Lama Zopa Rinpoche News Archives
June 2003

• Rinpoche’s Current Activities and Schedule
• Rinpoche’s Health
• Rinpoche in Mongolia
• Nyung Ne with Rinpoche
• Sanghata Sutra Recitations
• Photos from Rinpoche’s First Visit to Russia
• Result Of Fulfilling The Guru’s Advice

RINPOCHE’S CURRENT ACTIVITIES AND SCHEDULE

Rinpoche has just returned from Mongolia.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama requested Rinpoche to help make the Dharma available to people in Bangalore, India – so Rinpoche has accepted to teach a weekend course in Bangalore on November 29 – 30.

Rinpoche will teach at the annual Kopan November course.

In 2004, Rinpoche is likely to teach in Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Mongolia, Italy and Nepal

RINPOCHE’S HEALTH

Rinpoche has just seen a Tibetan doctor who is also Western-trained. The essence of his diagnosis is that Rinpoche’s body is exhausted and the best thing is for Rinpoche to have rest – so we are trying to enable that to happen now.

Ven Roger goes on to say that ‘If students would like to do something from their side, I always remember what Lama Yeshe said when once I asked him to please accept long life puja Lama Yeshe said ‘Main thing is my students try their best to practice Dharma and be harmonious with each other, kind to everyone – this is the very best kind of long life puja for me”

I very strongly believe in this advice and I know a lot of people out there are doing a lot to benefit others ……thank you

RINPOCHE IN MONGOLIA

Ven Gyatso wrote this for the Newsheet:
‘The magical mystery visit began with Roger telephoning from Moscow the night before they were due to arrive and telling Ueli to inform everybody at the centre, including the Geshe and the Abbot of Ganden, that the visit had been cancelled. Amidst the atmosphere of dismay, Ueli took me aside and said that the secret message was that they were coming but nobody was to know apart from me and him. Apparently there were serious obstacles for Rinpoche arriving at the airport. We were not to leave the centre until the plane had landed and we were to recite a special mantra while driving to the airport. It worked beautifully! The obstacles were negated, and Rinpoche arrived without a scratch, to the huge surprise of everybody at the centre.

Still wary of the threat, we had no established program but somehow managed to stage a Vajrayogini Initiation, a Great Initiation of Chenrezig, and a nyung ne with half a day’s notice before each event. These were held at the temporary gompa of the Idgaa Chodzinling Monastery. This is the group of monks that the FPMT is supporting by providing teachers, a new temple, and food. Traditionally they have a strong connection with Sera Monastery. Until we complete the building, they are using a very large hall at Ganden Monastery and about 250 people – lay people, monks, and nuns – attended the above events.

On the final Sunday, the Prime Minister, whom Rinpoche had met privately earlier in the week, invited Rinpoche to address his entire cabinet. The politicians began their day at 8.00am and rode on horseback all day, circumambulating one of the four holy mountains around Ulaan Baatar. This is a very Mongolian thing to do. They finally arrived at the ruins of the Manjushri Monastery at 6.00pm where Rinpoche and a group of people from the centre were waiting. Because the politicians were so tired, their attendants requested a brief address, and Rinpoche obliged by talking for only an hour and a half as the sun set over the magnificent Mongolian countryside in its summer glory. It was a brilliant talk on how to govern with compassion and morality. If only every government in the world could receive such an address.

The day before departure, Rinpoche visited the town of Darkhan, about three hours drive north of Ulaan Baatar. He met the local politicians and gave a talk to them, as well as a talk at the only monastery in town. The monks and the politicians requested Rinpoche to establish a branch of the FPMT centre there because they have only one monastery and the missionaries have built ten churches. We had a police escort with blaring sirens – much to the astonishment of a group of Mormons on the wayside – and the talk at the monastery was very emotional. A sea of people mobbed Rinpoche after the talk, trying to touch him for a special blessing, and Roger and Gyatso were forced to use skills honed from Australian football to keep them at bay. Thus the only apparent personal threat to Rinpoche during the whole visit was a result of devotion, not hostility.

Rinpoche wanted to stay for the whole summer but had to return to the US.’

Ven Roger also gave a brief report on Rinpoche’s activities in Mongolia:
‘Rinpoche has just given a number of talks at different monasteries in Ulaan Baatar, then Vajra Yogini initiation. Today Rinpoche will give the great Chenrezig initiation and then start a Nyung Nay. On Saka Dawa the Young Buddhist group has organized a big event at the stadium and Rinpoche will give a talk there. It’s combined with wrestling and so on.

Zaya Pandita called on Rinpoche and invited Rinpoche to his monastery, he is the number two lama of Mongolia and his first known incarnation was King Ashoka. In Tibet there were ten known incarnations of King Ashoka, and then the last seven were in Mongolia. Rinpoche accepted to go (see photo in Most Recent Photos at //fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/). Now there are two other Abbots of two of the main monasteries inviting Rinpoche….one is from Urdenzuu monastery where there are many stupas. Rinpoche has also visited our nunnery a couple of times and has been painting the eyes of the large statues.’

NYUNG NE WITH RINPOCHE

Ven Gyatso wrote from Mongolia:
‘We would like to claim the FPMT record for a last session of Nyung Ne – from 5.00am until 9.30pm with a two-hour lunch break and no other breaks.’

SANGHATA SUTRA RECITATIONS

Following Rinpoche’s request for each center to recite the Sanghata Sutra 20 times to ensure that the Maitreya Project actually receives, without hindrance, all the pledges of financial support that have been so generously made, we have two photos of Rinpoche writing out the sutra in gold ink, just click on https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/gallery/?f=USA&s=Deer%20Park%20Writing%20Sangatasutra to have a look.

PHOTOS FROM RINPOCHE’S FIRST VISIT TO RUSSIA

Go to https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/gallery/?f=Europe&s=France,%20Russia,%20Spain to see photos of Rinpoche in Russia and Mongolia.

RESULT OF FULFILLING THE GURU’S ADVICE

From Colin Crosbie, director of Chenrezig Institute, which illustrates the power of holy objects and following Rinpoche’s advice:
‘We recently finally completed the filling, blessing and consecration of the Dzambhala statue (14th and 15th May).

Then on Sunday 8th of June we did our usual stalls at the annual World Environment Day and had our best ever income so far (approx.$2000 profit).

Then just today we received a cheque for $24,000!!! This is for a grant application we made to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund for water filtration to our dam water supply, new rain water tanks etc.etc. This being the Year of Clean Water.’

With love,
Claire
International Office
March 21st, 2003