FPMT Puja Fund News

Light offerings at Boudhanath Stupa at night, with Khen Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Sherab.

One of the regular activities of the FPMT Puja Fund is offering white wash, four giant saffron flower petals and the best quality cloth (shambu) to the umbrellas at the pinnacles of Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal on the full moon and also on Buddha Days when merit is multiplied 100 million times.

Highest quality shambu for the top of Boudhanath Stupa.

Due to damage from the 2015 Nepal earthquake, the Puja Fund has been unable to make these regular offerings. Please rejoice that the Boudhanath Stupa has undergone extensive restoration and repairs since the earthquake. In November a grand blessing occurred, where lamas of the four traditions came to re-consecrate the stupa. After the ceremony FPMT was able to continue with these most precious offerings. Lama Zopa Rinpoche wanted to be sure that this first offering since the earthquake was made with the highest possible quality materials and Kopan Monastery very kindly sourced the shambu. 

Stupas, one of the most ancient icons in Buddhist art, are powerful symbols of the mind’s limitless potential. In other words, they represent the mind of enlightenment. The Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupa in the world and dominates the Kathmandu skyline. 

From the Sutra of the Mudra of Developing the Power of Devotion:

     The minute you see a holy object you create infinite merits,
     So no question, if you actually make prostrations,
     Offerings and so forth, you create far greater merit. 

We are very happy to be able to continue this offering to Boudhanath and Swayambunath stupas. Offering these to holy objects on behalf of all FPMT centers, projects and services, is one way of creating an incredible amount of merit and in this way helps the FPMT organization achieve its goals which stretch far into the future for the benefit of all.

If you would like to be part of this monthly offering, please consider offering any amount to the Puja Fund. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche translated, “Padmasambhava’s Instruction on Offerings to Stupas” which details the benefits of prostrating to, circumambulating, making offerings, and offering service to stupas. 

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. 

Monks of Sera Je Monastery performing puja together.

Every year on Lhabab Duchen (Buddha’s Descent from Tushita) the Puja Fund sponsors prayers, pujas, offerings to Sangha  all over the world, as well as offerings to holy objects in India, Nepal, and Tibet. This year, Lhabab Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan calendar, takes place on Sunday, November 20.

Lhabab Duchen celebrates when Lord Buddha actually descended from the God Realm of Thirty-three after teaching his mother and the gods living there Dharma for several months. As a Buddha Multiplying Day, karmic results of actions on this day are multiplied 100 million times. This amazing result is sourced by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

On holy days, offerings are made to holy objects in India, Nepal, and Tibet including the Swayambunath Stupa in Nepal.

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.  

Group practice is far more powerful than individual practice. 15,650 Sangha participate in the Lhabab Duchen offerings.

Incredibly, 15,600 ordained Sangha join in for these practices over a 24 hour period. 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.” It is amazing to consider the power of 15,600 monks engaging in group practice on a holy day when the karma is already multiplied. Additionally, as they are dedicating to His Holiness and FPMT in this way… the benefit is almost unimaginable!  As Rinpoche reminds us, “Sangha are living in a high number of vows and are unbelievably powerful objects.”

These activities offered cost approximately US$8,000 on each holy day. All are welcome to join in the merit of these prayers, practices, and offerings by contributing to the Puja Fund. 

You can read more about the individual activities sponsored on Lhabab Duchen and please rejoice in the massive merit generated by 15,600 Sangha on this holy multiplying day.

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. 

Sera Je Monastery monks performing pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund.

Each year on Chokhor Duchen (commemorating Lord Buddha’s first teaching) 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 was celebrated on August 6. 

The Prajnaparamita (short, medium and long versions) was recited by the monks of Gyurme Tantric College, the entire Kangyur was recited by Kopan Nunnery, extensive offerings were presented to 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.

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. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making offerings to the Hayagriva statue on the altar at Idgaa Choizinling College in Mongolia.

Through the Puja Fund, Lama Zopa Rinpoche sponsors continuous light offerings to two precious statues in Mongolia and India. 

Electricity is sponsored for lotus light offerings to all the holy objects on the altar at Idgaa Choizinling College in Mongolia. The lights are offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Among the holy objects on this altar is an incredible Hayagriva statue. The annual 100 Million Mani Retreat, which is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions, is also held in the Idgaa Choizinling gompa.

In Phakpa, a small village in Garsha Khandroling (Land of the Dakinis), India,  light is also offered to a self-emanating statue of Chenrezig. The statue is said to actually be Chenrezig, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested that continuous light be offered for as long as the statue remains. The light is offered through a giant eighteen-gallon silver butter lamp which is in front of the statue.

Self-emanating statue of Chenrezig said to be the actual deity itself in Phakpa, Garsha Khandroling, India.

Buddhism first came to Garsha Khandroling two thousand years ago and over the centuries, pilgrims and holy beings have visited the valley’s sacred sites to practice. Many miracles have been reported in connection with Phakpa over the years such as the statue speaking and dripping with nectar. 

