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Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The FPMT is an organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
- Willkommen
Die Stiftung zur Erhaltung der Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) ist eine Organisation, die sich weltweit für die Erhaltung und Verbreitung des Mahayana-Buddhismus einsetzt, indem sie Möglichkeiten schafft, den makellosen Lehren des Buddha zuzuhören, über sie zur reflektieren und zu meditieren und auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrung das Dharma unter den Lebewesen zu verbreiten.
Wir bieten integrierte Schulungswege an, durch denen der Geist und das Herz der Menschen in ihr höchstes Potential verwandelt werden zum Wohl der anderen – inspiriert durch eine Haltung der universellen Verantwortung und dem Wunsch zu dienen. Wir haben uns verpflichtet, harmonische Umgebungen zu schaffen und allen Wesen zu helfen, ihr volles Potenzial unendlicher Weisheit und grenzenlosen Mitgefühls zu verwirklichen.
Unsere Organisation basiert auf der buddhistischen Tradition von Lama Tsongkhapa von Tibet, so wie sie uns von unseren Gründern Lama Thubten Yeshe und Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche gelehrt wird.
- Bienvenidos
La Fundación para la preservación de la tradición Mahayana (FPMT) es una organización que se dedica a preservar y difundir el budismo Mahayana en todo el mundo, creando oportunidades para escuchar, reflexionar, meditar, practicar y actualizar las enseñanzas inconfundibles de Buda y en base a esa experiencia difundir el Dharma a los seres.
Proporcionamos una educación integrada a través de la cual las mentes y los corazones de las personas se pueden transformar en su mayor potencial para el beneficio de los demás, inspirados por una actitud de responsabilidad y servicio universales. Estamos comprometidos a crear ambientes armoniosos y ayudar a todos los seres a desarrollar todo su potencial de infinita sabiduría y compasión.
Nuestra organización se basa en la tradición budista de Lama Tsongkhapa del Tíbet como nos lo enseñaron nuestros fundadores Lama Thubten Yeshe y Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
A continuación puede ver una lista de los centros y sus páginas web en su lengua preferida.
- Bienvenue
L’organisation de la FPMT a pour vocation la préservation et la diffusion du bouddhisme du mahayana dans le monde entier. Elle offre l’opportunité d’écouter, de réfléchir, de méditer, de pratiquer et de réaliser les enseignements excellents du Bouddha, pour ensuite transmettre le Dharma à tous les êtres. Nous proposons une formation intégrée grâce à laquelle le cœur et l’esprit de chacun peuvent accomplir leur potentiel le plus élevé pour le bien d’autrui, inspirés par le sens du service et une responsabilité universelle. Nous nous engageons à créer un environnement harmonieux et à aider tous les êtres à épanouir leur potentiel illimité de compassion et de sagesse. Notre organisation s’appuie sur la tradition guéloukpa de Lama Tsongkhapa du Tibet, telle qu’elle a été enseignée par nos fondateurs Lama Thoubtèn Yéshé et Lama Zopa Rinpoché.
Visitez le site de notre Editions Mahayana pour les traductions, conseils et nouvelles du Bureau international en français.
Voici une liste de centres et de leurs sites dans votre langue préférée
- Benvenuto
L’FPMT è un organizzazione il cui scopo è preservare e diffondere il Buddhismo Mahayana nel mondo, creando occasioni di ascolto, riflessione, meditazione e pratica dei perfetti insegnamenti del Buddha, al fine di attualizzare e diffondere il Dharma fra tutti gli esseri senzienti.
Offriamo un’educazione integrata, che può trasformare la mente e i cuori delle persone nel loro massimo potenziale, per il beneficio di tutti gli esseri, ispirati da un’attitudine di responsabilità universale e di servizio.
Il nostro obiettivo è quello di creare contesti armoniosi e aiutare tutti gli esseri a sviluppare in modo completo le proprie potenzialità di infinita saggezza e compassione.
