Buddha statue in Bodhgaya is offered new robes by the Puja Fund.

Saka Dawa is the most important Tibetan Buddhist festival day, celebrating Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Buddhists around the world engage in many auspicious and merit-making activities such as sponsoring or engaging in beneficial pujas, practices, and prayers; and making extensive offerings to teachers, holy objects, and auspicious charitable activities. This year, Saka Dawa takes place on May 29. 

Offerings of white wash, four giant saffron flower petals and the best quality cloth to the umbrellas at the pinnacles are made to the Boudhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal.

The FPMT Puja Fund was established so that pujas and prayers, offered by as many as 15,650 ordained Sangha, would continuously be sponsored for the benefit of the entire FPMT organization. On Buddha Multiplying Days, such as Saka Dawa, when karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million, the Puja Fund offers US$10,000 toward an extensive array of pujas and practices. This is a very auspicious way for FPMT to support the Sangha at various monasteries and nunneries in Nepal and India. Providing prayer services such as these allow the ordained Sangha to benefit others while also supporting themselves.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Sangha at Kopan Monastery offering puja.

Additionally, the Puja Fund makes offerings to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus; to over 15,000 Sangha from Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries; Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monasteries; Drepung Gomang, Loseling, and Deyang Monasteries; Gyurme and Gyuto Tantric Colleges; as well as Kopan Monastery and Nunnery; to Sangha at International Mahayana Institute (IMI) communities; and holy objects in Nepal, India, and Tibet. 

You can see details about all of these activities here. 

This is an incredible day of celebration and offerings when skies of merit is created for the entire FPMT organization including all centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way, as well as all beings. 

Shakyamuni Buddha with offerings, Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, USA. Photo by Chris Majors.

All are welcome to participate in this beneficial celebration by remembering any of these practices and offerings happening around the world and then mentally offering this oneself and/or rejoicing. You can also make a financial contribution to the many prayers, practices, and offerings sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund. You can participate by offering even one dollar. 

In terms of personal practice, Lama Zopa Rinoche advises that any beneficial practices can be done. In particular, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended: 

• Recitation of the names of the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas
• Vajrasattva mantras

Practices specifically recommended by Rinpoche for Buddha Multiplying Days include:

• Taking the eight Mahayana precepts
• Doing nyung nä retreats
• Performing the Guru Shakyamuni Buddha puja
• Reciting the Sutra for Remembering the Three Jewels

Of course, any other meritorious activities often advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are also good to do on these days, such as recitation of the Sanghata Sutra, the Sutra of Golden Light, etc., with extensive dedications. These texts are available on our sutras page.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.

An early morning puja during 2017 Losar at Kopan Monastery.

The Fifteen Days of Miracles began on the first day of the Tibetan new year (Losar, February 16) and continues until March 1. This period commemorates the special time when Guru Shakyamuni Buddha showed many powers. All fifteen days are merit-multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on these days is multiplied by 100 million. The Puja Fund makes offerings on Buddha Multiplying Days and sponsors Sangha to offer particular prayers and pujas. We invite you to rejoice in these activities which are dedicated to overcoming obstacles and creating merit for the entire FPMT organization. 

Monks of Sera Mey Monastery offering a puja sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that the karma of group practice is more powerful than individual practice. “The karma of one ordained Sangha reciting a sutra in a temple or room alone, compared to reciting a sutra with all the assembly of Sangha present, the latter one—reciting a sutra with all the Sangha—is much more powerful…. The more people there are supporting the practice, the more powerful it becomes…. When the karma is more powerful, the result comes more quickly.”

This year, Losar fell on February 16. The Fifteen Days of Miracles continue through March 1. During this time the following offerings, practices and pujas are being sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund on behalf of all the donors and the whole FPMT family. Please take a moment to rejoice in these incredible offerings!

• Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• Offerings are made to over 15,650 ordained Sangha including IMI communities around the world. 
• Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas are offered white wash and four giant saffron flower petals and new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles.
• Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple is offered a new set of robes of the most precious material.
• 650 monks recite the Prajnaparamita (three versions) at Gyurme Tantric College.
• 10,200 monks offer the practice of Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tong Chö, and Zangcho at Sera Je, Sera Mey, Drepung Gomang Loseling and Deyang monasteries.
• Druk Chu Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja and Zangcho are offered at Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monasteries.
• Namgyäl Tong Chö and Zangcho is offered at Gyuto Tantric Colleges.
• A full set of robes is offered to all FPMT geshes and resident teachers.
• Printing of the Sutra of Golden Light 6 times, Arya Sanghata Sutra 10 times, Vajra Cutter Sutra 200 times, and the Amitayus Long Life Sutra 20 times is offered by IMI Sangha.
• 100 Indian rupees and lunch was offered to 1,200 Sangha at the Monlam celebration at Kopan Monastery, Nepal. 

