Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche

On April 13, at 9:30 a.m. Nepal time, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, our most precious guru and spiritual director, entered his final meditation.

You can find all news, updates, and resources below. We also share a moving obituary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in English, with translations in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Find advice and links to practice materials in multiple languages for Rinpoche’s swift return.

Advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama - May 18, 2024
On May 18, 2024, His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered Ven. Roger Kunsang the following advice regarding practices for creating the causes for the swift return of Lama Zopa RInpoche. His Holiness explained that it is important to continue with practices as previously advised as well as protector prayers and practices outlined below.

As Previously Advised:

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 booklet

Additional Kalarupa ritual:

Additional prayers to Palden Lhamo:

  • A Daily Practice of Pälden Lhamo which contains praises as well as torma and libation offerings (serkyemEnglish | Spanish (highest yoga tantra initiation as requirement)

All of these practices listed above (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.

Swift Return Prayers

With great rejoicing we have received a prayer which His Holiness the Dalai Lama composed for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, A Prayer for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Swift Return Prayers Compilation

For the convenience of students, we have compiled a booklet consisting of His Holiness’s prayer (starting on page 5), along with a small collection of additional prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return, composed and offered spontaneously by other distinguished lamas with whom Rinpoche had a connection in this lifetime, including Khenzur Jhado Rinpoche, Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma, and Lelung Rinpoche—A Prayer for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche by His Holiness the Dalai Lama with additional prayers by other distinguished lamas:

Swift return prayers in other languages:

Continuous Recitation of Prayers Advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

We are inviting all students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to participate in a worldwide, 24/7 prayer circle to amplify the causes for Lama Zopa 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 this live google spreadsheet.

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. Just download it to take part in this mass collective effort happening around the world.

  • A Collection of Prayers for the Swift Return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche with advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama | English | Italian

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.

As Lama Zopa Rinpoche often advised about making prayers and dedication—”they have power. It is said in the teachings, The Piled Three Precious Rare Sublime Ones Sutra (Kön chhog sum tsheg päi do), ‘All phenomena arise due to conditions, they depend on the tip of the wish.”’ 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. 

Practices and gatherings in Local FPMT Communities

We encourage you to check FPMT centers’ and study groups’ websites and social media pages for information regarding group prayers and practices being done in person and online. Visit our FPMT Center Directory to search for centers.

Translations
Unmistaken Incarnation Fund

The Unmistaken Incarnation Fund is for the swift return, education, and support of the incarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The Fund offers support in various ways to create the cause for the swift return.

  • By creating a life size statue of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, that will be used as a basis to create smaller statues. The artwork for the main statue is ongoing.
  • By creating the statue that will encase the precious kudung (holy body relic) of Lama Zopa Rinpoche after the embalming process is completed.
  • By sponsoring pujas and prayers as advised for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
  • By providing all the support needed for the care and education of the future incarnation.

DONATE

Tributes and Condolences 

We have been moved by the outpouring of kind and heartfelt tributes, condolences, and notice of prayers being offered from great lamas, friends, and monastery officials around the world. We have created a page to honor these warm messages, photos, and activities. 

Downloadable Altar Photo of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

All are welcome to download this high quality photo of Lama Zopa Rinpoche for use on one's altar, in FPMT centers, etc. This photo was taken in 2018 at Kopan Monastery by Ven. Lobsang Sherab. 

 


Please continue trying to fulfill Rinpoche’s holy wishes, especially to practice impermanence and bodhicitta in the context of the lamrim. Fulfilling the gurus’ holy wishes is a very important part of inviting the guru to return. May Rinpoche be reborn as quickly as possible in a place where he can be very quickly recognized and be of most benefit to sentient beings.