International Office News
October 2021

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Boudhanath, Nepal, September 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

Thought Transformation Teachings Continue

Rinpoche giving a video teaching in Maratika, Nepal, September 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his video teachings on thought transformation from Kopan Monastery in Nepal. Recently Rinpoche has given teachings regarding depression: From Where Depression Comes: How to Deal with the Nature of Depression; and What to Think When You Are Depressed. Rinpoche explains that to understand depression, we first have to understand our own craziness. Then, when we think of others, we will be able to more easily develop compassion.

Rinpoche also has been giving teachings on refuge including: If You Go for Refuge to Buddha, Buddha Definitely Guides You; and Don’t Think Taking Refuge Is Something Easy, reminding us that that we must be careful about the objects in which we take refuge—for example, people take refuge in animals, nature, or spirits but none of these have the qualities of the Buddha or can offer us ultimate refuge—freedom from samsara.

We invite you to watch the video, and read the transcripts for the full teachings.

Freedom is in Our Hands

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making prayers in front of sacred images in a museum of Newari art, Kathmandu, Nepal, July 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

In a short video, Lama Zopa Rinpoche examines the question of why certain things happen, such as why leaves and petals of a flower are made a certain way. The answer to all these questions is karma, and because all these things come from karma, that also means they all come from the mind. Read in full and watch the video …

Find advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche 24/7 on Rinpoche’s Advice page.
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We’re Rejoicing About:

Lhabab Duchen is Celebrated This Year on October 27!

Lhabab Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Buddhist calendar, takes place this year on October 27. Lhabab Duchen celebrates Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to Earth from the God Realm of the Thirty-Three. As a merit multiplying day, the karmic results of actions done on this day are multiplied 100 million times. There are many practices one can do to take full advantage of the opportunity of this holy Buddha day, and an incredible amount of offerings are sponsored and dedicated to the entire FPMT organization and all students, benefactors and beings. Read more …

The Recent Foundation Service Seminar

Group photo of the recent Foundation Service Seminar at Nalanda Monastery.

Thirty-seven students, mainly from Europe, graduated from the Foundation Service Seminar (FSS) hosted by Nalanda Monastery, France, last month (September 22-26). FSS-registered facilitator Annelies van der Heijden commented:
“It was a very engaged and devoted group of participants and it was clearly very special to be together again to share, exchange, network and discuss after the long period of covid restrictions.”

FSS graduate Anne Plesevescu, coordinator of the FPMT study group Compassion Wisdom Flower, Romania, commented:
“The FSS was a joy and happiness for me. It was very helpful to understand the structure of the FPMT, to feel the history of the organization. It helped very much as a Coordinator because now I have a lot in terms of practical experience. I think it was for the first time when I really felt that I have a lot of people behind me… Now I feel like a whole family.”

Supporting Medical Care, Food, and Living Expenses for Those in Need

Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing a sick elderly woman in Maratika, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

The FPMT Social Services Fund offers grants to beneficial projects primarily in India, Nepal, and Mongolia, which are aimed at serving children, the elderly, the sick, and very poor. We distribute funds for schools, hospices, health clinics, soup kitchens, and elderly homes. In addition, due to shutdowns in 2021, we also offered food and monetary assistance to thousands of families in need. Please read a recent blog about the grants we offered to Patient Care Trust in India; Shakyamuni Buddha Clinic, India; Lamp of the Path, Mongolia; MATRI Charitable Trust, India; Kopan Helping Hands, Nepal; The Central Tibetan Relief Committee; and Tsum Community Center, Nepal.

We have offered US$257,531 so far this year. Please rejoice!

New in the Foundation Store for October 2021

FPMT Education Services has been making ebook formats of many popular and often recited prayers and practices. These new ebooks have been created from already existing PDFs of practice materials. Students receive both digital formats (ebook and PDF) when downloading these items from the Foundation Store. Here are some of these updated items:

1. Prostration Instructions, Mantras, and Meditation eBook & PDF
2. A Direct Meditation on All the Important Points of the Lamrim eBook & PDF
3. Arya Avalokiteshvara Simhanada: Exalted Lion’s Roar Chenrezig Who Dispels All Diseases eBook & PDF
4. The Vajra Speech of Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo: Words of Truth Pacifying the Danger of Weapons eBook & PDF
5. The Vajra Speech of Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo: The Blessed Prayer Known as “Liberating Sakya from Disease”
6. The Speech of Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo: A Request to Pacify the Fear of Famine eBook & PDF

There is also a new translation available of the restricted practice The Yoga of the Three Purifications of Shri Chakrasamvara PDF.
Students can find more newly added ebooks of practice materials as well as recent new arrivals in the Foundation Store (shop.fpmt.org).

Become a Friend of FPMT

Changes within the Organization:

Impermanence at Work

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

Chenrezig Institute, Australia
We welcome new director – Ruby Karmay

Yamantaka Center, Colombia
We welcome new director – Ven Gloria O’Meara
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Amparo Meija

These FPMT Study Groups (probationary service and centers) have recently closed:
Enlightenment for the Dear Animals, Australia
Thabshe Ling, Cyprus
Chekawa, Mexico
Khedrup Sangye Yeshe, Mexico

For Those Offering Service in FPMT Affiliates:

New Support, Complaint, and Remedial Process Guidelines

We hope that directors, SPCs, and registered teachers have been able to review the new package of guidelines which François recently shared via the CPMT e-group. These have been designed to increase support, safely deal with complaints, and provide a clear remedial process, for all teachers in the FPMT organization. This includes resident geshes and teachers. If you missed that or have any questions about this, please contact François for registered teachers, and Claire for resident geshes and teachers.

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FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.