Even just remembering these offerings, pujas, and practices and rejoicing in them brings so much merit. Thanks to all for being part of this incredible list of offerings and activities which are dedicated to all beings. 

All are welcome to donate to the Puja Fund and directly support these most precious offerings. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering prayers during a puja at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington State, USA.

Lhabab Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Buddhist calendar when merit is multiplied by 100 million times, takes place this year on Friday, November 10. Don’t miss the opportunity to rejoice in an incredible array of beneficial activities being sponsored by the Puja Fund and offered by up to 15,650 Sangha. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently commented: “When doing any puja think: I am doing this puja for any sentient being who needs this. So motivate for everyone, not for yourself, not for money. Then doing the puja becomes Dharma, pure motivation, because of the thought to benefit others. Then dedicate it for any people who are dying, sick, or need this puja done for them. Think of all those people who need so much prayer. In this same way whatever practice you do, try to do it for the benefit of sentient beings. Not just recite prayer.”

Please remember that on November 10 the following will be happening around the world and dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way, as well as all beings:

Sangha participating in a puja at Kopan Monastery.

Practices Offered by Over 15,650 Ordained Sangha

• Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) offered by 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College.
• Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tong Chö, and Zangcho offered by 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries.
• Druk Chu Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja and Zangcho offered by 3,400 monks of Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monasteries.
• Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tsechog and Zangcho offered by 4,200 monks of Drepung. Gomang, Loseling and Deyang Monasteries.
• Namgyäl Tong Chö and Zangcho offered by 600 monks of Gyuto Tantric Colleges.
• Druk Ch Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja and Zangcho offered by the 370 monks of Kopan Monastery.
• Druk Chu Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja and Zangcho offered by the 400 nuns of Kopan Nunnery

Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus

Offerings are made to Sangha at IMI communities

Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Offerings Made to Holy Objects in Nepal, India and Tibet 

• Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas: Offering white wash and four giant saffron flower petals and new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles
• Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple: Offering a new set of robes of the most precious material
• Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang: Offering gold to the holy body of the Jowo Buddha

How to Participate

• Take a few moments on Lhabab Duchen to join in with prayer in your mind and rejoice that thousands of ordained Sangha are doing prayers at the exact same time. 
• Take a few moments on Lhabab Duchen to rejoice in some of the incredible offerings happening around the world. 
• Make an offering that goes toward covering the cost of these prayers, pujas, and offerings. 
• Join in on a group practice recommended for Buddha multiplying days at your local FPMT center or participate at home. 

All are welcome to donate to the Puja Fund and directly support these most precious offerings. 

Most precious Jowo Buddha statue in Tibet.

On full moons and during Sakadawa the Puja Fund sponsors special offerings to the Jowo Buddha Statue in Tibet. Gold is offered to the statue’s face (and will soon be offered to the whole body on Buddha days) and robes are offered to the body. The cost of the precious robes is US$28 and the cost of offering gold to the whole body is approximately US$1,528. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has indicated that he wants this offering to continue as long as possible, for many lifetimes. 

Also said to have been blessed by Shakyamuni Buddha himself (making it approximately 2,500 years old), the Jowo Buddha statue is one of the most sacred statues in all of Tibet. Originally crafted in India, the Jowo was brought to China, and then brought to Tibet by the daughter  of the Chinese emperor, Princess Wenchen Kongjo, upon her marriage to Songsten Gampo. The Jowo Buddha statue resides in the central chapel of the Jokhang, among the most holy temples in Lhasa.

Gold offered to Jowo Buddha statue.

About the power of statues of Buddha, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said, “The benefit we get each time we see a statue of Buddha, a picture of Buddha, or a stupa is like the limitless sky. It causes us to achieve all the realizations from guru devotion up to enlightenment and to achieve all the numberless qualities of the Buddha’s holy body, speech and mind.” 

Please rejoice in this ongoing offering which will continue as long as possible to fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes. 

