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International Office News
September 2020
 Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, August 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab. |
Inspirational Thought Transformation Teachings Continue
The IMI “Healing the World” Prayerathon
Support Offered to Tibetan Elders
Changes within the Organization:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche:
 Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the garden at Kopan Monastery offering advice to the main staff monks, Nepal, August 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab. |
Inspirational Thought Transformation Teachings Continue
We are so fortunate that Lama Zopa Rinpoche is continuing his video teachings on thought transformation from Kopan Monastery in Nepal! Recent topics include how all the buddhas manifest as the guru in ordinary aspect to guide us; commentary on the seven limb practice; and that meditating on impermanence and death is the best medicine for all mental problems.
Through all his teachings, Rinpoche emphasises the importance of cherishing others—that the main practice in one’s life should be bodhichitta.
Advice on a Range of Topics
 Lama Zopa Rinpoche explaining the Dharma message he’d written on the stuffed toy, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab. |
Find Rinpoche’s advice on a wide range of topics, such as “natural disasters,” on Rinpoche’s Advice page.
Subscribe to our FPMT news blog to get regular news.
We’re Rejoicing About:
The IMI “Healing the World” Prayerathon
Every Saturday, monks and nuns of the FPMT’s International Mahayana Institute (IMI) offer a 24 hour “Healing the World” Prayerathon with Thangthong Gyalpo’s prayer in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This has been offered since August 1, and will continue for the foreseeable future. Thanks to the effort of the multimedia team at Chenrezig Institute, Australia, everyone in the world can join the prayers by visiting their YouTube channel, which also displays the prayers so participants can easily follow along. If you would like to be informed about updates and the weekly schedule, please email the IMI.
Support Offered to Tibetan Elders
The FPMT Social Services Fund has offered US$1,224,085 in support to Tibetan elders living in different elderly homes in India since 2016. In 2020 we were delighted to offer US$379,309 to five such homes taking care of this very valued and vulnerable group of Tibetans living in exile. Read details about support offered.
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Changes within the Organization:
Impermanence at Work
Contact information for the following, and all FPMT centers, projects, and services can be found in the FPMT Directory.
Choe Khor Sum Ling, India
We welcome new director – Aman Bansal
With grateful thanks to outgoing director – Shanti Yajnik
Gyalwa Gyatso (Ocean of Compassion) Buddhist Center, USA
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – MaryEllen Kirkpatrick
Thubten Kunga Center, USA
Grateful thanks to Ven Tendron, who has stepped down as resident teacher.
Yeshe Gyaltsen Center, Mexico
We welcome new spiritual program coordinator (SPC) – Moya Mendez
With grateful thanks to retired SPC – Paula Velasco
For Those Offering Service in FPMT Affiliates:
Rinpoche Advises “There’s Only Space for Joy”
 Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting people while circumambulating one of the stupas at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, August 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab. |
Lama Zopa Rinpoche describes the importance of the role of the director, and how the benefits far outweigh any difficulties, in a new video. This advice is of course relevant for all of us offering service in the FPMT organization.
Rinpoche comments:
“As director, that means taking the responsibility on yourself to bring numberless sentient beings to enlightenment. You do that with the help of many people, the board, and so on. It’s incredible, unbelievable: bringing beings to enlightenment. So thank you very, very, very much.
If something is difficult—think of the benefits. You should take difficulties as an ornament, not a burden. So in life there’s not one second to be depressed, no place, no space – only joy, happiness more than the sky.”
Watch the video and/or read the edited transcript as part of FPMT Director Training.
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FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.
