Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la, FPMT International Office, Portland, Oregon, USA, June 2012. Photo by Marc Sakamoto.

At the end of April, Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drolma (Khadro-la) advised FPMT centers, projects, services and students to engage in specific practices and activities “as much as possible” to support Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health, including offering Long Life Pujas with the Five Dakinis.

At a 2006 long life puja at Chenrezig Institute, Rinpoche reiterated how a guru becomes a powerful object of merit (or as Rinpoche says, a “powerful one”):

… That means there’s no question any time that by offering to the guru then you collect more merit than having made offerings to numberless Buddha, Dharma, Sangha; numberless statues, stupas, scriptures. [It’s the same] even making offering to the “pores” of the guru. Why? Because the object is more powerful than numberless buddhas.

The power is a dependent-arising. Why the guru is more powerful, most powerful, is a dependent-arising; it’s not independent, that power’s not independent, not truly existent. The minute when you have taken a Dharma connection, even a few syllables of mantra, oral transmission or received two or three verses of teaching with the recognition that oneself is a disciple and that [person] is the guru, then the other person, due to this, becomes the most powerful one in one’s own life, [even] more than any of all those other powerful ones, starting from the parents of this life.

In addition to the long life pujas organized by FPMT centers around the world, students can support the FPMT Long Life Puja Fund which arranges long life pujas for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Rinpoche annually.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

FPMT News Around the World

Pots filled with soil and worms were circumambulated around a table of holy objects at Longku Center, Bern, Switzerland, 2013. Photo courtesy of Longku Center.

On April 30 and May 1, Longku Center in Bern, Switzerland, performed some of the special practices recommended by Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drolma (Khadro-la) and other high lamas to support Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health and long life. The center arranged the practices in accordance with FPMT CEO Ven. Roger’s April 24 request.

Spiritual program coordinator Regula Burri shared that students at the center “liberated 350 worms, recited the Golden Light Sutra nine times and recited the prayer of the Twenty-One Taras 108 times.”

For the animal liberation, students filled up pots with soil to make a comfy home for hundreds of worms. In the center’s gompa, trays were circumambulated around a table heaped with holy objects, mantras and texts collected by center members while students did practices for the worms.

Students and supporters of Rinpoche are encouraged to complete as many of the recommended practices as possible and report at the end of each month what has been done to director of Center Services Claire Isitt at International Office. These combined efforts will be offered to Rinpoche directly.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

FPMT News Around the World 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 29, 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Khadro-la makes offerings during long life puja, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Senior monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery in Nepal recently requested FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche to accept a special long life puja, out of concern for Rinpoche’s health and in support of other pujas that are being organized. The special long life puja was offered the morning of Monday, April 29. Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drolma (Khadro-la) attended the puja and made offerings to Rinpoche.

Ven. Roger Kunsang, FPMT CEO and assistant to Rinpoche, shared more about what happened at the monastery: “Kopan Monastery and Nunnery have taken on to do a lot of the pujas throughout the year for Rinpoche’s good health and long life, [and they are also] regularly saving each month a few goats from the butchers and fish. Some of the pujas, like Tugchuma, will be done daily for the rest of the year.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be traveling to the United States where next week he will welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama in FPMT International Office in Portland, Oregon.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la having lunch after puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

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Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la made special prayers for world peace at Boudhanath Stupa, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Sarah Thresher.

On April 18, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drolma (Khadro-la) and others visited Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu to make special prayers for world peace. For the event, Rinpoche assembled a collection of prayers specifically to stop wars, prevent natural disasters, and to reduce self-cherishing.

While Rinpoche and Khadro-la were making prayers for living beings everywhere, Rinpoche’s assistant and FPMT International Office CEO Ven. Roger Kusang was busy gathering and organizing the extensive details of the prayers and practices students and supporters could engage in to contribute to Rinpoche’s long and healthy life. Ven. Roger writes:

Khadro-la and Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting at Kopan Monastery, April 2013. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

At the beginning of every year I usually check with one or two high lamas if there are any prayers or pujas we need to do to remove obstacles for Rinpoche’s health and long life. This year I have received the advice to do many prayers and pujas … Khadro-la is advising FPMT centers, projects, services and students to also help. I would like to support Khadro-la’s request for students and centers to do the following as much as you can so that we can continue to have Rinpoche with us for a very long time to come.

Khadro-la specifically mentioned the following: “as much as possible if FPMT centers and students can please do”: liberate many animals; hang Tendil Nyersel prayer flags in all FPMT centers, projects and services; recite Most Secret Hayagriva mantra; and offer long life pujas to Rinpoche with the five dakinis.

