Offerings to International Mahayana Institute Sangha

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with IMI Sangha.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with IMI Sangha at his residence in California. It has always been a high priority of FPMT and Lama Zopa Rinpoche to support and care for our IMI (International Mahayana Institute) Sangha family. IMI is made up of the monks and nuns of FPMT.

On each of the four holy days (15^th day of Losar, Saka Dawa, Buddha’s First teaching and Buddha’s Descent IMI Sangha and Geshes, 2007. from Tushita), the FPMT Puja Fund makes a small offering directly to each Sangha member at the IMI Sangha communities of FPMT in Italy, France, Australia and USA.

Additionally, Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally sponsors at least 7-15 IMI Sangha fully each year through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhicitta Fund. 

Monthly Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja

Every month on the Tibetan 29^th day, an important day to offer protector pujas, The Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in the practice of Most Secret Hayagriva, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja (Hayagriva Tsog Kong). This is an all day puja with an elaborate torma offering (pictured above) and extensive prayers and meditation.

Monks performing Extensive Hayagriva Puja. The Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja is dedicated to all FPMT centers, services, projects; the success of all Dharma activities and removal of obstacles; to all students who are facing obstacles; to the benefactors of the Puja Fund and to all beings.

The Puja Fund makes a small offering to the 40 monks who perform the puja; offers breakfast, lunch and dinner; and covers the cost of extensive torma offerings for the puja.

Geshe Sengye, the past Abbott of Sera Je Monastery in Tibet, and Extensive Hayagriva torma.Every Tibetan 29th day you can remember that there are over 40 monks performing the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva puja. This is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Monthly Medicine Buddha Puja

Painting by Peter Iseli.Every month on the Tibetan 8^th day The Puja Fund sponsors the 2,000 monks of Sera Mey Monastery (pictured below) to offer Medicine Buddha puja dedicated FPMT centers, projects, services; all students who are ill or having life obstacles; benefactors of The Puja Fund and to all beings.

The Puja Fund offers 15 rs, tea and bread to each of the 2,000 monks performing the puja as well as the cost of light offerings and torma offerings for the puja.

Every Tibetan 8^th day, please remember that there are over 2,000 monks performing Medicine Buddha puja and you can mentally join in. This is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing! 

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Sera Je Monks Perform Pujas

Sera Je Monastery monks are pictured here performing pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund and dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the success of all FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.

Each month, pujas are performed by as many as 9,000 Sangha. The enormous number of Sangha engaged in these practices is an extremely powerful means to overcome obstacles and create merit for the entire organization. 

Ven. Roger Kunsang, FPMT's CEO, recently commented, "It is really quite an inspiring list [of pujas offered] and thousands of monks are involved. They are all disciples of the one Guru so the merit is vast. You can’t get enough zero’s on the biggest calculator [to show how much merit]!"

Offerings to Buddha Statue in Bodhgaya

Every month on the full moon the Puja Fund sponsors the offering of robes, made of the most precious material, to the most holy Buddha Statue in Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India, this is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!

During the robe offering, students and Sangha from Root Institute offer prayers and practices including verses like this from the Nyung Nä Sadhana:

In order to purify my mind, I offer an exquisite precious garment,
Multicolored like Indra’s variegated bow,
That when touched becomes the cause of bliss
May I be adorned with the holy garment of patience.

OM VAJRA VASTRAYE AH HUM SVAHA

As Lama Zopa Rinpoche has quoted from the White Lotus Sutra:

Even just making one sound, or a cymbal offering
Even just offering one single flower
To the form of one who has gone to bliss (buddha) on a stone wall,
Even if they make the offering with an angry attitude
Those living beings will gradually see ten million buddhas.

The above quote was extracted from "Benefits of Having Many Holy Objects," by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Tremendous thanks to Root Institute who arrange this monthly.

 To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Offerings to Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupas

Every month on the full moon the Puja Fund sponsors these offerings towards the holy Bouddhanath and Swayambunath Stupas in Nepal, this is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!

Bouddhanath StupaOfferings of white wash, four giant saffron flower petals and the best quality cloth to the umbrellas at the pinnacles are made to the Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal every month on the full moon and also on Buddha Days when merit is multiplied 100 million times.

