Lama Zopa Rinpoche on top of Kopan Hill, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

This month’s newsletter brings you news, opportunities, and reasons to rejoice.

Saka Dawa month is upon us, starting on May 17 and continuing through May 31 on Saka Dawa Duchen, one of the four great days of the Tibetan calendar, each of which celebrates an anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha’s display of extraordinarily powerful deeds for the sake of sentient beings.

In this month’s enews you will find practice advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for this merit-making occasion, information about the powerful and successful launch of the 2026 Global MANI Retreat on May 17, and details of prayers and practices offered by thousands of ordained Sangha on behalf of the entire FPMT organization for the benefit of all beings on Saka Dawa—and how you can take part in all of these opportunities. And of course, much more, including stories for rejoicing, opportunities for study, service, and practice; new and updated resources available to you; and changes within the FPMT organization. 

Please read this month’s enews in its entirety!

Have the e-News translated into your native language by using our convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page.

Visit our subscribe page to receive the FPMT International Office News directly in your email inbox.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. 

Photo: Louis De Santis. Credit Thubten Norbu Ling

Louis De Santis passed peacefully after a lengthy illness on April 15, 2026 in Santa Fe, USA

The following words celebrating Louis De Santis’ qualities have been shared by the Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center in Santa Fe, where he served in the last years as webmaster.

Louis moved to Santa Fe more than three years ago on the advice of his teacher, Ven. Robina Courtin. From day one he began contributing to the Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center and the local community, pitching in with whatever was needed. Lou ended up running a significant number of in-person events, became responsible for running the website, and was always helping those around him in need, being particularly instrumental in helping Sister Max at the end of her life. 

Louis was a bright light at the center whose warmth, charm, and smile made everyone feel cared for. His absence will be deeply felt, but we can now hold on to the lessons he taught us as he was the embodiment of caring for others. 

Louis De Santis, 79, passed peacefully after a lengthy illness on April 15, 2026, at a friend’s rural farm outside of Santa Fe, surrounded by family and friends, a curious peacock, Gracie the cat, Bumble the Great Pyrenees, and a Pomeranian Chihuahua named Babette. Born October 21, 1946 to Italian parents emigrated to the Boston area from Naples and Palermo, after high school Louis enlisted in the air force where, in 1968 he was trained in the newly emerging field of computer support service. 

Due to serious asthma attacks, eight years later he was given a disability discharge and went into the private sector to work in design, programming, and testing at the legendary Wang Laboratories for 14 years. 

During the covid pandemic, Louis saw a lecture on Zoom by the Tibetan Buddhist nun Venerable Robina Courtin, and immediately recognized a kindred spirit. Venerable Robina told him about a new Buddhist Center building in Santa Fe that was opening in a few years which had a need for a tech person so Louis decided it was time for a change, and moved to Santa Fe where he became a devout Buddhist and the much beloved webmaster and troubleshooter for Thubten Norbu Ling. A kind, generous, and gentle soul, Louis financially contributed to social, literary, and spiritual causes, and will be remembered fondly by many whom he helped.  

On Sunday, April 19, 2026 Thubten Norbu Ling’s community organized a Medicine Buddha Puja to help create the conditions for his auspicious rebirth and swift enlightenment. We hope that this will serve as a moment of healing for his loved ones as well as our final offering of practice on his behalf. 

Please pray that Louis  may never ever be reborn in the lower realms, may he be immediately born in a pure land where he can be enlightened or to receive a perfect human body, meet the Mahayana teachings and meet a perfectly qualified guru and by only pleasing the guru’s mind, achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. More advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).

To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).

Light offerings at Boudhanath Stupa at night, with Khen Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, December 2016. Photo by Lobsang Sherab.

The great stupa of Boudhanath in Kathmandu, Nepal, was extremely important for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It was in Boudha that Rinpoche first settled upon returning to Nepal in the late 1960s with Lama Thubten Yeshe. While staying at Samtenling Monastery, located behind the circumambulation path around the stupa, Lama Yeshe could see a hill from the monastery and felt drawn to it. Later that hill would become Kopan Monastery, the first FPMT center established by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Whenever Rinpoche returned to Kopan, he would often circumambulate the Boudha Stupa in the evenings together with a couple of attendants, while making offerings and reciting prayers and mantras. By the time the circumambulations were completed, a crowd would often have formed, following Rinpoche around the stupa. At the very end, Rinpoche would lead everyone present in offering five-colored khatags to the stupa, followed by extensive dedications.

