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Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
- Willkommen
Die Stiftung zur Erhaltung der Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) ist eine Organisation, die sich weltweit für die Erhaltung und Verbreitung des Mahayana-Buddhismus einsetzt, indem sie Möglichkeiten schafft, den makellosen Lehren des Buddha zuzuhören, über sie zur reflektieren und zu meditieren und auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrung das Dharma unter den Lebewesen zu verbreiten.
Wir bieten integrierte Schulungswege an, durch denen der Geist und das Herz der Menschen in ihr höchstes Potential verwandelt werden zum Wohl der anderen – inspiriert durch eine Haltung der universellen Verantwortung und dem Wunsch zu dienen. Wir haben uns verpflichtet, harmonische Umgebungen zu schaffen und allen Wesen zu helfen, ihr volles Potenzial unendlicher Weisheit und grenzenlosen Mitgefühls zu verwirklichen.
Unsere Organisation basiert auf der buddhistischen Tradition von Lama Tsongkhapa von Tibet, so wie sie uns von unseren Gründern Lama Thubten Yeshe und Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche gelehrt wird.
- Bienvenidos
La Fundación para la preservación de la tradición Mahayana (FPMT) es una organización que se dedica a preservar y difundir el budismo Mahayana en todo el mundo, creando oportunidades para escuchar, reflexionar, meditar, practicar y actualizar las enseñanzas inconfundibles de Buda y en base a esa experiencia difundir el Dharma a los seres.
Proporcionamos una educación integrada a través de la cual las mentes y los corazones de las personas se pueden transformar en su mayor potencial para el beneficio de los demás, inspirados por una actitud de responsabilidad y servicio universales. Estamos comprometidos a crear ambientes armoniosos y ayudar a todos los seres a desarrollar todo su potencial de infinita sabiduría y compasión.
Nuestra organización se basa en la tradición budista de Lama Tsongkhapa del Tíbet como nos lo enseñaron nuestros fundadores Lama Thubten Yeshe y Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A continuación puede ver una lista de los centros y sus páginas web en su lengua preferida.
- Bienvenue
L’organisation de la FPMT a pour vocation la préservation et la diffusion du bouddhisme du mahayana dans le monde entier. Elle offre l’opportunité d’écouter, de réfléchir, de méditer, de pratiquer et de réaliser les enseignements excellents du Bouddha, pour ensuite transmettre le Dharma à tous les êtres. Nous proposons une formation intégrée grâce à laquelle le cœur et l’esprit de chacun peuvent accomplir leur potentiel le plus élevé pour le bien d’autrui, inspirés par le sens du service et une responsabilité universelle. Nous nous engageons à créer un environnement harmonieux et à aider tous les êtres à épanouir leur potentiel illimité de compassion et de sagesse. Notre organisation s’appuie sur la tradition guéloukpa de Lama Tsongkhapa du Tibet, telle qu’elle a été enseignée par nos fondateurs Lama Thoubtèn Yéshé et Lama Zopa Rinpoché.
Visitez le site de notre Editions Mahayana pour les traductions, conseils et nouvelles du Bureau international en français.
Voici une liste de centres et de leurs sites dans votre langue préférée
- Benvenuto
L’FPMT è un organizzazione il cui scopo è preservare e diffondere il Buddhismo Mahayana nel mondo, creando occasioni di ascolto, riflessione, meditazione e pratica dei perfetti insegnamenti del Buddha, al fine di attualizzare e diffondere il Dharma fra tutti gli esseri senzienti.
Offriamo un’educazione integrata, che può trasformare la mente e i cuori delle persone nel loro massimo potenziale, per il beneficio di tutti gli esseri, ispirati da un’attitudine di responsabilità universale e di servizio.
Il nostro obiettivo è quello di creare contesti armoniosi e aiutare tutti gli esseri a sviluppare in modo completo le proprie potenzialità di infinita saggezza e compassione.
La nostra organizzazione si basa sulla tradizione buddhista di Lama Tsongkhapa del Tibet, così come ci è stata insegnata dai nostri fondatori Lama Thubten Yeshe e Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Di seguito potete trovare un elenco dei centri e dei loro siti nella lingua da voi prescelta.
