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Offerings during commemoration of Rinpoche’s parinirvana 2nd anniversary, at Machig Labdron Nunnery, Bendigo, Australia, April 13, 2025 April 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of Atisha Centre Facebook page.
April 13, 2025, marked the two-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche passing into parinirvana. Around the world students gathered for collective prayers and practice, and to sincerely remember with immense gratitude the great kindness of our most precious spiritual guide. We were moved by all of the auspicious activity being done collectively around the world, on this special day of prayer and remembrance. Here we share, not an exhaustive list of all the activities organized in centers, monastic institutions, and in the homes of individual students, but rather an example of some of the activities offered:
The monks of Sera Je Tsawa Khangtsen offered Chanting of Names of Manjushri and swift return prayers. Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India offered Lama Chopa. At Chokyi Gyaltsen Center in Penang, Malaysia, students performed Lama Chopa with extensive offerings presided over by Geshe Deyang and recited Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri with dedications and prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return.
At Kopan Monastery, CPMT Summit participants joined the Kopan community in Heruka Lama Chopa with extensive offerings followed by group recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri. Kopan Lama Gyupas and senior monks offered Yamantaka self-initiation in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room in front of his holy body, followed by recitation of the Guhyasamaja root tantra.
Ogmin Jangchup Sishu Tsogpa, a community association of former Kopan Monastery monks and nuns residing in New York, USA, offered prayers. Buddha House members and friends commemorated with a day of extensive offering practice, recitation of Chanting the Names of Manjushri, Lama Chopa Puja and enjoyed a meal together.
We share below some scenes from the powerful group prayers and we thank everyone who participated in this heartfelt collective effort to remember the immeasurable kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and pray for his swift return.
The sangha of Sera Je Monastery commemorating Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana 2nd anniversary. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Facebook page.
Kopan sangha performed a Heruka Lama Chopa and many other prayers and practices for the 2nd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2025. Photo courtesy Kopan’s Facebook page.
Sangha of the Sera Je Monastery Kopan House, commemorating the 2nd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of Sera Kopan House Facebook page.
Guru puja being offered at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, India on 2nd anniversary of Rinpoche’s parinirvana. Photo courtesy of Tushita’s Facebook page.
Sangha of the Sera Je Drati Khangsten commemorating Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of SJDK Facebook page.
Students at Chokyi Gyaltsen Center, Penang, Malaysia, offering Guru Puja and prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return, April 13, 2025.
Members of Ogmin Jangchup Sishu Tsogpa, New York, the association of former Kopan Monastery monks and nuns living in New York, offering prayers on the 2nd anniversary of Rinpoche’s parinirvana, New York, USA, April 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of OJST Facebook page.
FPMT Taiwan students making offerings during the commemoration activities on the 2nd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana.
Gathering at Kalachakra Centre, Paris, France, for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana 2nd anniversary. Photo courtesy of Centre Kalachakra Facebook page.
Shrine for the commemoration of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana at Buddha House, Adelaide, Australia, April 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of Buddha House Facebook page.
This is just s small sampling of the thoughtful activity organized around the world and we offer extensive thanks to ALL who participated in commemorating Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing into parinirvana.
As a reminder, His Holiness recently confirmed that the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been born and His Holiness has advised to continue reciting Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as well as Migtsema practice. Additionally, all swift return prayers previously advised are still encouraged at this time.
Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away is a short text translated by Rinpoche that explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was 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.
Altar at Buddha House, South Australia, on the second year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
Following the news that Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s reincarnation has been born according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, students have asked, “Do we still offer the swift return prayers?” The answer is … yes!
Please read the latest advice offered by His Holiness to continue reciting Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as well as Migtsema practice. Additionally, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi and Ven. Roger Kunsang have checked with Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin who confirms that continuing the swift return prayers as previously recommended is good to do at this time. This is a dynamic situation and we will update you on the latest advice as we receive it.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Richard Gere with Ven. Roger Kunsang. April 18, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
We are so happy to share with you a truly moving and heartfelt interview with Richard Gere on the qualities of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Richard Gere, a long-time friend and student of Rinpoche, was in Nepal and when he received the news of Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, he came to Kopan Monastery to pay his respects and during the first few days meditated in Rinpoche’s rooms. During this time, Ven. Roger Kunsang requested an interview with him regarding his impressions of Rinpoche’s many qualities, after spending time with Rinpoche many times over the years.
