International Office News
May 2026

Lama Zopa Rinpoche on top of Kopan Hill, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Welcome to this month’s newsletter!

Saka Dawa month is upon us, starting on May 17 and continuing through May 31 on Saka Dawa Duchen, one of the four great days of the Tibetan calendar, each of which celebrates an anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha’s display of extraordinarily powerful deeds for the sake of sentient beings.

Below you will find practice advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for this merit-making occasion, information about the powerful and successful launch of the 2026 Global MANI Retreat on May 17, and details of prayers and practices offered by thousands of ordained Sangha on behalf of the entire FPMT organization for the benefit of all beings on Saka Dawa—and how you can take part in all of these opportunities.

Advice from and News Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Advice for Practice on Saka Dawa

On Saka Dawa Duchen, which occurs this year on May 31, karmic results are multiplied by 300 million times as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events.

Please refer to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice for merit multiplying days, in particular:

• Taking the eight Mahayana precepts: students can receive the lineage of these precepts from a specially produced video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche granting them, recorded in 2020 at Kopan Monastery.
• Reciting the Sutra Remembering the Three Jewels
• The 2026 Global MANI Retreat commenced on the first day of Saka Dawa month (Sunday, May 17, 2026), and conclude on the final Buddha Day for this year, Lhabab Duchen (Sunday, November 1, 2026). This retreat will be something unprecedented for our global FPMT family.

Of course, at the conclusion of any activities at your center during the Saka Dawa month and on Saka Dawa day in particular, please take the opportunity to dedicate all the merit generated to the swift return of our most precious Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Memorial Stupas Inauguration at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, December 2026

Rendering of the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery.

We are delighted to announce the grand inauguration ceremonies of the Memorial Stupas of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery.

On December 11, 2026, the Stupa of Complete Victory, enshrining the sacred relics of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, will be consecrated at Kopan Monastery.

On December 14, 2026, the Mahabodhi Memorial Stupa at Kopan Nunnery will be consecrated to honor both Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup.

Students Commemorate the Third Anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Parinirvana

April 13, 2026, marked the three-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.

Around the world, activities were organized in centers, monastic institutions, and in the homes of individual students to commemorate Rinpoche’s life, remember and celebrate his unbelievable kindness, pray for his return, and dedicate themselves to fulfilling Rinpoche’s wishes on this occasion.

We recently shared details and photos of the powerful activities, and we thank everyone who participated in this heartfelt collective effort to remember Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s immeasurable kindness and pray for his swift return.

Valuable Resources for Students

We would like to draw your attention to some valuable resources for students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Compendium of Precious Instructions: A Catalog of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Works is a collection of Rinpoche’s literary and graphic works which are available digitally 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.

Life Practice Advice is a resource based on Rinpoche’s essential daily practice and lifetime practice advice. This is his essential advice and by following this advice, students can feel confident they are following and practicing according to Rinpoche’s heart advice.

FPMT.org offers a collection of practical advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Students can also find Rinpoche’s advice on a wide range of topics in the form of short talks and letters at the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Lama Yeshe’s Wisdom

A Message Lama Left for Us: Telling the Story of FPMT

Lama Yeshe, 1983. Photo by Holger Hjorth, from Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

In January 1983, Lama Yeshe traveled to Sicily. It would turn out to be one of his last trips before he showed the aspect of passing away in March 1984. During that visit, he gave his personal attendant and FPMT Central Office director, Jacie Keeley, three important messages to be distributed to all the centers.

In the first message, Lama Yeshe wanted all the centers to make video documentaries on how they started and developed. “Show all the obstacles you faced and surmounted with your determination. Show if you are happy or not and if you are healthy or not.”

With this sincere request, Lama wasn’t asking for promotional material. He was asking centers to document the real story — including the difficulties — so that the experience and know-how of the first generations of students could be passed on to those who would follow.

Honest storytelling like this helps preserve the precious knowledge of how our centers were built, helps future directors, spiritual program coordinators and volunteers reinforce their motivation to serve with greater dedication, and serves the vast vision of our Lamas. Leaving future generations a sense of connection — of being part of something vast and continuous, of belonging to what Lama always called the FPMT family — is precisely what these stories can restore.

More than 40 years later, with far more accessible technology available, this feels like exactly the right moment to take up Lama’s request — especially as FPMT moves through the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. Read more.…

What We’re Rejoicing About

Saka Dawa: A Day of Creating Merit and Prayers for All Beings

Saka Dawa (May 31, 2026) is one of the most powerful days of the year for creating merit and engaging in practice (see above for practice advice).

