International Office News
March 2025

15 Days of Swift Return Prayers were held at the Buddha’s place of enlightenment in Bodhgaya, from February 28-March 14, 2025. Photo by Rohini Bobis.

Advice and News Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche

15 Days of Swift Return Prayers in Bodhgaya

Participants gathered under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya for swift return prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the entire Fifteen Days of Miracles. Photo courtesy of Root Institute.

During the entire Fifteen Days of Miracles (February 28-March 14, 2025), Root Institute organized fifteen days of pujas and offerings under the Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Stupa for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, combining the prayers and offerings of the Festival of Lights and Merits with swift return practice at the stupa. 

“At times, this whole complex with its kora and numerous stupas and meditation places, seems to be a portal to other limitless dimensions beyond our current apprehension,” Ven. Sarah Thresher, who participated in the event for the second year in a row, shared. 

Prayers and chanting occurred every evening during the Fifteen Days of Miracles, dedicated to the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Other activities included offering prayer flags around the pond inside the Mahabodhi Stupa complex; taking offering bowls filled with fruits and flowers in procession into the main temple to offer to the Buddha statue; protector puja and Tara puja offered at Namgyal Monastery in Bodhgaya. Lights were offered around the stupa, sponsored by people from all around the world. Fresh flower offerings were made every day. Names of all who donated to this event were read aloud and dedications made.

“‘It doesn’t seem real,’ we would say to ourselves each evening as we finished our practice, the words of the prayers circling through our mind over again,” Ven. Sarah reflected. 

A more detailed report on this extraordinary event will be shared next week. 

Stupa of Complete Victory: Placing the Life Tree

Last month the life tree was placed inside the center of the Stupa of Complete Victory that is being built at Kopan Monastery for the swift return and fulfilment of all Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes. The life tree was brought up the ladder of the 42 ft stupa and as it was placed auspicious prayers were recited. Please enjoy this short video of this important milestone that has been reached.

The life tree has the four dharmakaya relic mantras written in gold around it and Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained, “By having these mantras inside, written with gold on the life tree then that gives the holy object much, much, much more power; it becomes hundreds, thousands, millions of times more powerful. It’s already powerful, but on top of that, it becomes incredibly powerful to purify sentient beings’ negative karma, to collect extensive merit, all that.” Please read more. 

Recognizing the False I

We are happy to share the updated version of Recognizing the False I. This text, composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, offers techniques on how to meditate on emptiness correctly.

It contains Rinpoche’s commentary and a set of simple meditation techniques for identifying the object to be refuted— what Rinpoche calls “the false I”—during reflections on emptiness.

The text was specifically composed for students engaging in the self-generation portion—often called “the ultimate deity”—of kriya yoga tantric practices, such as Nyung na. The meditations can also be used by students during retreats on the Heart Sutra or any other retreat focused on emptiness.

Dedicating Oneself to Others

From January 25 through February 7, 2010, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered 12 sessions of teachings at Potowa Center in Indonesia. These teachings provided a comprehensive overview of key Buddhist concepts, focusing on how to integrate them into daily practice to progress on the path to enlightenment. All 12 videos from this event are available on our RAN page where you can also find MP3 audio and a combined transcript.

Please enjoy a teaching from this series, a concise 12 minute video, “Dedicating Oneself to Benefit Others” which begins with a very interesting conversation with a student about who “owns” one’s body and mind.

Lama Yeshe’s Wisdom

Intro to Tantra: First Teaching

Lama Yeshe, Chenrezig Institute, Australia, 1975. Photo by Tony Duff, retouching by David Zinn. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Lama Yeshe gave a commentary to the Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) yoga method at Grizzly Lodge, California, in May 1980. Here we share Lama’s introduction to this series, Intro to Tantra: First Teaching, which constitutes a wonderful explanation of the fundamentals of tantric practice. There is also a video of this teaching available. Please read an excerpt from this wonderful teaching:

Philosophically, perhaps we can say that karma is overwhelming-consciously and unconsciously. Don’t think that karma is just your doing something consciously and then ending up miserable. Karma also functions at the unconscious level. You can do something unconsciously and it can still lead to a big result. Today’s problems in the Middle East are a good example. That’s karma. They started off small, but those little actions have brought a huge result. As a matter of fact, that’s karma.

In order to have the enlightened attitude, an attitude that transcends the self-pitying thought, you need the tremendous energy of renunciation of temporary pleasure-renunciation of samsara. I think you know this already. What do we renounce? Samsara. Therefore, we call it renunciation of samsara. Now I’m sure you’re getting scared! Renunciation of samsara is the right attitude. The wrong attitude is that which is opposite to renunciation. Read more and watch the video.

This teaching is included in Lama Yeshe’s book The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

What We’re Rejoicing About

2024 Annual Review is Now Available

We are happy to share this year’s Annual Review, “What a Difference We All Have Made Together” As you will read in the many summaries included in the review, we continued to offer access to our lamas’ teachings; kept the international community connected and informed about news and advice; offered guidance and structure to FPMT centers, projects, and services; facilitated charitable giving to many beneficial initiatives dedicated to helping others and based on the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche; and disseminated the Dharma to all who wish to receive it. Please read FPMT International Office’s 2024 Annual Review. 