- 欢迎 / 歡迎
简体中文
“护持大乘法脉基金会”( 英文简称:FPMT。全名:Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) 是一个致力于护持和弘扬大乘佛法的国际佛教组织。我们提供听闻,思维,禅修,修行和实证佛陀无误教法的机会,以便让一切众生都能够享受佛法的指引和滋润。
我们全力创造和谐融洽的环境, 为人们提供解行并重的完整佛法教育,以便启发内在的环宇悲心及责任心,并开发内心所蕴藏的巨大潜能 — 无限的智慧与悲心 — 以便利益和服务一切有情。
FPMT的创办人是图腾耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。我们所修习的是由两位上师所教导的,西藏喀巴大师的佛法传承。
繁體中文
護持大乘法脈基金會”( 英文簡稱:FPMT。全名:Found
ation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ) 是一個致力於護持和弘揚大乘佛法的國際佛教組織。我們提供聽聞, 思維,禪修,修行和實證佛陀無誤教法的機會,以便讓一切眾生都能 夠享受佛法的指引和滋潤。 我們全力創造和諧融洽的環境,
為人們提供解行並重的完整佛法教育,以便啟發內在的環宇悲心及責 任心,並開發內心所蘊藏的巨大潛能 — 無限的智慧與悲心 – – 以便利益和服務一切有情。 FPMT的創辦人是圖騰耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。
我們所修習的是由兩位上師所教導的,西藏喀巴大師的佛法傳承。 察看道场信息:
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Happiness and suffering come from your own mind, not from outside. Your own mind is the cause of happiness; your own mind is the cause of suffering. To obtain happiness and pacify suffering, you have to work within your own mind.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
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The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop and features a vast selection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. These items include homestudy programs, prayers and practices in PDF or eBook format, materials for children, and other resources to support practitioners.
Items displayed in the shop are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from their sale. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.
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Holy Objects Fund News
4
In December 2016, Vajrapani Institute, in California, US, launched the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel Project. The prayer wheel, called the Compassion Wheel and standing 7 ft x 10 ft when completed, will contain 5 trillion (5,000,000,000,000) copies of OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of Chenrezig. This holy object was requested by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Rinpoche has explained that when you turn a prayer wheel one time, you receive the same benefit as having recited that many mantras and that this is like having done many years of retreat.
We are pleased to provide you with an update of progress on this truly extraordinary holy object.
The prayer wheel is now filled with a third of the first trillion of the mantras, decorative painting of the ceiling is complete, and cladding of the steel structure is underway. Progress on the roof has been paused due to the pandemic, but once restrictions are lifted the roof fabricator will come and take measurements for the penny-colored metal roof (copper). The molds for the ornamental design for the four pillars have been completed in France, and a shipment of ornaments from Nepal, which are decoration for the prayer wheel roof, have arrived in the US. Vajrapani is just now awaiting delivery.
Please enjoy this video showing how the prayer wheel is being filled: youtu.be/ih77kIVWZpo
There is currently no estimation on the completion date of this project but the team hopes to have the prayer wheel filled with the first trillion mantras over the next few months. As others are experiencing around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down progress on some aspects of production and completion.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Holy Objects Fund, has offered US$40,000 toward the construction of this incredible holy object.
“Each time you rejoice you collect skies of merit, making it such an easy way to achieve enlightenment.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Supporting the creation of prayer wheels and other holy objects is part of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/#pw
Find out more and give your support to the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel
- Tagged: holy object, prayer wheel
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Last August we shared Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish to offer 1,000 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Thanks to the support of many generous donors, we quickly raised the funds needed for the entire project for the statues to be created, filled, painted, gold gilded, and consecrated.
Please enjoy this video of the statues being filled, painted and consecrated: https://youtu.be/Gdb22Sq_vao
We are pleased to report that all of the 1,000 statues are now complete. Artists from Nepal and monks from Kopan Monastery spent months at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India, doing the final artistic touches and filling the statues correctly.
In January Lama Zopa Rinpoche met with His Holiness in Bodhgaya and formally offered the 1,000 buddhas. His Holiness showed the aspect of being very pleased and immediately called in the monks attending him and conducted a consecration puja for all the statues on the spot.
On His Holiness’ 85th birthday this year, July 6, one of the statues was symbolically offered directly to His Holiness and the 999 remaining statues will be offered an appropriate time when conditions due to COVID-19 allow for this to happen.