The world needs our prayers at this time, and this is a precious opportunity to offer extensive practices and dedicate the merit to all beings.

Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained that the actions of all the Buddhas manifest in the aspect of Tara, to grant the wishes of sentient beings, so it is very important for us to pray to Tara — if we pray to her with great sincerity and faith, relying on her completely, she can definitely help eliminate hindrances.

With this in our hearts, we have arranged extensive prayers throughout the day on Saka Dawa, including:

• Three recitations of the 100,000 Praises to the Twenty-One Taras – one recitation undertaken by over 4,000 sangha of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery
• The recitation of the Guhyasamaja Root Tantra
• 1,000 Offerings to Buddha Namgyalma
• Recitations of Jampal Tshen Jo (Chanting the Names of Manjushri)
• Offerings will be made to all the Sangha undertaking these practices and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• The stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath in Nepal will be freshly painted, and their pinnacle umbrellas replaced, and a new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.

You are welcome to join in this day of merit by offering any amount but also by remembering that these practices are happening on the day – you can rejoice in them and dedicate all the merits. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche so often reminded us, this is the best way to create the most extensive merit.

2026 FPMT Global MANI Retreat Begins!

One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization was to hold 100 Million Mani retreats.

“This is one of my dreams, to have 100 Million Mani Retreats each year and for it to continue forever, even after I die, even after the people living now die. Those who are working, offering service now—to continue even after they die; to continue for as long as the country exists.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

On Sunday May 17—the first day of holy Saka Dawa month—an estimated 700+ people joined the FPMT Global MANI Retreat from around the world.

This was the launch of an unprecedented worldwide effort to devote our collective time and effort to powerful Dharma practice, dedicating ourselves to the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s unmistaken reincarnation.

Ven. Roger Kunsang opened the event with highly encouraging remarks about how close 100 Million Mani retreats were to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s heart.

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi then gave a wonderful teaching based on the official Chenrezig Sadhana we are using for this retreat, emphasizing the importance of various parts such as the Four Immeasurables (“…so important to meditate on these points for a few minutes every day, so that it becomes easy for us to generate great compassion…”), and the power of the MANI mantra.

Cherok Lama will offer a teaching in the second session of the Global MANI Retreat on May 23 from 11:30am – 1:00pm (UTC).

Please check out the retreat webpage, where you will find important resources and inspiration, including the Chenrezig sadhana and translated materials.

How do I access the Zoom account? What if you cannot do the sadhana every day? Are there any diet restrictions? Will the sessions be recorded? Answers to all this and more can be found in the FAQ section of the webpage.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Service to India’s Poorest: The Ever-Flowing Generosity of Maitri Charitable Trust

Maitri Charitable Trust has been serving some of India’s poorest people since 1989 and continues to be guided by its founder and longtime director, Adriana Ferranti. Adriana has spent decades at the helm of Maitri. Now 81, she carries on with unwavering commitment. Please read about Adriana’s life of service and the essential work she carries forth through Maitri.

Geshe Tenzin Zopa in Mexico: Dharma in Challenging Times

Geshe Tenzin Zopa with students. Photo courtesy of FPMT Mexico.

Geshe Tenzin Zopa’s first-ever visit to Mexico — and to Latin America— from March 6-14, 2026, was organized by the Mexican centers and study groups. Ramón Lara, FPMT Mexico National Coordinator and FPMT Latin America Regional Coordinator, recently shared details about this inspiring visit.

FPMT Community Stories

The FPMT family is full of inspiring activities at centers, projects, services, and study groups, as well as among registered teachers and individuals who bring our communities to life. We would love to hear about it.

Whether it’s a recent accomplishment or an activity that gives your community reason to rejoice, your story can spark ideas and create connections across the FPMT family.

Please review our submission guidelines and reach out if you have something to share— we’d love to hear from you.

Your memories and experiences are part of this living history. We have already begun gathering some of these precious stories, but there are so many more voices we would love to hear. We would love to collect as much of this history as possible: short videos, presentations, written stories, and group shots from your center, projects, and services. We warmly invite you to please be in touch!

