International Office News
May 2024

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with flowers, October 2003. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Teachings and News About Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Update on the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan

Rendering of the completed Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery.

We are so happy to share with you an update on the progress of the building of the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery. This stupa is being built for the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and for all his wishes to be actualized exactly as he planned. We have raised 34% of the funds needed to complete this project, which is incredible! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to date. You can read full details of the financial breakdown of this project, plus more details regarding how to offer support, on our main webpage.

Please read a recent report on this project, and enjoy some new photos and video.

Four Kadampa Deities Retreat: Meditating on the Emptiness in Sound

Recently we shared the addition to our Rinpoche Available Now page of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s 2003 twenty-three part teachings from a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat offered at Institut Vajra Yogini, France. The retreat focused on the four Kadampa deities, however, Rinpoche taught on a broad range of lamrim topics.

Teaching #3 in this series, “Meditating on the Emptiness in Sound,” discusses a meditation practice focused on the sound of rain, suggesting two meditations: one on the conventional truth of the rain and the other on the emptiness of the rain. Please read a full summary of this teaching and watch the video.

Manjushri’s Advice to Lama Tsongkhapa – The Quickest Way to Actualize Realizations

We recently shared an episode of the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Essential Extracts Podcast which features a teaching by Rinpoche from December 11, 2022, at Kopan Monastery, Nepal. We invite you to read a summary of this teaching and listen to this episode of the podcast.

Interview with Rinpoche, 2018 Wisdom Podcast

Lama Zopa Rinpoche being interviewed by Wisdom Publication’s Daniel Aitken, Kurukulla Center, Massachusetts, US, August 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

In 2018, Wisdom Publications director, Daniel Aitken, spoke with Lama Zopa Rinpoche for over an hour during one of Rinpoche’s visits to Kurukulla Center in Boston, US. This conversation was featured on the Wisdom Podcast later that year.

During the interview, Rinpoche speaks on many topics, including stories about his early days as a young monk, how he became a Gelugpa, and how he ended up at Buxa in West Bengal, India, where he met Lama Yeshe. Rinpoche also offers a succinct teaching on emptiness and essential everyday Dharma practice advice.
We are so fortunate that so many precious videos, photos, teachings, and advice were captured of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and this interview is a true treasure.

Please watch this joyful conversation Rinpoche shared with Daniel for the benefit of all.

Rinpoche’s Friends with Dharma Messages: Postcards Now Available

One of the postcards of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s friends with Dharma messages.

Around the beginning of 2020, when all the world was experiencing lockdowns and turmoil due to the covid pandemic, students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche were relieved to receive Rinpoche’s laughter, wisdom, humor, and orientation toward Dharma in the form of a series of video teachings from his room in Kopan Monastery. These teachings came to be known as the thought transformation teaching series, and for many of us, they were truly a lifeline in an extremely uncertain time.

When the fourth video of this series was released, students noticed something interesting coming into view on Rinpoche’s couch and desk. A stuffed monkey, hippo, and elephant; as well as a wooden elephant and model yak had joined Rinpoche for his teaching. As time went on, more and more stuffed friends began appearing in Rinpoche’s room, soon with mantras, embellishments such as eyelashes and eye-liner, and profound (and often hilarious!) Dharma messages.

Last year we created a gallery of these friends with Dharma messages, and now we are very happy to share with you a set of seven postcards featuring the animal toys with messages dictated by Rinpoche. These are PDFs suitable for the 148 x 105 mm postcard size printing, but can also be used digitally.

You can also read about the history of this whimsical enlightened activity and enjoy many photos from over the years.

Lama Yeshe’s Wisdom

The Shortcomings of Attachment

Lama Yeshe teaching at Royal Holloway College, 1975, London, England. Photo by Dennis Heslop, courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

In 1975 during their first trip to Europe, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave a weekend seminar in England, once again demonstrating their charisma and knowledge, and the profound effect of Buddha’s wisdom on Western people. This seminar was published in the book Freedom Through Understanding and covers the purpose of meditation, bodhicitta, the importance of motivation, tonglen and the shortcomings of attachment, among other topics. Produced by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, this is one of the few works that feature both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This short course was also videotaped and is available on the LYWA YouTube channel.

Today we share an excerpt from Chapter 8 from Freedom Through Understanding: “The Shortcomings of Attachment” by Lama Yeshe. Please read the excerpt. 

What We’re Rejoicing About

Join Our Saka Dawa Day of Merit: Ten Thousand Sangha in Prayer for all Beings

Saka Dawa falls on May 23, 2024, and is a very special day to create merit and offer prayers and practices.

On behalf of the entire FPMT organization, and following the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, we have arranged the following pujas to be offered throughout the day of Saka Dawa and we wanted to offer everyone the opportunity to join in the extensive merit from these prayers and pujas.

• Two recitations of the 100,000 Praises to the Twenty-One Taras.
• The recitation of the entire Prajnaparamita Sutra, two Medicine Buddha pujas, 1000 Offerings to Buddha Namgyalma and 10,000 recitations of Jampal Tshen Jo (Chanting the Names of Manjrushri).
• Offerings will be made to the 10,000 sangha undertaking these practices and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• The stupas of Boudhanath and Swambyunath in Nepal will be freshly painted, and the umbrellas at the pinnacle of each stupa will be replaced and a new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.

