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Tenzin Ösel Hita, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, UK, January 2017. Photo by Natasha Sturny.
On January 28, the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) hosted a talk by Tenzin Ösel Hita on “Educating the Heart.”
“And what a sweet treat it was,” said FDCW student Esther Garibay. “The last time I had the opportunity to spend time with Ösel was precisely at the 2011 Universal Education gathering, where he was mostly filming what later became the Being Your True Nature film. So I hadn’t really had an opportunity to hear him talk. Before the talk I felt curious and excited to hear this person I have been following on Facebook for years, but don’t really know that well.
“The atmosphere was electric as people gathered at the Jamyang lobby in expectation. Once the introductions were over and Ösel started to speak, I felt as if a magnet had pulled my attention toward him. His style is so direct and personal. Filled with anecdotes, stories, and wisdom that felt so relevant to my life and today’s world.
Students participate in a conversation with Tenzin Ösel Hita, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, UK, January 2017. Photo by Natasha Sturny.
“The talk started with a short meditation on gratefulness. ‘Everyday of our life, every morning that we wake up is like a rebirth, so everyday is a new life … but do we ever thank our heart or our lungs? Are we aware of the work they do?’ Ösel asked.
“With lightness and humor Ösel connected so easily to people, leading the talk as a conversation and inviting people to comment and answer questions. He covered such a wide range of themes: urban live, everyday kindness, forgiveness, inner values, the self-cherishing mind, and self-love, to name a few. He introduced us to the concept of inner gold: the more we have, the more we receive, and when we share it, that gold multiplies. And we don’t have to be afraid of losing it as it can’t be take from us.
Students participate in a conversation with Tenzin Ösel Hita, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, UK, January 2017. Photo by Natasha Sturny.
“He ended the talk on the importance of believing in our potential and the importance of compassion: ‘If we have compassion then we would have no problems. Through compassion we can really transform problems. It is very important to have the wisdom but also the method, and that is what FDCW does, it brings out the compassion, the empathy we already have.’
“I felt so inspired and energized after his talk, and this sentiment was shared with every person I spoke to afterwards.”
Watch a recording of the live streamed event, courtesy of The Meridian Trust:
https://www.facebook.com/themeridiantrust/videos/10156055085419852/
https://www.facebook.com/themeridiantrust/videos/10156055085419852/
In 2016, Ösel attended Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life puja in Singapore; gave talks in Singapore, Malaysia, and Spain; and attended His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Italy.
Ösel is currently giving talks at various FPMT centers in Europe. His schedule is: February 5—Aryatara Institut, Munich, Germany; February 11—Tong-nyi Nying-je Ling, Copenhagen, Denmark; February 15—Centre Kalachakra, Paris, France; February 17-19—Institut Vajra Yogini, Marzens, France; and March 25—Centro de Retiros O.Sel.Ling, Órgiva, Spain.
Please contact center directly for specific event information.
FPMT continues to support Ösel in all of his Dharma and educational endeavors through the Big Love Fund. All are welcome to be part of this offering.
You can learn more about Ösel including his biography, photos, videos and more
Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the long life puja he was offered on the last day of Kopan Monastery’s November course, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
The 2016 one-month “November course” at Kopan Monastery came to an end in early December with a birthday celebration and a long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Cake being offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche by November course participants while young monks sing ”Happy Birthday,” Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday celebration was a fun and auspicious occasion. While cutting cake, Rinpoche explained how to think while doing this, that the knife is cutting all the delusions and self-cherishing. With every cake presented to him, Rinpoche did extensive offering prayers. Kopan’s young monks sang “Happy Birthday” to him as well, and put cheerful displays and messages wishing him a happy birthday around the monastery. It was Rinpoche’s 72nd Tibetan birthday (71st Western birthday).
Offering tsog at the long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the last day of the Kopan November course. The five dakinis are also shown. Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On the last day of the course, Lama Zopa Rinpoche was offered a long life puja with the five dakinis on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. The purpose of the long life puja is for students to purify the mistakes that occur in relation to their teacher, and to create the causes and conditions to continue to receive benefit from that teacher for a very long time. Lama Zopa Rinpoche also mentions regularly that offering long life pujas is a cause for one’s own long life.