All are welcome to donate to the Puja Fund and directly support these most precious offerings. 

Some of the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

Young nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

Since 2009 sponsorship has been offered to the nuns of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, Nepal, to complete two 100 million mani retreats (100 million recitations of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM). In addition to the 100 million mani retreats, funds are offered to cover the cost of food to all the nuns for this period as well as the cost of a very qualified geshe to stay during the retreat in order to give lamrim teachings. With the help of donors, we are hoping to offer this again in 2017. US$14,000 is offered each year for these two retreats.

Progress on the new accommodation continues at Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery.

Nuns planting a garden on the grounds.

In 2014 a grant was offered for new accommodation needed for the resident nuns. Progress is being made on on the housing and the last row of rooms is now finished and the nuns have moved in. Construction is still in progress and the nuns quarters is expected to be finished by the end of the year. 

In a recent note of thanks, Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen passed on the following from the nunnery: “Thank you [Lama Zopa] Rinpoche all FPMT members who kindly support the nunnery. Our sincere prayers and dedications are offered for the long lives of our gurus and good health for all friends, benefactors, donors, and well-wishers.” 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.

Some of the 15,650 Sangha who will be doing prayers on Chokhor Duchen.

Each year on Chokhor Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, The Puja Fund sponsors pujas and offerings all over the world dedicated to success of the entire FPMT organization. The practices are offered by up to 15,650 monks and nuns. This year Chokhor Duchen takes place on Thursday, July 27. 

Also known as the Festival of Turning the Wheel of Dharma, Chokhor Duchen commemorates the anniversary upon which Shakyamuni Buddha first began teaching the Dharma. For seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. After this period, Indra and Brahma offered a Dharmachakra and a conch shell and requested Shakyamuni to teach. Accepting, Buddha Shakyamuni turned the Wheel of Dharma for the first time at Sarnath by teaching on the four noble truths.

On Chokhor Duchen the Puja Fund will sponsor: Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (short, medium and long versions) by the monks of Gyurme Tantric College, recitation of the entire Kangyur by the nuns of Kopan Nunnery, extensive offerings for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities, prayers and pujas which were advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

You are welcome to participate in these offerings which take place every holy Buddha day, and rejoice that 15,650 monks and nuns will be doing these prayers, remembering that they are all “pores of the guru” and thus extensions of our teachers.

Specific advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for practices to do on Buddha Multiplying Days such as Chokhor Duchen can be found here, including advice to recite the Sutra for Remembering the Three Jewels. 

If you would like to make a donation toward the meritorious activities being sponsored by the Puja Fund on Chokor Duchen, you can do so by offering any amount you are able. 

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

Monks of Sera Mey Monastery offering monthly Medicine Buddha Puja sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund.

Every month on the Tibetan 8^th day The Puja Fund sponsors all the monks of Sera Mey Monastery to offer Medicine Buddha puja dedicated FPMT centers, projects, services; all students who are ill or having life obstacles; benefactors of The Puja Fund and to all beings.

The Puja Fund offers a small money offering, tea, and bread to each of the approximately 2,000 monks performing the puja as well as the cost of light offerings and torma offerings. The cost of this monthly offering is over US$14,000 per year. 

Monks of Sera Mey Monastery offering monthly Medicine Buddha Puja.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught extensively on the benefits of Medicine Buddha practice. “The Medicine Buddha encompasses all the buddhas,” Rinpoche has explained. “This means that when we practice the seven-limb prayer and make offerings with the seven limbs, we receive the same merit as we would if we had made offerings to all the buddhas. Similarly, when we recite the mantra of Medicine Buddha, we collect unbelievable merit just as when we offer the seven-limb practice to Medicine Buddha.” 

Please rejoice in this monthly offering that brings so much benefit to the entire FPMT organization and all of the monks of Sera Mey sponsored to participate in the puja. Every Tibetan 8^th day, please remember that this puja is happening and you can mentally join in. This is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate toward, and also something you can contribute to by donating any amount. 

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for pujas and offerings dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors, and those serving the organization in any way.

Learn more about the Puja Fund and FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche prostrating to a precious Guru Rinpoche statue during visit to Chailsa. Rinpoche sponsors the butter in the butter lamp in front of this statue 365 days a year.

Chailsa is in Solu Khumbu, north-eastern Nepal, the district where Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born. Chailsa is in the southern part of the district.

