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International Office News
March 2015
News from FPMT Charitable Projects
Send in Your Merit Box Offerings by March 31
Implementing the Five Pillars of Service
Traduction française du Manuel de la FPMT
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’s News:
News, Activities and Advice
Highlights from our blogs on FPMT.org:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche talks to staff and patients of Shakyamuni Buddha Health Care Centre, Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, March 2015.
Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
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Rinpoche’s Heartfelt Wish to Help Others
“Following another all-night prayer session, Rinpoche went early to bless the patients in the Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Care Centre, Root Institute’s free clinic that takes care of over 3,300 patients a month and provides a mobile clinic to serve the poor villages around Bodhgaya. After exiting the clinic, Rinpoche went to bless all the birds. Following Rinpoche’s instruction, mantras have been pasted all over the roof of the chicken coop so that the birds are continually being blessed.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Italy, June 2014.
Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
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The Benefits of Working for the Guru
Lama Zopa Rinpoche: “Thank you billion times for your great support and service since you came to the center in 2007 and for the retreats you did – the Vajrasattva retreat and working at center – thank you billions of times. So this is working for all the sentient beings to educate them, to wake them up from ignorance, to enlighten them.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche reading Lama Tsongkhapa’s Lekshe Nyingpo, Bodhgaya, India, March 2015.
Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.
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The Most Powerful Practice for Patience Is Emptiness
While Lama Zopa Rinpoche was staying at Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India, he engaged in round-the-clock meritorious activities and offered blessings to many people and animals during the first 15 days of Tibetan New Year. During a series of teachings on patience Rinpoche explained, “The most powerful practice for patience is emptiness.”
The Deceiving Mind
Ven. Roger Kunsang shared this on his Twitter page: “Lama Zopa Rinpoche, teaching very energetically: our own mind is always deceiving us all the time, hiding the reality of how things exist.”
Keep up to date with Lama Zopa Rinpoche News. Find a wide range of advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Rinpoche’s Advice page. Go to the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for lots more advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching on patience at Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, February 2015.
Photo Ven. Roger Kunsang.
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Rinpoche’s Schedule
Please contact the hosts directly with any questions.
May 9 – 10 Teaching on “Working for Peace: Pacifying Inner and Outer Turmoil,” Mahamudra Centre, New Zealand
May 16 Teachings on Bodhisattvacharyavatara, Chandrakirti Centre, New Zealand
May 17 Vajrasattva initiation, Chandrakirti Centre, New Zealand
May 22 – 23 Teaching on “How to Have a Happy, Meaningful Life,” Dorje Chang Institute, New Zealand
May 24 “Chat about Death,” Amitabha Hospice Service, New Zealand
May 26 Consecration of stupa and statue, De-Tong Ling, Australia
May 30 Teaching on “Making the Most of Your Life,” Buddha House, Australia
May 31 Medicine Buddha jenang, Buddha House, Australia
June 13 Teaching on “How to Apply Dharma in Daily Life,” Vajrayana Institute, Australia
June 14 Teaching on “The Joy of Compassion,” Vajrayana Institute, Australia
June 15 White Mahakala initiation, Vajrayana Institute, Australia
June 17 Public Talk “Making Life Meaningful,” Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre, Australia
June 18 Amitayus initiation, Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre, Australia
July 1 – 2 Teaching on the Three Principals of the Path, Ganden Tendar Ling, Russia
July 3 – 5 Great Medicine Buddha initiation, Ganden Tendar Ling, Russia
Hosted by Maitreya Institut, Loenen, the Netherlands:
July 11 – 12 Teachings on the Essence of the Kadam by Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen
July 13 – 19 Heruka 5 Deities initiation
July 20 Long life puja
September 5 – 12 “Essence of Nectar” lam-rim retreat and initiations (initiations to be confirmed), Guadalajara, Mexico
September 18 – 20 Lam-rim retreat, Centro Yamantaka, Colombia
September 25 – 27 Lam-rim retreat, Centro Shiwa Lha, Brazil
November/December Teachings during the one-month lam-rim course, Nov. 14 – Dec. 14, Kopan Monastery, Nepal
2016
September 11 – 26 Light of the Path retreat, Kadampa Center, USA
Check Rinpoche’s schedule online or subscribe to our FPMT news blog to get updates as soon as they are announced. Rinpoche Available Now – Enjoy livestreams and recordings of Rinpoche’s most recent teachings!
International Office News:
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FPMT Annual Review 2014
We invite you to read our FPMT Annual Review 2014: Preserving, Developing and Spreading the Mahayana Tradition and rejoice with us!
“All the work we are doing in FPMT is to accomplish the most important thing, not only for oneself, but for the numberless sentient beings, who are the most important. Our aim is to benefit them in many ways.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the FPMT Annual Review 2014
The annual review is available online in eZine and PDF formats, and printed copies have recently been mailed to each FPMT center, project, service and study group.