We offer enormous thanks to Pema and all the staff at Tushita for taking care of the monks and artists during this process and for housing the 1,000 buddhas until they will be formally offered. We also deeply thank: Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, especially Gen Tenpa Choden for working with the artists directly and engaging in all the various arrangements; the monks and nuns for rolling all the mantras and filling the statues; the artists who created, painted, and gold gilded the statues; and all of our thanks to all the kind donors who made this incredible offering possible.
May this offering of 1,000 buddhas be the cause for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long, long life, and may we never be separated from his perfect teachings, and may we always fulfill his holy wishes.
To help ensure grants like this continue toward holy objects, all are welcome to offer a donation of any amount to the Holy Object Fund.
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In August 2019 Lama Zopa Rinpoche shared that he planned to offer 1,000 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Amazingly, due to the kindness of so many people we were able to raise all the funds needed to sponsor the making of these statues, which also include filling, gold gilding, face painting, and consecration.
Progress on this offering continues! All of the statues have now been completed and have arrived at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India. Each statue needs to be filled with mantras and consecrated, after that the actual offering to His Holiness will be arranged.
When Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently met with His Holiness in Bodhgaya, India, Rinpoche formally made the offering of the 1,000 statues. His Holiness immediately did consecration prayers with Rinpoche and the other monks for the 1,000 statues.
We will update when this most precious and auspicious offering is happening. Meanwhile, please rejoice that this is manifesting due to the kindness of so many including: the generous donors, Gen Tenpa Choden of Kopan Monastery, the Kopan and Gyudmed Monastery monks responsible for all of the filling and consecration, and Pema and all at Tushita Meditation Centre.
Please enjoy this video of Kopan and Gyudmed Monastery monks blessing the mantras and statues.
To help ensure grants like this continue toward holy objects, all are welcome to offer a donation of any amount to the Holy Object Fund.
10
In August, we shared Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish to offer 1,000 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Now, due to the kindness of many, we have raised the funds needed to sponsor all 1,000 statues. How amazing! Tremendous thanks to everyone for the generous support of this project. We invite you to rejoice with us!
Statue filling has started at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India with 250 statues. The remaining 750 statues are being finished with gold gilding and will then be filled along with the others.
We will update everyone with details on the statues being offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the time approaches.
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels, and statues.
3
In December 2016, Vajrapani Institute, an FPMT retreat center in Northern California, launched the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel Project. The prayer wheel, called the Compassion Wheel and standing 7 ft x 10 ft when completed, will contain 5 trillion (5,000,000,000,000) copies of OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of Chenrezig, the Buddhist deity who embodies universal compassion. This request came from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund recently disbursed a final grant of US$40,000 for this project.
Director Heidi Oehler reports:
“It’s quite a sight to see the Compassion Wheel come to life as this magnificent vision starts to become a reality. This special prayer wheel will be spun at the heart of the land at Vajrapani Institute, blessing all who visit the center, as well as the surrounding area.
“The basic structure has been framed out by our amazing carpenters. Engineers have designed, built and installed a new structurally reinforced frame and bearings system to hold the weight of the mantras and spin it with the force of one hand. We are now focused on putting together the wheel and getting it filled. As fortune would have it, a past staff member and current Nalanda monk who has been studying the Basic Program and helping Nalanda to fill it’s statues and prayer wheels recently returned to help us here! We are so grateful to Ven. Gyatso for helping to take on the project of filling the amazing compassion wheel.
“Gelek Sherpa from Land of Medicine Buddha, painted the sky and earth mandalas which go inside the wheel. Ven. Tsering from Kachoe Dechen Ling will paint the mantras on the center poll. Microfilm with the OM MANI PADME HUM mantra are being printed and gradually shipped to Vajrapani now.”
Rinpoche has explained that every time you rejoice in an offering, the construction of the prayer wheel, and in the effort of all those who are working to actualize it, the merit doubles. When you rejoice the second time, the merit is multiplied by four. The third time, it is multiplied by eight. Lama Tsongkhapa said that to collect merit, the best way is through rejoicing.