After the puja, which was attended by 1,000 people, a picnic was offered for everyone, and lama dances and Sherpa dances were offered to Rinpoche. As is traditional, Rinpoche was presented a money offering at the end of the puja and Rinpoche chose to offer this toward the Sagarmatha Secondary School in Chailsa, Nepal.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche watches a lama dance at the picnic after his long life puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
In the final days of the course, Rinpoche offered refuge to November course participants who sought it, gave a long life initiation to Rowaling people at Rowaling Gompa in Bouddhanath, just outside Kathmandu, and made light offerings at Bouddhanath Stupa, which had recently been reconsecrated after being damaged in Nepal’s April 2015 earthquake. He also gave course participants a special short teaching on 14th-15th century Tibetan yogi and iron bridge maker Thangtong Gyalpo, showing them a relic related to him.
FPMT Education Services offers a number of long life prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche on FPMT.org, all of which can be used in personal practice. Rinpoche has suggested that “Bestowing Supreme Immortality” is particularly effective as it was composed by Rinpoche’s root guru, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
Light offerings around stupas at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2016. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Read more about Kopan Monastery and its courses and activities:
http://www.kopanmonastery.com/
Donations to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Long Life Puja Fund, which sponsors this yearly long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, are welcome.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Osel greeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Milan, October 22, 2016. Photo by Tenzin Choejor.
Osel with Ven. Thupten Wangchen, director of Tibet House in Barcelona, Italy. Photo by Paolo Regis Photography.
On October 21-22, Tenzin Ösel Hita attended teachings in Milan, Italy, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness taught on Lama Tsongkhapa’s Three Principal Aspects of The Path and In Praise to Dependent Origination.
While in Italy Ösel gave a talk at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa which you can listen to in English or Italian. In this talk, Ösel explains, “Through spirituality and religion it has been discovered that when we want to help, when we want to give the best of ourselves to other people we receive more happiness and more joy. It is more fulfilling. And when our actions, our thoughts, our speech is based on self with the motivation of selfishness to make ourselves happy, to make us feel better and to fill us up, then the result always is suffering.”
In September, Ösel was in Spain and gave a wonderful talk at O.Sel.Ling’s outreach group in Gibraltar, which you can watch in Spanish on YouTube.
Osel attending His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Milan, October 22, 2016. Photo by Olivier Adam.
Ösel has recently been in India and gave a talk at Tushita Retreat Center and we look forward to updating all on his planned upcoming travels.
FPMT continues to support Ösel in all of his Dharma and educational endeavors through the Big Love Fund. All are welcome to be part of this offering.
You can learn more about Ösel including his biography, photos, videos and more.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama during a long life puja offered at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, January 2016. Photo by Bill Kane.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and the greatest source of inspiration for the FPMT. Service to His Holiness is the primary aim of FPMT. Lama Zopa Rinpoche calls His Holiness “the great treasure of infinite compassion embracing all sentient beings, the sole source of benefit and happiness of all sentient beings, and the sole refuge of all sentient beings.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during celebrations honoring his 80th birthday at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, HP, India on June 21, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL via dalailama.com.
As the spiritual guide for six million Tibetans, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s guru, as a recipient of the Noble Peace Prize, and as an advocate of each individual’s universal responsibility toward humankind and the environment, His Holiness serves as a living symbol for world peace.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Lama Yeshe during His Holiness’ visit to O.Sel.Ling Centro de Retiros, Spain, 1982. Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Since its inception, FPMT has turned to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for inspiration and guidance and attempted to promote and actualize His Holiness’ vision as much as possible and to create the cause for His Holiness’ long life. Over the years, His Holiness has visited many FPMT centers, including Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, FPMT International Office and Maitripa College, Kurukulla Center, and Chenrezig Institute.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that “[I would like] for FPMT to offer service to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as much as possible and to be able to fulfill His Holiness’ wishes. This is the highest priority for the organization.” Rinpoche has further stressed that he would like “the organization to support His Holiness, offer service to His Holiness. This is the quickest and most vast way of benefiting sentient beings.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama during a visit to FPMT International Office, Portland, Oregon, US, May 2013. Photo by Leah Nash.