In May, Lama Zopa Rinpoche stayed at Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery for a month and visited the Sagarmatha Secondary School which is located there. More than two years ago, the Social Service Fund took on the commitment of sponsoring this school which has about 120 students and is managed by Kopan Monastery.  

While in the area, Tsipri Lama approached Rinpoche about the need of these retreat houses in the area, specifically for geshes from the monasteries of Kopan, Sera, Drepung, and Ganden who have completed their studies and then wanted to engage in retreat. Rinpoche was very inspired by the project and immediately wanted to help actualize it and Rinpoche now has offered the full amount to complete this project: US$80,000. 

The sloping land below the buildings is where the new retreat area will be located. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Tsipri Lama was once a Kopan monk and is also the recognized reincarnation of a lama from the Tsipiri region of Tibet. Tsipri Lama fled Tibet and settled in the Solu Khumbu region in Nepal. The offering is to fund the building of retreat huts and a gompa for geshes who have finished their studies and want to meditate on the path in isolation. There are currently five geshes on the property who are engaged in retreat, occupying very temporary and inadequate housing. 

Providing the conditions needed for sincere practictioners to actualize the path to enlightenment is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization. 

Please rejoice in this offering which will enable many precious geshes to engage in retreat in a meaningful way in a blessed place. 

You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries, nunneries, and individual ordained Sangha. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche works on writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra with Ven. Tsering at his side. June 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

In March we reported that Ven. Tsering has entered his fifteenth year of writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra in gold ink on archival quality rainbow paper as a means to create the karma needed to build the large Maitreya Buddha statue in India. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently commented about Ven. Tsering’s work: “His life is completely taken care of, up to enlightenment. He has created so much merit, even just writing one syllable of the Prajnaparamita. And he has been writing so long…. So much merit.” Rinpoche regularly reviews Ven. Tsering’s work to make sure it is the highest quality. 

In April, Ven. Katy Cole, on behalf of FPMT Charitable Projects, spoke to Ven. Tsering about his work. Ven. Tsering  provided us with some insight into what this project has meant to him and how it has impacted his mind. 

What would you like to say about this project?

Ven. Tsering: It is definitely beneficial for me but the whole project is not for me. It is for FPMT and the Maitreya Project. The whole project is for Rinpoche’s wishes to come true which depends on how much the students are able to achieve fulfilling the wishes of the guru. 

How has this work affected you? Have you seen a difference in your mind since doing this?

Ven. Tsering: I don’t know if has affected me but it definitely has created the conditions for me to listen to teachings and from there for me to do more positive things and cultivate positive thoughts actions. This is mainly from listening to teachings. It has definitely created the condition for me to listen to the teachings. Maybe because of this Prajnaparamita writing I am still a monk. Also by doing this I can fulfill my gurus wish which is also a great practice and as a monk what more could I ask to do than fulfill the wishes of the guru. 

Dagri Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Ven. Tsering look at the progress of writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra, June 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab

You can learn more about the Prajnaparamita Project as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

The most precious Jowo Buddha statue in Tibet is offered gold and robes every month through the Puja Fund

Every month the Puja Fund sponsors pujas and offerings dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama; the removal of obstacles to all FPMT Dharma activities; FPMT students; benefactors of every FPMT center, service, and project, as well as their families; all beings who have passed away; and benefactors of the FPMT Puja Fund.

On the eighth day of every month of the Tibetan calendar, a Medicine Buddha puja is sponsored at Sera Je Monastery and offered by 2,000 monks. A small money offering, bread, and tea are given to every participating monk and the cost of light and torma offerings for the puja are sponsored.

On the twenty-ninth day of every month, an important day to offer protector pujas, forty of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in the practice of Most Secret Hayagriva, are sponsored to perform the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja (Hayagriva Tsog Kong). This is an all-day puja with an elaborate torma offering, extensive prayers, and meditation. A money offering, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are given to each participating monk; and the Puja Fund also offers the cost of extensive torma offerings for the puja.

Robes are offered every month to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India. Photo by Andy Melnic.

 A new set of robes is offered every month to the precious Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India. Thanks to Root Institute for kindly organizing this every month. 