“Each time you rejoice you collect skies of merit, making it such an easy way to achieve enlightenment.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Please join us in rejoicing about the progress of this one-of-a-kind prayer wheel that will benefit Vajrapani Institute, all who visit, all beings in the area; contribute to world peace and compassion; as well as bless and benefit anyone who helps make it a reality or even cultivates a warm thought about the project.
Supporting the creation of prayer wheels and other holy objects is part of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT:
https://fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/#pw
Find out more and give your support to the 5 Trillion Mantra Prayer Wheel Project:
http://www.vajrapani.org/prayerwheel/pw/index.php
To help ensure grants like this continue toward holy objects, all are welcome to offer a donation of any amount to the Holy Object Fund.
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Recently, we shared news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s sincere ambition to offer 1,000 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
After inviting the entire FPMT community to help make this offering a reality, we are pleased to share the following update:
250 statues have been sponsored and finished in India. The statue makers have cast 850 statues so far by casting 32 every day. Once all of the statues are finished with gold gilding and face paint, the monks of Kopan Monastery will fill and consecrate the statues. At that point, they will be ready to offer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
750 statues are still available for sponsorship. All are welcome to sponsor a complete statue or offer any amount one is able toward the entire 1,000 statues.
“Merely seeing a statue or form of Buddha, whether the person is Buddhist or not, creates far more merit than numberless great merits. Holy objects are so precious.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche
You can learn more about Offering One Thousand Buddhas to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and join the offering.
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On behalf of the entire FPMT organization, Lama Zopa Rinpoche is planning to offer one thousand statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. These nine inch statues are currently being made, painted, filled and consecrated.
The statues are being offered with prayers for His Holiness’ very long life.
Everyone can join this project. You can sponsor a completed statue, or you are welcome to offer any amount you are able, thereby participating in this most precious offering of one thousand statues for His Holiness’s long life.
These holy objects help sentient beings easily purify inconceivable negative karma and create the causes for happiness and extensive merit, which brings them to enlightenment quickly by realizing the path up to enlightenment. The moment holy objects, such as statues of Buddha, are completed they become a field of merit for sentient beings. They become only a cause for others to achieve happiness.
As long as space endures,
as long as sentient being remain,
until then, may I too remain
and dispel the miseries of the world. —Shantideva
May this offering create the cause for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to remain in this world for as long sentient beings remain.
You can learn more about Offering One Thousand Buddhas to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and join the offering.
30
New Zangdog Palri Temple Project in Lawudo
Zangdog Palri: Guru Rinpoche’s Pure Land
There is a tradition in Tibet of building three-dimensional versions of the Pure Land of Guru Rinpoche: Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain — in Tibetan, Zangdog Palri.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wants to build a Zangdog Palri at Lawudo Retreat Centre located in a secluded corner of the Himalayas, in Solo Khumbu, the Everest region of Nepal, fourteen thousand feet above sea level. The retreat center has been built around the cave where Rinpoche’s previous incarnation, the first Lawudo Lama, Kunsang Yeshe, meditated, not far from the village where Rinpoche was born.
Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) is perhaps the most universally cherished realized being in all of Tibetan Buddhism. He came to Tibet from India in the 8th century and helped establish a pure lineage which is still practiced today by all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism around the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche lauds Guru Rinpoche’s contribution to humanity: “Due to Guru Rinpoche’s great compassion, Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism flourished in Tibet and now has spread throughout the entire world. Because of that, so many people have experienced the path to enlightenment and achieved enlightenment. Due to his great compassion, the lives of infinite number of sentient beings have become meaningful.”
“Usually a Zangdog Palri is three stories high,” Ven. Roger Kunsang, assistant to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the CEO of FPMT, Inc., explained. “Each level has a specific purpose. Rinpoche will build a two-story version at Lawudo above the cave. Rinpoche has a number of excellent art books that explain all the levels and details, and has been visiting a number of Zangdog Palris in India, collecting photos and discussing with artists and others who have been involved in building them.”
Tremendous thanks to Ven. Robina Courtin and Lauwdo Trek which have been the main supporters of this project since Rinpoche envisioned it.
All are welcome to help actualize this incredible temple in Lawudo. Details will be shared as the project takes shape.
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels, and statues.
