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FPMT Puja Fund News
Geshe Sengye and the elaborate tormas for Most Secret Hayagriva puja.
For twenty-five years the Puja Fund has been sponsoring ongoing prayers and practices dedicated to the success and longevity of the entire FPMT organization. One puja that Lama Zopa Rinpoche advises as particularly important for FPMT, due to the organization’s close connection with the deity and also as this is FPMT’s main protector, is Most Secret Hayagriva Puja (Tamdin tsokkhong).
Every month, on the Tibetan 29th day, the Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in this practice, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja. This is an all-day puja with an elaborate torma offering and extensive prayers and meditation. Even during the pandemic, this monthly puja has been happening with strong prayers for the organization and all beings.
Dagri Rinpoche, Bakula Rinpoche, Geshe Sengye, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, and the incarnation of Kwetsang Rinpoche in Tushita Meditation Center, 1985.
Most Secret Hayagriva is the wrathful manifestation of Chenrezig and is also the main protector deity of Sera Je Monastery. Lama Zopa Rinpoche received the lineage of Most Secret Hayagiva from Sera Je Abbott Geshe Sengye, and in 2006 Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this initiation at Sera Je Monastery.
The practice of Most Secret Hayagriva is extremely powerful to grant help and support and quickly pacify obstacles. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said that one of the reasons that Sera Je Monastery has been so successful and able to produce so many qualified teachers, who have very good understanding of Dharma, good hearts, and subdued minds, is due to the blessings—or holy actions—of the deity, Most Secret Hayagriva. Not only outwardly, but also inwardly having great success, this is due to this deity.
Geshes offering Most Secret Hayagriva Puja.
At this time of global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and political unrest, these monthly powerful pujas are particularly important for the FPMT community, those serving the organization, the monks of Sera Je Monastery, and all beings.
Thank you to all the donors who support the Puja Fund. This enables pujas and practices to be happening continually. The pujas and practices, including the monthly Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja, are always dedicated to all the donors of this fund, as well as for all the FPMT center, services, projects, and all beings. The annual cost for just this puja is approximately US$6,800 and for all the pujas offered each year by the Puja Fund totals US$85,000.
You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Extremely precious Arya Lokeshvara statue offered gold in Potala Palace on behalf of the entire FPMT organization, Saka Dawa 2020.
Gold offered to the Jowo Buddha statue in Lhasa, Tibet on Saka Dawa 2020.
Please join us in rejoicing in a most precious offering that occurred on Saka Dawa (June 5, 2020): Gold was offered to two statues in Tibet! The offering was made on behalf of the entire FPMT organization—including all students; volunteers; benefactors; teachers; those working in all FPMT centers, projects, services; and those offering service in any way to the organization—and for all beings.
The extremely precious statue of Arya Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) located in the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, was offered gold. This statue is one of the Self-Arisen Arya Avalokiteshvara Brother statues dating back to the seventh century. Gold was also offered to the most precious Jowo Buddha in the Jokhang Temple, Tibet.
While we may not be able to physically travel to Tibet and make these offerings ourselves, we are honored to be able to facilitate these offerings on everyone’s behalf on this powerful multiplying day of Saka Dawa (and this year Lunar Eclipse).
Praise to Chenrezig
Incredibly precious Arya Lokeshvara statue dates back to the time of Songtsen Gampo, seventh century.
O Arya Avalokiteshvara, treasure of compassion,
Together with your retinue, please pay attention to me.
Please quickly free me and all mother and father sentient beings of the six realms from the ocean of cyclic existence.
Please enable the profound and extensive peerless bodhichitta to quickly grow in our mindstreams.
Please quickly cleanse our delusions and actions accumulated since beginningless time, with the water of compassion.
And, with your compassionate hand, lead me and all migrators to the blissful pure land.
May Amitabha and Avalokiteshvara act as our spiritual friends in all lifetimes, show us the excellent unmistaken path, and quickly place us in the state of buddhahood.
You can read about all of the prayers and activities offered on Saka Dawa on behalf of the entire FPMT organization and you can join in all of these offerings by strongly rejoicing.