La nostra organizzazione si basa sulla tradizione buddhista di Lama Tsongkhapa del Tibet, così come ci è stata insegnata dai nostri fondatori Lama Thubten Yeshe e Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Di seguito potete trovare un elenco dei centri e dei loro siti nella lingua da voi prescelta.
- 欢迎 / 歡迎
简体中文
“护持大乘法脉基金会”( 英文简称:FPMT。全名:Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) 是一个致力于护持和弘扬大乘佛法的国际佛教组织。我们提供听闻,思维,禅修,修行和实证佛陀无误教法的机会,以便让一切众生都能够享受佛法的指引和滋润。
我们全力创造和谐融洽的环境, 为人们提供解行并重的完整佛法教育,以便启发内在的环宇悲心及责任心,并开发内心所蕴藏的巨大潜能 — 无限的智慧与悲心 — 以便利益和服务一切有情。
FPMT的创办人是图腾耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。我们所修习的是由两位上师所教导的,西藏喀巴大师的佛法传承。
繁體中文
護持大乘法脈基金會”( 英文簡稱:FPMT。全名:Found
ation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ) 是一個致力於護持和弘揚大乘佛法的國際佛教組織。我們提供聽聞, 思維,禪修,修行和實證佛陀無誤教法的機會,以便讓一切眾生都能 夠享受佛法的指引和滋潤。 我們全力創造和諧融洽的環境,
為人們提供解行並重的完整佛法教育,以便啟發內在的環宇悲心及責 任心,並開發內心所蘊藏的巨大潛能 — 無限的智慧與悲心 – – 以便利益和服務一切有情。 FPMT的創辦人是圖騰耶喜喇嘛和喇嘛梭巴仁波切。
我們所修習的是由兩位上師所教導的,西藏喀巴大師的佛法傳承。 察看道场信息:
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For happiness, cherish others.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
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The Foundation Store is FPMT’s online shop and features a vast selection of Buddhist study and practice materials written or recommended by our lineage gurus. These items include homestudy programs, prayers and practices in PDF or eBook format, materials for children, and other resources to support practitioners.
Items displayed in the shop are made available for Dharma practice and educational purposes, and never for the purpose of profiting from their sale. Please read FPMT Foundation Store Policy Regarding Dharma Items for more information.
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice
20
From April 10 to May 10, 2004 Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat in Buddha House, Australia. The retreat was on Mahamudra, however, Rinpoche teaches on a broad range of lamrim topics. We are pleased to share that all 51 videos from this retreat are now available on our RAN page.
Today, we are sharing video #24 from this retreat, “Everything Comes from the Mind.”
Rinpoche begins this session with an analysis of how the mind labels phenomena using the example of the letter “M.” He shows how M came from the mind because it’s imputed by the mind, explaining that there is no outside creator; the creator is the mind.
Until the mind labels a problem, there is no appearance of a problem. The problem only comes into existence after the mind labels it. To illustrate, Rinpoche uses the example of patience. If we label someone who harms us as a teacher of patience, there’s no problem. We would only see them as beneficial and kind. However, if we lack patience and put a negative label on the person who is harming us, anger arises. We would see that person as totally bad, whereas with patience, we see them as the most precious one in our life.
Rinpoche invites a discussion on this topic by posing the question: “Is the M in the mind or outside?” This stimulates a discussion on whether the base and the label are inside or outside the mind. Rinpoche also asks: “When you go shopping, is the department store in your mind or not?” Rinpoche ends by highlighting that just as the M is in the mind, it’s the same thing when you go shopping. The shopkeepers, the department store, the whole building, all the billions of things you encounter come from your mind. Everything comes from the mind.
Watch “Everything Comes from the Mind.”
As a reminder, this entire retreat is now available for students to explore as they wish.
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.
- Tagged: emptiness, mahamudra, rinpoche available now
17
We are inviting all students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to participate in a worldwide, 24/7 prayer circle to amplify the causes for Rinpoche’s quick return! Find a convenient time slot that works for your schedule and other commitments to recite the prayers recommended for this purpose. You can sign up on the IMI website.