Second Gelug Monlam Festival at Nalanda

Participants of the Second Gelug Monlam Festival, Nalanda Monastery. Photo courtesy of Nalanda Monastery.

The Second Gelug Monlam Festival was held at Nalanda Monastery in France from March 11-March 15, 2025. Lama Zopa Rinpoche had expressed the wish to bring this special tradition to the West and the geshes and monks at Nalanda made that wish a reality. Director of Nalanda Monastery, Ven. Thubten Sherab recently shared the inspiring details. Read the story. 

Pujas and Prayers Offered During Losar and the Fifteen Days of Miracles

The monks of Sera Mey Monastery offering Extensive Medicine Buddha puja during during Losar on behalf of the FPMT organization.

During Losar and the Fifteen Days of Miracles (February 28-March 14), when any merit created is multiplied 100 million times, the FPMT Puja Fund sponsored a number of pujas and prayers, including the recitation of the entire Kangyur, Guhyasamaja Root Tantra, 1,000 set of offerings to Namgyalma, and Extensive Medicine Buddha Puja.

We are so happy to share with you a few videos of the different powerful pujas that occurred. Each puja was offered by ordained Sangha, who are all disciples of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with strong motivation and dedications for the entire FPMT organization— for the swift return of our most precious and kind Lama Zopa Rinpoche; for harmony among students and for obstacles to be removed; and for the long life and health of all the gurus and teachers who are benefiting sentient beings.

Additionally, FPMT centers around the world took advantage of the opportunity to offer powerful pujas, prayers, and events during this period including remembering the qualities and kindness of Lama Yeshe, and dedicating strongly for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

CPMT Summit at Kopan Monastery

From April 6-11, 2025 more than 190 FPMT directors, SPCs, board members, teachers, staff, and volunteers will be participating in the CPMT Summit at Kopan Monastery. The meeting will be followed by the commemoration of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away on April 13. We will report on this momentous meeting in the next month’s e-news. 

Langri Tangpa Centre Pays off Their Mortgage

After over twenty-five years of payments, Langri Tangpa Centre in Brisbane, Australia, has paid off their mortgage! They share: “We are grateful to all who have contributed to our Gompa Fund, in particular we wish to acknowledge George Palmer and Sheryl Delacour who donated a sizable portion of the mortgage and without whom we would not have been able to purchase our building at Camp Hill. Also, for the many wheel-turners, including Maureen Lillie who has been donating the longest (over twenty-five years). We pray that Langri Tangpa Centre will continue to be a bridge for all sentient beings to encounter and embrace the Dharma.”

Resources and Opportunities for Study and Practice

Compendium of Precious Instructions

We are so pleased to share a wonderful new resource for students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche! We have collected Rinpoche’s literary and graphic works which are available electronically 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 productions. We hope you will enjoy and thoroughly utilize this precious collection.

Lama Atisha’s Protection Stupa: A Powerful Image to Display

Lama Atisha Protection Stupa.

Among the many holy objects Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised to be displayed publicly is Lama Atisha’s Protection Stupa.

“This image must be in the gompa, and can be in the office, and in any rooms where the public come in. If the center has more than one level, there should be one copy on every level,” Rinpoche explained. “Also individually, of course, everyone should have this in their house, room etc. This is so important to protect from mental pollution. It’s very important the mantras are clear, and best if it is framed nicely. You can also wear the image of this stupa as a protection amulet so that wherever you go, you are protected from this pollution.”

All are welcome to download the Lama Atisha Protection Stupa PDF file from the Foundation Store.

Retreat Opportunities

Please check our retreat schedule page for group retreat opportunities including a Medicine Buddha retreat in India, a Kopan West lamrim retreat in California and a Chenrezig retreat in the UK.

Opportunities to Offer Support and Changes within the Organization

Changes in the FPMT Organization

Amitabha Buddhist Center, Singapore
We welcome Qi Han Chung as new SPC
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC, Tan Chun How

Land of Medicine Buddha Center, California, USA
We welcome Liah Gilver-Park as new SPC
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC, Rommy Johnson

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 a paid staff or volunteer in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world, including opportunities in Australia, France, India, North American Region, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK and the USA.

Foundation Service Seminar in France

The Foundation Service Seminar (FSS) is the “FPMT immersion retreat,” providing essential information and nourishment for all serving, or wishing to serve, in the FPMT organization. This is a wonderful opportunity for centers, projects, and services to invest in the future by training the next generation of directors, SPCs, volunteers, board members, etc.

Institut Vajra Yogini, France, is organizing an FSS on September 24-28, 2025. Reservations are not open yet but please save the dates already.

A Big Thank You to Friends of FPMT Supporters

We want to thank all of those who recently offered their kind support in becoming Friends of FPMT members during our campaign during Losar and the Days of Miracles. We greatly appreciate and rejoice in your generosity and that of all our current and past Friends of FPMT supporters. You help benefit so many! 

It’s also never too late to consider joining – please check out the Friends homepage to learn more if you would like to contribute to the Foundation’s work. Friends supporters receive complimentary access to online study programs, education and practice materials, and more.

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.