All are welcome to offer any amount to the Puja Fund so that these beneficial activities can continue long into the future.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche leading puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, 2020.
Saka Dawa falls on June 5 this year and is one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan calendar commemorating Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment and parinirvana. June 5 is also an eclipse day this year.
The Puja Fund is sponsoring prayers and practices on behalf of FPMT for all students, volunteers and benefactors, and the entire world, on Saka Dawa. Normally we would be sponsoring a lot more pujas, but due to the current restrictions in South India, many of the monasteries are not able to offer the pujas at this time. We are so thankful that Kopan Monastery and Nunnery will still be doing pujas on Saka Dawa. These are the activities we are sponsoring this year:
PUJAS
- 100,000 recitations of Praises to the Twenty-One Taras
- Druk Chu Ma (sixty-four offerings to Kalarupa)
- Medicine Buddha Puja and King of Prayers
SUTRA PRINTING
Golden Light Sutra (6 x), Arya Sangata Sutra (10 x), Vajra Cutter Sutra (200 x) and Amitayus Long Life Sutra (20 x): printing will be done during the actual eclipse time with specific prayers that Rinpoche has recommended.
OFFERING TO HOLY OBJECTS, GURUS, AND SANGHA COMMUNITIES
The precious Jowo Buddha statue in Lhasa, Tibet.
Offerings of gold, robes, saffron, and umbrellas are made to holy statues located in Lhasa, Tibet; and the Boudhanath and Swayambunath Stupas. Also offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, and to all the IMI Sangha communities.
Using Saka Dawa to Create Merit in a Suffering World
Saka Dawa is such an incredibly auspicious and powerful time to practice and make prayers, especially right now with all the suffering in the world. This is a great opportunity to utilize this time in the best possible way, for the benefit of all beings. Anyone can mentally join in any of these pujas and offerings, by remembering them and rejoicing in them. Merely remembering what is happening and rejoicing in the offerings is so beneficial: the existence of the holy objects, the Sangha making prayers and students all over the world who are also are making prayers, as well as the activities and offerings happening in so many of the centers and online on Saka Dawa. By rejoicing in this you create so much merit and it is multiplied 100 million times. How fantastic! What an opportunity!
Thank you for your support to the Puja Fund. It is due to the kindness of so many that these ongoing prayers, pujas, and offerings can happen and in this way, hopefully bringing more peace and happiness in the world.
All are welcome to offer any amount to the Puja Fund so that these beneficial activities can continue long into the future.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent advice for practice on Saka Dawa: https://fpmt.org/edu-news/recommended-practices-for-the-fifteenth-day-of-saka-dawa-june-5/
Advice for eclipse days and Buddha multiplying days: https://fpmt.org/edu-news/advice-for-eclipse-days-and-buddha-multiplying-days/
Jhado Rinpoche leading wrathful fire puja at Sera Je Monastery, January 29, 2020.
Recently Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised on particular pujas for those suffering due to the coronavirus. According to Rinpoche’s advice: a wrathful fire puja was offered by Jhado Rinpoche in South India at Sera Je Monastery, Hayagriva tsog kong was offered at Kopan Monastery and in Sera Je Monastery, and a number of other pujas were arranged in India and Nepal.
In addition to this, many pujas, prayers, and practices were arranged by the Puja Fund during the 15 days of Losar (one of the four great Buddha multiplying days). These prayers were offered by as many as 15,650 Sangha. Extensive offerings were made to specific powerful holy objects in Nepal, India, and Tibet; and offerings were made to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus as well as IMI Sangha communities around the world. All of these activities are dedicated to the success of the entire FPMT organization and all beings.
Monks at Sera Je Monastery offering puja as requested by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
May these extensive prayers and practices benefit all beings.
Individuals can read Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice to protect from the coronavirus.
All are welcome to offer any amount to the Puja Fund so that these beneficial activities can continue long into the future.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in front of very precious Gur Rinpoche statue with continuously burning butter lamp, Chailsa, Nepal.
The FPMT Puja Fund sponsors continual butter lamp light offerings at Thubten Chöling and in front of a very precious Guru Rinpoche statue in Chailsa, Nepal.