This initiative was launched by The International Mahayana Institute (IMI) on Lhabab Duchen in 2023, for the global FPMT family to come together to generate a continuous wave of merit needed for Rinpoche to swiftly return.
Joining your effort today would help fulfil His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s most recent advice, which is to continue to recite “Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri” as much as possible. In the same May 2024 advice, His Holiness also recommended Rinpoche’s students to invoke the support of the Dharma protectors Six-Armed Mahakala, Kalarupa and Palden Lhamo.
Accordingly, the relevant practices have been collated in this convenient booklet A Collection of Prayers for the Swift Return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche with advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Just download it to take part in this mass collective effort happening around the world.
What to do:
- Simply sign up for a time slot you find convenient and start your recitation at that time.
- On Saturdays, there is opportunity to power up the practice by doing your recitation on Zoom where others can join. (The Zoom login information is on the sign-up sheet). If you prefer to do your recitations in solitude, you can still pick a Saturday slot—just type “offline” next to your name.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche often advised about the power of prayer, particularly when done collectively with devotion to the same guru. We can take this advice to heart and sincerely and collectively fulfill His Holiness’s recent requests so that we can find Rinpoche’s unmistaken reincarnation very soon.
As you dedicate for Rinpoche’s swift return, and consider all of the advice for prayers offered by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, please recall the advice we have received that the new incarnation to be “bright” (His Eminence Ling Rinpoche), “have healthy genetics,” (His Eminence Jhado Rinpoche to a student), and to be unmistaken (Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche) and quickly recognized. As Rinpoche’s relative Ven. Pemba in Hong Kong requested: “We need to pray for the incarnation to have all the qualities necessary to complete all the studies as soon as possible and resume carrying out the legacy of Rinpoche’s past life and therefore be of the most benefit to sentient beings.”
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.
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche received thousands of requests every year from people seeking guidance on a variety of issues familiar to us all. The below is advice Rinpoche offered to a student requesting pujas in support of taking treatment for fourth stage cancer and finding suitable care. You are also welcome to download a formatted PDF of this advice.
The best puja is done by your mind
I did prayers for you: whatever is best for sentient beings, which means for every sentient being—whether it is best for sentient beings to die, to be sick, or to not die or not get sick, whatever it is— may that happen. This is the best puja, and it is done by your mind,
by yourself.
One can do so many pujas but never actually practice, and then at death-time there’s so much worry and fear, for oneself and for those surrounding, for family and friends. Instead of rejoicing, there’s so much worry and fear. With the first option, one can die happily; one can have a happy death.
Taking care of others is what pleases the buddhas and bodhisattvas the most
By helping and serving a dying person, you are taking care of numberless buddhas—Shakyamuni Buddha, Tara, Chenrezig, Manjushri, Vajrapani—as well as all the bodhisattvas. Why? Because they all cherish sentient beings the most, just like a mother cherishes her daughter or son more than herself. Serving her daughter or son, cleaning their urine and excrement, makes the mother so happy, even happier than if someone were taking care of her. Why? Because she cares for her son or daughter even more than her own life.
Having this wish to make others so happy while serving is the best; and it’s the best offering to the buddhas and bodhisattvas. Also, think about how your past, present, and future happiness comes from the one you serve. Also, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha completely come from this person, from having generated compassion and bodhichitta. I hope you can understand this.
Generating compassion and bodhicitta purifies unbelievable amounts of negative karma
Asanga went into retreat for twelve years to achieve Maitreya Buddha, but during that time nothing happened. After coming out of his retreat, he met a dog with so much suffering in the lower part of its body, full of wounds infested with maggots. Seeing this, Asanga generated unbelievable compassion and was willing to sacrifice his own life. He cut his own flesh to spread out for the maggots to eat, picking up the maggots with his tongue, not wanting to touch them with his fingers, because by pressing them too much they might die. When he opened his eyes, it was only then that he saw it was not a dog—it was Maitreya Buddha. His unbelievable negative karmas and obscurations were purified by having generated unbelievable compassion.