Throughout the past several decades, FPMT centers, projects, services and students have been involved in organizing and sponsoring His Holiness’ public talks and tours, supporting His Holiness’ projects, helping the Gelug monasteries in India and creating interfaith dialogues around the world, among other activities.
In 2006, His Holiness said this about Lama Zopa Rinpoche: “Rinpoche is someone who follows my guidance sincerely, very expansively and with one hundred percent trust. He possesses unwavering faith and pure samaya; not only has he pure samaya and faith, but whatever I instruct, Zopa Rinpoche has the capability to accomplish it. So whatever dedications Lama Zopa Rinpoche makes, I also pray to accomplish this and you should do the same thing.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, June 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
FPMT Charitable Projects in Support of His Holiness’ Vision and Long Life
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained, anything FPMT does to promote and preserve Tibetan Buddhism is an offering to His Holiness and the Tibetan people. In this way, all the activities in FPMT centers, projects, and services that are educating others in the practice of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism are in service to His Holiness.
The monks of Sera Je Monastery are offered three nutritious meals every single day through the Sera Je Food Fund.
Through offering daily meals to ordained Sangha studying at Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries, such as is done through the Sera Je Food Fund, which offers three meals daily to all of the monks of Sera Je Monastery, FPMT is helping preserve Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism.
Procession of offerings during the long life ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India, June 21, 2015
Lama Rinpoche requested the FPMT organization to offer a long life puja to His Holiness the Dalai Lama every year. FPMT International Office has taken on this responsibility for over 20 years, and will continue to do so, on behalf of the entire organization.
The tradition of debate in Tibetan Buddhism can be traced back to Lama Tsongkhapa, where the best scholars gather to hone their understanding of the Buddha’s highest teachings.
His Holiness requested FPMT to establish the The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund in 1997. The purpose of the fund is to preserve the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism and cultivate the teachers of tomorrow. This fund supports up to 150 senior teachers each year, including the current abbots, past abbots, and main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition, with monthly stipends.
His Holiness explaining the importance of establishing the Geluk International Foundation and offices.
At a meeting held in South India in December 2014, His Holiness the Dalai Lama stressed the extreme importance of establishing the Geluk International Foundation and offices for the long-term preservation of the Gelug tradition. Lama Zopa Rinpoche immediately responded to this advice from His Holiness and offered a grant toward the construction of the building needed for this project.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Jangchup Lamrim teachings, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, India, December 2015. Photo by Cynthia Karena.
During the 2015 Jangchup Lamrim teachings, a transmission and teaching on 18 important lam-rim texts and commentaries, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the newly inaugurated Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, FPMT offered tea to 32,000 participants and money offerings to the 18,100 Sangha members present. Rinpoche composed the dedication that was made during these offerings.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Italy, 2014. Photo by Matteo Passigato.
Please rejoice in some of the ways that FPMT Charitable Projects is able to follow His Holiness’ most precious advice, create the cause for His Holiness’ long life, and offer support to His Holiness and the Tibetan people.
May all the wishes succeed of the one savior of all sentient beings – His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
May Tibet gain autonomy immediately.
May the pure Dharma shine fully in Tibet and China and the rest of the World and may there be perfect peace and happiness.
May no one experience war, famine, sickness, or dangers of the elements, such as earthquakes.
May all beings live with bodhichitta – cause no harm and only benefit others.
May FPMT, its students and benefactors, always fulfill His Holiness’ wishes in all the future incarnations and become wish-fulfilling for all sentient beings.
