Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice

Dear Friends,

Rinpoche’s condition has been steadily improving. Recently Rinpoche’s brother Sangay offered Rinpoche an exercise bike. Rinpoche rides nearly every day 3 kms. I am hoping soon we can increase that to 5 kms. The right leg now is quite strong, the right arm still needs more effort to increase its functionality. Rinpoche’s writing has improved and he can write short notes quite well.

The doctors are comfortable with Rinpoche’s control of blood pressure and sugar levels, still not ideal but for Rinpoche’s present condition they feel quite ok.

Thank you,

roger

Bodhgaya, India — January 28, 2012

From Ven. Roger:

Elephant practicing Dharma with Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Can elephants create virtue? Of course they can. Rinpoche was offered an elephant here in Bodhgaya. He accepted to keep it for 10 minutes and then return it to its owner. During those 10 minutes (which did get extended a little) Rinpoche had the elephant circumambulate the large Maitreya statue a few times, then with others he fed the elephant a lot of food while reciting mantras. After the great blessing, Rinpoche asked the owner to bring the elephant from time to time to Root Institute to do korwa (circumambulations). Since then a few friendly camels have come to do korwa. (more…)

Bodhgaya, India — January 8, 2012

From Ven. Roger:

They are saying that 400,000 or more people are at the Kalachakra Initiation, among them thousands of monks and nuns. It’s a spectacular sea of red when you look out over the crowd.

Some Tibetans start lining up at 1 a.m. in the morning, 12 hours before His Holiness the Dalai Lama starts at midday. The teachings have been lasting four to six hours. People are crammed in tight. I have Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche (the eight year old incarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog) sitting beside me. He listens on my headphones to the English and the other ear is free to hear His Holiness in Tibetan. Both his hands are busy drawing, using toilet paper delicately balanced on the top of his small thermos. He creates amazing little sketches of the eight auspicious signs and then passes them over to me. I put them carefully in my bag.

Bread and tea are being handed out, young monks come racing into the teaching area real fast! Some monks start skillfully, some not so skillfully, surfing the sea of red, delivering paper cups, bread and tea. It’s hot and stuffy with Tibetan bread everywhere. There are plenty of TVs for people who can’t see His Holiness directly. Outside this massive tent there are thousands of people sitting on the roads. The police have blocked all traffic and rickshaw walas from going anywhere near the teaching site. (more…)

India — December 26, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Well, we were late to the airport, but so was the plane! So we made the flight to Delhi OK. Today we had to rush to the airport again. I don’t know why this always happens! Actually, it wasn’t too bad until we arrived and then had to rearrange luggage and then negotiate with the airline about excess baggage. Then run for the flight after explaining to security about the two prayer wheels and other interesting items we carry. The airline guy pushing Rinpoche’s wheel chair was able to keep up a steady run with all of us jogging along. Nice bit of exercise! Last on the flight … and we will be last off as well. Then drive to Bodhgaya.

Vous pouvez lire ce blog en français, traduit par le Bureau de la traduction de la FPMT – France.

Dharamsala, India — December 25, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Time to go to the airport! We are all packed. Many suit cases are loaded. Where is Rinpoche? Now it is getting late. Rinpoche is still doing the last session of retreat. I keep reminding Rinpoche of the time but get no response!

The retreat, in some way, signifies another aspect of Rinpoche’s style. Back to normal. Sessions at night have been going until 5 am and can last up to 7 hours long.

Trying to get Rinpoche to finish the retreat and get to the airport.

Vous pouvez lire ce blog en français, traduit par le Bureau de la traduction de la FPMT – France.

Rinpoche meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in December 2011

Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja held at Tushita

Lama Zopa Rinpoche using right hand to write the long Amitayus mantra, for exercise

Lama Zopa Rinpoche walking without assistance, very carefully around Lama Yeshe stupa at
Tushita

Please enjoy this recent video of a teaching from Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Nalanda Monastery, 26 Oct 2011

December 13th 2011

Dear Friends,

Rinpoche is in retreat for a short time before the Kalachakra initiation. I just mentioned to Rinpoche that some students have between them recited the Golden Light Sutra more than 100 times. Rinpoche was very pleased.

