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As we were finalizing this update, we heard the heartbreaking news that Nepal and Tibet are facing a disaster after an earthquake near the Tibet border triggered a landslide that dammed a river, sending a massive flash flood down the Bhote Koshi River, destroying villages, roads, and hydropower infrastructure in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, with warnings issued for other communities. We are in touch with Kopan, which is currently safe, and will share information on the situation via our various channels as details become clear.
Dear Friends,
In recent months, all FPMT Inc. Board members were in the Northern Hemisphere, which means that we were enjoying, or suffering through, the extraordinary results of the climate change our planet is undergoing at this time.
Our board meetings are usually held every two weeks on Zoom, and people sign in from all parts of the globe. Those on the West Coast of the US do so at 10 p.m., which is 7 a.m. the next morning for Amsterdam, and those in Kathmandu, Singapore, and Hong Kong sign in around lunchtime. Always a puzzle, but we make it work.
Here are some of the matters we spoke about recently:
The Global Mani Retreat: We rejoice in the huge numbers of OM MANI PADME HUMs being recited for the long and healthy life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by those taking part in the FPMT Global Mani Retreat, which finishes on November 1. The goal was to present His Holiness with 100 million mantras, but it looks as if we could possibly double that amount!
Board member Dale Davis, Retreat Coordinator Selina Foong, and others from the Global Mani Retreat Team will be granted an audience with His Holiness later in the year, to offer 100 Buddha statues for His Holiness’ long life. Everyone still has the opportunity to participate in the Global MANI Retreat and to accumulate as many mantras as possible, which we will offer to His Holiness at the conclusion of the retreat.
We are very grateful to the many important teachers and lineage holders who have participated and led sessions, many of which were accessible online to students everywhere. This has been our first project to bring students from all over the world together to work jointly toward such a virtuous goal, and the results have been incredible! A special thank you goes to Retreat Coordinator Selina Foong and her team, who are helping to accomplish all this, as it was one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization.
FPMT Inc. Board recruitment: We are still accepting nominations for new Board members. Since we would like to take on two or three new members this year or soon after, we would like a strong pool of candidates so your suggestions can still be considered. For information or correspondence, please write to us at fpmtboard@fpmt.org.
Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche’s Yangsi: At the beginning of next year, we plan to check with His Holiness about when to begin the search for the reincarnation (Tibetan: yangsi) of our holy guru, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche. In keeping with His Holiness’ instructions, we are waiting for his guidance on when and where to begin the search. As always, His guidance will lead our actions.
Legal and safeguarding situations:
- As to the legal case in North Carolina that we mentioned in our last Update in June, the matter has been resolved. Please understand that we are not permitted to discuss it further.
- There has been a delay in receiving the draft report from the independent organization that has been commissioned regarding allegations concerning Yangsi Rinpoche. We now expect to receive it within the next few weeks and will provide a further update once the Board has received and considered the report.
New Safeguarding Program builds on Protecting from Abuse Policy: At last year’s CPMT meeting, Peter Stickels, Regional Coordinator for Australia and New Zealand, presented a comprehensive review of the “Protecting from Abuse” (PfA) policy, which has been in operation since 2021. Following this review and consultations with FPMT staff, Peter drafted a new Safeguarding policy, expected to be finalized by the end of 2026.
Building on the policy review, Peter and Stephanie Brennan proposed an ambitious two-year Safeguarding Project designed to strengthen FPMT’s approach through policy updates, detailed process guidelines and a comprehensive suite of resources for training, communication and implementation. This initiative received unanimous approval from the FPMT Board. The project aims to support developing a more extensive approach to safeguarding by developing policy updates, detailed process guidelines and a comprehensive suite of resources for training, communication, and implementation.
The organization has appointed Stephanie Brenan to lead the Project. Her background in safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, mental health, training and organizational change makes her well-suited to lead this work. Peter Stickels will serve as Project Manager, leveraging his extensive experience in complaint handling and strategic planning.
We will keep you updated as the project progresses. Our aim is to ensure that safety, respect and compassion are reflected not only in policy, but in the everyday experience of people across our centers, projects and services.
If you have any questions or comments concerning the above, or the work of the FPMT Inc. Board in general, please feel free to contact us at fpmtboard@fpmt.org.
In closing, we offer our heartfelt prayers to all who are affected by this latest environmental devastation in Nepal. Please read the collected advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on practices we can do right now for natural disasters.
Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi
Ven. Thubten Pemba
Ven. Roger Kunsang
Karuna Cayton
Dale Davis
Paula de Wys-Koolkin