– Dedication offered by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kalachakra for World Peace Event 2011 in Washington, D.C., USA
Please enjoy “In Praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Praise to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a collection of comments from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered a grant for the translation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler’s Art of Happiness series from English into Tibetan. These translated books will be offered to the Tibetan community free of charge, thus giving Tibetan-speaking students access to His Holiness’s practical and universal teachings which are very well suited for lay students and will appeal very much to the younger generation of Tibetans who may not have had the opportunity to engage with the teachings in this format.
Making His Holiness’s teachings available in this way is also one critical way we can help preserve Tibetan culture and support its relationship with the West.
We will update on this important project as it progresses.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. All the offerings from the fund are used toward the creation of holy objects around the world; sponsoring young tulkus, high lamas and Sangha in India, Nepal, Tibet and the West; supporting FPMT centers, projects and services; sponsoring Dharma retreats and events; funding animal liberations, and much more.
Tenzin Ösel and Tara Melwani greet His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Japan before His Holiness begins teaching.
Tenzin Ösel Hita recently spent time in Southeast Asia. In March he was in Singapore to attend the long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche organized by Amitabha Buddhist Centre. He then traveled to Malaysia later in the month to receive the Most Secret Hayagriva initiation along with Gomo Tulku. In early April, Ösel went to Kuala Lumpur and had dinner with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Osel enjoying lunch with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Gomo Tulku, Chung Han and Tze Hua.
While in Singapore and Malaysia Ösel and Gomo Tulku gave talks and engaged in Q & A sessions at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Losang Dragpa Centre, and Chokyi Gyaltsen Center.
Ösel with Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Gomo Tulku and friends in Singapore.
Last week, Ösel was in Japan to attend teachings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and he commented that he was “so blessed and lucky” for this opportunity.
In April of 2015, Ösel led a pilgrimage to India and Nepal. During that pilgrimage they visited Tushita Meditation Centre and Ösel was kind enough to give a talk about his life, his experiences, and some lessons he has learned along his path. You can enjoy a clip of this talk on YouTube.
In this video clip Ösel says to those in attendance, “I am not a teacher, at all. I’m a student and I think I will always be a student. And I think we all have to learn together. So that’s what I am trying to do. Trying to learn from you and maybe you can learn from me. In just the same way that we learn from life, through everybody. From the moment we are born until the moment we die we are always learning.”
The full length recording of Ösel’s talk will be available on Rinpoche Available Now (RAN) soon in the “Tenzin Ösel Hita Videos” section.
FPMT continues to support Ösel in all of his Dharma and educational endeavors through the Big Love Fund. All are welcome to be part of this offering.
You can learn more about Ösel including his biography, photos, videos and more.
Ösel Hita with friends before greeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama at teachings in Japan. May 12, 2016. Photo courtesy of Nad Prive’s Facebook page.
Tenzin Ösel Hita occasionally shares his insights and experiences on Facebook. Here Ösel discusses why compassion and humility are so important to put into practice:
People tend to judge others, especially when they don’t know much about them. We tend to jump to conclusions easily. It is easier to find fault in others than oneself. It is easier to blame the rest for our problems. That is where we have to really understand why compassion and humility are so important. Even though it hurts and it’s something that has followed us all our life since childhood, sometimes we have to understand that it’s not part of us, but the way the human mind works. As long as we keep a good motivation and are humble, compassionate and open to criticism in order to learn and improve; the pain will dissipate. Do not take the burden of others if it cannot help them. Do not take any burden if you can, only joy and lightness in your heart. Adapt and move on. Be positive, I say. Be happy, for we are alive and it’s a new day where we can all grow and love each other. Biglove life, feel it and live.
Ösel saying hello to an owl.
La gente tiende juzgar a los demás, especialmente cuando no saben mucho de ellos. Tenemos la tendencia a sacar conclusiones fácilmente, es más fácil de encontrar faltas en los demás que en uno mismo. Es más fácil culpar a los demás por nuestros problemas. Ahí es donde tenemos que entender realmente por qué la compasión y la humildad son tan importantes. Aunque duele y es algo que nos ha seguido durante nuestra vida desde la infancia, a veces tenemos que entender que no somos nosotros, sino la forma en que funciona la mente del ser humano. Mientras mantengamos una buena motivación, la humildad, la compasión y ser abiertos a la crítica con el fin de aprender y mejorar; el dolor se disipará. No tomes la carga de los demás si no les puedes ayudar. No tomes ninguna carga si es posible, únicamente alegría y ligereza en tu corazón. Adaptarse y seguir adelante, ser positivo es lo que digo. Sé feliz porque estamos vivos y es un nuevo día en el que todos podemos crecer y amarnos unos a los otros. GranAmor vida, sentirla y vivirla.
