 2023

FPMT Board member and Abbot of Kopan Monastery Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi making one of the traditional offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the May 24 long life puja offered on behalf of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the entire FPMT organization. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Welcome to our June 2023 issue of the FPMT News. As this collection of stories brings you information about the continued prayers and practices which have occurred since Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away, we wanted to begin this issue of our news by sharing a message of profound gratitude from the FPMT Board of Directors to Kopan Monastery and the entire FPMT organization for the efforts, devotion, and service offered around the world over these past two months. Please read the full message from the FPMT Board.

News and Updates:

Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Accompanying Events

Ven. Tenzin Legtsok (near the middle of this photo) joins Kopan monks and nuns waiting for His Holiness the Dalai Lama before the May 24 long life puja. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Three hundred and fifty members of the FPMT organization, including 150 who joined the event from abroad, participated in a moving long life puja offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, on May 24, 2023. This event was the culmination of months of concentrated effort, and was a sincere request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche that was years in the making. Following the long life puja, a small series of important and auspicious events took place in Dharamsala. Ven. Tenzin Legtsok was in attendance for all of these events and provided a moving overview of the activities and the impact on those in attendance.

Prayers and Pujas on the 49th Day of Rinpoche Showing the Aspect of Passing Away

Heruka Lama Chopa puja offered on the 49th day of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Prayers and pujas were done around the world in monasteries, FPMT centers, and individually by students on May 31 which marked the 49th day since Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away. We invite you to read this moving account about the Heruka Lama Chopa puja offered at Kopan Monastery.

49 Days of Practices at Lawudo

An outdoor puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return in front of the Lawudo gompa. Photo by Alison Murdoch.

Two weeks after Lama Zopa Rinpoche entered his final meditation, FPMT students Paula Chichester and Alison Murdoch took the opportunity to return to Lawudo and join with Rinpoche’s family in some of ceremonies taking place there. A week later Ven. Amy Miller arrived with a pilgrimage group, and subsequently returned alone for a period of practice and retreat. Alison Murdoch provided a brief overview of what took place during this unique and profound time.

Advice from Geshe Thupten Rinchen Rinpoche on the Passing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Just hours after Lama Zopa Rinpoche entered his final meditation, Sera Mey Geshe Thubten Rinchen Rinpoche spoke to the Kopan sangha and students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, offering heartfelt words of sadness, praise, and encouragement for the future.

Geshe Thubten Rinchen Rinpoche was a close friend of Lama Zopa Rinpoche from an early age, and mentioned this to some of the Kopan sangha that same day, “From 1961, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and I stayed together in this place called Buxa for about seven years. There were many monks there, but among them Rinpoche and I lived together very intimately as part of a small group of monks. We stayed there close together, so I really know him and understand him.” You can read all of Geshe Rinchen’s moving advice.

His Eminence the 12th Jamgon Kenting Tai Situ Rinpoche’s Conversation with Lama Zopa Rinpoche

On May 14, 2023, His Eminence the 12th Jamgon Kenting Tai Situ Rinpoche, visited Kopan Monastery to pay his respects to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and offer prayers in front of Rinpoche’s holy body. The Tai Situ lineage is one of the oldest reincarnation lineages in the Kagyu school and H.E. Tai Situ Rinpoche is also considered to be an emanation of the bodhisattva Maitreya. H. E. Tai Situ took his time in the gompa, telling stories for those in attendance in a very warm way. When he entered Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room, he stayed standing in front of Rinpoche’s holy body for a long time, having what seemed to be a direct conversation with Rinpoche, as though he was right there. We now have an edited video to share with you, complete with English subtitles, of this heartfelt talk with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.  

