International Office News
October 2022

Lama Zopa Rinpoche on a group outing in Singapore, September 19, 2022. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

Recent Activities in Singapore and India

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making the mandala offering for the teachings given by Togden Rinpoche, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Byalakuppe, India, September 2022. Photo courtesy Tashi Lhunpo Facebook page.

Since our last update, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered very precious teachings at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore in August and September. Some of these teachings have been part of the ongoing thought transformation series, and some were various talks given on particular occasions to specific groups. Following his visit in Singapore, Rinpoche traveled to India to receive teachings from Togden Rinpoche and Jhado Rinpoche at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, India. You can read about all the auspicious activities Rinpoche engaged in over this period, plus view our new photo gallery of Rinpoche’s travels from this time.

Teachings and Advice

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, August 2022. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Please enjoy some recently published teachings from the past month, and links to new episodes of the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Essential Extracts Podcast:

• How to Think About Obstacles and Look at Everything as Positive
• Thought Transformation Teachings 134: In Your Life as a Couple, Practice Good Heart
• Thought Transformation Teachings 135: The Great Difference Between Taking and Not Taking Vows
• Thought Transformation Teachings 136: The Benefits of Experiencing Suffering
• Recent episodes of the “Lama Zopa Rinpoche Essential Extracts Podcast” include, “Believing in a Real I Creates the Root of Samsara” and “Cherishing Others Opens the Door to Happiness.” New episodes are released every other Monday and previously published episodes are available on the Essential Extracts Podcast page as well.

All teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche are published regularly, unedited on our full-length teachings podcast shortly after the teaching finishes.

Long Life Puja and Gratitude Award Offered at Sera Je Monastery

Lama Zopa Rinpoche being presented with a gratitude award by the Abbot, Geku, and Umze of Sera Je Monastery. Photo courtesy of Geshe Ngawang Sangye.

Sera Je Monastery offered a long-life puja for Rinpoche on October 14 at the monastery, and presented Rinpoche with a special “Expression of Gratitude” award for the many decades of support Rinpoche has shown to Sera Je, including the 25+ year accomplishment of the Sera Je Food Fund, which is now a full endowment covering the monastery’s yearly food expenses for over 2,000 Sangha. Ven. Roger Kunsang was also honored with an “Expression of Appreciation” award for his tireless decades of service. You can read more about this joyous event and enjoy photos.

We’re Rejoicing About:

Support 10,000 Sangha on Lhabab Duchen

Kopan Monastery Sangha offering Most Secret Hayagriva Tsog Kong puja, Nepal, March, 2022. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

On the auspicious day of Lhabab Duchen (this year on November 15), when the merit is magnified one hundred million times, the Puja Fund will be making an extensive monetary offering to 10,000 ordained Sangha in India and Nepal. The Sangha will be engaged a variety of powerful prayers, pujas, and practices and dedicating strongly to all beings and in particular for the FPMT family, for all of the Dharma activities to succeed, and for all the kind donors of the Puja Fund. All are most welcome to join in on this offering.

Big Love Summit 2022

FDCW (Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom) is hosting its next Big Love Summit – a free six-day conference, November 14-19, 2022. Everyone is welcome – we encourage you to find out more!

Next Interpreter Training Program Scheduled

The FPMT service, Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program (LRZTP), is one of the leading schools in the formation of specialized interpreters and translators from Tibetan – and has trained many of the organization’s most respected interpreters. Their next course, LRZTP 9, is scheduled to commence in April 2023.

Become a Friend of FPMT

What’s New?

New Blogs and Stories from FPMT.org

Lama Yeshe at Chenrezig Institute, 1979. Photo courtesy LYWA.

You can keep up on all of our latest blogs, featured stories, community news, and teachings by checking in regularly to the What’s New page on FPMT.org.

Recent highlights include:

• The Enlightenment Attitude is excerpted from a teaching given by Lama Yeshe at Chenrezig Institute, Australia in 1979, and discusses some aspects of the Western mind he had observed since teaching Western students.
• Rejoicing in the Annual Gelug Monlam Festival Held at Kopan Monastery Since 1998, the Gelug Monlam—known as the Great Prayer Festival—has been held at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, in the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa, who founded the festival in 1409. Geshe Losang Sherab, who has served as the umze (chant leader), for the Gelug Monlam at Kopan since 2001, shares how this tradition, now over six centuries old, is preserved and carried on at Kopan today.
• A Remarkable Life of Practice and Service: 2,000 Nyung Ne Retreats Completed by Venerable Ani Chodron
  Please enjoy this inspiring story of a nun who was able to complete 2,000 nyung ne retreats in her lifetime thanks to the inspiration and guidance of Geshe Lama Konchog.

Resources to Support Your Dharma Study and Practice

New Materials for Your Study & Practice

• Excellent Path to Omniscience – A Daily Practice of Milarepa: A practice text from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s personal collection, handwritten by the son of the previous Lawudo Lama.
• Candrakirti’s Entering The Middle Way: This PDF presents a general outline of Candrakirti’s seventh-century classic Entering the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatara). The ten grounds were arranged in a beautiful and accessible format, conceived and produced by graphic designer Piero Sirianni.

For a complete list of FPMT Education Services prayers and practices, please visit our catalogue page. You can also find all new arrivals, updated materials, and translated materials in our Foundation Store.

Join the “Prayers in Accordance with the Times”

The FPMT Sangha body, the International Mayahana Institute (IMI), is organizing a weekly 10 hour Prayerathon, which takes place on Saturdays, 8 a.m. CET until 6 p.m. CET. It is led by IMI monks and nuns, and the prayers are dedicated for all sentient beings, including to various specific goals, such as world peace. Everyone is very welcome to participate. Join the Prayers on YouTube on a Saturday.

Opportunities and Changes within the Organization:

New Opportunities Available

Would you like to spend your days making a meaningful contribution? Have a look below at these meritorious opportunities to offer service as a volunteer or paid staff in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world.

Newly Added:
Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Leeds, UK needs a new director; Tara Institute, Australia, needs a new spiritual program coordinator; Nalanda Monastery, France, needs an FPMT Basic Program coordinator; Tushita Meditation Center, India is looking for a resident teacher.

Impermanence at Work

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

Congratulations to Monastere Dorje Pamo, France, which has completed its transition from probationary project to fully affiliated FPMT project (nunnery)! We welcome its first director, Ven. Chantal Carrerot, and SPC, Ven. Gyaltsen Chokyi.

Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa, Italy
We welcome new director – Valerio Tallarico
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Andrea Serena

Kunsang Yeshe Center, Australia
New address: 116 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia

Tara Redwood School, USA
We welcome new director – Jessica Steurer
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Pam Cayton

Tushita Meditation Centre, India
Farewell and grateful thanks to outgoing resident teacher, Ven. Drolma

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.