The butter lamp offered at Thubten Chöling Monastery is in front of a shrine of Tulshig Rinpoche. Tulshig Rinpoche (1923-2011) was one of the main teachers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and in 2010 became the official head of the Nyingma tradition.
Continuously burning butter lamp offered at Thubten Choling, in front of Tulshig Rinpoche.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche often explains the benefits of offering to holy objects and encourages extensive offerings around the world. “We are not aware of the limitless skies of benefits we achieve from the practice of offering, what we can achieve and enjoy from life to life,” Rinpoche has advised. “Even while you are in samsara, you enjoy good rebirths, wealth, and every happiness. Even just the samsaric perfections are amazing, without adding all those incredible realizations that allow us to offer deep benefit to sentient beings, liberating them from oceans of samsaric suffering and its cause, delusion and karma.”
Please rejoice in this continual offering at these holy places in Chailsa, Nepal.
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. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, August 2019. Photo by Neal Patrick.
Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Kopan Monastery, Nepal, November 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
From time to time Lama Zopa Rinpoche checks what different practices and pujas that can be done and offered for the health and long life of his gurus. Rinpoche also often does this for students, when needed. Recently, Rinpoche checked and concluded it was beneficial to offer a recitation of the Kangyur for the health and long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la). The Kangyur is comprised of 108 volumes of the sutras taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. Rinpoche requested the 4,200 monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India to recite the 108 volumes of the Kangyur with strong prayers and dedications to His Holiness and Khadro-la.
Understanding how incredibly important this offering is, it was a great pleasure and honor to cover the cost of this (US$8,567) from the FPMT Puja Fund. This is also a way to make offerings to the ordained Sangha of the monastery, who are all disciples of the same guru (His Holiness the Dalai Lama). The merit from the recitation of such an important collection of sutras, as well as making the offerings to the Sangha and dedicating well, can have great benefit. This is one of the functions of the FPMT Puja Fund, to generate merit to for the entire FPMT organization.
Thank you so much to everyone who donates to this fund and makes it possible for us to arrange these practices and pujas.
You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Monks of Sera Mey Monastery offering a puja sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund.
Every month on the Tibetan 8th day the Puja Fund sponsors all the monks of Sera Mey Monastery to offer the extensive Medicine Buddha puja composed by the Fifth Dalai Lama 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.
A grant for US$12,030 was offered to cover the expense of these pujas and offerings for the last two years.
Please rejoice in this monthly offering that brings so much benefit to the entire FPMT organization. Every Tibetan 8th 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.
You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Sangha participating in a puja at Kopan Monastery.
Lhabab Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Buddhist calendar when merit is multiplied by 100 million times, took place this year on November 19. We invite you to rejoice in the many beneficial activities sponsored by the Puja Fund on this auspicious day, on behalf of the entire FPMT community.
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 Nunne
Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus
Offerings are made to Sangha at IMI communities
Offerings were made to the Boudhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal on Lhabab Duchen.
Offerings Made to Holy Objects in Nepal, India and Tibet
- Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas: Offering color and new prayer flags
- 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 and robes to the holy body of the Jowo Buddha
These activities are advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche 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.
All are welcome to donate to the Puja Fund and directly support these most precious offerings.
Gold being offered to the precious Jowo Buddha statue, Tibet.
The extensive range of offerings, practices, and pujas that are offered in India, Nepal, and around the world through the Puja Fund on request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche is astounding. As Charitable Projects Coordinator, Ven. Holly Ansett, commented, “It is like Rinpoche has taken on the personal responsibility to care for all the main holy objects in the world on behalf of FPMT.”
On full moons and during the four holy Buddha days, the Puja Fund sponsors robes and gold paint to the holy face of Jowo Buddha statue in Tibet. Gold is offered to the entire body of this statue once a year. This ongoing yearly commitment costs US$5,000. When possible, gold paint is offered to the very precious Chenrezig statue at Potala Palace.
These offerings are dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama; 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.
