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FPMT International Office News
September 2012
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, August 2012.
Photo by Chris Majors.
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- Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s News:
- Rinpoche’s Schedule
- New Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
- International Office News:
- News from FPMT Education Services
- News from FPMT Charitable Projects: Stupas to Minimize Harm from the Elements
- News from Mandala Publications
- Foundation Store Offer
- Friends of FPMT
- For Center, Project and Service Directors, SPCs, Teachers and Board Members:
- FPMT World:
- Rejoice!
- Opportunities to Offer Service in FPMT
- Impermanence at Work
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s News:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, August 2012.
Photo by Chris Majors.
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Rinpoche’s Schedule
Please contact the hosts directly for any questions regarding the event.
Subscribe to our RSS feed on Rinpoche’s Schedule page to receive updates as soon as they are available!
2012
Vajrapani Institute, California, United States
September 30 Vajrasattva initiation
Drati Khangtsen, Sera Je Monastic University, India
October 27 – November 2 Most Secret Hayagriva Oral Transmission
November 3 Long life puja offered by Drati Khangtsen
Kopan Monastery, Nepal
December 19 or 20 Vajrasattva initiation
Date to be announced Official long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche on behalf of FPMT centers, projects, services and students
(NB: Accommodation at Kopan during the initiation is not possible. However, Kopan can send a list of contacts so that students can book their own accommodation.)
New Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, August 2012.
Photo by Chris Majors.
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How to Make Life Dharma
While Studying
Rinpoche commented that:
“This is very, very, good advice for other monks and nuns [and all] who are studying at Sera, Kopan, Nalanda, Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, etc. and for other students. This explains how to make the life Dharma. One thing is how to study, but it’s also how to make the life Dharma.”
“…Yes, studying the Dharma is good and studying the extensive scriptures is good. Yes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that your study and debate becomes practicing Dharma. For all these things to become Dharma, your mind has to become Dharma. If your mind becomes Dharma, then everything becomes Dharma, even eating, walking, sitting and sleeping.”
The full advice can be read on fpmt.org.
Find a broad range of advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Rinpoche’s Advice page.Go to the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for lots more advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
International Office News:
News from FPMT Education Services
New eBooks
Various Vajrayogini materials including the short, medium and long Vajrayogini sadhanas; Long and Abbreviated Vajrayogini Tsog; Vajrayogini Hand Offering practice and Vajrayogini Tea Offering practice
Three Sets of Vows and Their Commitments
Practicing the Five Powers Near the Time of Death
Newly Available or Updated
Verses to Inspire Offerings, composed and arranged by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, is available as a frameable printed prayer card. Rinpoche wants these verses displayed in any center that does extensive offerings.
Amitayus Long Life Sutra in Mongolian and French
Three volumes of the Lam-Rim Chen Mo available in Vietnamese
Program Announcements
Eight monks and three lay people passed the first Basic Program final exam at Nalanda Monastery, France, which has had more than 80 participants over the past five years.
Two Basic Program students at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco, California, completed their three-month review and passed the final exam, with graduation to follow soon!
After three successful rounds of the Basic Program, Chenrezig Institute, Australia, will offer over 18 months in 2012 and 2013 in-depth study of the Masters Program “Middle Way” teachings to 21 Sangha and seven lay students.
News from FPMT Charitable Projects:
Stupas to Minimize Harm from the Elements
Khadro-la identifying to Lama Zopa Rinpoche where one of the large stupas to minimize potential damage from an earthquake should be built, San Francisco, California, United States, 2012.
Photo by Ven. Tenzin Sangpo.
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After receiving news that scientists were forecasting a huge earthquake and possible tsunamis on the West Coast of the United States, Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la) what could be done to minimize the potential damage to people and property. Khadro-la advised that two stupas – one in California and one in Washington State – be built. FPMT is now undertaking the building of the two large stupas and is in the processing of identifying land, based on Khadro-la’s advice after her recent visit. The cost of these two stupas is approximately US$150,000. All donations are welcome.
