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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice
Lama Zopa Rinpoche met Panchen Otrul Rinpoche during his recent visit to Mongolia and was very inspired by the many charitable projects Panchen Otrul Rinpoche has initiated. These projects benefit hundreds of people now suffering as a result of the ever increasing poverty resulting in the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2001 Panchen Otrul Rinpoche formed Asral NGO to help both individuals and communities. Please rejoice that the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund was able to offer US$10,000 toward this array of beneficial activities.
Asral NGO has provided many benefits to the Gachuurt community of Mongolia, particularly to women, poor children and bedridden elderly including efforts in the broad areas of: training, children, medication, aid:
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Many households in Mongolia are now headed by women, who are typically the poorest members of society. Asral NGO is committed to supporting these women and their families to achieve sustainable livelihoods, working closely with community leaders, to provide access to education, skills training and family support.
Panchen Otrul Rinpoche visiting a women’s prison in Mongolia.
- Asral NGO address the specific needs of children, and their social workers work closely with local governors and community organizations to help make education, healthcare, nutrition and family support available to young children. The Hot Meal and Sponsorship Programs provide children with meals, equipment, clothes and school supplies.
Children’s Hot Meal Program.
- Poor living conditions, malnutrition, lack of warm clothes and pollution are all major causes of respiratory, heart and kidney disease. Asral NGO works with the local medical center, providing supplies, medical care, vitamins, clean and safe water supplies and public training in disease prevention programs.
- It is estimated that one third of the population of this area live below the poverty line. Over the last two decades, up to thirty thousand people moved each year to the city, resulting in the vast shanty district surrounding Ulaanbaatar. Asral NGO supports people in need with homes, stoves, fuel, food and emergency aid, particularly in the harsh and difficult winters.
Panchen Otrul Rinpoche visiting an elderly bedridden woman suffering from a stroke and cancer. Rinpoche hand-delivered free medication to this woman.
- In addition to the organized charitable activity, Panchen Otrul Rinpoche also visits prisons, orphanages, schools and individuals in need.
You can learn more about Panchen Otrul Rinpoche and his Asral NGO project in Mongolia.
Vens. Tsering, Namgyal, Sangpo, Sherab and Roger guiding the large Namgyälma mantra board through the waves while a dolphin swims by in the background, California, October 26, 2013. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
When Lama Zopa Rinpoche stays at Kachoe Dechen Ling, his home in Aptos, California, Rinpoche regularly goes to the ocean to do prayers and practices to benefit the ocean and all sentient beings living in it. Rinpoche and Sangha take a specially made board with the Namgyälma mantra on it and submerge it in the water so its blessings are spread throughout the ocean. Often the mantra board is lowered on ropes into the water from a pier. It has also been pulled along by a boat.
Rinpoche on the beach doing prayers and mantras for blessing the ocean while Sangha move the mantra boards through the waves, California, October 26, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Most recently, however, Sangha took two mantra boards directly into the frigid cold waters of the Pacific Ocean while Rinpoche said prayers and mantras on the beach. One of the mantra boards taken out is new and very large.
Namgyälma mantra boards in action in the Pacific Ocean, October 26, 2013. Photo by Ven. Holly Ansett.
During the recent long life puja for Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, Rinpoche was offered a 5-by-7-foot (1.5-by-2.1-meter) Namgyälma mantra board. The board was designed by Peter Griffin, a sculptor in the UK, and made from resin and fiberglass cast from a mold. Pam Cayton organized the creation of the large mantra board.
The huge Namgyälma mantra board being presented to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, September 29, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
The older and smaller mantra board, also designed by Peter Griffin, measures 3-by-4-foot (0.9-by-1.2-meter) and is quite heavy.
Older mantra board
“The Namgyälma mantra is extremely powerful,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches. “[It] is the main mantra to purify and liberate beings from the lower realms, purify negative karma, and help those who are dying or have died by chanting it in their ear or placing it on their body.”
Rinpoche’s advice continues:
“For instance, if this mantra is placed on a mountain, the entire mountain becomes blessed and any people, animals or insects who touch or climb the mountain are purified of negative karma and liberated from the lower realms. If you hang this mantra as a banner, then even the shadow from the banner purifies the negative karma of anyone who comes in contact with it. Similarly, if this mantra is hung in your home, everyone in the house, not only people, but all of the animals and insects, will be purified of their negative karma and liberated from the lower realms. And it is excellent to have this mantra on your car, on the inside roof, on the passenger side visor, or on the outside of the car. This way, every time someone enters your car they are blessed by the power of this mantra. Also, any animal that touches the car, is killed in an accident, or is run over by the car, including extremely tiny insects that you can’t see, they are completely purified.”
The FPMT Foundation Store offers many protection items with the Namgyälma mantra including cards, decals and amulets.
Vens. Sangpo and Holly with smaller mantra board, California, October 26, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
“By having this mantra on the car, or house window, then even the shadow will bless sentient beings. The dust, wind, water and rain that touches it with the Namgyälma mantra becomes blessed so that any person or animal or insect who comes in contact with the dust, wind, water or rain becomes purified,” Rinpoche said.
“I suggest that you give copies of this mantra sticker to other people in your community and explain the benefits of it. We need to print more Namgyälma stickers, many different sizes for others to use in the car, home, motorbike, bicycle, etc.”
You can read more about “The Benefits of Namgyälma Mantra” in an article from Mandala August-September 2008.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an organization dedicated to preserving Mahayana Buddhism through offering the Buddha’s authentic teachings and to facilitating reflection, meditation, practice and the opportunity to actualize and directly experience the Buddha’s teachings. Sign up to receive news and updates.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Robbie Solick, Santa Cruz, California, US, September 30, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
How far are we ever from our guru? Lama Zopa Rinpoche by chance met Robbie Solick, an early student of Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche, while out on the street in Santa Cruz. Rinpoche’s assistant Ven. Roger Kunsang said that Robbie took the Vajrasattva initiation in 1972, the first time Lama Yeshe gave it.
