About Us: How the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition is Helping in Mongolia
In 1999, a group of young Mongolian people asked Lama Zopa Rinpoche to help revive the Buddhist tradition in Mongolia.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Spiritual Director of FPMT) requested the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bakula Rinpoche (Indian Ambassador to Mongolia), and the Mongolia Minister of Culture, Nambaryn Enkhbayar on how best to help Mongolia. During these meetings four main areas were identified as most crucial for assisting in the rebuilding of Mongolia's Buddhist culture. These were to re-establish the destroyed monastic communities, to teach Buddhism to the people, to establish social services, and to work with the country's youth.
As a result of these historic meetings, Lama Zopa Rinpoche established FPMT Mongolia in late 1999 to help revive the traditional Buddhist culture in Mongolia and to provide social assistance for the poor and under-privileged members of the community.
Mission Statement of FPMT Mongolia
FPMT Mongolia is a religious organization devoted to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values through teachings, publications, meditation and community services to the Mongolian people. It provides integrated education through which people's mind and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility. It is committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion.
Aims of FPMT Mongolia
The aims of FPMT Mongolia are as follows:
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To help re-ignite the Buddhist culture in Mongolia, particularly for the country's youth through providing Buddhist teachings and meditations by qualified teachers to the Mongolian people and through support of local Mongolian monasteries and other Buddhist institutions.
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To translate and publish Buddhist texts and prayers into the Mongolian language for distribution to the Mongolia monastic and lay communities.
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To provide social services by way of education, food and support to the poor and under-privileged people in the society.
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To organize support and counseling programs in prisons, for alcoholics and other needy people
As part of his vision to assist with the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia, Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited Mongolia many times, giving teachings, initiations and establishing centers and projects to help with the revival.
Also, FPMT Mongolia in conjunction with the FPMT International Office hosted The Fourth Enlightenment Experience Celebration in Ulaanbaatar during May and June of 2004. This was an incredible event that caught the imagination of the Mongolian people. Thousands of Mongolians benefited from the teachings and many tens of thousands visited The Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour which formed part of the Celebration along with an International Buddhist Film Festival. One hundred and twenty monks and nuns were ordained, 29,000 Buddhist Prayer Books with complete instructions for daily Buddhist practice were printed and distributed. This incredible event was provided free to Mongolians being sponsored by FPMT students worldwide.
FPMT has had many years of experience at helping to establish Buddhism in the West; now FPMT is using this experience to help re-establish the Buddhist culture of Mongolia and to assist in providing solutions to Mongolia's social and religious challenges.
All the services provided by FPMT Mongolia to the Mongolia people are largely free and it is due to the support of sponsors that allow FPMT Mongolia to assist in giving back to the Mongolians the Dharma that they helped to establish and preserve for centuries.