The Big Love Fund helps support the education and creative endeavors of Ösel. You can learn more about this project or follow news about Ösel.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, June 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Recently when Lama Zopa Rinpoche was visiting Sera Je Monastery, he was requested to help with a new elevator at Sera Lachi. Sera Lachi is made up of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries in southern India. 6,000 monks study between the two monasteries.
The Sera Lachi monks. Photo courtesy of the Sera Lachi Facebook page.
Entrance to the new elevator at Sera Lachi.
The elevator will be used to bring His Holiness the Dalai Lama up to his rooms at Sera, which are located on the top floor. As His Holiness is now eighty years old, climbing all of those stairs has become difficult, and the monks wanted to have an elevator to easily bring His Holiness to his rooms and also to facilitate elderly monks getting to different levels of the building to access offices, rooms, etc.
Rinpoche was very happy to make an offering of US$69,000 toward the cost of the elevator through a grant issued from the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund.
“Proper devotion to the guru, or virtuous friend, is the root of all success, from success in this life up to enlightenment, just as the trunk, branches, leaves and fruit of a tree depend upon its root,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches in The Heart of the Path.
The new elevator installed at Sera Lachi.
“Or we can think that guru devotion is like the fuel in a car or a plane, without which the vehicle cannot take us where we want to go. Without guru devotion, nothing happens – no realizations, no liberation, no enlightenment – just as without the root of a tree there can be no trunk, branches, leaves, or fruit. Everything, up to enlightenment, depends on guru devotion.
“Guru devotion is the root not only of ultimate success, achieving full enlightenment and bringing sentient beings to the ultimate happiness of liberation and enlightenment, but also of temporary success and happiness. This practice is the foundation of the development of the whole path to enlightenment, as well as the foundation of all happiness. Since everything comes from the practice of guru devotion, it is called the root of the path. …”
You can read more of Rinpoche’s teachings on guru devotion in “Why Do We Need a Guru?,” the first chapter of the book The Heart of the Path: Seeing the Guru as Buddha by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. All the offerings from the fund are used toward the creation of holy objects around the world; sponsoring young tulkus, high lamas and Sangha in India, Nepal, Tibet and the West; supporting FPMT centers, projects and services; sponsoring Dharma retreats and events; funding animal liberations, and much more.
Lifelike statue of Lama Yeshe, FPMT’s founder, residing now at Vajrapani Institute, CA, USA.
Since 2011, Vajrapani Institute has been working with others to create a lifelike statue of FPMT’s precious founder, Lama Yeshe. In 2013, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered US$10,000 toward the completion of his statue.
In November of 2015, after an unusual array of obstacles and difficulties, the finished fiberglass statue arrived at Vajrapani Institute from Thailand, just in time for a visit by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Director Fabienne Pradelle explains, “When we opened the crate [after picking it up from the airport], Lama’s head appeared peaking up from the packing foam. Elaine Jackson burst into tears. We unpacked it and placed it in the Geshe House.” About the appearance of the statue, which depicts Lama Yeshe in a young aspect, Lama Zopa Rinpoche commented, “It is extremely good. He has become very young! In Mongolia there were statues made in China, very young looking, of Buddha Shakyamuni. The geshe said that it was very auspicious, looking young like this, so I think the young [appearance] is very auspicious.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche meets the new statue of Lama Yeshe at Vajrapani Insitute, November 2015.
