International Office News
May 2020

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making water offerings, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche News:

Now is the Time to Practice Dharma: Ongoing Video Teachings

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching from his room at Kopan Monastery with his furry friends, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Now is the time to practice Dharma! This is what Lama Zopa Rinpoche is stressing during the COVID-19 crisis. In regular video teachings from Kopan Monastery in Nepal, Rinpoche offers a consistent message that we can use during these difficult times to strengthen and deepen our Dharma practice.

Through discussions of compassion, emptiness, thought transformation, and many inspiring and amusing stories, Rinpoche helps guide our understanding of how this global crisis can be transformed so that all can benefit. He urges us to go beyond engaging with the teachings as theory and to put them into actual practice in our daily lives.

Additionally, each video features short teachings or a behind-the-scenes look at life at Kopan Monastery from the monks there.

You can find these videos—plus summaries of the teachings, the videos in translation (Chinese, French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish), transcripts, additional advice from Rinpoche, and materials and resources to further explore the themes discussed—all on one page: “Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the Coronavirus Pandemic.” Through the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, discover the courage and strength to make the most of this challenging time.

Our additional compilation of Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic may also be helpful.

International Office News

Merit Box Grant Announcement

This year, the entire Merit Box fund was made available as grants to help centers who had applied due to their finances being significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus all the US$31,368 collected in the Merit Box Fund, generously donated from students and centers around the world over the past year, has been awarded for financial hardship relief.

Fourteen centers applied for hardship support, and all were awarded a grant. The centers are based in Australia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Unfortunately, the grant requests were higher than the Merit Box Fund could meet in full, but we hope these grants will provide some much needed support and relief in a very challenging time. A big thank you to all who supported the Merit Box Project over the past year and helped make a difference for local FPMT communities.

New e-Books from Education Services

• The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, a seminal text by Je Tsongkhapa that describes the three higher trainings, how to cultivate them, and how to know when you have realized them. Translated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
• Prayer to Be Reborn in the Land of Bliss, a prayer by Je Tsongkhapa to be reborn in Sukhavati (Land of Bliss), Amitabha’s pure land, after death. Translated by Geshe Tenzin Namdak.
• A Hymn of Experience, a brief presentation of the stages of the path composed by Je Tsongkhapa. Translated by Ven. Joan Nicell.

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

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Best Practices for Facilitating Courses Online

Victoria Ewart, FDCW director, tells us:

“Last month FDCW convened an online forum for facilitators on the topic ‘Best Practices for Facilitating Courses Online.’ During the course, clear technical advice was presented on how to work with Zoom technology, including choosing meetings versus webinars, screen-sharing, whiteboard, break-out groups, registrations, and settings. Also included were guidelines on pre-course information, preparation, delivery, using video, chat, and break-out groups. As so many centers, projects, and services are now offering their programs online, we hope it will be helpful to share with you what we have learned in the process of adapting our courses for online delivery. Please contact us to access the Best Practices Forum, audio recordings and two handouts.”

FPMT World:

We Welcome a New FPMT Study Group

Compassion Wisdom Flower is a new FPMT study group (probationary center) in Bucharest, Romania.

Building Balanced Empathy Online

The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, FDCW, is offering its newest course, Building Balanced Empathy, online this month. This course explores empathy, vulnerability and resilience, and is open to everyone. Find more information and register.

Voluntarios con Conocimientos Técnicos

El Servicio de Traducción de la FPMT Hispana quisiera incorporar voluntarios en su equipo con conocimientos de maquetación, de programas profesionales tipo Indesign, de páginas web y de gestión editorial. En un futuro cercano, además, quisiéramos poder retomar las publicaciones de Ediciones Mahayana de las que tanta gente se ha beneficiado. Si crees que podrías ayudarnos, escríbenos a.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche in front of the newly rebuilt Chenrezig gompa, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Opportunities to Offer Service in the FPMT Organization

Even though our movement is currently restricted, now may be a good time to have a look at the various meritorious opportunities to offer service providing the opportunity to spend your days in a meaningful way as a volunteer or as paid staff in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world.

Impermanence at Work

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

Centro La Sabiduria de Nagarjuna, Spain
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Rosario Azcorbebeitia

Thubten Norbu Ling, USA
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Mary Moegenburg
With grateful thanks to retired SPC – Olga Benitez

Tushita Centro de Meditación, Spain
We welcome new director – Tenzin Ösel Hita
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Beatriz Guergué

Golden Light Sutra Center, Darkhan, Mongolia, has become a satellite group of Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Mongolia

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