Every month on the full moon the Puja Fund sponsors the offering of gold and robes to the most holy Jowo Buddha statue in Tibet.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught extensively on the benefits of offering to statues of Buddha. “If someone offers a small flower or rice to a Buddha statue, a stupa, or scripture then the benefit extends from then up to enlightenment. Amazing, amazing,” Rinpoche has said. “It is said in the sutra Piled Flowers, on top of that benefit, you achieve ultimate happiness, liberation from the causes of delusion and karma, and on top of that full enlightenment, all the realizations and omniscient mind.”

Please rejoice in these monthly pujas and offerings to Sangha and holy objects sponsored by the Puja Fund. These pujas and practices are a direct and important investment in FPMT’s current and future successes.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for pujas and offerings dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors, and those serving the organization in any way.

Learn more about the Puja Fund and FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

Shakyamuni Buddha with offerings, Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, USA. Photo by Chris Majors.

Each year on Saka Dawa—the celebration of Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana—Buddhist practitioners around the world engage in many auspicious and merit-making activities such as personally devoting oneself to the path; sponsoring beneficial pujas, practices, and prayers; and making extensive offerings to our teachers, holy objects, and auspicious charitable activities. This year, Saka Dawa takes place on June 9. 

We would like to invite you to participate and rejoice in this holy day of incredible virtuous activity. 

Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Bhutan, May 2016. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Long Life Prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Each year Ven. Roger Kunsang, on behalf of the FPMT organization, checks with one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus or Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) to determine what practices should be done to help create the conditions for Lama Zopa Rinpoche to have good health for the coming year. Khadro-la has recently advised that the Vajra Cutter Sutra and the Dependent Arising: A Praise of the Buddha (Tendrel Topa) need to be recited, together with the completion of a number of pujas. 

Additionally, Khadro-la personally composed a moving long life prayer for Rinpoche, now available in several languages. 

Saka Dawa is an excellent opportunity to offer recitations of these prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Sangha at Kopan Monastery offering puja

Activities of the FPMT Pua Fund

Every year on Saka Dawa the Puja Fund offers US$10,000 toward an extensive array of pujas and practices. This is a very auspicious way for FPMT to support the Sangha at various monasteries and nunneries in Nepal and India. Providing prayer services such as these allow the ordained Sangha to benefit others while also helping to support themselves.

Pujas Offered by Over 15,650 Ordained Sangha

• Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) are read by the 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College.
• Recitation of the 100,000 Praises to 21 Taras are offered by 400 nuns of Kopan Nunnery.
• Druk Chu Ma, Namgyal Tong Cho, and Zangcho are offered by 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries.
• Druk Chu Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja, and Zangcho are offered by 3,400 monks of Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monasteries.
• Druk Chu Ma, Namgyäl Tsechog and Zangcho are offered by 4,200 monks of Drepung Gomang, Loseling, and Deyang Monasteries.
• Namgyal Tong Cho and Zangcho are offered by 600 monks of Gyuto Tantric Colleges.
• Druk Ch Ma, Medicine Buddha Puja, and Zangcho are offered by the 370 monks of Kopan Monastery.
• Tea, bread, and money offerings are given to all 15,650 participating Sangha in the above pujas. 
• Sangha at Chenrezig Institute, Australia, are sponsored to fill stupas, and lunch is offered to all who participate. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, June 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Offerings to Gurus and Sangha

Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus:

• His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• His Holiness the Sakya Trizin
• Jhado Rinpoche
• Khongla Rato Rinpoche

Offerings are made to over 15,650 Sangha:

• Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries
• Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monasteries
• Drepung Gomang, Loseling, and Deyang Monasteries
• Gyurme and Gyuto Tantric College
• Kopan Monastery and Kopan Nunnery

Offerings are made to Sangha at International Mahayana Institute (IMI) communities:

• Nalanda Monastery, France
• Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia
• Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy
• Chenrezig Institute, Australia

Offerings Made to Holy Objects in Nepal, India, and Tibet

• Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupas: Offering white wash and four giant saffron flower petals and new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles
• Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple: Offering a new set of robes of the most precious material
• Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokhang: Offering gold to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha

Prayers and Practices for FPMT Students

Thirty-five Confessional Buddhas thangka.

