FPMT News
August 2008
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia, Italy, June 2008.
Photo by Piero Sirianni
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Rinpoche's 2008 Schedule
To find more information as it becomes available, and for details of how to contact the center and book for these events, please go to
Rinpoche’s Schedule.
Sept Teachings at Do Ngak Sung Juk Centre, Japan
23 - Public Talk
25 - 26 - Teaching
27 - Medicine Buddha Initiation
Dec Teaching at November Course, Kopan Monastery, Nepal
27 - public talk hosted by Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Center
2009
May 5 – June 6 NOTE CHANGE OF RETREAT TO 1,000-Arm Chenrezig retreat, Institut Vajra Yogini, France
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Madison, USA; July 2008.
Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang
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NEW Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Daily Taking and Giving
In the afternoon after His Holiness
the Dalai Lama’s teachings (USA,
Sept 2006) we went for tea with the
geshe from one of our centers and
some of his students. Geshe-la
insisted I give the best advice for the
center, and we talked a little about
the difficulties. I said one needs an
open heart; there are different
views, so apply the views that are
more beneficial. Like a road blocked
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by rocks, first you have to recognize the blocks so that you can clear them away.
One of the ladies sitting next to me had pain in the jaw and so she asked how to deal with it. So then I told her it is very important to do this prayer every day:
When you have happiness think:
"May all sentient beings have happiness and peace".
When you have suffering, problems, cancer, aids, relationship problem, whatever, think: "May all sentient beings' oceans of samsaric sufferings be dried out".
The idea is to do tong-len practice from time to time each day. Especially when you do this practice of taking the sufferings you collect limitless skies of merit each time because you are taking the sufferings for numberless beings and purifying not only this life’s negative karma but also past life negative karma. So the stronger you generate compassion for animals or human beings, then many eons of negative karma get purified. And when you do the practice of giving you purify today’s, this life’s and past lives' negative karma. It purifies many eons of negative karma.
More advice from Rinpoche
Enjoy brief glimpses of Rinpoche on our streaming videos page
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Rinpoche Visits Lawudo
Lama Zopa Rinpoche travelled to Lawudo Retreat Centre high up in the mountains of Solu Khumbu in time to celebrate Saka Dawa on the 18th of June. This was the first time in nearly ten years that Rinpoche had visited Lawudo where the cave of Rinpoche's previous incarnation, known as the Lawudo Lama, is situated. Although the monsoon rains had started this didn't deter many local Sherpa people from making the long climb up to Lawudo to receive Rinpoche's blessings.
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While in Lawudo, Rinpoche took the opportunity to bless many animals.
Photo by Frank Brock
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Italy, June 2008.
Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang
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This “little book of wisdom” is the most comprehensive, clear, concise, and accessible introduction to Rinpoche’s teachings yet. From loving-kindness all the way to emptiness, including guided meditations, How to Be Happy has it all. This slim volume will delight students and be the perfect gift to introduce Rinpoche to friends and family.
“Profound teachings on turning every step of life into the wisdom-light of happiness are distilled here in simple words for both advanced and beginning meditators.”—Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, author of The Healing Power of Mind
"Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s profound aphorisms are mind blowing and heart opening. His ability to essentialize enlightenment in the most direct and simple language is astonishing. “What if all happiness, anywhere, is your happiness?” he asks. The only adequate response would be to awaken to the inseparability of self and others - in deepest wisdom, love and joy." —John Makransky, author of Awakening Through Love
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International Office News
FPMT Service trainings are moving forward. Regional trainer Allys Andrews is presenting a two-day abbreviated Foundation Service Training at the Australian National Meeting, as well as working with Ven. Chokyi to present a training at Vajrayana Institute, Australia.
The North America Regional Meeting (Nov 22-24, Portland) will have a one-day Inner Job Description Training component led by training consultant, Amy Cayton. This training is an opportunity for centers to send a designated person to become their local trainer.
Several trainings, including a Spiritual Program Coordinator Training, are tentatively scheduled for 2009 and 2010 and will be announced as soon as the dates and locations are confirmed.
Education Materials
The Discovering Buddhism DVD has been produced in Russian using a voiceover rather than subtitles. We are hopeful this may be a faster way to get the DVD now into French, Italian, German, and Spanish!
Coming Soon: Heart Advice for Death and Dying course for centers and homestudy.
Rinpoche and Vens. Roger, Sangpo, and Kunsang shopping for gifts and testing the massage chair in Chicago, July, 2008.
Photos by Ven. Holly Ansett
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FPMT Snippets
Inspiring Comment - Working through the Difficulties
Recently a center director who was feeling burnt out and thinking of resigning accepted Rinpoche’s advice to carry on longer as director. Their comment, which most of us can relate to, was:
“I kept hearing His Holiness the Dalai Lama say, ‘never give up.’ Even though I hunger for a quiet life without all the responsibility, and the work, and the criticism, when I think about what’s beneficial for the center, then it can’t have anything to do with I want for myself. I just wish I had some realisations to deal with all this.”
And Ven Roger Kunsang wrote back to say:
“Working through the difficulties, the hard times, etc., is the way! We won’t do it, and we won’t get anywhere, if we aren’t forced!”
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Congratulations to Maitripa Institute
Who recently announced the success of their application for authority to offer graduate degrees in Buddhist Studies in the state of Oregon, USA. This approval means that Maitripa can now call itself a College, and that its program courses are available for college credit. This achievement is the first step towards regional accreditation.
Opportunities to Offer Service in FPMT
Keep checking
www.fpmt.org/resources/jobs.asp for interesting opportunities to offer service in FPMT centers around the world.
Opportunities include volunteering to help construct the new accommodation block at Atisha Centre in Australia and Tushita Meditation Centre in India is looking for a new director.
Impermanence at Work – Center Details Changes
NB: center details are always most up to date in the directory on the FPMT website,
www.fpmt.org/centers/default.asp
Centro Yamantaka, Columbia
Calle 144 - 21 -29
Bogotá
Tel: (57) 1 615 9754
Do Ngak Sung Juk Centre, Japan
Tel: (80) 5414 8549
Fax: (045) 621 8653
Gendun Drupa Center, Canada
New spiritual program coordinator – Sophie Lacroix
Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth, Australia
Tel: (61) 450 225 258
Sangye Choling Study Group, Italy
www.sangye.it
Tubten Kunga Center, USA
information@tubtenkunga.org
With love,
FPMT International Office