Asanga then asked Maitreya why he hadn’t come to him during his retreat. Maitreya Buddha answered, “I was always there,” and
showed him all the marks on his own robes of Asanga’s spit from the years in the cave! Then Asanga requested teachings and was taken by Maitreya Buddha to the pure land Yiga Chodzin, where, during a time span of fifty human years, Maitreya gave Asanga the five sets or divisions of Maitreya’s teachings for human beings. Then Asanga came back down to earth and transcribed those teachings, on the basis of which so many beings have already become enlightened.
Please, please enjoy this.
Transcribed by Ven. Tenzin Namdrol at Kopan Monastery, June 2022. Edited by Laura Haughey and Ven. Robina Courtin, December 2023. FPMT Education Services.
We have collected Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s essential advice on death and dying, please explore all that is available:
fpmt.org/death
More advice Rinpoche offered to students on a variety of topics can be found on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive’s Online Advice Book: www.lamayeshe.com/advice/lama-zopa-rinpoches-online-advice-book
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.
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Following the commemoration activities at Kopan Monastery honoring the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away, a Heart Sutra Retreat was held from April 15-20, 2024 with commentary by His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa, meditations led by Ven. Steve Carlier, and evening sessions with short extracted videos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching a topic related to emptiness.
We are so pleased to share the ten videos of Rinpoche’s teachings on emptiness which were shown during the 2024 Heart Sutra Retreat. These videos, from 2017 and 2019, all contain subtitles, to make it easier to follow along while watching.
Please enjoy the first video in this series, “How the False I Comes Into Existence” and feel very free to view the others in this collection as you wish.
Watch “How the False I Comes Into Existence”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJJz6UZ_9lg
We continue to add videos of teaching events with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as other collections of teachings, that were previously unavailable to our Rinpoche Available Now page. Please take full advantage of this resource and explore the hundreds of hours of teachings Rinpoche left for our benefit.
A booklet with instructions by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for doing a retreat related to the Heart Sutra can be found here:
https://shop.fpmt.org/Heart-Sutra-Practices-and-Instructions-for-Retreat-PDF_p_1775.html
Additionally, please explore more Heart Sutra materials and resources below:
- The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra – MP3 Download
- The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra – eBook & PDF
- Watch the teaching in which Rinpoche gives the oral transmission of the Heart Sutra on video. (The oral transmission begins at 42:58.)
- FPMT Basic Program Online: Heart Sutra
- Essence Of The Heart Sutra by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, eBook & PDF
- Audio: Emptiness Explained – MP3 Download
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.
- Tagged: heart sutra, heart sutra retreat
23
Today, May 23, 2024, is the day we observe the merit-making day of Saka Dawa which commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana when karmic results are multiplied by 300 million times as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained, “Because Saka Dawa combines these three special days, the possibility to create merit is unbelievable. Due to this, it is very important for one to use this opportunity to do everything the best!”
We wish to remind you of recent advice and news we have shared, to help enrich your personal practice on this special day:
- Recommended Practices for Saka Dawa
- Opportunity to Join in the Merit of 10,000 Sangha Praying for All Beings
- New Advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama Concerning Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Swift Return
Lama Zopa Rinpoche also advised that, “It is so important also to understand that if one collects non-virtue on merit multiplying days, then that will also increase by that many number of times. One has to be careful to not increase non-virtuous actions during the merit multiplying days.”
In 2020, Rinpoche offered “Advice for Saka Dawa” from Kopan Monastery. (Rinpoche’s teaching starts at 22:51 in this video). You can also read the transcript of this advice.
Watch Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teaching “Advice for Saka Dawa”:
https://youtu.be/xYWCFIwZgTk
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.