Resources and Opportunities for Study and Practice

Light of the Path Retreat at Kopan Monastery, December 2026

This year’s Light of the Path Retreat (LOP) at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, will take place from December 20–30, 2026, and will be led by Geshe Tenzin Namdak, offering students a precious opportunity to come together in meditation and practice, and to honor the extraordinary legacy of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The retreat will take place shortly after the grand inauguration ceremonies of the Memorial Stupas of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lhundrup Rigsel.

Please read more about this precious opportunity.

New FPMT Basic Program at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy!

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) renews its tradition of offering a residential FPMT Basic Program (BP) in English and in Italian, also available online! This three-year BP is a once in a lifetime chance to enjoy residential study of this much acclaimed in-depth FPMT program, completed over a relatively short period of time, while living at beautiful ILTK, in the rolling hills of Tuscany, in welcoming and warm-hearted Italy!

From 2027 to 2029 this BP provides daily teachings supported by review classes, meditation sessions, discussion groups, quizzes, and written tests. Graduation follows in 2030, upon program completion with the BP review and final exam, and the three-months lamrim retreat. The program includes short retreats for each subject, helping students to relate the BP subject matter to practice and to daily life. Online students share in everything the program offers by means of recordings and the full range of course materials provided. Please continue to read more about this opportunity.

Make Extensive Offerings to the Boudha Stupa from Anywhere in the World

Rinpoche making offerings at Boudha Stupa, Nepal, July 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The great stupa of Boudhanath in Kathmandu, Nepal, was extremely important for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It was in Boudha that Rinpoche first settled upon returning to Nepal in the late 1960s with Lama Thubten Yeshe. While staying at Samtenling Monastery, located behind the circumambulation path around the stupa, Lama Yeshe could see a hill from the monastery and felt drawn to it. Later that hill would become Kopan Monastery, the first FPMT center established by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Whenever Rinpoche returned to Kopan, he would often circumambulate the Boudha Stupa in the evenings together with a couple of attendants, while making offerings and reciting prayers and mantras. By the time the circumambulations were completed, a crowd would often have formed, following Rinpoche around the stupa. At the very end, Rinpoche would lead everyone present in offering five-colored khatags to the stupa, followed by extensive dedications.

The practice booklet, Making Extensive Offerings to Boudha Stupa, is available to students who wish to make offerings to Boudha Stupa from anywhere in the world! Read more about this practice and the history of how it came to be.

Newly Available from the FPMT Foundation Store

This month we are happy to share the Italian translation of The Yoga of the Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara, a Chenrezig guru yoga composed by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso when he was nineteen years old.

The following cards  are now available into Spanish:

• Amoghapasha
• Verse to Put at the Base of Paintings and Statues of Milarepa
• If You Have Devotion, Padmasambhava is Lying at Your Door
• Making Offerings to the Actual Buddha and to a Buddha Image Are the Same
• Enlightenment at your fingertips

We are happy to also offer an updated version of the Liberation Card for Dying Person.

Foundation Store Resources

You can order printed copies of a selection of Foundation Store titles through Amazon’s print-on-demand service in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. In the item description click on the Amazon market that is closest to you. Foundation Store also offers a selection of prayers and practices available for 1-click download.

Retreat Opportunities

Please check our retreat schedule page for group retreat opportunities upcoming in your area.

Announcements, Opportunities, and Changes

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, Italy, North American Region, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK and the USA. Newly added: Chenrezig Institute (Australia), Buddha House (Australia), Land of Medicine Buddha (California) and Ocean of Compassion (California) are looking for a new director; Ocean of Compassion and Land of Medicine Buddha (both in California), and Atisha Centre (Australia) are looking for SPCs.

Foundation Service Seminar in Italy this June

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.

Please watch an inspiring video about the FSS.

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, is organizing an FSS on June 10-14, 2026 and places are still available. Reservations are now open.

Teacher Development Service Seminar in the USA this July and in France this September

The Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) supports the lifelong growth of current and aspiring FPMT teachers, facilitators, and meditation leaders. Returning in a hybrid format, TDSS now features updated pedagogy and a flexible delivery to meet the needs of our global community. Rooted in the FPMT lineage, the TDSS introduces the principles of contemporary Dharma pedagogy -practical, effective methods for teaching and guiding others with wisdom and compassion.

Maitripa College (Oregon, USA) is organizing a TDSS hybrid and in-person from July 17-19 with pre-seminar online modules. Places are still available, and reservations are now open.

Kalachakra Retreat Centre, France, is organizing a TDSS on September 24-26, 2026 with pre-seminar online modules and places are still available. Reservations are now open.

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.

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FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.