During the second COVID lockdown in 2021, Rinpoche, together with other high lamas, including Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Khadro Rinpoche (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Dronme), and the abbots of Shechen Monastery and Kopan Monastery, reconsecrated the three great stupas of Nepal—Swayambhu, Boudha, and Namo Buddha—for the benefit of all sentient beings. At the end of the consecrations and after taking the bodhisattva vow, Rinpoche led the assembled lamas in an offering practice based on the offering objects described in chapter three of The Legend of the Great Jarung Kashor Stūpa

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Gen Tenpa Choden, and Ani Jangsem offering five-colored khata to the Boudha Stupa with prayers, Nepal, February 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

The Benefits of Making Offerings to the Boudha Stupa

After COVID ended, Rinpoche continued to perform the offering practice to the Boudha Stupa, and the practice grew increasingly elaborate over time. Rinpoche himself performed the practice at the stupa several times in a room with extensive offerings located on the circumambulation path, and at least twice from his room in Kopan. Rinpoche would quote the Great Guru, Padmasambhava, on the benefits of serving the great stupa of Boudha:

“Listen! Great king, generate strong devotion. All the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the three times actually absorbed into and abide in this holy object of the holy mind. Any requests and prayers made to the great stupa will be effortlessly and spontaneously accomplished; it is like a wish-granting jewel. The benefits for any transmigratory being who, with a totally pure attitude, prostrates to it, circumambulates it, or makes offerings to it cannot be expressed or counted even by the numberless past, present, and future buddhas.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro Rinpoche at Boudha Stupa, Nepal, November 2019. Photo by Harald Weichhart.

To collect “the most unbelievable merit” when making offerings to the stupa, Rinpoche says in Offerings to the Boudha Stupa, “Think that all these offerings belong to sentient beings and then, on their behalf, make offerings to the stupa. It is not just a stupa. To me, for example, it’s in essence His Holi­ness the Dalai Lama, which means it’s all the past, all the present, and all the future buddhas. You can think like that for whoever your own root guru is, which means your root guru is all the three-time and ten-direction buddhas. […] There’s no question how much merit you will collect with each offering you make to the stupa while thinking that in essence it is your root guru. You collect the most unbelievable merit, and it becomes purification as well. Please think this with any offering you make to the stupa, and then offer it on behalf of all sentient beings.”

Eventually, Ven. Sarah Thresher requested Rinpoche to compose a formal offering practice  for his students to use. Rinpoche responded by suggesting that she transcribe one of the extensive practices he had led at Kopan and compile a booklet from that. After Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away, Ven. Joan Nicell completed the transcript that Ven. Sarah had initiated and, with the help of Ven. Ailsa Cameron, arranged it into a practice format so that the practice could be done during the forty-nine days of prayers in Rinpoche’s honor. The resulting practice booklet, Making Extensive Offerings to Boudha Stupa, also lists the specific benefits of making each kind of offering.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering wish-granting jewel to the Boudha Stupa from his room in Kopan Monastery, September 2021.

Rinpoche’s Offering Room at the Boudha Stupa

The offering room was originally set up and continues to be maintained by Dechog, a Chinese lay student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Dechog started off by arranging many offerings on tarpaulins laid out along the circumambulation path of the stupa, and then spending hours offering them. Eventually, with the help of some Chinese students, he rented a disused restaurant overlooking the stupa where he could permanently set up his extensive array of offerings. Rinpoche rejoiced greatly in Dechog’s offerings of huge water bowls and large butter lamps and his insistence on offering only the finest quality substances and, over time, Rinpoche contributed many auspicious offerings and statues to the offering room.

Offering of saffron at Boudha Stupa.

After Dechog offered a set of keys to Rinpoche, the room gradually became known among FPMT students as “Rinpoche’s offering room at Boudha.” A simple throne, sponsored by a group of Chinese students, was set up for Rinpoche to use whenever he did the offering practice there. Rinpoche would lead the practice himself, reading from his copy of The Legend of the Great Jarung Kashor Stūpa and explaining the benefit of each offering, followed by the recitation of the Offering Cloud Mantra, with instruments being played while visualizing the offerings being made.

In January 2022, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave advice on how to make the best use of the offering room so as to collect “the most unbelievable merit” when making offerings to the stupa. This advice, which was published as Offerings to the Boudha Stupa,was also printed, framed, and hung in the room as a reminder to students.

Students Perform the Offering Practice

Besides performing the offering practice once during the forty-nine days after Rinpoche’s passing, it has since been done at major FPMT gatherings in Kathmandu: following the Light of the Path retreat at Kopan in 2023, the Heart Sutra retreat in 2024, and the CPMT meeting in 2025, and most recently in March 2026 when a number of FPMT students visited Nepal for the inauguration of Khadro Rinpoche’s new monastery.