Ven. Roger Kunsang interviewing Richard Gere, Nepal, April 18, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Ven. Roger interviewed him personally, just five days after Rinpoche passed away, with Ven. Lobsang Sherab filming and editing the video. The result is a wonderfully kind, open, and extremely sincere tribute to Rinpoche, with stories from personal experiences that really highlight the remarkable way Rinpoche spent every moment benefiting others with such infectious joy.
“I don’t think I ever saw a flash of ego from him,” Richard Gere shared. “Or the sense that the lowest of any of us wasn’t worthy of his greatest love and affection.”
The interview is filled with incredibly astute reflections of Rinpoche’s extraordinary nature. “I think it is extremely rare in any culture,” Richard Gere reflected, “when there is someone as clearly developed as Rinpoche was and worked so hard on himself and was highly embraced and respected within his own community and so highly respected and embraced in the outer community as well—the westerners and foreigners he came in contact with. To have that type of charisma, but on top of that, to be a visionary who was skillful enough to get things done—that combination is extremely rare.”
We welcome you to watch this touching video.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was 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.
Heruka Lama Chopa at Kopan Monastery on the second anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche passing into parinirvana, April 13, 2025. Photo by Capucine T.Dekyong
April 13, 2025 marks the two-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche passing into parinirvana. Around the world students are gathering for collective prayers and practice, and to sincerely remember with immense gratitude the great kindness of our most precious spiritual guide.
At Kopan Monastery, Heruka Lama Chopa with extensive offerings has begun and will be followed by group recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri. Kopan Lama Gyupas and senior monks are offering Yamantaka self-initiation in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room in front of his holy body, followed by recitation of the Guhyasamaja root tantra.
Kopan Lama Gyupas and senior monks offering prayers at Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy body, April 13, 2025. Photo by Capucine T.Dekyong.
Over 1,000 people have arrived at Kopan for this event, including: Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin, Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche, Khenpo Thinley Dorje, Segyu Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Wangdu, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, Kusho Tengye Rinpoche, Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, Rigsel Rinpoche; all the Kopan monks and nuns; and many IMI Sangha. CPMT Summit participants are also in attendance after completing the meeting on April 11 and assembling for group prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return at Boudha Stupa on April 12.
Please rejoice in this most auspicious activity happening at Kopan and around the world today, which we will collect and share very soon.
As a reminder, His Holiness recently confirmed that the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been born and His Holiness has advised to continue reciting Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as well as Migtsema practice.
Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away is a short text translated by Rinpoche that explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was 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.
Kopan Monastery main gompa. Photo by Kira Dane.
April 13, 2025 marks the two-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
As a reminder to students, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away is a short text translated by Rinpoche that explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru. It sets out the benefits of making offerings, how to make the offerings with six remembrances, and how to offer and dedicate the roots of virtue collected. Rinpoche specifically wanted to translate this text for the anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s passing, and it was a text that he wanted available for quite some time. We mention this to emphasize how important Rinpoche felt it was to offer these practices on the anniversary of the guru’s passing, for example, doing Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering as Rinpoche said in the Foreword.
A commemoration will be held at Kopan Monastery on April 13 with high lamas, students, and friends engaged in prayers and practice including the participants of 2025 CPMT Summit who conclude their meeting on April 11. FPMT centers, monasteries, and various communities around the world will also host events of pujas and prayers. We look forward to sharing about what was done around the world on this special occasion.
