India January and February 2017

Rinpoche and Khadro-la at Root Institute - Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Long Life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche by Sera Je Monastery, monks offering the puja. - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Jangtse Choje Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the Long Life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche by Sera Je Monastery. - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Long Life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche by Sera Je Monastery, lamas offering the puja in front of a statue of Maitreya Buddha. - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Long Life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche by Sera Je Monastery. The new abbot of Sera Je - Khenpo Logoan Tulku Tenzin Jampa Choesang - offering the mandala - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Sera Je Monastery offering long life puja to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Buddha Maitreya Project land in Bodhgaya - Buddha Maitreya Bodhgaya, Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche with Tenzin Osel Hita in Rinpoche's room at Root Institute - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Lama Chopa Tsog puja on Maitreya land, offered by Kopan monks and nuns, as well as Kopan monks from Sera, Sangha from Tsum and Westerners. Khadro-la also attended. - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Lama Chopa puja on Maitreya Project land - India; Photographer: Jane Seidlitz

Rinpoche with Dagri Rinpoche and Ven. Tenzin Gyaltsen - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche giving teachings to a group of Sherpas at Root Institute - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Tenzin Osel Hita invited Rinpoche, Richard Gere and some others to enjoy a dinner in a local restaurant in Bodhgaya - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche discussing with Richard Gere - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche meeting some local dignitaries at Root Institute - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche and Richard Gere at Root Institute - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche giving short teachings to some Vietnamese students at Root Institute - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche blessing some birds - Rinpoche spent time reciting mantras for them and blessing them with holy objects, before they were released - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi in front of Root Institute's prayerwheel - Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Richard Gere, Alejandra Silvia, Ven. Holly Ansett and Fabrizio Pallotti at Root Institute - Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Richard Gere, Alejandra Silvia and Fabrizio Pallotti at Root Institute - Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Nalanda ruins, Rinpoche on pilgrimage (with Ven Roger and Ven Tendar) - India; Photographer: Jane Seidlitz

Nalanda ruins, Rinpoche giving oral transmission - India; Photographer: Jane Seidlitz

Rinpoche meeting His Eexcellence Sakya Trizin in Bodhgaya - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche meeting HE Sakya Trizin in Bodhgaya - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche arriving at the ruins of Nalanda, with Ven.Roger and Ven.Tendar - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche arriving at Nalanda, with Ven. Roger, Geshe Jinpa and Ven.Tendar - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche giving oral transmission at the ruins of Nalanda - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche giving oral transmission at the ruins of Nalanda - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche giving oral transmission at ruins of Nalanda, with Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Kopan monks and nuns and others. Rinpoche gave the oral transmission of the debate between wisdom and ignorance - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche giving oral transmission at ruins of Nalanda, with Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Kopan monks and nuns and others. Rinpoche gave the oral transmission of the debate between wisdom and ignorance - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche giving oral transmission at the ruins of Nalanda, attended by Kopan monks and nuns and others - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche giving oral transmission at the ruins of Nalanda - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Group photo with all at the ruins of Nalanda Monastery - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Pilgrimage to the ruins of Nalanda Monastery - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Pilgrimage to the ruins of Nalanda Monastery - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Rinpoche upon departure from Root Institute for Sarnath, with the students studying the Basic Program at Root Institute - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche with the staff of Root Institute - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and the nuns of Tara Temple - Tara Temple, Sarnath, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche, Sangha and students meditating and circumambulating the stupa in Sarnath. Rinpoche led an extensive meditation on the seven limbs - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche, Sangha and students meditating and circumambulating the stupa in Sarnath. Rinpoche led an extensive meditation on the seven limbs - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche, Sangha and students meditating and circumambulating the stupa in Sarnath. Rinpoche led an extensive meditation on the seven limbs - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche, Sangha and students meditating and circumambulating the stupa in Sarnath. Rinpoche led an extensive meditation on the seven limbs - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche, Sangha and students meditating and circumambulating the stupa in Sarnath. Rinpoche led an extensive meditation on the seven limbs - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Losang Sherab