Swayambunath StupaLama Zopa Rinpoche often quotes Shakyamuni Buddha regarding the benefits of offering to holy objects:

All the happiness and comfort which are in the world
Arise from offering to the three rare sublime ones (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha). Therefore if one wishes happiness and comfort
Attempt to make offerings to the three rare sublime ones.

The above quote was extracted from "Benefits of Having Many Holy Objects," by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Tremendous thanks to Kopan Monastery who arrange this monthly. It costs approximately US$300 for these offerings every month.

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Puja Fund Activities on Lha Bab Duchen

Monks offering puja on behalf of the Puja Fund. Every year on Lha Bab Duchen (Buddha’s Descent from Tushita) the Puja Fund sponsors these pujas and offerings all over the world, this is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!

•  A special puja is done one week before Lha Bab Duchen requesting Buddha to descend from Tushita. Rs 15 (Indian rupees) are offered to 3,400 monks at Ganden Lachi Monastery, (Shartse and Jangtse), India.
• Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la offering puja. Offerings to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus (His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya Trizen, Geshe Sopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, Dhakpa Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, Khongla Rato Rinpoche, Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche).
• Offerings are made to all the Sangha at international Sangha communities: Nalanda Monastery, France;  Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia;  Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy;  Chenrezig Institute, Australia; and  Sangha offering service at Rinpoche’s house, USA.
• White wash and offering four giant saffron flower petals are offered to Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal, as well as new umbrellas to the stupas' pinnacles.
• A new set of robes of the most precious material is offered to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple as well as the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang and also gold is offered to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha.

In November, on the Anniversary of His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche’s passing, the Puja Fund sponsors tsog at Ganden Monastery, India.

On November 13th and 18th, during the full solar and lunar eclipses, the Puja Fund sponsors the following:

• Tukchuma Puja - 64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles for one’s activities or projects that are bringing benefit to others. 1,000 light offerings for two days are offered to cover the actual time of the eclipses as well as Rs15 (Indian rupees) offered to 3,400 monks at Ganden Lachi Monastery, (Shartse and Jangtse), India.

On December 8, Lama Tsongkhapa Day, the Puja Fund sponsors the following:

• At Ganden Monastery, India Rs10,000 (Indian rupees) offered for light offerings.

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Gold and Robes to the Jowa Buddha Statue in Tibet

Every month on the full moon the Puja Fund sponsors the offering of gold and robes to the most holy Jowa Buddha Statue in Tibet, this is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!

Prayers and dedications for this offering are done for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, for the success of all FPMT’s Dharma activities, FPMT students, benefactors of centers, projects and their families, to all who have passed away, and to the benefactors of the Puja Fund.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently explained some of the benefits of offering gold to holy objects:

If someone offers a small flower or rice to a Buddha statue, a stupa or scripture then the benefit extends from then up to Enlightenment. Amazing, amazing. It is said in the sutra Piled Flowers, on top of that benefit, you achieve ultimate happiness – liberation from the causes of delusion and karma and on top of that full Enlightenment – all the realizations and omniscient mind. After this, then you liberate numberless hell beings, pretas, animals, humans, suras and asuras from the ocean of samsaric sufferings and bring them to full Enlightenment. When all beings are brought to Enlightenment, only then are all the results of offering achieved. So by offering gold, then wow, wow, wow.

Scribe Ven. Tenzin Namdrol. Kopan, December 2012.

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Special One-day Hayagriva "Tsog Kong" Puja Offered at Sera Je

November 2012

Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Abbot of Sera Je Monastery during puja.Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT Puja Fund sponsored a special one-day Hayagriva "Tsog Kong" puja on November 25, 2012 which was performed by all the high lamas, geshes and monks of Sera Je Monastery. Hayagriva is the wrathful manifestation of Chenrezig and the protector of Sera Je Monastery. This powerful puja was requested by Rinpoche to remove obstacles in the coming year and for the benefits of all sentient beings, particularly all the students, benefactors and sponsors of FPMT centers, projects and services.

Sera Je Gegu reading the dediction for the whole day.From Sera Je Food Fund team in India: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank and dedicate this puja for all of Sera Je Food Fund sponsors and their family members. May all their wishes be fulfilled according to the holy Dharma!"

Puja Fund Activities on Chokhor Duchen

Each year on Chokhor Duchen (Day 4 of Month 6, commemorating  Lord Buddha’s first teaching) the Puja Fund is sponsoring these pujas and offerings all over the world, this is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!