Khadro-la [also] said that “the most important is good samaya from the students’ side. Whoever is doing the puja, prayers or practice, it should be done well, with good motivation and meditation.”

The full list pujas and practices to do can be found on Rinpoche’s Health – Official Updates and Practices. Also, students can find a complete list of extensive practices being done by Kopan Monastery, Sera Je Monastery, Ganden Shartse Monastery, Jangchup Choling Nunnery, Kopan Nunnery and Ganden Jangtse Samlo Kamtsen.

If you’d like to receive the next issue of Mandala magazine, become a Friend of FPMT. Mandala is a benefit of the Friends of FPMT program and supports the work of FPMT International Office, which is dedicated to supporting the fulfillment of all the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and students at the large statue of Padmasambhava in Sikkim, India, 2006

Continuing from our latest issue of Mandala’s exploration of pilgrimage, we’re sharing a story, newly added to our archive, that describes a memorable journey with Lama Zopa Rinpoche to a recently created holy site.

In 2006, Rinpoche traveled to Sikkim to visit the world’s largest statue of Padmasambhava [Guru Rinpoche], which was publicly unveiled in 2004 and stands 135 feet (41 meters) tall. Rinpoche was joined by Cherok Lama and several others, including Lillian Too, who at the time was director of Losang Dragpa Centre in Malaysia. She shared an inspiring account of the journey with Mandala.

Lillian wrote:

After lunch that day, we climb to Samdruptse to view the brand new statue of Padmasambhava. This is the highlight of our visit. It is Guru Rinpoche who caused us to come to Sikkim and each one on the journey has a special affinity with Padmasambhava.

The approach to the statue is from the back. A line of people and monks are waiting to greet Rinpoche and to offer khata. I never cease to be amazed at how local people can always smell the presence of Rinpoche wherever he goes. There are also monks from the Sera Je monastery in Gangtok who have motored down to receive Rinpoche. Now they lead Rinpoche up the steps to the front of the statue.

Oh, my! The statue is so awesome.

You can read Lillian’s complete account of the “Journey to Sikkim” from Mandala August-September 2006 as a PDF.

FPMT News Around the World

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking at Kurukulla Center, Massachusetts, U.S., October 2012. Photo by Kadri Kurgun.

In May 2013, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will participate in an Environmental Summit hosted by Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, U.S. His Holiness will be joined in panel discussions by religious leaders and politicians to talk about spirituality and the environment and universal responsibility.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been advocating publicly for the environment for several decades. In 2006, Mandala reported on the impending climate crisis, a topic that both His Holiness and Lama Zopa Rinpoche have addressed. In 1988, in a speech entitled “Humanity and Ecology,” His Holiness said:

“Peace and the survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities that lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed, and lack of respect for the earth’s living things. … Just as we should cultivate gentle and peaceful relations with our fellow human beings, we should also extend that same kind of attitude toward the natural environment. Morally speaking, we should be concerned for our whole environment. … This, however, is not just a question of morality or ethics, but a question of our own survival. … We must now help people to understand the need for environmental protection. We must teach people to understand the need for environmental protection. We must teach people that conservation directly aids our survival.”

In the article “What Does Al Gore Know that Everyone Should Know?” Mandala shared Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s perspective on the environment. When Rinpoche saw the movie An Inconvenient Truth, Rinpoche commented that former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who helped create the movie, knows something everyone should know: We are in an environmental decline of global proportions … Action must be taken. Rinpoche said:

What Al Gore really wishes is for every sentient being, regardless of religion or nationality, including creatures of the land and sea, all to be free of the impure substances, pollution, and the atomic bomb that are harmful to all of us and the environment. … This includes beings such as nagas and worldly gods who are also involved in the elements, and who are harmed and even destroyed due to these man-made pollutions, harmful chemicals, and other things that are damaging the earth and air. 

People in business who think only of personal profit without consideration for others and the environment are causing great danger to all of us – the country we live in and this whole world. 

Al Gore is making us aware of so many things that harm us and our environment. Your happiness depends on others, and others’ happiness depends on you. We all have to live in this world, so we need to be harmonious and happy in a healthy way. No matter who you are or where you are, we all have a responsibility to protect this world.

Maitripa College is the first Buddhist college in the Pacific Northwest and is affiliated with FPMT. Yangsi Rinpoche, Maitripa’s founder and president, extended the invitation to His Holiness to come to Portland and has been closely involved with the development of the summit. Mandala will offer ongoing coverage of the summit and His Holiness’ visit to Portland. 

Read more about Buddhism’s environmental roots in “What Does Al Gore Know that Everyone Should Know?” from Mandala October-December 2006.

With more than 160 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.