This is an incredibly powerful time for these prayers as His Holiness recently confirmed that the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been born, and is living in Nepal. His Holiness advised to continue reciting Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as well as Migtsema practice.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal, March 27, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
With great rejoicing we share the wonderful news just announced at the 2025 CPMT Summit that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has confirmed that the reincarnation of our most precious spiritual director, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, has been reborn. According to His Holiness’s observation, the reincarnation has taken rebirth in Nepal. A translation of His Holiness’s message from March 18, 2025 reads:
An Answer to the Request for Checking on the Reincarnation of Zopa Rinpoche
As requested mainly by devotees of Kopan Ogmin Jangchub Choling Monastery, Kopan Khachoe Gakhyil Ling Nunnery, FPMT centers worldwide, together with Sera Je Drati Khangtsen and the disciples in general. The result of checking is:
The reincarnation of Zopa Rinpoche shows to exist and that too appears to show inside Nepal, gradually look for and do the investigation.
For pujas and prayers carry on the recitation of Chanting the Names of Manjushri (Jampal Tsenjo) and Migtsema.
The FPMT Inc. Board of Directors has appointed a search team: Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Ven. Roger Kunsang, Ven. Thubten Pemba, Ani Tenzin Jangsem, Ven. Tenpa Choden, and Dale Davis.
All are encouraged to continue reciting Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as well as Migtsema practice as advised by His Holiness.
We will share updates and news on this process as it unfolds. Please join us in rejoicing in this wonderful news.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at teachings organized by Gendun Drupa Center, Martigny, Switzerland, November 2018. Photo by Olivier Adam.
We are so pleased to share a wonderful new resource for students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche!
We have collected Rinpoche’s literary and graphic works which are available electronically and/or in print, with particular emphasis on key teachings that Rinpoche especially wanted his students to take note of and put into practice, as well as a guide on where to find the audio and video productions.
We hope you will enjoy and thoroughly utilize this precious collection.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was 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.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Potowa Center, Indonesia, 2010. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
From January 25 through February 7, 2010, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered 12 sessions of teachings at Potowa Center in Indonesia. These teachings provided a comprehensive overview of key Buddhist concepts, focusing on how to integrate them into daily practice to progress on the path to enlightenment. All 12 videos from this event are available on our RAN page.
Today we share a teaching from this series, a concise 12 minute video, “Dedicating Oneself to Benefit Others” which begins with a very interesting conversation with a student about who “owns” one’s body and mind:
All of these sessions are available for students to explore as they wish. On this page, you can also find a full combined transcript of these teachings, more information about the sessions, and MP3 audio download.
As students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, we are unbelievably blessed by the vastness of beneficial teachings left for us over decades, and in a wide variety of formats. Please explore our Rinpoche Available Now page, the Essential Extracts page, the FPMT YouTube channel, enjoy teachings in podcast format, and also peruse the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for essential advice and teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, August 2022. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered many teachings from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore from July-September 2022. On August 10 of that year, he gave a recorded teaching about how anger destroys happiness.
In this video, Rinpoche reminds that we can train our mind to practice patience, and it gets easier the more we practice. Since anger is the cause of hell suffering, we should stop it. Therefore, motivate every morning to practice patience. Otherwise, anger suddenly arises. You have to prepare yourself with determination to stop it.
Please watch Rinpoche giving this teaching on video, and access a full transcript.
As students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, we are unbelievably blessed by the vastness of beneficial teachings left for us over decades, and in a wide variety of formats. Please explore our Rinpoche Available Now page, the Essential Extracts page, the FPMT YouTube channel, enjoy teachings in podcast format, and also peruse the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for essential advice and teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in California, 1997. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Over the years, students have shared stories from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s travels around the world benefiting others; to offer a glimpse into what it is like to be on the road with Rinpoche, and to witness and participate in Rinpoche’s enlightened activity. These stories offer a glimpse into how Rinpoche used all of the circumstances in daily life, including the time traveling, to practice Dharma and serve others. Today we are sharing a report from 1997 from long-time FPMT student and former director of FPMT Education Services, Merry Colony.
The summer of ’97 could well indicate a new beginning in the travel style of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Certainly, given the advice of one of his main teachers Ribur Rinpoche and others regarding Rinpoche’s hectic touring schedules and the consequent toll on his health, we should all pray for such.