Learn more about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s homepage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 21, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
From Ven. Roger Kunsang’s Twitter page, posted on October 5 and September 15 respectively:
Lama Zopa: your Guru gives you teachings and then puts you in the situation so you have to practice that… Lojong.
Lama Zopa: In samsara always difficulties arise, the cause has been created, so take hardships as ornaments and have courage and endurance.
Ven. Roger is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc. He regularly shares Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pith sayings on Twitter. (You can also read them on Ven. Roger’s Facebook page.)
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
Flowers offerings at Kachoe Dechen Ling, Aptos, California, October 18, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Beautiful flowers and gardens surround Kachoe Dechen Ling, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s home in California. The flowers are part of the many, many offerings at Rinpoche’s home and are due to the inspiring vision of Rinpoche, the work of gardener Nancy Davis and the daily care of resident Sangha, especially Vens. Anet and Namgyal.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Nancy Davis, Aptos, California, September 30, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s homepage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Dagri Rinpoche making offerings to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
You can watch video of the entire long life puja offered to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche, including the special dance of the five dakinis (begins at 53:00). The long life puja was held on Sunday, September 29, 2013, at Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB).
According LMB’s news page: “Lama Zopa Rinpoche said in a conversation with Dagri Rinpoche that he enjoyed the long life puja very much and was very pleased for several reasons. Firstly, the dakini dance was very good, unlike anything he has seen before. Secondly, a lot of old students came. It is very good they were there.”
The offering of the long life puja with the five dakinis is one of the practices that centers can undertake according to advice given by Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life.
Tenzin Ösel Hita, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe, attended the long life puja and offered Rinpoche praises that Tenzin Ösel had composed.
The long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche was offered by FPMT Inc. Board of Directors and FPMT North America with logistical support from local FPMT centers and projects.
Thanks to Ven. Tenzin Jangchub for doing the live stream of this event and providing the recorded video to FPMT.
Photographer Chris Majors captured the long life puja. You can see all of his photos from the festive and beautiful day on Chris’ Flickr page.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
Image: Dreamstime
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, California, September 29, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
With bushfires raging in New South Wales, Australia, one can turn to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice page “Disasters of the Elements.” The advice includes Rinpoche’s practices for dispelling fire, a “Letter Regarding the Disasters of the Elements,” a PDF of the heart mantra of Arya Vairochana and a story about a fire at Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s house.
The FPMT-affiliated Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains is currently closed due to fires burning in the area. The Liberation Prison Project Australia office is also under threat.
Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre shared on their Facebook page: “We hope that a worst-case scenario will not eventuate but in preparation we have packed up all our holy objects, images, shop stock and Centre admin papers etc which will be relocated to a safe location on Tuesday morning. … For now, please continue to offer your prayers for those who have lost homes, the creatures who have lost their lives, for those who will continue to battle the fires and for those who offer hope and inspiration to all of us.”
Conditions are expected to worsen on Wednesday, the BBC reported.
You can find more advice from Rinpoche concerning fires in the “Lama Zopa Rinpoche Online Advice Book” on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website.
Learn more about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s homepage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Aptos, California, September 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues to rebuild strength and skills that were affected by the stroke he manifested in 2011. Rinpoche practices writing to improve his right hand dexterity.
Rinpoche is writing the mantra that is on the “Buddha’s Teaching on Our Lives Card,” which is available in the FPMT Foundation Store.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, California, US, September 21, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.
Lama Zopa: Once you know Buddhism you become wish fulfilling to the world.
– From Ven. Roger Kunsang’s Twitter page, posted on September 22, 2013
Ven. Roger is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s assistant and CEO of FPMT Inc. He regularly shares Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pith sayings on Twitter. (You can also read them on Ven. Roger’s Facebook page.)
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s homepage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up for Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent pithy advice, reported by Ven. Roger Kunsang (@rogerkunsang) via Twitter:
“What makes death very difficult – worldly concerns, the 8 worldly dharmas , attachment! What helps – good heart!”
“Don’t let personal problems become center problems or other’s problems!”
“When someone is making you angry, don’t put the practice off to later, practice patience now! Later may never come.”
“Your Guru gives you teachings and then puts you in the situation so you have to practice that… lojong.”
Dagri Rinpoche with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kachoe Dechen Ling on the morning of his departure back to India, Aptos, California, October 7, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Dagri Rinpoche wrapped up a tour of the United States, visiting Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the morning of October 7. Dagri Rinpoche offered Lama Zopa Rinpoche the double dorje with mandala offering before departing for India. Dagri Rinpoche is an FPMT touring lama and taught at three FPMT centers during his visit: Milarepa Center in Vermont, Kurukulla Center in Massachusetts and Land of Medicine Buddha in California.
Kurukulla Center offers video and audio of Dagri Rinpoche teaching on the Three Principles of the Path. And Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) shares many photos of Dagri Rinpoche’s visit on their Facebook page. While at LMB, Dagri Rinpoche gave a Most Secret Havagriva empowerment and gave 10 full days of Lama Chöpa commentary.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche preparing for Amitabha long life initiation at Gyalwa Gyatso Buddhist Center, Campbell, California, October 13, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
Gyalwa Gyatso Buddhist Center in Campbell, California, hosted Lama Zopa Rinpoche who gave teachings and Amitabha long life initiation on Sunday, October 13. The preliminary teachings were streamed live over the internet from Gyalwa Gyatso. The video of the teachings can still be watched online for four more weeks.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche’s vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.