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 and all of the various activities of the Puja Fund. “So far, these offerings and pujas have not been publicized much, but I would like to make it available and known so that other people can participate in making these extensive offering,” Rinpoche explained. “My idea is for these offerings and pujas to continue forever. So please, if you make offerings, please think in this way and dedicate, and you can also remember on the actual day that this is happening, to rejoice and dedicate. This is the best business, the best way to create the most extensive merit.”
All are welcome to contribute to the monthly offerings of gold and robes to these most precious holy objects.
You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Shakyamuni Buddha by Jane Seidlitz.
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 took place on June 17.
Each year on Saka Dawa and other Buddha multiplying days, as well as other auspicious days of the Tibetan calendar, the FPMT Puja Fund sponsors prayers, pujas, and offerings around the world.
Please rejoice in the following activities that were sponsored this year on Saka Dawa!
Pujas Offered by Over 15,650 Ordained Sangha
- Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) read by the 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College.
- Recitation of the 100,000 Praises to 21 Taras offered by 400 nuns of Kopan Nunnery.
- 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.
- Making and filling of stupas and lunch offering to participants at Chenrezig Institute, Australia.
Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, such as:
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- His Holiness the Sakya Trizin
- Jhado Rinpoche
- Khongla Rato Rinpoche
Offerings are made to over 15,650 Sangha at:
- Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery
- Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monastery
- Drepung Gomang, Loseling and Deyang Monastary
- Gyurme and Gyuto Tantric College
- Kopan Monastery and Nunnery
Offerings are made to Sangha at 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 Jokang: Offering gold to the holy body of the Jowo Buddha
Extensive offerings (water, lights, fruit) were also made in all the FPMT centers around the world, as well as many recommended prayers, practices and activities.
The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche so that beneficial prayers and pujas on holy days, as well as other occasions, can be offered 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.
All are welcome to participate in all of this beneficial activity by rejoicing in this incredible list of activities. All are also welcome to donate any amount to the many prayers, practices, and offerings sponsored by the Puja Fund so that this activity can continue far into the future.
Extensive prayers, practices, and offerings will be sponsored during the next Buddha multiplying day, Chokhor Duchen, which takes place this year on August 4.
Learn more about the Puja Fund or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Offering robes to the Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya, India. Photo by Bill Kane.
Every month on the full moon as well as on all four great Buddha multiplying days, the Puja Fund sponsors a new set of robes made of high quality material for the precious Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India. Root Institute kindly organizes this every month.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche frequently quotes Buddha’s teachings on the subject of offering to statues:
Any sentient being who, during the period of my teachings, makes charity well
(even if the material is the size of a hair),
For 80,000 eons there will be great results of great enjoyment:
No pain, no disease, and enjoyment of happiness.
Like that, one will be enriched with the desirable things.
At the end, you can actually achieve the result: the peerless cessation and completion (enlightenment).
Verse of OfferingRobes
By offering these soft, light, divine clothes
With indestructible faith in
Those who have attained the adamantine holy body,
May I also achieve the vajra holy body.
Various garments that are strong like a bow string and extremely fine,
Whoever touches them experiences bliss,
To train my mind, I offer these precious, quality clothes
May I be adorned by the pure robes of patience.
Please rejoice in this monthly offering. This is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer yourself, dedicate toward, and participate in by donating any amount.
You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la at Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India, January 2018. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Recently Lama Zopa Rinpoche arranged for several practices, sponsored by the Puja Fund, for the long life of Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme (Khadro-la).
Khadro-la in Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan, offering butter lamps with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
57,232 animals were liberated by the Sangha at Kachoe Dechen Ling in California, and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land in Washington State. These animals were offered extensive prayers and blessed water before being released. Additionally, the Kangyur was recited by Drati Khagten; and Lama Zopa Rinpoche led extensive Medicine Buddha Puja at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, four mandala offering pujas to Tara, and later on led Lama Chöpa Tsog with 3,000 tsog offerings dedicated to Khadro-la’s health and long life. During Lama Chöpa Rinpoche movingly spoke extensively about the incredible qualities of Khadro-la, and explained some of her extraordinary activities.
This is one way that the Puja Fund is able to benefit our kind teachers. Thanks to all for continued support to this fund, please rejoice in these practices done for Khadro-la’s long life and may she remain among us for a very, very long time.
You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.