News from FPMT Charitable Projects
Rejoice in the Preservation of the Gelug Tradition:
At a meeting held in South India in December 2014, His Holiness the Dalai Lama stressed the extreme importance of establishing the Geluk International Foundation and offices for the long-term preservation of the Gelug tradition. Lama Zopa Rinpoche immediately responded to this advice from His Holiness and pledged to offer US$100,000, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, toward the construction of the building needed for this project. This donation will be used for the offices of Gaden Tri Rinpoche and his staff, as well as the official office for the Geluk International Foundation. Please read more.
Amazing Pujas and Practices Offered During Losar:
Over the 15 days of Losar, pujas were offered by up to 16,500 monks dedicated for the entire FPMT organization and all its kind benefactors, volunteers and students! Please read more.
Learn more about FPMT’s Charitable Projects and the many beneficial activities it supports.
News from FPMT Education Services
New Materials:
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche Mantra Recitations Volume Two: In this new collection of studio recordings, Lama Zopa Rinpoche chants several prayers and mantras at different speeds, allowing students to become familiar with Rinpoche’s pronunciation and also Rinpoche’s preferred tunes.
- Lotus Pinnacle of Amoghapasha and Just By Seeing Mantra/Pagpa Chu Lung Rol Pai Do mantras are available on the FPMT.org mantras page.
- The Heart Sutra has been added as our first ebook available through the Kindle Store on amazon.com.
- The FPMT Masters Program Translations Project has been updated and some earlier listed translations are now available in publication. Also, General Meaning of the Middle Way by Jetsün Chokyi Gyaltsen and Ocean of Attainment (a commentary on Guhyasamaja generation stage) by Khedrub Je were added to our wish list.
- Orders can be placed with our new mantra microfilm vendor, Linco Micro-Image Systems, email microfilm@lincomicroimage.com
Ven. Angie Muir will be leading a Rituals Service Seminar at Ganden Buddhist Meditation Centre in Latvia, April 10-13. For more information and registration, please contact Agnese Bišofa.
Friends of FPMT – Thank You!
Our annual Friends of FPMT program membership drive during the auspicious weeks of Losar received an amazing outpouring of support. We welcomed well over 200 new Friends of FPMT! Our Friends program is a vital source of funding for the success of our work and mission and we rejoice in this fantastic start to the Wood Sheep year. So many thanks!
Send in Your Merit Box Offerings by March 31
Dear friends, it is time to empty your Merit Boxes and send in your offerings to support this year’s Merit Box grants! Click here to learn how to send in your offerings in time for the March 31 deadline.
For Center, Project and Service Directors, SPCs, Board Members, Registered Teachers and Coordinators:
(This advice is specifically for those offering service in the roles listed above.)
Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Sutra of Golden Light for Anila Ann McNeil at 3 a.m. when she was close to dying, Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, February 2015.
Photo Ven. Sarah Thresher.
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Implementing the Five Pillars of Service
A wide-ranging discussion about implementing the Five Pillars held during the North American Regional Meeting in January 2015 is now online. Read this and other supporting information.
Traduction française du Manuel de la FPMT
Un nouveau chapitre du Manuel de la FPMT a été traduit en français: Offrir nos services!
FPMT World:
Rejoice:
O.Sel.Ling Centro de Retiros, Spain, offered 2,691,696 mani mantras recited between Christmas 2014 and February 15 by students around Spain. The accumulation was dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and especially so that all of Rinpoche’s holy projects would be quickly fulfilled!
Opportunities to Offer Service in FPMT
Please check out the regularly updated meritorious opportunities to offer service as a volunteer or as paid staff in FPMT centers, projects and services around the world!
NEW: Milarepa Center, USA has workstudy opportunities.
Impermanence at Work
Kadam Sharawa Centre in Australia has sadly closed: we rejoice in all its efforts to provide the Dharma over the years!
Centro Terra di Unificazione Ewam, Italy
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Lorenzo Laschi
With grateful thanks to previous SPC – Bruno Vannucchi
Chenrezig Institute, Australia
We welcome new director – Lindsay Pratt
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Michael Gardner
Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Mongolia
We welcome new resident geshe – Geshe Losang Wangchug
Longku Centre, Switzerland
We welcome new director – Marianne Frischknecht
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Francesca Paoletti
We welcome new co-spiritual program coordinators (SPCs) – Lea Bösch and Manuel Oswald
With grateful thanks to previous SPC – Regula Burri
Osel Shen Phen Ling, USA
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Bill Pfeiffer
With grateful thanks to previous SPC – Bob Peck
Tushita Centro de Retiros, Spain
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Marina Brucet
With grateful thanks to previous SPC (now director!) – Beatriz Guergué
www.tushita.es
With love,
FPMT International Office
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