- Tagged: guru rinpoche, padmasambhava, zangdog palri
17
Due to the kindness of very generous donors, the Holy Objects Fund has invested US$61,600 in gold leafing for 31 statues of the incarnations of Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche. The 31st incarnation of this lama who passed away in 2011, was revered as one of the most learned and respected living masters of the Nyingma tradition and is one of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachers and one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
These statues will live at Maratika Monastery, the small monastery built adjacent to the entrance of Maratika Cave. This holy site is where Padmasambhava achieved immortality.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has a strong connection with the Maratika Lama, Khenpo Karma Wangchuk, who takes care of the area. The Maratika Lama is the son of Lama Ngawang Chophel, who was a close disciple of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s previous incarnation. (For more on this important pilgrimage site, see “The Caves of Maratika,” published in Mandala June-July 2008.)
Trulshik Rinpoche included this in his verses of praise, “The Vajra Song Melodiously
Praising Maratika”
I, an ordinary person cannot express this Place in mere words
No one can deny the truly powerful blessing of this Place
By the prophesy of the all pervading two great Terton Lords
And the prayers from past life karmic connections
Amitayus, Protector of Boundless Life and Wisdom
Shakyamuni, Excellent Refuge Buddha
And Padmasambhava, the Saviour of the Dark Age
Consecrated and established the Maratika Monastery.
Please rejoice in the creation of these statues and the continued support FPMT is able to offer to Maratika Monastery.
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels, and statues.
- Tagged: holy objects, maratika, maratika cave, maratika monastery
4
Namche Stupa and Mani Park Completed in Namche Bazaar, Nepal
In 2016, the Holy Objects Fund offered a substantial grant to the Namche Stupa and Mani Park, a project in Namche Bazaar, Nepal, located in the Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ). The grant was used for five prayer wheels filled with mantras, which are turned by flowing water, thus blessing all of the water used throughout the entire park. This project also includes a restored stupa that was damaged in the 2015 earthquake. In May, the park was completed and an auspicious inauguration was attended by many.
Namche Bazaar, locally known as “Nauje” is the gateway to Khumbu (Mt. Everest region). This small town is a tourist and trading hub and a popular resting stop, especially for altitude acclimatization. It is also a junction from where different Everest region trekking routes diverge.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote a letter explaining the benefits of this new park:
“This is an incredible great gift to make the prayer wheel that purifies the “digpa” negative karma of so many beings so that they get a higher rebirth. For a prayer wheel turned by water… The Tsogshin, the life tree inside, should go underneath to have a connection to the wheel. The water that turns the wheel gets blessed, by the how many million or hundred thousand mantras in the prayer wheel. So that blessed water goes down and joins the river, and gets bigger and bigger, and finally goes to the ocean.
“That blessed water spreads in all the waters that go to the ocean, so suffering, obscurations, and negative karma “Digpa” are purified for numberless sentient beings and all kinds of fish, mammals, and insects. When they die they may get a higher rebirth and hopefully meet the Dharma. So rejoice, now the prayer wheel is not one, but five. This brings unbelievable benefit.”
You can read Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s full letter here.
Please rejoice in the inauguration of this beautiful new park which will bring so much benefit to residents of Namche Bazaar and tourists alike due to the incredible power of the prayer wheels and stupa.
You can read more about the architecture of this park in Spaces Nepal.
If you would like to contribute to the building of holy objects around the world, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Holy Objects Fund which contributes to the creation of stupas, prayer wheels, and statues.
- Tagged: holy objects, namche bazaar, namche stupa, namche water park, prayer wheel fund, prayer wheels, stupa, stupa fund
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“Building stupas helps develop so much peace and happiness for numberless sentient beings. As a result, wars, disease, and desire will all be pacified. Instead of feeling hopeless, people will gain courage. This is about peace – for the beings who see it, for the whole country, for the entire world, for all sentient beings.” –Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Land of Medicine Buddha is building a 39-foot-tall Mahabodhi Stupa in California on the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This stupa will be the main attraction in a beautiful offering garden featuring an area to meditate, thousands of memorial stupas, places to perform prostrations, and ponds with spots for reflection.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche through the FPMT Stupa Fund has offered over US$100,000 toward this stupa project to date including a grant toward the creation of a life-size Buddha statue that will live in the alcove of the stupa. This statue, which took two years to complete, was made in Nepal by an extremely talented statue maker. About this statue, project manager Denice Macy said, “The engraving and detail on the statue is phenomenal. There are auspicious symbols on the arms and knees and finely detailed designs on the robes. When I wrote Ven. Roger after it came, I said, ‘Our minds are blown.’ That’s the closest I could come in my limited vocabulary to expressing my feeling. We are profoundly honored by how, since the very beginning, Rinpoche has been right there, engaged in every way, in bringing an inspiring holy object to our land. When people walk up the hill, they will first see the stupa, and then they will look into the alcove and see the statue in there and will be blown away.”