At a slower pace, with greater autonomy and fewer scheduled events, Roger Kunsang, Roger Munro and our precious Rinpoche left California in the first days of August and embarked on the USA tour, but this time in a luxury conversion Dodge Ram van, maroon of course, complete with custom seats, TV and VCR. On this tour there would not be the constant hum of departure gate announcements, delays at baggage claim carousels or curbside’s anxious check-in crowds. Nor would there be the khatas given in haste amongst rushing onlookers. A great start to what can hopefully become the downsizing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s annual travel agenda.
Rinpoche always taking every opportunity from daily life to bless others: The “vajra vehicle” Dodge van, 1998. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
As a method for giving teaching to us, the style in which Rinpoche traveled, ate and rested provided a whole new market of opportunities for him to show us how to create merit amidst the more ordinary scenery of daily life. The most consistent way in which Rinpoche did this, Roger Munro said, was to make the environment, at every moment, were, into a merit field. That Dodge van, be assured, was power-packed, bestowing blessings on all who were in its reach and providing those within with the means to create merit almost effortlessly. And if there is anything that comes close to death as being a definite in our lives, it is that we will ride in our vehicles. So how to use them for merit? Fill them with holy objects and then circumambulate them at rest strops, parking lots and shopping malls. That’s what Rinpoche did!
The route the entourage followed, starting off in Santa Cruz in California, was first through Nevada where the first night was spent on the side of the road, Rinpoche sitting up all night on the platform bed inside the van, Ven. Roger and Roger on the ground outside. When Roger 2 awoke in the morning, a bit disoriented, the first utterance he made was, “Where are we?” From inside the van a muffled voice replied, “In hell!” For the most part, however, Rinpoche remained quiet as they drove through the desert of Nevada, except to remark now and then on how a particular mountain “looked angry” or another “like an animal with its skin ripped off.” In Arizona Rinpoche was asked if he would like to see the Grand Canyon. “A hole in the ground! What for?” he replied.
When they reached Salt Lake City, Utah the atmosphere within the vajra vehicle and in the surrounding environment changed. There were several rainbows and a thin white cloud resting on the mountains surrounding the city, “as if a kata were draped on them,” Roger M. said. Rinpoche commented that the local deities seemed pleased and then got out to inspect the salt lake, the first interest he’d actively taken in the scenery so far. Roger M. reflected on how in his previous life the Lawudo Lama had made trips by foot to Tibet to buy salt. There may well have been a connection as Rinpoche seemed very interested in how and why and what kind of salt was there. After a visit with the family of Gomo Tulku they continued on to Wyoming and then Nebraska.
It was here, in the flatlands of middle America, that Rinpoche gave one of his best teachings. As it happened there was a Wheel Turning Day, August 7, when all the merits accumulated were multiplied ten million times. There were no stupas nearby, no statues, no Dharma centers. Except of course the unbelievably powerful objects that Rinpoche carries with him, and needless to say Rinpoche’s holy body itself. Within an hour the Motel 8 room where they had spent the previous night was transformed into a gompa and other than to eat lunch in the park nearby and bless the sentient beings living in the Platt river, the three did not leave the hotel room/gompa all day. They circumambulated a small formica table in the room adorned with their mani wheels, statues and the most precious stupa Rinpoche carries containing the Buddha’s relic. They prostrated to the makeshift altar where Rinpoche had set up laminated sheets of Lama Tsong Khapa and Medicine Buddha. And all around they set up water bowls, of the plastic Park Inn variety courtesy of the motel. Then they meditated on the purpose of the perfect human life, and making it worthwhile by accumulating merit on behalf of sentient beings and dedicating all the merits to them. The example shown has to make us ask: Is there really that much I need to make my life worthwhile?