Extensive offerings of light are being sponsored all over the world for the success of the entire FPMT organization. Every day you can join in on these offerings by rejoicing in the continual light being offered. You are also welcome to donate any amount to the Puja Fund to help cover the costs of materials for this offering. 

Light Offering Prayer

Composed by Lama Atisha

The butter lamp offered to the Chenrezig statue will burn as long as the statue remains.

May the light of the lamp be equal to the great three thousand worlds and their environments,
May the wick of the lamp be equal to the king of mountains – Mount Meru.
May the butter be equal to the infinite ocean.

May there be billions of trillions of lamps in the presence of each and every buddha.
May the light illuminate the darkness of ignorance of all sentient beings
From the peak of samsara down to the most torturous hell,
Whereby they can see directly and clearly all the ten directions
Buddhas and bodhisattvas and their pure lands.

OM VAJRA ALOKE AH HUM E MA HO

I offer these beautifully exalted clear and luminous lights
To the thousand buddhas of the fortunate eon,
To all the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the infinite pure lands and of the ten directions,
To all the gurus, meditation deities, dakas, dakinis, dharma protectors,
and the assembly of deities of all mandalas.

 “Extensive Offering Practice,” by Lama Zopa Rinpoche is available through the FPMT Foundation Store

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

Robes offered to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India, through the Puja Fund. July, 2015. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Every month, on the full moon, the Puja Fund sponsors offerings to Buddha statues in Tibet and Bodhgaya. An offering of robes, made of the most precious material chosen by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to the Buddha Statue in Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India; and gold is offered to the Jowo Buddha Statue in Tibet. 

Mahabodhi Temple and grounds at night, Bodhgaya, India, January 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Bodhgaya is where Shakyamuni Buddha reached enlightenment and according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, is “where a thousand buddhas will descend, place their holy feet, display holy deeds, and achieve enlightenment. Guru Shakyamuni Buddha is the fourth of the thousand buddhas. The rest of the buddhas will descend here and will also display the twelve deeds, and the holy deed, achieving enlightenment. There is a place in Bodhgaya called the Vajra Seat. This ground is blessed. Before becoming enlightened, Buddha blessed this ground so it would not be destroyed or cracked, but would stay firm. It is said that there are no earthquakes in Bodhgaya because it is blessed by Buddha, and also that this will be the last place to exist when the world ends.”

You can watch a video of robes being offered to the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya on a full moon.

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.

The Jowo Buddha statue in Lhasa, Tibet.

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.”

Every full moon students around the world can take a few moments to participate in these offerings by rejoicing and mentally offering the precious robes and gold to these two most holy Buddha statues. Thanks to all the donors who make this possible as well as those who are directly involved by engaging in the practice on site or facilitating the offerings. 

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

(Left to right) Kontsak Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi during a Guru Rinpoche puja at Kopan Nunnary, Nepal, December 2015. Photo by Bill Kane.

This year on Losar, in addition to the wide array of pujas and offerings, the Puja Fund also sponsored 100,000 tsog offerings by the Kopan monks and nuns and dedicated to the long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and to purify our karma for Rinpoche to show any aspect of illness.

In this way, the Puja Fund has joined in with all FPMT centers, projects and services to help create the karma for Rinpoche’s long and healthy life. All of the tsog offerings completed will be offered to Rinpoche during the upcoming long life puja in Singapore.

The Puja Fund sponsors prayers and practices, offered by up to 15,650 ordained Sangha members, on every Buddha Day, such as Losar, when merit is multiplied by 100 million times.

The official long life puja on behalf of the entire FPMT will be offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore on Sunday, March 13 as part of Rinpoche’s teaching event there. The puja will start at 9 a.m. Singapore time (GMT+8).

All are welcome to contribute to this long life puja by donating any amount to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Long Life Puja Fund. 

Robes offered to the Buddha inside Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India. Lhabab Duchen, 2015.

Every month, on the full moon, the Puja Fund sponsors an offering of robes, made of the most precious material, to the most holy Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India.
The offering and prayers and kindly offered by Sangha and students from Root Institute for Wisdom Culture.

In 2014 Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited the market in Bodhgaya and personally chose the best quality cloth for the robes as an example for the ongoing offerings.

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.”

This year on Lhabab Duchen, many pujas and offerings were sponsored by the Puja Fund, including the robes offered to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple. 

You are welcome to contribute any amount to these ongoing pujas and offerings.

You can learn more about the FPMT Puja Fund and the various activities it supports. You can also enjoy an overview of all the FPMT Charitable Projects which contribute to many beneficial endeavors.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Western Sangha, Mexico, 2015. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

As part of an array of offerings made through the FPMT Puja Fund on Losar, Lama Zopa Rinpoche sponsored 57 sets of robes for FPMT’s touring teachers and resident geshes. 