22
We are happy to announce that we have received new precious advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding practices for creating the causes for the Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. Venerable Roger Kunsang met with His Holiness during his recent visit to Dharamsala, India. His Holiness explained that it is important to continue with practices as previously advised as well as protector prayers and practices outlined below.
All of these practices listed below (except for the Retreat Prayer book) are available as one-click downloads without the need to log into a Foundation Store account. Simply select the “one-click download” link located above the description of each practice.
As Previously Advised:
- To recite Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri as much as possible.
New Advice!
- Perform rituals invoking the four activities of the Dharma protectors Mahakala, Kalarupa (i.e. Dharmaraja), and Shri Devi (i.e. Palden Lhamo)
Do the Palden Lhamo kangso and Mahakala kangso if you are able to and have received an appropriate highest yoga tantra initiation, preferably Yamantaka. Kangso is a “fulfillment and amendment” ritual. Copies of the relevant texts, based on self-generation as Yamantaka, are available on request.
As these elaborate rituals may be more difficult to perform, students can recite the following prayers to the three protectors:
- Praise to Six-Armed Protector Mahakala
- Praise to Achieve the Inner Kalarupa (Dharmaraja)
- Torma Offering to Palden Lhamo
- Praise to Palden Lhamo: Requesting the Four Activities
These prayers can be found in the following booklets:
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- Protector Prayers booklet arranged by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, pages 5–17
- Retreat Prayer Book, English, pages 284–295 | Italian | Spanish | Vietnamese
Additional Kalarupa ritual:
- Drugchuma, Offering of Sixty-Four Parts to Kalarupa (Yamantaka initiation as requirement)
Additional prayers to Palden Lhamo:
- All-Pervasive Sphere of Great Bliss, Free of Elaboration: Requesting Activities of Palden Lhamo by HH Dalai Lama
- A Daily Practice of Pälden Lhamo which contains praises as well as torma and libation offerings (serkyem) English | Spanish (highest yoga tantra initiation as requirement)
As a reminder, Saka Dawa falls on Thursday, May 23 this year, and this is a wonderful opportunity to practice according to His Holiness’s recent advice since karmic results are multiplied by 300 million times as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events, as taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
May all of these collective heartfelt prayers and practices be the cause for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return and continued guidance.
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.
7
In 2018, Wisdom Publications director, Daniel Aitken, spoke with Lama Zopa Rinpoche for over an hour during one of Rinpoche’s visits to Kurukulla Center in Boston, US. This conversation was featured on the Wisdom Podcast later that year. During the interview, Rinpoche speaks on many topics, including stories about his early days as a young monk, how he became a Gelugpa, and how he ended up at Buxa in West Bengal, India, where he met Lama Yeshe. Rinpoche also offers a succinct teaching on emptiness and essential everyday Dharma practice advice.
We are so fortunate that so many precious videos, photos, teachings, and advice were captured of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and this interview is a true treasure.
We invite you to watch this joyful (and at times very funny!) conversation Rinpoche shared with Daniel for the benefit of all.
Please watch Daniel Aitken’s Interview with Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQh1yZrj1CM
There are dozens of Wisdom Podcasts available to listen to with accomplished teachers, scholars, and practitioners of Buddhism.
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.
- Tagged: interview, wisdom podcast
30
Recently we shared the addition to our Rinpoche Available Now page of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s 2003 twenty-three part teachings from a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat offered at Institut Vajra Yogini, France. The retreat focused on the four Kadampa deities, however, Rinpoche taught on a broad range of lamrim topics.
Today we wanted to bring to your attention teaching #3 in this series, “Meditating on the Emptiness in Sound.”
In this teaching Rinpoche discusses a meditation practice focused on the sound of rain, suggesting two meditations: one on the conventional truth of the rain and the other on the emptiness of the rain.
Rinpoche advises to analyze how the sound of rain appears to one’s mind, questioning whether the sound is merely labeled by the mind or if it appears to exist independently from its own side. The correct view, according to the Prasangika school, is that the sound is merely imputed by the mind on the base of the sense of the ear.