Updates and Resources Page

We continue to add news and resources to our Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche page and hope it will serve students well to have all of this information available in one place:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/updates-regarding-rinpoche/

What We’re Rejoicing About:

Great Lamas Visit FPMT Centers in Europe

We are extremely grateful to two great lamas who taught at FPMT centers in Europe extensively these past few months. This is cause for immense rejoicing: His Eminence Ling Rinpoche visited and taught at 10 FPMT centers in 5 countries in Europe between April and June 2023 as part of a larger teaching tour in the region. Jhado Rinpoche visited and taught at 14 FPMT centers in 8 countries in Europe from March through June. This was so special for students to be able to receive their advice and support during the difficult time of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away and we are grateful that both lamas decided to continue their tours amidst this news, out of great respect for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and sincere care for Rinpoche’s students.

Large Thangka Displays: Fulfilling the Vast Vision of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Display of the large Twenty-one Taras at the Melbourne Town Hall. Photo by Cynthia Karena.

Please rejoice in the recent display of two large thangkas in Melbourne thanks to Tara Institute, and in Singapore thanks to Amitabha Buddhist Centre. “My wish is for big FPMT centers to have these large thangkas.” Rinpoche explained as part of his Vast Vision for the FPMT organization. “This is a way to leave imprints for all these people [who see them], for enlightenment.”

FPMT Australia National Meeting

Participants of the FPMT Australia national meeting.

Directors, spiritual program coordinators and board members of FPMT affiliates in Australia gathered together in June for their first in-person national meeting since the pandemic. During the meeting, the group prioritized special daily prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. Participants reported coming away from the meeting energized and full of inspiration!

Events, Opportunities, and Resources for Your Study and Practice

Light of the Path Retreat and Foundation Service Seminar at Kopan Monastery

Don’t miss the Light of the Path Retreat, followed by the FPMT Foundation Service Seminar, being hosted at the home of the FPMT organization, Kopan Monastery, Nepal! We hope that this scheduling makes it easy and more affordable for students to participate in both if they wish. The Light of the Path Retreat is from September 3 – 17, and the FSS is from September 21 – 26.

Two FPMT Basic Programs are starting September 2023

The FPMT Basic Programs at Nalanda Monastery, France (in English, French, and Spanish), and at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy (in English and Italian), combine teachings by the resident geshes with meditation, retreat, and discussion. With the final review and three-month lamrim retreat included as part of the program, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s design and advice is followed in detail. This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to seriously deepen one’s study and practice! Both programs begin September 2023.

Two Compositions by Lama Zopa Rinpoche Newly Available

Extensively referencing the words of the past masters to illustrate his point, Lama Zopa Rinpoche stresses in How This Human Life Becomes the Method for Achieving Complete Buddhahood through Buddhist Study and Service that “the fastest way of achieving the state of buddhahood” is by offering your gurus service and practice with the faith that every single one of your gurus is the Buddha. Rinpoche adds that, by the wish to benefit others and serving the guru, one’s actions “become the holy Dharma.” And from that comes the joyful thought, “In this entire world there is no one who has greater fortune or merit than me.”

An Abbreviated Chakrasamvara Tsog is a beautiful condensed tsog practice composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, with offerings and request made to all the deities of the Heruka Chakrasamvara mandala. Suitable for those who have received the Heruka initiation.

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization:

New Opportunities to Offer Service

Read about the amazing benefits and importance of offering service in the FPMT organization, and have a look at the meritorious opportunities to offer service as paid staff or as a volunteer in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world. Newly added: Vajrapani Institute, USA, is looking for a housekeeper.

Those Newly Offering Service in the FPMT Organization

Chandrakirti Center, New Zealand
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator – Moondil Jahan

Chenrezig Institute, Australia
We welcome new director – Steve Alberts
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Ruby Karmay

Liberation Prison Project, USA
We welcome new director – Nicole Mercer
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Ven. Thubten Chokyi

Vajrapani Institute, USA
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator – Martha Baker
With grateful thanks to retired SPC – Cindy Bangs

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.

If you received this from someone else, or unformatted, visit our subscribe page to receive this newsletter directly.

FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.