Animal Liberation Fund

	Where there is a mind, there are feelings such as pain, pleasure, and joy. No sentient being wants pain; instead all want happiness. Since we all share these feelings at some basic level, we as rational human beings have an obligation to contribute in whatever way we can to the happiness of other species and try our best to relieve their fears and sufferings.
–His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Supporting Animal Liberations and Prayers for Long Life

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No sentient being wants to experience pain and suffering. Unfortunately, billions of animals are killed for human consumption, used as live bait or food for other animals, and killed for their skins and fur, among many other terrible fates. Liberating animals from death or harm, and then blessing them with holy objects and prayers, is a way to help alleviate their suffering, extend their precious life, and create the cause for their good rebirth. The Animal Liberation Fund supports ongoing animal liberations offered by Sangha and students which include extensive prayers dedicated to the long life of others. Supporting animal liberations creates the cause for long life for the animals, for oneself, and for those to whom the prayers are dedicated. Extensive prayers and dedications are made for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his gurus, all sponsors of this fund, all beings who are sick or face an untimely death, as well as many specific dedications requested by the FPMT community.

Watch a brief video of
Rinpoche blessing animals.

Play »

It can feel quite powerless when one’s loved ones are sick or dying. The Animal Liberation Fund, however, provides an empowering, real-life way to face life obstacles:   supporting the long and healthy lives of others. An estimated 30,000 sentient beings are liberated each year due to the support of this fund. Approximately 1,800 names are included in the prayers and dedications per year.

Benefits of the Animal Liberation Fund

The Animal Liberation Fund works in at least two ways to benefit others:

It supports the three monthly animal liberations and extensive dedications offered by Sangha at the residences of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. When funds allow, additional animal liberations conducted in Singapore and Hong Kong are supported, as well as efforts to save the lives of animals at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary in Nepal, MAITRI Charitable Trust in India and elsewhere.

It provides an opportunity for those who are sick and dying, or have loved ones who are sick or dying, to create the merit needed to overcome life obstacles through supporting animal liberations.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Sanghata Sutra to horses at Land of Calm Abiding, California, USA.There are enormous benefits generated from supporting animal liberations and prayers for long life. The recipients of benefit are: the creatures being saved, blessed and released during the liberations; those who support the animal liberation practice; and those to whom the animal liberations are dedicated. Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains:

“By doing prayers and chanting powerful mantras for the animals, they receive a higher rebirth and liberation. This practice purifies immediately the oceans of samsaric suffering.”

“For the person who liberates animals, or whoever wants to dedicate the merit to those with life obstacles, this practice helps them to obtain long life. Even if you don’t expect it, the karma will cause you to have a long life.”

The annual budget for the Animal Liberation Fund is $USD10,000. Any excess funds raised go directly to supporting more animal liberations which include extensive prayers and dedications for the long life of others.

Latest News!

Ongoing: Lama Zopa Rinpoche has requested the Sangha at his house to do the practice of animal liberation every week dedicated to anyone who is sick or having life obstacles. More....

January 2013: In 2012 the Animal Liberation Fund liberated over 33,000 lives! More....

January 2012: Mandala magazine highlighted the Animal Liberation Fund as a featured project in the January-April 2012 print magazine. The article gives an overview of the project, recent news, resources for liberating animals, and a short article from Enlightenment for the Dear Animals about their recent liberation of yaks in Tibet.

December 2011: Geshe Jinpa from Kopan Monastery arranged for 120 yaks that were going to be killed to be purchased and taken to families who pledged to care for the yaks for the rest of their lives. More....

Due to the kindness of sponsors to the Animal Liberation Fund, we are happy to announce that since 2007 over 2,183,100 animals (of varying sizes) have been liberated.
Additionally, our dedications list has included over 8,000 people.

Further Resources

• The FPMT Foundation Store offers a teachings and practices from Lama Zopa Rinpoche about how to benefit animals, including the animal liberation practice, in booklet and eReader formats.

• A collection of advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche about benefiting animals.

• Only from the mind of Lama Zopa Rinpoche comes Animal Liberation Tools, unique bug catchers that bless small animals before their release.

To send names for dedications, please email: Holly Ansett

How Can I Make a Donation?

To make a tax-deductible donation:

donate

Or simply send your check in US dollars payable to FPMT Inc. and write “Animal Liberation Fund” on the memo line.

FPMT Inc.
1632 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214-4702
USA

The Animal Liberation Fund is a project of FPMT Inc. and is administered by FPMT International Office located in Portland, Oregon, United States. All donations made to this fund are tax-deductible within the United States in accordance with IRS Code article 501(c)(3) to the extent allowed by law.

For more information please contact: Holly Ansett, Charitable Projects Coordinator.

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