The 5 dakini offering during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple in Sarnath - Saranath, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche with newly ordained Bangladeshi nun. Rinpoche offered ordination the night before. - Tara Temple, Sarnath, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Boudhanath Stupa at night while Lama Zopa Rinpoche does korwa (circumambulation) - Boudhanath, Nepal; Photographer: Losang Sherab

Rinpoche visited Maitreya School, a project of Root Institute, to give teachings and gifts to the 190 children at the school - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche visited Maitreya School, a project of Root Institute, to give teachings and gifts to the 190 children at the school - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche giving out gifts to all the children of Maitreya School. Rinpoche gave a towel, soap, toothpaste and blessing cords and the next day also offered new shoes and socks - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche giving out gifts to all the children of Maitreya School, the gift here was towl, sopa, toothpaste and blessing cords, the next day Rinpoche offerd new shoes and socks - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche giving out gifts to all the children of Maitreya School. Rinpoche gave a towel, soap, toothpaste and blessing cords; and the next day also offered new shoes and socks - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche giving out gifts to all the children of Maitreya School. Rinpoche gave a towel, soap, toothpaste and blessing cords; and the next day also offered new shoes and socks - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche with all the children of Maitreya School - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche visited Shakyamuni Clinic, a project of Root Institute, to bless very sick patients. Rinpoche did a very short Medicine Buddha puja and explained how to think about illness in order to use it on the path to enlightenment - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche at Maitreya School teaching on the 8 Verses of Mind Training and then giving new shoes and socks to the 190 children - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche at Maitreya School teaching on the 8 Verses of Mind Training and then giving new shoes and socks to the 190 children - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche meditating in his room in Root Institute, Bodhgaya - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche visited Maitri Charitable Project in Bodhgaya and blessed all the staff and animals and gave a talk to all the staff, children from schools that Maitri runs in villages and also to patients with leprosy and other illnesses which Maitri helps - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche visited Maitri Charitable Project in Bodhgaya and blessed all the staff and animals and gave a talk to all the staff, children from schools that Maitri runs in villages and also to patients with leprosy and other illnesses which Maitri helps - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche visited Maitri Charitable Project in Bodhgaya and blessed all the staff and animals and gave a talk to all the staff, children from schools that Maitri runs in villages and also to patients with leprosy and other illnesses which Maitri helps - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche blesses a box of puppies at Maitri Charitable Project, by reciting mantras - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Rinpoche with Adriana Ferranti, director, on his visit to Maitri Charitable Project in Bodhgaya, when Rinpoche blessed all the staff and animals and gave a talk to all the staff, children from schools that Maitri runs in villages and also to patients with leprosy and other illnesses which Maitri helps - Bodhgaya, India; Photographer: Roger Kunsang

Long Life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Long Life puja offered to Rinpoche, Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

5 Dakinis enter during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Offering tsog during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

The 5 dakinis during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Long Life puja offered to Rinpoche by Kopan nuns at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

During the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

During the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi making offerings during the long life puja at Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Ven. Roger Kunsang making offerings during the long life puja at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi making offerings during the long life puja at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Tenzin Osel Hita gave a moving speech and request to Rinpoche at the Long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Tara Temple - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi making offerings during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

The 5 dakinis during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Offering tsog during the long life puja offered to Rinpoche at the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Tenzin Osel Hita gave a moving speech and request to Rinpoche at the Long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Tara Temple - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Tenzin Osel Hita gave a moving speech and request to Rinpoche at the Long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Tara Temple - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Tenzin Osel Hita gave a moving speech and request to Rinpoche at the Long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the Tara Temple - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Long Life puja offered to Rinpoche, Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche leaving the long life puja, the procession - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche leaving the long life puja, the procession - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and some of the kind sponsors of the new accomodation block of Tara Temple - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche outside the new accommodation block of the Tara Temple, Sarnath - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche greeting Lama Monlam - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi and the nuns and manager of the Tara Temple - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche greeting Lama Monlam - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis

Rinpoche meeting some students of the Alice Project school - Sarnath, India; Photographer: Paolo Regis