On Buddha Multiplying Days, such as Saka Dawa, karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million, as cited by Lama Zopa Rinpoche from the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

Lama Zopa Rinoche advises that any beneficial practices can be done. In particular, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended: 

• Recitation of the names of the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas
• Vajrasattva mantras

Practices specifically recommended by Rinpoche for Buddha Multiplying Days include:

• Taking the eight Mahayana precepts
• Doing nyung nä retreats
• Performing the Guru Shakyamuni Buddha puja
• Reciting the Sutra for Remembering the Three Jewels

Of course, any other meritorious activities often advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are also good to do on these days, such as recitation of the Sanghata Sutra, the Sutra of Golden Light, etc., with extensive dedications. These texts are available on our sutras page.

In addition, you might consider including children in your Buddha Multiplying Day celebrations and reading Eight Plays for Children. This book of charming and easily produced plays for children contains tales of wisdom and kindness from Buddha’s past lives as animals as well as his life as Prince Siddhartha.

The ceremony for taking the eight Mahayana precepts can be found in the “Morning Prayers” section of Essential Buddhist Prayers, Vol. 1 or in the text The Direct and Unmistaken Method. We have a beautiful color cover glossy booklet for nyung nä, complete with instructions for how to do the practice.

Rejoice!

All are welcome to participate in all of this beneficial activity by imagining all of these practices and offerings happening around the world and then mentally offering everything oneself and/or rejoicing. Students can also make a financial contribution to the many prayers, practices, and offerings sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund. 

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.

Learn more about the Puja Fund or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

Nyung nä participants in front of the altar at IVY, France.

Seven dedicated individuals are in the process of finishing 108 nyung nä retreats at Institute Vajra Yogini (IVY), France. One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization is to sponsor others to complete 1,000 nyung nä retreats. Upon hearing of this incredible vision of Rinpoche’s, IVY immediately started hosting 108 nyung nä retreats a year.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Practice and Retreat Fund, is very pleased to be able to sponsor ten people with food and accommodation each time there is a 108 nyung nä retreat at IVY. Support is also provided by IVY and kind private donors. 

At the mid-way point of this round of nyung näs, IVY reported: “If we add up everybody so far we count that eighty-five different participants in total have participated in one or more nyung näs from mid-November to the beginning of March and 664 individual nyung näs have already been accumulated. On average, we have between seven to twenty people participating in each single session of the nyung näs.”

About this retreat practice Rinpoche commented, “Nyung näs take such a short time, but bring strong purification. So many eons can be purified in this life; it makes it so easy to have attainments.” 

The nyung na merit field.

Nyung nä practice is an intensive two-day purification retreat that includes fasting, precepts, prostrations, prayers, mantra recitation, and offerings. Nyung nä is a practice based on the deity, 1,000 armed Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, and is extremely powerful for healing illness, purifying negative karma, and opening the heart to compassion.

Incredibly, this is the seventh round of 108 nyung näs to be completed at IVY with the compassionate and dedicated guidance of retreat leader Ven. Charles Trebaol. 

Ven. Charles has had a strong and beneficial impact on those who have engaged in the nyung nä retreat at IVY.  It is difficult to comprehend the service Ven. Charles is offering to the IVY community, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and all sentient beings by leading these difficult retreats every year with such commitment. 

Retreatant Ven. Tenzin Sangpo said:

“In my eyes, Ven. Charles is the embodiment of love and compassion. I feel sometime that we in the west are are always looking for a spiritual masters very far from us in exotic places while, actually, we have one, here, under our noses.” 

Another participant, Valentino Giacomin shared this experience with Ven. Charles:

“One day, during the prostration session, I turned to see if there were any tissues on a shelf for my cold. An action of a few seconds. There were not. I continued my prostrations. After a minute, someone touches my shoulder. I turn. Ven. Charles is there with the tissues I was looking for! Regularly I forget something while in my “prostration zone” (glasses, pens, etc.) and promptly Ven. Charles returns my “lost things.” I do not know how he can perceive everything and be so careful despite the commitments he has and the responsibility to guide the (difficult) retreat which is almost nine hours a day.” 

Jean-Yves Barralis, acting director of IVY had the following to say about the retreats:

“As the acting director, I must say that each time I am amazed at how people who come for one or two sessions are so thankful about doing this practice. How they feel so welcomed by the long-term retreatants who take care of them by explaining the practice, giving advice, and offering love….

An inspiring interview with Ven. Charles about his years in retreat, “The Hermit of the Pyrenees,” was published in Mandala magazine, March 1998. 

The Practice and Retreat Fund provides grants and sponsorships for students engaged in retreats such as 108 nyung nä retreats, 100 million mani retreats, recitations of sutras and long term retreat.