Dog with Dharma message written by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Deer Park, Wisconsin, USA, 1997. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
The next stop was Deer Park, Wisconsin, the home of Geshe Sopa Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachers. The entourage spent twelve days here, Rinpoche receiving teachings for two hours every day from Geshe-la. At the end Rinpoche offered a long life puja for Geshe Sopa, for which he shopped at the local department store, buying among other things, an Edgewood dinner set. The tsog offering was three tiers of gaudy supermarket cake, one of which had a smily face decorated in three-inch- thick frosting. Geshe-la was extremely pleased. When it came to the part in the puja where the mandala is offered and an original memorized praise is recited to the Lama, the tables were untraditionally turned. Rather than Lama Zopa offering the praise, Geshe Sopa himself spoke a moving praise of Lama Zopa’s extraordinary qualities as a yogi-practitioner. Before leaving Deer Park Rinpoche granted the Vajrasattva empowerment, at the request of Geshe Sopa, to the many students of Geshe-la who were present.
On to Decatur, Illinois. At Tilopa Center Rinpoche taught for three nights on The Three Principal Aspects of the Path followed by a Four-Armed Chenrezig empowerment. At a picnic Rinpoche is known to have given his first tattoo. On the forearm of a tattoo artist Rinpoche wrote, “The moment you remember death all other problems will be solved.” The man went home that night and put the needle and ink to the words. Yet another skillful means of bringing the teachings into our daily life American reality.
By now Ven. Tsenla had joined Rinpoche’s entourage and they drove back West to Osel Shen Phen Ling in Missoula, Montana. Director Deanna Sheriff wrote, “Rinpoche transformed our environment and all who came in touch with him. He has challenged us to build a stupa in Montana for the benefit of all who live here and particularly for the growing Tibetan community. We are delighted to fulfill his vision for us. We are also trying to hold Rinpoche’s vision of a bigger center in our visualizations and we invite students worldwide to pray for our success.” The vajra mobile then headed to the Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle for a Vajrasattva empowerment and public talk, then on to San Francisco for another Vajrasattva empowerment sponsored by Tse Chen Ling Center and attended by 200 people.
Being the first stop of a month-long program in California, S an Francisco saw the beginnings of an international audience with several Taiwanese in attendance. From there the venue moved south to Cupertino’s Medicine Buddha’s Healing Center. Here the numbers swelled, with students that had come from New Zealand, Europe, Nepal and Taiwan for the Heruka and Vajra Yogini initiations preceded each night by extensive lam-rim teachings. Rinpoche used Lama Yeshe’s text for the Heruka and would periodically read notes to us that Lama written as well as stopping where Lama had stopped when he had given the initiation years ago. It was a heartfelt touch for those of us who had attended those very memorable initiations.
Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel hosted the next event, a Palden Lhamo empowerment. Co-director Mark Gatter tells of having lunch with Rinpoche the day of the empowerment when it was discovered that Rinpoche didn’t actually have the text with him. This inspired several Roger-powered long distance cellphone calls from the table until a text was located in Australia. They then returned to the center where the text was faxed through. Only when Rinpoche had started the preparation was it discovered that there were some pages missing. More calls to Australia. Just then three monks from Nalanda Monastery in France arrived, one of them carrying the exact text Rinpoche was in need of. He had brought it as an auspicious offering to the guru! Said Mark: “Don’t you just love this stuff?” The initiation then proceeded without a hitch, the gompa filled with students from all over the world, finishing at 5am.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Most Secret Hayagriva retreat group at Vajrapani Institute, 1997. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
And now we bring you to date, where, as of writing, nearby at Vajrapani Institute, the extremely auspicious Dharma event of seventy students and Rinpoche doing a Most Secret Hayagriva retreat is in its final days. Many in attendance had followed the eight days of initiations preceding the retreat which had finished each night between 3 and 5am. When on the first day of retreat Rinpoche announced that this was “not going to be picnic,” a slight panic could be felt in the room. Picnic it hasn’t been (in fact meals have been taken in silence and without undue lagging about). Spiritual feast is more the description. At the start, however, it looked as though Rinpoche may depart early and go to Dharamsala for teachings from His Holiness, but the decision to stay was made when Geshe Sopa advised Rinpoche to remain. From our hearts, thank you Geshe-la!