Next, meditate on the sound’s hallucinatory nature and its emptiness, recognizing that the sound is not inherently existent and is merely imputed by the mind. The goal is to differentiate between the hallucinatory appearance of the sound and its ultimate nature, emptiness. Meditation on emptiness helps break the root of samsara, but it is crucial to start the practice with bodhicitta motivation to make one’s life most beneficial for sentient beings.
Rinpoche discusses the importance of mindfulness and awareness in daily life, using the lamrim as an antidote to delusions and a means to practice awareness. Sound can be used as an object of meditation to cultivate wisdom and bodhicitta, leading to liberation and enlightenment for oneself and all sentient beings.
We invite you to watch this full video and engage with a lightly edited version of this teaching which is available from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Watch “Meditating on the Emptiness in Sound”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnO2p255auw
As a reminder, this entire retreat is now available for students to explore as they wish.
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.
23
Around the beginning of 2020, when all the world was experiencing lockdowns and turmoil due to the covid pandemic, students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche were relieved to receive Rinpoche’s laughter, wisdom, humor, and orientation toward Dharma in the form of a series of video teachings from his room in Kopan Monastery. These teachings came to be known as the thought transformation teaching series, and for many of us, they were truly a lifeline in an extremely uncertain time.
When the fourth video of this series was released, students noticed something interesting coming into view on Rinpoche’s couch and desk. A stuffed monkey, hippo, and elephant; as well as a wooden elephant and model yak had joined Rinpoche for his teaching. As time went on, more and more stuffed friends began appearing in Rinpoche’s room, soon with mantras, embellishments such as eyelashes and eye-liner, and profound (and often hilarious!) Dharma messages.
Last year we created a gallery of these friends with Dharma messages, and now we are very happy to share with you a set of seven postcards featuring the animal toys with messages dictated by Rinpoche. These are PDFs suitable for the 148 x 105 mm postcard size printing, but can also be used digitally:
https://shop.fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoches-friends-with-dharma-messages-pdf.html
You can read about the history of this whimsical enlightened activity and enjoy many photos from over the years.
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.
- Tagged: plushy toys
16
April 13 marked the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
At Kopan Monastery, around one thousand participants including high lamas, students, and friends engaged in practice in proximity to Rinpoche’s holy body including His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa; Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche; Mingyur Ripoche; Tsoknyi Ripoche; Abbots from Sera Je, Sera Mey, and Segyud Monasteries; Kusho Tengye; Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi; Yangsi Rinpoche; Namgyal Rinpoche; Kopan Geshes, Lama Gyupas, and many other monks and nuns; as well as Western students, some members of the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors, representatives from FPMT International Office, and many other local and international friends.
At Lawudo Retreat Centre, a two-day puja was offered by Thame Rinpoche, Kyarok Lama, and Charok Tenzin Tinley Rinpoche, and other monks and ngakpas.
FPMT centers, monasteries, and various communities around the world hosted events of pujas and prayers, honoring Rinpoche’s incredibly beneficial life and praying for his swift return. The main practice offered was Heruka Lama Chopa with Tsog Offering.
Today we are sharing some photos of the heartfelt and devoted efforts on April 13 commemorating the anniversary of the passing of our most precious guru.
May all of this powerful activity be the cause for
Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return!
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.
- Tagged: anniversary of the guru passing
12
The commemoration event at Kopan Monastery honoring the anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away has begun.
Those in attendance so far include His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa; Abbots from Sera Je, Sera Mey, and Segyud Monasteries; Kusho Tengye; Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi; Yangsi Rinpoche; Namgyal Rinpoche; Kopan Geshes, Lama Gyupas, and many other monks and nuns; as well as Western students, some members of the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors, representatives from FPMT International Office, and many other local and international friends. Many others are expected to arrive tomorrow with an anticipated 1,200 participants joining throughout the commemoration.