After installing a new entrance to the stupa project received a final approval from the County of Santa Cruz. This was a major milestone.
Grading around the stupa, which refines the site for beginning the garden layout has been completed and a deer fence was installed so that the garden would be protected from the deer which share Land of Medicine Buddha’s 108 acres.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the stupa site in August 2018 and provided more advice on the layout of the grounds and decoration of the Mahabodhi stupa. Rinpoche stressed to Denice the importance of keeping the project moving along at a good pace. “We need to finish this because we might die, then the project might not be finished.” Rinpoche also met with Gelek, Land of Medicine Buddha’s resident artist and gave advice and instruction.
In April the team broke ground on the first of the walls of a dharmakaya mandala that will surround the stupa. Several sizes of smaller stupas will be placed in niches and on top of the mandala walls once the mandala walls are completed. These stupas will fulfill the center’s 100,000 Stupa Project which will be sponsored and/or dedicated by individuals around the world.
On May 19th Land of Medicine Buddha will begin accepting sponsorship of the gardens. A total of 23 trees will be planted at the site including: Weeping Cherry, Japanese Maple, Mimosa, Black Pine, Dogwood, Redbud, Flowering Plum, Hinoki Cypress, and Cryptomeria Japonica.
Please rejoice in the progress of this incredible stupa which helps fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Vision for the FPMT organization to build 100,000 large stupas around the world.
The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world. All are welcome to donate to this fund to ensure grants like this continue long into the future.
- Tagged: land of medicine buddha, stupa, stupa fund
9
Fourth Guru Bumtsog at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling, Nepal
For the forth year a very large thangka of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) was displayed and an auspicious 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru bumtsog) took place at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling, Nepal, also known as Kopan Nunnery. The thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high and 87 feet (27 meters) wide depicts in stitched appliqué the Padmasambhava merit field in the center. The incredible weight of the thangka and raising it safely up large scaffolding to display requires tremendous skill and effort. All Sangha present (approximately 1,000) received offerings for their participation. The Holy Objects Fund sponsors this ceremony, the cost in 2018 was US$11,850. Tremendous thanks for the kindness of Khachoe Ghakyil Ling for hosting this incredible event and catering lunch for all involved. The entire set up for this requires a solid week to execute.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has encouraged, as part of the Vast Visions for FPMT, to support, create, and display very large thangkas, and to host thangka festival days where many people can gather to enjoy their beauty and power, participate in making offerings, and other virtuous activities. Rinpoche explained, “My wish is for the big centers in FPMT to have these large thangkas. This is a way to leave imprints for all these people [who see them], for enlightenment.”
“These holy objects help other sentient beings easily purify inconceivable negative karma and create the causes of happiness, merit, and extensive happiness, which definitely brings them to enlightenment quickly. Because it makes them create extensive merit, allowing them quickly to realize the path, it also helps them to improve their life very soon; from a very difficult life with many problems—business problems, relationship problems, and many other things—to an easy life having perfect enjoyments, external and inner prosperity at the same time, realizations of the path and a very happy, peaceful, inspiring death.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Please rejoice in this annual event which is fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions and has profound effects on clearing obstacles of all types in Nepal and the world.
The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world. All are welcome to donate to this fund to ensure grants like this continue long into the future.
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*powered by Google TranslateTranslation of pages on fpmt.org is performed by Google Translate, a third party service which FPMT has no control over. The service provides automated computer translations that are only an approximation of the websites' original content. The translations should not be considered exact and only used as a rough guide.If you have compassion in your everyday life, you collect the most extensive merit and purify much negative karma in a very short time. Many lifetimes, many eons of negative karma get purified. That helps you realize emptiness.