International Office News
March 2021

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in a Heruka holy place where he had invited young monks for a picnic and offered tsog, Nepal, February 2021. Photo by Geshe Thubten Jangchub.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

News

We’re delighted to report that Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven Roger Kunsang (and many others) have received their first vaccination against COVID-19!

Everything Depends on Your Attitude

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with young monks and stuffed ”friends” with Dharma messages written upon them, Kopan Monastery, February 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

In 2009, Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained why everything—good and bad—depends on our mental attitude and why having a good heart wishing to benefit all living beings is so essential. This teaching, which includes stories from Rinpoche’s own early life, is available as the multimedia teaching Everything Depends on Your Attitude. Read more….

Your Mind Can Turn a Loss into an Offering

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la during the consecration of large appliqué thangkas of the Twenty-One Taras and the Eight Taras That Save From Fear in the courtyard outside of the main gompa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, January 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

“Keeping our mind pure—free from pride, miserliness, and so forth—is very difficult for ordinary people like us. If we could give simply, without all these disturbing thoughts clouding our giving, our generosity would be perfect and attaining another perfect human rebirth would be easy. But this is a struggle for most of us. That is why we must always check our motivation and be diligent in observing our karma.”
That’s an excerpt from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice in his recently published book, The Six Perfections: The Practice of the Bodhisattvas. Read in full….

New Photo Albums

Please enjoy an overview of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent auspicious activities in Nepal, and two new photo galleries from November/December; and January/February.

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We’re Rejoicing About:

The Latest Issue of Mandala Magazine

We’re happy to announce the new digital issue of Mandala! In it, we explore Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Thought Transformation during the Time of COVID-19 teaching series. As an offering to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s students and the international FPMT community, we are making this issue’s cover story, “The Time to Practice Is Now,” available as a separate free downloadable PDF. This 22-page story covers the main points of Rinpoche’s thought transformation teachings so far and includes links to video clips of key moments.

Prayer to Pacify Epidemic Disease – Now Audio

At the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised that the prayer Swift Fulfillment of Wishes in Dependence on the Great Jetsun Tsongkhapa came out to be a powerful prayer to pacify epidemic disease. This prayer is now on MP3, and is part of an album containing Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recitation of the prayer and its commentary.

New and Continuing Friends

We are happy to share that we welcomed 158 new Friends of FPMT supporters as part of our annual Fifteen Days of Miracles Friends of FPMT campaign last month, well surpassing our goal of 108! We offer our big gratitude to all our Friends, old and new, and rejoice in their generous support for the Foundation’s work.

An FPMT Center’s Outreach to their Community

Jamyang Buddhist Center Leeds, the FPMT center in Leeds, UK, offered support to the local homeless population; to individuals needing chaplaincy care; and sessions on meditation and Buddhism to the UK National Health Service (NHS). Read more….

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with soft toys on which Dharma messages have been written, and Kathmandu behind. Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

International Office Staff Changes

We are delighted to announce that François Lecointre is now our Chief Operating Officer (COO). François is serving as COO alongside his existing role as Communications and Teacher Services Director.

We are sorry to be saying farewell to Michael Jolliffe, who made a significant contribution in various roles in International Office over fourteen years, most recently as Education Services Assistant.

Opportunities to Offer Service in the FPMT Organization

Would you like to spend your days making a meaningful contribution? Have a look at the various meritorious opportunities to offer service providing the opportunity to serve as a volunteer or as paid staff in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world.
Newly Added: Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling (FPMT Mongolia) is recruiting a director!

Impermanence at Work

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

Naropa Centre, Tahiti
We welcome new director – Yannick Sacault
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – André Mamet

New Zealand National Coordinator – We welcome Ven Thubten Khadro

Panchen Losang Chogyen, Austria
We welcome new director – Andreas Rudolf
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Alice Grundboeck

The FPMT study group in Huatulco, Mexico – Vajrapani Study Group – has closed.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche enjoying the Sherpa meal “pak” for breakfast, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

For Those Offering Service in FPMT Affiliates:

New Protecting from Abuse Policy

We’re very pleased to have finalized and released the new FPMT Protecting from Abuse Policy. Next week we will be announcing the FPMT Protecting from Abuse Training Presentation, which supports the policy.

This new policy and training presentation is the result of our work with the recommendations made by Thirtyone:eight in the safeguarding audit we commissioned, combined with recommendations and input from various other key stakeholders, including work already done in this area by some FPMT centers. We’re happy to share that Thirtyone:eight reviewed this Protecting from Abuse policy and training presentation, and expressed their satisfaction with our implementation of their recommendations.

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FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.