It’s not too late to become a Friend of FPMT at the Basic level or higher and receive the April-June 2013 issue, featuring the complete “Skies of Benefit” article! 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche making prostrations at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, March 10, 2013. Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/fpmtABC.

From Ven. Roger Kunsang:

Hong Kong – March 22, 2013

Rinpoche stood with his hands in the mudra of prostration before a very large thangka of Chenrezig. Rinpoche gradually leaned forward, slowly going to the ground, his stronger left arm reached for the ground, fingers contacted the floor. Gradually, Rinpoche put weight on the arm as his body leaned forward cautiously. The left knee moved towards the ground and made contact. Now the hard part: the right arm reached out to touch the ground with Rinpoche trying to spread his fingers so they landed open and stretched out on the floor.

I was feeling a little anxious as when Rinpoches head goes lower than the waist, he can feel dizzy and that’s a little dangerous after a stroke.

Gradually, Rinpoche lowered his body forward awkwardly, always the left side taking most of the weight. Watching Rinpoche making this kind of effort is very moving. I can see others moved and feeling emotional. The whole hall is very quiet while Rinpoche is making such an effort to do a full length prostration to all the Buddhas.

Rinpoche is now stretched full length on the floor although his right arm can’t straighten out yet. The process is slow but done with great, great determination. Now the really hard part: Rinpoche gets up alone as he won’t let anyone help! Rinpoche has developed a technique as he gradually rises where he shifts his weight over several stages, and finally to the stage where he has to take the weight from his arms and be on his legs only. That is most difficult. It’s quite tense watching this part and I can see some students who are watching, holding their breaths.

Rinpoche is hesitating now as he has to make a huge effort to go from kneeling to his feet … He does so and then straightens his body and is standing. His hands slowly come to his heart in the mudra of prostration in front of Chenrezig. Now two more prostrations and then the climb up on to the throne.

It wasn’t so long ago that Rinpoche couldn’t do this alone and it was dangerous as he would sometimes feel dizzy when his head went below the waist (not a good sign when you have problems with blood pressure and you have had a stroke!)

It’s very inspiring and moving to see Rinpoche do this with such determination. In the hospital immediately after the stroke, Rinpoche commented and also explained to His Holiness the Dalai Lama how sad he was that he couldn’t do even one prostration any more … or even bring both hands to the mudra of prostration at his heart to respect the Three Jewels. But now up to 12 long prostrations alone … that’s progress! Rinpoche is going in his own way at his own pace.

Ven. Roger Kunsang is CEO of FPMT and assistant to FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

To keep up to date with “Life on the Road with Lama Zopa Rinpoche,” consider signing up for our RSS feed (in the right-hand column of this page).

FPMT News Around the World 

FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues his tour of Asian centers, offering teachings at Mahayana Buddhist Association (Cham Tse Ling) in Hong Kong on March 23-24. The teachings, which are scheduled for 3-7 p.m. local Hong Kong Time (UTC +8), will be streamed live. 

On Saturday, March 23, Rinpoche teaches on “How to Face Death without Fear.” On Sunday, March 24, Rinpoche will give a motivational teaching before offering a Vajrasattva initiation. 

This will be the last live webcast from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Asia tour. Video of other recent teachings given by Rinpoche in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia are available to watch online.

With more than 160 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.

It’s not too late to become a Friend of FPMT at the Basic level or higher and receive the April-June 2013 issue, featuring the complete “Skies of Benefit” article! 

PRACTICING DHARMA IN DAILY LIFE

July-September 2011

White Tara in the Newari style

On April 22, 2011, Lama Zopa Rinpoche manifested symptoms of serious health problems during a month-long retreat in Australia. A day later, and after the encouragement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to seek out Western medical treatment, hospital staff confirmed that Lama Zopa Rinpoche had had a stroke, resulting in reduced motor function on the right side of the body and impaired speech. The therapy to regain these skills can take months and the risk for future, more serious strokes rises significantly. As this issue’s Featured Practice, we share the practices of White Tara and Hayagriva, some of the practices recommended by Choden Rinpoche and Khadro-la – both extraordinary and realized beings – and encourage everyone to take the time to engage in these practices and dedicate their efforts to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long and healthy life and for the success of his every holy wish …

Read the complete article as a PDF.

FPMT News Around the World 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Singapore, March 2013

FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, March 8-10. During Rinpoche’s teachings, FPMT offered live streaming video to the international FPMT community.

But if you weren’t able to watch live, you can find the videos online. Included in the videos are a motivational teaching from Rinpoche before a Medicine Buddha jenang, teachings on refuge and on making light offerings, and the long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

You can keep up-to-date with news on FPMT video streaming by visiting the “FPMT announcements” page and subscribing (in right-hand column of page).

With more than 160 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.