International Office News
March 2020

Geshe Tenzin Loden (Institut Vajra Yogini, France), Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche, and Geshe Tenzin Tenphel (Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa, Italy), South India, February 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic

In these challenging and anxious times, our thoughts and prayers go out to all who are affected by the coronavirus, which is all of us.

We have created a page of resources and advice related to the coronavirus pandemic, to make it as easy as possible for you to find recommended practices, prayers, online study and practice resources, and news about Lama Zopa Rinpoche and from around the FPMT organization.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche News:

Schedule

Sadly, due to the risk from coronavirus, the retreat and teachings in Australia have been postponed, in order to safeguard all concerned. They have been tentatively rescheduled to begin in March 2021: dates to be confirmed as soon as possible.

Recordings, videos and transcripts of Rinpoche’s recent teachings are always available at Rinpoche Available Now.

Advice

Lama Zopa Rinpoche Does Puja at Kopan For Removing Coronavirus

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Kopan abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi doing Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

On Monday, March 2, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, joined by the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery, did a Most Secret Hayagriva tsog kong puja to remove the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as to remove all obstacles for the year and to bring success to the entire FPMT organization and its projects, and to all sentient beings. Read in full …

New Book by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The Six Perfections: The Practice of the Bodhisattvas is a new book from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In it, Rinpoche offers instruction on the six perfections, a key Mahayana Buddhist teaching. Read more …

Find Rinpoche’s newest advice, plus advice on a wide range of topics, such as Sickness, on Rinpoche’s Advice page.

Subscribe to our FPMT news blog to get regular news.

International Office News

Prayers and Practices for the Benefit of All

During the fifteen days of Losar, which just ended, the Puja Fund sponsored a number of extensive pujas in India and Nepal. These pujas were offered by as many as 15,650 Sangha. In addition, extensive offerings were made to specific powerful holy objects in Nepal, India, and Tibet; and offerings were made to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, as well as to IMI Sangha communities around the world. All of these activities are dedicated to the success of the entire FPMT organization.

Additionally, the Puja Fund arranged many pujas advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for protection from and prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19). We invite you to read more, and rejoice with us in these recent beneficial activities.

New Issue of Mandala Magazine

The latest issue of Mandala magazine is headed to individual mailboxes and FPMT centers, projects, and services worldwide. In this issue we explore three of the Five Pillars of FPMT Service: Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom, Social and Community Service, and Interfaith Activities; present the environmental crisis from the spiritual, as well as practical perspectives; shares a beautiful account from Ven. Robina Courtin of the 2019 November Course at Kopan Monastery, including many photos; among many other inspiring teachings and stories.

News from Education Services

Featured Materials:

• Six-Session Guru Yoga: three versions of the guru yoga practice that Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo arranged together and briefly commented on, in ebook and PDF formats
• Six-Session Guru Yoga Commentary, Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the benefits, how to meditate on each verse, and the samayas of the five buddha families, in ebook and PDF formats
• Vajra Armor Protection Wheel, a healing practice associated with Vajrapani, in ebook and PDF formats
• The Meditation-Recitation of Black Manjushri, a protection practice associated with Black Manjushri, in ebook and PDF formats

Following the transition of the FPMT Foundation Store to digital-only, Diana Ospina has now become Education Distribution Coordinator. Diana will be responsible for helping coordinate the distribution of digital education materials through several major online international distribution hubs, including FPMT.org.

For Center, Project and Service Directors, SPCs, Board Members, Registered Teachers and Coordinators:

Merit Box Grants Available for Coronavirus Hardship

We recognize that many centers have had to close their doors unexpectedly in order to mitigate risk from the coronavirus, and that this could result in financial difficulties. Therefore we have extended the scope of the Merit Box grants this year, to include the opportunity for centers to apply for a hardship grant. Also, in order to give centers time to assess any financial hardship, we have extended the deadline for applications for a Merit Box grant to April 20th.

Although the grant money is limited, we hope that we will be able to provide assistance to any center, project, or service hard-hit by this crisis. We will of course also be accepting the usual applications for funding, but the priority will be for centers, projects, and services in hardship due to the current health crisis.

Interfaith Pillar of Service

Kalachakra Centre, France share that “We are part of a group of people from different religious traditions and non-believers from Paris involved in inter-religious meetings. We wrote a charter for our meetings, and hope that making it available more widely will be helpful and inspiring.”

New Date for Foundation Service Seminar USA

Participants during the FSS hosted by Nalanda Monastery, France, January 2020. Photo by Harald Weichhart.

The Foundation Service Seminar hosted by, Thubten Kunga Ling, Florida, USA, is now scheduled for August 15-19, 2020 (if the pandemic has been controlled).

Find dates for all scheduled Service Seminars.

FPMT World:

Rejoice:

LRZTP 8 Concludes, LRZTP 9 Preparations Begin!

LRZTP 8 students and faculty, Dharamsala, India.

Twelve graduates from the FPMT two year Tibetan language studies and interpreter training program, Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program (LRZTP), have received their language study graduation certificates. Congratulations to each graduate, and to the LRZTP faculty!

Alongside this fantastic achievement, the LRZTP team are getting ready for the new two-year course, LRZTP 9, which is scheduled to begin in October 2020.

Thakpa Kachoe Becomes a Center!

This retreat facility in the French mountains has completed its probationary period as an FPMT study group, affiliated with FPMT Inc., and has become an FPMT center!

We Welcome a New FPMT Study Group

Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha Hospice Service is a new FPMT study group (probationary service), in South Australia.

Opportunities to Offer Service in the FPMT Organization

Would you like to spend your days in a meaningful way? Take 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: Tushita Retreat Center, Spain, is looking for a new director; Vajrapani Institute, USA, has opportunities for a new director, SPC, a cook/housekeeper, and community relations coordinator.

Impermanence at Work

Contact information for the following, and all, FPMT centers, projects, and services can be found in the FPMT Directory.

Chandrakirti Center, New Zealand
New address: 289 Sunrise Valley RD, Upper Moutere Nelson 7173

Jamyang Buddhist Center Leeds, UK
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Lynne Dowson

Nagarjuna Center, Madrid, Spain
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Pablo Ayuso
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC – Rafael Garcia

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