“If you were Sangha but you didn’t wear robes, then people would not know [that you were ordained], but with robes on there is no question.” Lama Zopa Rinpoche once commented to a monk about the benefits of wearing robes. “That is how the robes have such incredible benefit for the mind. It is planting the seed for enlightenment when people show respect to your wearing of the robes, or to the robes themselves: This is planting the seed of liberation, and is a way of benefiting sentient beings.” 

Offering robes to these teachers is a gesture of thanks for the incredible service they offer and in recognition of their dedication to upholding the teachings of Buddha. 

Thanks to Kopan Monastery for arranging this offering. Please rejoice that these teachers were able to receive new robes and also in their committed service to FPMT. 

You can learn more about the FPMT Puja Fund and the various activities it supports. You can also enjoy an overview of all the FPMT Charitable Projects which contribute to many beneficial endeavors.

The monks of Sera Je Monastery offering extensive Medicine Buddha puja.

Please rejoice in the amazing array of pujas and offerings  which will be sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund this year on Lhabab Duchen (November 3 this year), one of the year’s holy Buddha Multiplying Days. 15,650 Sangha will participate in this activity.

You can read an entire list of these activities, as well as descriptions of the pujas and offerings sponsored, but here are a few highlights of what will be offered:

• Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) offered by the 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College.
• Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles), Namgyäl Tong Chö (One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma) and Zangcho (King of Prayers) offered by the 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery.
• Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• Small money offerings made to 15,650 Sangha at the great monasteries of India and Nepal, as well as to Sangha at IMI international Sangha communities.
• Offerings made to holy objects: Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas, the Buddha inside Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple, and to the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang.

All are welcome to join in on these incredible offerings by rejoicing in, donating toward, or mentally offering. 

You can learn more about the FPMT Puja Fund and the various activities it supports. You can also enjoy an overview of all the FPMT Charitable Projects which contribute to many beneficial endeavors.

Robes offered to the Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India, through the Puja Fund. July, 2015. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Every month on the full moon, the Puja Fund sponsors the offering of robes, made of the most precious material, to the most holy Buddha statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India.

During the robe offering, students and Sangha from Root Institute offer prayers and practices including verses like this from the Nyung Nä sadhana:

In order to purify my mind, I offer an exquisite precious garment,
Multicolored like Indra’s variegated bow,
That when touched becomes the cause of bliss
May I be adorned with the holy garment of patience.

Please rejoice in this monthly offering that is so precious. You are welcome to contribute to this by offering to the Puja Fund at any time.

You can learn more about the extensive pujas, practices and offerings sponsored by the Puja Fund or about any of the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Twenty years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche established the Puja Fund as a way to sponsor ongoing prayers and practices dedicated to the success and longevity of the entire FPMT organization. One puja that Rinpoche advised was particularly important for FPMT is the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja. 

Every month, on the Tibetan 29^th day, the Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in the practice of Most Secret Hayagriva, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja (Hayagriva Tsog Kong). This is an all day puja with an elaborate torma offering and extensive prayers and meditation. Please rejoice that twelve months of sponsorship for this monthly puja was just offered to Sera Je. 

The Puja Fund makes a small offering to the 40 monks who perform the puja; offers breakfast, lunch and dinner; and covers the cost of extensive torma offerings (pictured above) for the puja.

Every Tibetan 29th day, you can remember that there are over 40 monks performing the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja as they have for over twenty years. You are welcome to contribute to this ongoing offering which benefits the entire FPMT mandala of centers, projects, services, students, volunteers, benefactors, and all beings. 

You can learn more about the ongoing activities of the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

The monks of Sera Je Monastery offering puja.

Each year on Chokhor Duchen (commemorating Lord Buddha’s first teaching) 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 falls on Monday, July 20. 

The Prajnaparamita (short, medium and long versions) will be recited by the monks of Gyurme Tantric College, the entire Kangyur will be recited by Kopan Nunnery, extensive offerings will be presented to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities, prayers and pujas which have been advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

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

You are welcome to participate in all of this beneficial activity by mentally offering or rejoicing in these practices on July 20 and rejoicing 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.  Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained:

Making offerings to the Sangha is a way of collecting unbelievable merit because all the sangha are the pores of the Guru. They are all disciples of the same Guru – His Holiness the Dalai Lama. By offering to pores of the Guru one collects more merit than offering to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, as well as numberless statues, stupas. If you offer with the recognition that they are the Guru’s pores then that is an unbelievable way to collect merit. When you offer to many Sanghas who have the same Guru then you are making offerings to that many pores of the Guru. So this is the easiest way to collect skies of merit by offering. By offering even just one candy, flowers or even one grain of rice to a statue of Buddha or even a visualized Buddha you collect skies of merit but here it is much more powerful than offering to the 3 jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) as well as all the statues, stupas and scriptures existing in all directions, so no question if offering to really the same Guru’s disciple. These benefits should be understood so that when you make offerings to the Guru’s pores you think correctly. This is the best business.

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.