Two years previously, when Fabienne was checking the progress of the statue with Rinpoche, Rinpoche told her that the statue should go in Vajrapani Institute’s new gompa (yet to be built) surrounded by 999 smaller replicas to make a total of 1,000 Lama Yeshe statues. This will form the main altar of their new gompa. The smaller statues will be made from a mold which comes from a 3D scan of the main statue. With the 3D scan, they will be able to reduce the size of the statue to whatever height they determine. From that mold, they can also create smaller replicas (either in fiberglass or possibly bronze) to offer to benefactors.
Members of the Vajrapani community with the new statue of Lama Yeshe.
About building statues of one’s guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche commented, “When you build a guru statue, you get the merit of having built numberless Buddha statues. Whether you build small or big you get unbelievable merit, the same merit as numberless statues of Buddha.” While Rinpoche offered to cover the cost of half of the smaller statues, he suggested that students should also join in the incredible merit of the statue creation by helping sponsor the other half. That is 500 opportunities to create the merit of building numberless Buddha statues! Vajrapani isn’t actively fundraising for this project yet, as they have to first build a prayer wheel, then a gompa, then an altar, in addition to other tasks before they will create the statues. But when the time approaches, all are welcome to join in and help fulfill this incredibly auspicious request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Vajrapani Institute wishes to thank Ven. Jamyang Wamgo who initiated the project and Elea Mideke who helped see this project through to completion and traveled to Thailand twice to work with the local artists.
The Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund enables Rinpoche’s compassionate service to others to flourish. You can learn more about other beneficial activities this fund supports.
Tenzin Ösel with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khadro-la, Kike, Beatriz, Marcel and Oanh at Kopan Monastery, 13 February 2016
Friends around the world recently observed Tenzin Ösel Hita’s 31st birthday on February 12. Ösel joined Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) for a vegetarian momo lunch at Kopan Monastery the following day. Ösel is in Kathmandu at this time working on the Revive Nepal Project that is coordinating the reconstruction of sustainable public buildings and homes in areas of Nepal which are in urgent need of support following the devastating April 2015 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. Ösel was in Kathmandu during the earthquake and witnessed the incredible destruction and immediately wanted to do something to help and bring lasting benefit to the area.
Ösel and other organizers meet on site to discuss plans for Revive Nepal.
Since the earthquake Ösel, Kike & Beatriz have been working on this project and after a very successful fundraising event in Spain, Revive Nepal Project is now actually beginning reconstruction on a primary school in the area of Masel and assessing the needs for water throughout the village. Revive Nepal is also working on offering education on bio-construction, sanitation and other needs. Everyone is doing the work free of charge and working directly on the ground with the villagers.
The Big Love Fund provides financial resources that enable Ösel to continue his endeavors on behalf of FPMT: fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/big-love-fund
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Tenzin Ösel Hita at Chenrezig Institute, Australia, 1991. Photo by Thubten Yeshe, courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
FPMT International Office wishes Tenzin Ösel Hita a very happy birthday and a long, healthy life. May his beneficial activities flourish and holy wishes come instantly into fruition!
Tenzin Ösel Hita, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe, turned 31 on February 12, 2016. Ösel was born in Bubión, Spain.
The Big Love Fund provides financial resources that enable Ösel to continue his endeavors on behalf of FPMT. You can follow news and updates about Ösel on the Tenzin Ösel Hita news feed.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Italy, 2014. Photo by Matteo Passigato.
Over twenty years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested that the FPMT organization offers a long life puja to His Holiness the Dalai Lama every year. This year the annual long life puja will be offered on January 1, 2016 following His Holiness’ Jangchup Lamrim teachings.
On behalf of all the FPMT centers, projects, services and students, we are offering a silver dharmachakra, silver sets of the seven precious royal objects and the eight auspicious symbols, a right-turning conch shell and a money offering. Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Roger Kunsang are both in South India and will be able to present some of the offerings directly to His Holiness during the long life puja.
All are welcome to contribute to this long life puja which is offered to purify any mistakes that occur in relation to our spiritual teacher, and to create the causes and conditions to continue to receive benefit from His Holiness for a very long time.
“In Praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” was composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Praise to His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a collection of comments from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book.