For twenty-four days, now, we have had the indescribable fortune of getting a taste for how the guru would have us meditate and conduct ourselves in retreat. First session at 5am, as with all sessions, began with extensive motivation and prostrations to the Thirty-five Buddhas followed usually by commentary and then the sadhana either chanted in Tibetan or done silently in one’s own language. Rinpoche had invited Sera Je Geshe Thubten Sonam to come as our puja leader. After session and breakfast 1000 water bowls were offered at the stupa of the most precious Lama Thubten Yeshe. Another session began at 9:30am and another at 3pm. The evening session at seven included commentary as well as extensive torma and tsog offerings. After sometimes forty-five minutes of Rinpoche’s elaborate dedication prayers, we usually got to bed well after midnight.
The amazing thing to experience was how our resistance to the heavy schedule became less and less, and while tiredness always lurked around the edges, it was very sustainable, and it even became enjoyable to be making such effort to make our lives meaningful.
We even had the merit to walk out of the gompa one session and see a seventeen-foot Medicine Buddha tangka hanging from the redwoods behind Lama’s stupa. This was Peter Iseli’s most recent offering (for nearby Land of Medicine Buddha), and Rinpoche honored him that night with praise and presents after extensive offerings and prayers had been made to the tangka Buddhas.
On the last morning of retreat Rinpoche explained that only since his being in the USA did the plan to do this Most Secret Hayagriva retreat take shape. He also said that he did not expect there to be as much interest as there was and that he was pleased with how the retreat went.
Rinpoche then said that he would like to dedicate the positive accumulation to His Holiness. A letter will be sent to His Holiness explaining that this is the first time in the West that a group has done this particular practice and that we would all like to dedicate the merits to be guided by the Compassionate Buddha in all our lives and never to be separate.
Finally Rinpoche paid tribute to Paula Chichester and Roger Munro, who are about to begin their second three-year retreat. “Bearing so much hardship, this is what I am most interested in. Generally people who have done three-year retreat, you don’t see much result, but I can see the improvement, stability. This is the result of having practiced Dharma during the retreat. Anyone can recite mantras but practicing Dharma is very difficult. When there is no development in the mind it is not because one doesn’t have mantras to recite or deity practice to do, it is because no Dharma practice gets done.” Rinpoche wished them both a good journey.
Tomorrow is fire puja and then as we all came together so we will part, each to their to their own destination, to their next work. We dedicate all the merits to all the FPMT students, benefactors, teachers and projects. That all may have success and that all obstacles be cleared.
And most of all that our lamas who show us the path, without whom we would not even know the name of Buddha, will have long and healthy lives and that all their holy wishes may be fulfilled without delay.
Written by Merry Colony for Mandala magazine, November-December 1997.
You can read more inspiring and amusing stories of Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the road we have previously published.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of lamrim topics. Video of these teachings is also available on our Rinpoche Available Now page.
New episodes of this series will be released every week, and as there are fifty teachings in this series, one can easily plan for a whole year of teachings by Rinpoche through following this series.
This podcast is currently available through podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and most major podcast apps. Search for the show title “Lama Zopa Rinpoche full-length teachings” to find the show in the podcast app. If you want to know how to listen to podcasts through an app, a search of the internet offers many resources to help you.
(For those wanting to listen in browsers like Chrome or Firefox [not Safari], the RSS feed link is https://feeds.captivate.fm/lama-zopa-rinpoche-full-length/).
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Thang Thong Gyalpo Earthquake Protection
The FPMT organization is devastated to hear the news that a powerful 6.8 earthquake struck on January 7, 2025 in the Dingri region of Tibet, with tremors felt across the Himalayas in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan and parts of northern India.
Many FPMT centers and students are doing prayers for those affected. Rinpoche has offered advice for prayers and protection from earthquakes and recommended Thang Thong Gyalpo protection image for anyone living in areas that are prone to earthquakes.
The main practices to do are:
- Ksitigharba mantra and practice (also sutra)
- Medicine Buddha
- Practices to Control Earthquakes and the Four Elements
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche also gave more extensive advice on how to think and how to benefit those who have died
We also would like to share that Kopan Monastery and Nunnery have been doing pujas for those affected, to show our solidarity and support for those who have nothing. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama also led prayers immediately for victims of the earthquake at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, Karnataka.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.