- Today, April 12, Yamantaka thirteen deities self-initiation was offered in the main gompa along with Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri and supplemental prayers at the Chenrezig gompa, and Guyasamaja root tantra was recited in the main gompa by the Kopan monks and nuns.
- April 13 begins with Heruka Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering puja in the main gompa at 8:30 am which will continue after lunch. Guyasamaja root tantra will again be recited in the evening.
- On April 14 Vajrayogini self-initiation will be offered at 1 pm.
- The Heart Sutra Retreat begins on April 15 with commentary by His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa and meditations led by Ven. Steve Carlier.
Please check the Kopan Monastery Facebook page for any livestreams of events available.
Prayers and practices are available to download here:
We also rejoice that, around the world, FPMT centers and students are organizing prayers and offerings in observation of the anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away. As Rinpoche explained in the foreword of the text, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away, “Making offerings on the death anniversary of a guru is an incredible practice in that it brings about the greatest purification of negative karma and collects the most extensive merit.”
May all of this sincere practice from students and accumulated merit be the cause for the swift return of our most precious guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
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.
- Tagged: anniversary of the guru passing
9
Ven. Sarah Thresher shares an update from Lawudo on the upcoming preparations for observing the anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.
It is nearly one year since the passing of our most precious guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and up at Lawudo preparations for the ceremony are well underway.
Last year, Ven Nyima Tashi, a relative of Rinpoche’s, flew up in a helicopter bringing the magnificent life-size Kalachakra statue that Rinpoche commissioned for the Guru Rinpoche pure land, Zangdog Palri, to be built at Lawudo in the future, and over the past few days monks from Thame Monastery have been rolling the mantras, assembling the ingredients and filling the statue in accordance with the traditional texts. Rinpoche told Merry Colony some time ago that placing this statue at Lawudo would be a cause for the success of the FPMT organization. The statue was consecrated Friday, April 5.
Meanwhile, Rinpoche’s sister Anila Ngawang Samten and the whole Lawudo family are busy preparing for a two-day puja to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing on the 12th and 13th April. Anila takes the future of the FPMT organization very seriously. She has invited the main three Nyingma masters of the Valley—Thame Rinpoche, Kyarok Lama, and Charok Tenzin Tinley Rinpoche, along with other monks and ngakpas, to perform these ceremonies, beginning with a fortune-hooking ritual and followed by the main Vajrasattva puja. These are the same lamas who helped with the consecration of Rinpoche’s new Victory Stupa constructed by Anila and Nyima Tashi last year, as well as the new relic stupa, the renovated Lawudo Lama stupa, and the Amogapasha thangka at White Cliff above Lawudo. The anniversary pujas are being dedicated for the FPMT organization to be of continual benefit to sentient beings and to fulfill all the holy wishes of our most kind and precious guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and especially for us to be able to meet Rinpoche’s new unmistaken manifestation as quickly as possible.
In addition to all of this, there is the Lawudo Anniversary Pilgrimage! Following the anniversary ceremonies and Heart Sutra retreat at Kopan in April, a group of over thirty pilgrims from around the world, ordained sangha and lay students, will embark on the first ever Lawudo pilgrimage—visiting holy sites connected with the first Lawudo Lama as well as Rinpoche’s most recent manifestation—rejoicing in the practice, spiritual accomplishments, qualities and enlightened activities of these two great holy beings as well as praying sincerely from the heart for the swift return of a new emanation to continue the work of upholding and spreading the pure Dharma teachings in all ten directions and benefitting numberless sentient beings.
All in all, it will be a very busy, intensive and we hope successful month long celebration of the greatness of our spiritual guide, the Lawudo Lama.
Please join the entire FPMT community in rejoicing in these auspicious activities occurring at Lawudo this week. Please also read about the prayers and pujas happening at Kopan Monastery during this time, and download practice materials for your own use.
- Tagged: anniversary of the guru passing, lawudo
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