As he sat down to start a session, Rinpoche said “so beneficial for those who recited … amazing amazing benefits, can’t imagine! …  from my heart THANK YOU TO EVERYONE”.

On Dec 16th there is a special long life puja being offered to Rinpoche by some of the high lamas here in Dharamsala, this is done over 3 days.

Love roger

PS from Claire: thanks again to all who recited the Golden Light Sutra as requested on Dec 7th.  As we have accumulated more than 88 recitations between us, no need to let me know any further recitations.  Thank you and big rejoicing!

Dear Friends,

For Rinpoche’s health and long life, we have been advised it is very important for students to accumulate 88 recitations of the Golden Light Sutra.

There is no deadline but it would be helpful and very good to get these recitations completed soon.

We have made the Sutra of Golden Light available in various languages to read/download.

Please would centers, projects, services and individual students email me when you have completed any recitations, and I will keep a tally.

MANY thanks, and all good wishes,

Claire

Claire Isitt

Center Services Director

FPMT International Office (1632 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, USA)

fpmt.org

McLeod Ganj, India — December 1, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama walked through the door. Rinpoche went forward to greet him (not being able to prostrate) and they embraced (this was the first time Rinpoche had met His Holiness since his stroke earlier in the year). The room was very silent and still. They remained embracing each other for what seemed like a long time. His Holiness then sat down and asked Rinpoche to sit close. His Holiness then held Rinpoche’s right hand and kept massaging and stroking it throughout their meeting and asking about how the stroke had started and all that had happened. During the meeting, for some who were in the small group with Rinpoche, it was hard to hold back the tears. Some were not holding them back at all. (more…)

Dear Friends,

Rinpoche has been in France and now India focusing on his health. With the help of Khandro la Rinpoche continues to improve. Everyone has been very understanding in giving Rinpoche the space for the necessary therapy.

Rinpoche is being careful to follow a good diet and doing regular exercise (with some prompting).

Rinpoche is continuing with his western medication, in addition he is seeing a Tibetan doctor who is giving Tibetan medicine for paralysis. Rinpoche is also regularly going to a hot spring and having Tibetan treatment called “LUM” … simply speaking is a special mixture of herbs in a hot bath.

One exercise that Rinpoche enjoys …which surprised us all is … soccer!

Kicking around a little ball … it is good exercise and helps with balance and coordination … Rinpoche gets a real kick out of this!

All the treatment outside of the western medical is guided by Khandro la. And Khandro la fully supports the western medical approach.

Thank you to everyone for all your support in so many ways, very much appreciated!

roger

Dear Friends,

Rinpoche’s treatment continues here in France. The flight from Nepal was smooth, it took some days of rest after the flight to recover. The treatment is going well, especially with Khandro la’s assistance. We are hoping with 4 weeks of concentrated therapy Rinpoche will make some good improvement. The main focus is on the right arm and right leg.

While in Kopan Rinpoche did give some teachings to the monks and nuns. Rinpoche kept the teachings brief (for Rinpoche) … about 2 hours and this worked well, if it was longer Rinpoche’s speech started to get tired.

Thank you to everyone for all your support in many different ways, greatly appreciated.

roger

September 22 2011

Rejoice!  From his own side, Yang Teng Tulku has composed a prayer – Panacea of Pure Nectar – to offer to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Yang Teng Tulku is a very knowledgeable young lama working in His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Private Office assisting with Dharma texts and so on.

In the colophon Yang Teng Tulku explains why he composed the prayer:

“I wrote it with heartfelt sincerity reflecting on how just wonderful it would be if the illness of the incomparable Lama Zopa Rinpoche—who, having extensively preserved and continuing to sustain, serves to bring to fruit on the contemporary, non-sectarian teachings of the Buddha in general and in particular those of our spiritual father, Tsongkhapa—were quickly cleared away.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche said that this prayer can be made available for students if they would like to read and recite it.

Panacea of Pure Nectar – a prayer for Lama Zopa Rinpoche composed by Yang Teng Tulku, 2011

English

 French

Spanish

NB: this should not be confused with the long life prayer for Lama Zopa Rinpoche.