• Bouddhanath Stupa, Nepal. Recitation of the entire Kangyur – the translated words of Buddha Shakyamuni in 108 volumes, also includes the recitation of the entire Prajñaparamita; Rs.10 offering to approx. 6000 monks at Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries in India.
• Offerings to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus (His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya Trizen, Geshe Sopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, Dhakpa Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, Khongla Rato Rinpoche, Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche)
• Monks offering puja on behalf of the Puja Fund. Offerings are made to all the Sangha at international Sangha communities: Nalanda Monastery, France;  Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia;  Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy;  Chenrezig Institute, Australia; and  Sangha offering service at Rinpoche’s house, USA.
• White wash and offering four giant saffron flower petals are offered to Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal, as well as new umbrellas to the stupas' pinnacles.
• A new set of robes of the most precious material is offered to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple as well as the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang and also gold is offered to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha.

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Puja Fund Activities on Losar

February: Every year during Losar  (Tibetan New Year and the 15 days of miracles) the Puja Fund sponsors these pujas and offerings all over the world, this is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!  

• Jowo Buddha Statue.Tukchuma Puja - 64 Offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles for one’s activities or projects that are bringing benefit to others. Offered by the 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery.
• Namgyal Tongchu for the removal of all obstacles for a long life. This puja consists of making 1,000 sets of the seven offerings (light, water, etc.) to Buddha Namgyalma. Offered by the 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery.
• Offerings to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus (His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya Trizen, Geshe Sopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, Dhakpa Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, Khongla Rato Rinpoche, Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche).
• Monks offering puja on behalf of the Puja Fund. Offerings to the 700 monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery during the annual Monlam festival.
• Offerings are made to all the Sangha at international Sangha communities: Nalanda Monastery, France;  Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia;  Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy;  Chenrezig Institute, Australia; and  Sangha offering service at Rinpoche’s house, USA.
• White wash and offering four giant saffron flower petals are offered to Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal, as well as new umbrellas to the stupas' pinnacles.
• A new set of robes of the most precious material is offered to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple as well as the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang and also gold is offered to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha.

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Puja Fund list of Activities

Please rejoice in the pujas and practices sponsored by the Puja Fund. You can also remember to rejoice and dedicate on the actual day that the pujas are happening.  As Lama Zopa Rinpoche says: “This is the best business, the best way to create most extensive merit.”

You may view an extensive list of the pujas and practices sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund here.

Puja Fund Activities on Saka Dawa

Bodhgaya, India: A new set of robes made of the most precious material with is offered each month to the Buddha.Each year on Saka Dawa (Day 15 of Month 4: Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana), the Puja Fund sponsors these pujas and offerings all over the world, this is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate towards and also something you can also participate in by donating any amount ... How amazing!

• Tukchuma Puja, 64 Offerings to Kalarupa, Medicine Buddha Puja at Kopan Monastery, Nepal:
• 100,000 recitations of the Praises to the 21 Taras, Nrs.50 offering is made to approx. 380 nuns, a meal is offered to all nuns, Nrs. 50 offered to approx. 350 monks at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling, Kopan Nunnery, Nepal.
• Offerings to all of Lama Monks offering puja on behalf of the Puja Fund. Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus (His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya Trizen, Geshe Sopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, Dhakpa Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, Khongla Rato Rinpoche, Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche).
  
• Offerings are made to all the Sangha at international Sangha communities: Nalanda Monastery, France;  Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia;  Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy;  Chenrezig Institute, Australia; and  Sangha offering service at Rinpoche’s house, USA.
• 16 x Nyung Näs and offering to the nuns at Potawa Nunnery, Tibet.
• Making and filling of stupas and lunch offering to participants at Chenrezig Institute, Australia.
• White wash and four giant saffron flower petals are offered to Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal, as well as offering new umbrellas to the stupas' pinnacles.
• A new set of robes of the most precious material is offered to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple as well as the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang and also gold is offered to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha.

To donate toward these and all other ongoing pujas of the Puja Fund:

Puja at Sera Je Monastery for Lama Zopa Rinpoche

This Grand Hayagriva Puja was dedicated to Lama Zopa Rinpoche's quick recovery by all of the Sera Je Monastery monks in April 2011.