Ven. Gyalten Wangmo describes Dorje Chang Institute’s organized effort to gather enough sponsors to save 60 Kaimanawa wild horses from being slaughtered in New Zealand in celebration of Saka Dawa.

From Mandala October-December 2009.

In April, 2010, Ven. Holly Ansett sent Mandala five recent videos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in action benefiting others. This collection of videos “on the road” with Rinpoche show Rinpoche’s characteristic kindness and ability to transform every moment into Dharma practice.

Long-time student, Jane Seidlitz, treated Milarepa Center to her artistic Tibetan calligraphy by painting special mantras on panels around its stupa. Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised the center to have these mantras put on the back side of boards around the stupa. The boards already had the eight auspicious symbols painted on the front side. Rinpoche instructed Jane last year which mantras to include and said these mantras would be a huge blessing for all those driving by the stupa (as its positioned near a major highway) as well as for the entire region.

An incredibly touching account of a Buddhist dad who lost his 14 year old son to a brain tumor. From Mandala, January-February 2000.

“The start of 2011 saw the Australian state of Queensland experience some of the worst flooding in history, resulting in three-quarters of the state, an area the size of France and Germany combined, being declared a disaster zone. Stretching from remote farming communities to the state’s capital, Brisbane, the floods killed 35 people and affected the lives of more than 200,000. The hidden toll, as in many disasters, however, was the thousands of injured, orphaned and deceased animals.”

From Mandala July-September 2011.

Molly Fitzgerald, an FPMT student who works extensively in the criminal justice system in Ohio, USA, writes about how she applies Essential Education’s 16 Guideline to her professional life, particularly about how she shares the 16 Guidelines with her clients who “consist of sex offenders, thieves, drug and alcohol addicts, the mentally ill, and violent offenders.”

From Mandala July-September 2011.

Based in Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London, Repaying the Kindness is a respite project for carers in South East London (Lambeth and Southwark). Enjoy this short video introduction to their project! Perhaps you can start something like this in your own community.

Ven. Losang Monlam, former director of IMI, FPMT’s group of ordained monks and nuns, discusses Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vision of a small monastic community focused on lam-rim.

From Mandala January-March 2009.

Read about the amazing work Arvind Sharma does in Dharamsala to support some of the thousands of homeless dogs found in the city, many of which are sick, critically injured or dying.

From Mandala January-March 2010.

Formerly “Sara,” Sera Je the dog was rescued from euthanasia and eventually given a special home with Ven. Losang Kalden, director of Manjushri Wisdom Center in Tuscon, Arizona, USA.

From Mandala January-March 2011.