We would like to invite anyone who wishes to, to join in this day of merit and extensive prayers, by offering any amount but also (and most importantly) by remembering that these practices are happening on the day, one can rejoice in them and dedicate all the merits. Lama Zopa Rinpoche often reminded us that this is the best way to create the most extensive merit.

A Report on the Heart Sutra Retreat at Kopan Monastery

Heart Sutra Retreat participants with His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa, April 2024. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.

Following the commemoration activities at Kopan Monastery honoring the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, a Heart Sutra Retreat was held from April 15-20 with commentary by His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa and meditations led by Ven. Steve Carlier. Please read an overview of this joyous retreat provided by Kopan Monastery.

Stunning New Video from the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion

Drone image of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion. Photo by Brett Ritchie.

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, being built near Bendigo Australia, is 50 meters (164 feet) square at its base and nearly 50 meters high. This makes it the largest stupa in the Western World. This stupa is the same design and size as the Gyantse Stupa (Kumbum) in Tibet. The Gyantse Stupa is one of the treasures of the Buddhist world.

We are pleased to share a beautiful drone compilation video and recent update from Great Stupa director, Ian Green.

Regional Consultations Pave the Way for CPMT 2025

Participants in the FPMT European Meeting at Jamyang London.

The second of the four regional consultations planned in 2024 to pave the way for the CPMT 2025 took place in Jamyang London on April 26-28. Forty onsite participants joined, representing centers, projects, and services from a dozen of European countries. We’ll share more detail on this successful event soon. Next regional consultations are planned in Land of Medicine Buddha for affiliates from North and Latin America, September 6-8; and in Atisha Centre for affiliates from Australia and New-Zealand, October 25-28.

Please also read our blog on the Asia Regional Consultation that took place in Kopan from April 14-15.

Machig Labdron Nunnery becomes a Center!

Our Australian Nunnery has completed its probationary period as an FPMT Study group, has affiliated with FPMT Inc., and has now become an FPMT Center!

Tara Institute’s Large Twenty-One Taras Thangka Displayed During Vesak

Tara Institute had another opportunity to fulfil Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes to display their large Twenty-One Taras thangka on Saturday May 11, at Melbourne Town Hall as part of Vesak celebration. Rinpoche wished for as many people as possible to see this amazing (49 ft x 30 ft) thangka.
Please read some history on this project and watch a beautiful short video on the upcoming event.

Opportunities and Resources for Study and Practice

Newly Available Materials

We are pleased to share the translation of The Very Nature of Refuge and Compassion, the prayer to Chenrezig composed by the great master Panchen Lozang Chokyi Gyaltsen. It was translated by Venerable Gyalten Lekden at the request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It is one of the prayers to be included in a collection of prayers to Chenrezig that Rinpoche had compiled.

This heartfelt prayer invites to contemplate on the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and thereby develop genuine refuge in guru Chenrezig.

Foundation Service Seminars in the Netherlands, California, and Australia

Maitreya Institute, Holland, is hosting an FPMT Foundation Service Seminar (FSS), on August 16-21, 2024. Please read more information and reserve your place.

The FSS is the “FPMT immersion retreat,” providing essential information and nourishment for all serving, or wishing to serve, in the FPMT organization.

Vajrapani Institute, California, is also organizing an FSS on September 9-14, 2024. Read more information and reserve your place.

In Australia, Atisha Centre will be organizing an FSS from October 28 to November 2. Reservations are not open yet but do save the dates already!

Wisdom Dialogues Series from FDCW

Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) has just concluded their Wisdom Dialogues series, a “journey into the heart of wisdom and emotional understanding.” Spanning six episodes, this series provided insights into cultivating wisdom, managing emotions, and “becoming your own therapist,” as Lama Yeshe encouraged.

In this final chapter, “Touching Our Inner Beauty,” Ven. René Feusi answers the questions, “How do we peel back the layers of our consciousness to reveal the luminous essence of our being?” “How can awareness not only open our hearts but also cultivate a gentle embrace of ourselves and others?” Ven. René explores these topics, sharing practical techniques that serve not just as teachings but as tools for life.

Please watch Ven. Rene’s talk, “Touching Our Inner Beauty.”

You can also explore all six teachings in the Wisdom Dialogues series including inspiring hour-long talks from, in addition to Ven. René Feusi, Ven. Robina Courtin, Ven. Thubten Wangdu, Paula Chichester, Kabir Saxena, and Martin Strom.

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization

Changes in the FPMT Organization

Atisha Centre, Australia
Grateful thanks to outgoing SPC Diana Secuya

Tushita Delhi, India
We welcome Nicolas Balthazar as new SPC
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC Kabir Saxena

Nalanda Monastery, France
We welcome Ven. Jinpa as new SPC
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC Ven. Tenzin

Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds
Grateful thanks to outgoing director Lee Howson

Langri Tangpa Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Grateful thanks to outgoing director Laura Laakso

Kurukulla Centre, Massachusetts, USA
We welcome Jennifer Miller as new SPC

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 paid staff or as a volunteer in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world, including opportunities in Australia, France, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA. Newly added: Atisha Centre in Australia is looking for a spiritual program coordinator and Land of Joy in the United Kingdom is looking for a Centre Manager.

Become a Friend of FPMT

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

If you received this from someone else, or unformatted, visit our subscribe page to receive this newsletter directly.

FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.