You can read more about the Stupas to Minimize Harm from the Elements project here.
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News from Mandala Publications
We just published the October-December 2012 issue of Mandala magazine, featuring an exclusive interview with Khadro-la. If you aren’t already receiving Mandala, it’s not too late to get a copy. By signing up now to become a Friend of FPMT at the Basic level or higher, we will send you this not-to-be-missed issue as well as email you a link to the electronic version, which you can read right away. (Offer ends September 30 or when the magazine sells out.)
Also in this issue, an excerpt from the new book by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, How to Practice Dharma: Teachings on the Eight Worldly Dharmas; a profile of Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, the first female geshe; plus news and updates from FPMT centers, projects and services around the world.
Foundation Store Offer
Get a 40% discount when you purchase our Flower Greeting Cards. These cards feature inspiring quotes from Lama Zopa Rinpoche with beautiful original color photography of flowers, and Rinpoche wanted these cards to be made widely available.
Friends of FPMT
Become a Friend of FPMT and stay connected to all the FPMT has to offer including the FPMT Online Learning Center, Mandala Publications and many complimentary resources offered at the free FPMT Membership level.
For Center, Project and Service Directors,
SPCs, Teachers and Board Members:
(This advice is specifically for those offering service in the roles listed above.)
Verses to Inspire Offerings
Composed and arranged by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Rinpoche would like these Verses to Inspire Offerings to be displayed in any center, project or service that makes extensive offerings. This advice has been added to Rinpoche’s Collected Advice for FPMT centers, projects and services.
Further Resources about Death and Dying
Amitabha Hospice Service in New Zealand has kindly made available their guidelines regarding how to talk about death, signs of dying, and creating a Dharma will.
Cooking Guide for Retreat
Jean-Yves Barralis, an experienced chef, has kindly offered FPMT centers, projects and services “a little guide to how to organize oneself in a kitchen when one has to cook for a spiritual retreat.”
FPMT World:
Rejoice!
FPMT Malaysian Centers Meet His Holiness
Education Services Materials Available in Spanish
We are very pleased to inform you that the FPMT Spanish Translation Service has created a non-profit publishing house, Ediciones Mahayana, together with an online shop, with the aim of making publications prepared by FPMT Education Services available in Spanish for study and practice.
Consejos esenciales para el momento de la muerte and Prácticas esenciales para el momento de la muerte by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are already available.
Please visit their website to stay updated on their new titles.
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Jade Buddha in Sri Lanka
While the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace tour was in Sri Lanka August 10-19, Ian and Judy Green presented a model of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion to Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka. The President asked for a special showing at the Presidential Home and attended morning and evening pujas on both days in front of the Jade Buddha.
Opportunities to Offer Service in FPMT
Please check out these and other exciting opportunities to offer service in FPMT centers, projects and services around the world!
FPMT Mongolia is looking for a chief operating officer; Root Institute, India has openings for seasonal volunteers in these positions: kitchen manager, office manager, office assistant and shopkeeper; Milarepa Center, USA is looking for an administrative manager.
Impermanence at Work
Ganden Do Ngag Shedrup Ling, Mongolia
We welcome new director – Ven. Gyalmo
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Massimo Corona
Jamyang Buddhist Centre, UK
We welcome new director – Roy Sutherwood
With grateful thanks to outgoing director (and current SPC) – Mike Murray
Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre, Australia
We welcome new resident teacher – Ven. Lozang Yonten
Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth (LKPY)
3 Mavis Ave, Brighton East, 3187, Victoria, Australia
Maitreya Instituut Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tilanusstraat 8, 1091 BH Amsterdam
Nalanda Monastery, France
We welcome new SPC – Ven. Yeshe Namdak
With grateful thanks to outgoing SPC – Ven. Yonten
Tong-nyi Nying-Je Ling, Denmark
Tong-nyi Nying-Je Ling’s hospice service project changes its name to Pure Land of Medicine Buddha, to better follow Rinpoche’s recent advice about hospice service names.
With love,
FPMT International Office