Students participating in this extensive practice have been deeply moved. Maria Damsholt from the FPMT Center for Wisdom and Compassion in Denmark, who took part in the March 2026 offering practice, shared: “It is a very beautiful offering practice to do. It felt exactly like making offerings and prayers with Rinpoche himself—because it really is in the spirit of Rinpoche. Thank you so much for letting me practice with you. I intend to buy as many offering substances as possible so that we can do it in Denmark too.”

Rinpoche making offerings at Boudha Stupa, Nepal, July 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Claudia Czuba from the FPMT center in Vienna was so deeply inspired that she purchased jewels and medicines in Boudha in 2025 and performed the practice twice in Austria. She said, “We did this offering practice at Panchen Losang Chogyen center in Vienna by setting up an offering table with a big picture of the Boudha Stupa and nicely arranged offerings. It is a simple yet very powerful practice, and also very joyful. To arrange beautiful offerings, visualize them as extensively as possible, share them with all sentient beings, and offer them to the stupa indivisible from the guru makes the heart and mind very happy. It seemed like people felt the ‘skies of merits’ they created with this practice. And, for sure, it pleased the holy mind of our precious guru Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.”

Malaysian monk Ven. Sonam Yeshe was equally inspired and is planning to bring the practice to Rinchen Jangsem Ling Retreat Centre in Triang, Malaysia. He shared, “Experiencing the elaborate offerings in front of the holy Boudha Stupa for the first time was profoundly moving. It felt incredibly special to participate in the same ritual that Lama Zopa Rinpoche performed so many times at the stupa. I couldn’t help but imagine how beautiful it would be to replicate these elaborate offerings at Rinchen Jangsem Ling, Malaysia. By facilitating a program where participants take turns performing the offerings themselves, we can provide a highly engaging and meritorious experience that resonates with all those who attend.”

We invite all of Rinpoche’s students and centers to do this offering practice to the Boudha Stupa from their homes or centers and in this way help preserve Rinpoche’s very special practice lineage while at the same time creating skies of merits!

Resources

In September 2021, Rinpoche recorded a Thought Transformation Teaching video entitled “Making Offerings to Boudha Stupa” in which he speaks about performing a tsog offering practice at the Boudha Stupa and the benefits of making offerings to stupas. You can follow along with the offering practice by watching the video.

Find Offerings to the Boudha Stupa as a PDF in the Foundation Store.
Find Making Extensive Offerings to Boudha Stupa as a PDF in the Foundation Store.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

International Office News
May 2026

Lama Zopa Rinpoche on top of Kopan Hill, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2020. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Welcome to this month’s newsletter!

Saka Dawa month is upon us, starting on May 17 and continuing through May 31 on Saka Dawa Duchen, one of the four great days of the Tibetan calendar, each of which celebrates an anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha’s display of extraordinarily powerful deeds for the sake of sentient beings.

Below you will find practice advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for this merit-making occasion, information about the powerful and successful launch of the 2026 Global MANI Retreat on May 17, and details of prayers and practices offered by thousands of ordained Sangha on behalf of the entire FPMT organization for the benefit of all beings on Saka Dawa—and how you can take part in all of these opportunities.

Advice from and News Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Advice for Practice on Saka Dawa

On Saka Dawa Duchen, which occurs this year on May 31, karmic results are multiplied by 300 million times as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events.

Please refer to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice for merit multiplying days, in particular:

• Taking the eight Mahayana precepts: students can receive the lineage of these precepts from a specially produced video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche granting them, recorded in 2020 at Kopan Monastery.
• Reciting the Sutra Remembering the Three Jewels
• The 2026 Global MANI Retreat commenced on the first day of Saka Dawa month (Sunday, May 17, 2026), and conclude on the final Buddha Day for this year, Lhabab Duchen (Sunday, November 1, 2026). This retreat will be something unprecedented for our global FPMT family.

Of course, at the conclusion of any activities at your center during the Saka Dawa month and on Saka Dawa day in particular, please take the opportunity to dedicate all the merit generated to the swift return of our most precious Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Memorial Stupas Inauguration at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, December 2026

Rendering of the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery.

We are delighted to announce the grand inauguration ceremonies of the Memorial Stupas of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery.

On December 11, 2026, the Stupa of Complete Victory, enshrining the sacred relics of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, will be consecrated at Kopan Monastery.

On December 14, 2026, the Mahabodhi Memorial Stupa at Kopan Nunnery will be consecrated to honor both Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup.

Students Commemorate the Third Anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Parinirvana

April 13, 2026, marked the three-year anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away.

Around the world, activities were organized in centers, monastic institutions, and in the homes of individual students to commemorate Rinpoche’s life, remember and celebrate his unbelievable kindness, pray for his return, and dedicate themselves to fulfilling Rinpoche’s wishes on this occasion.

We recently shared details and photos of the powerful activities, and we thank everyone who participated in this heartfelt collective effort to remember Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s immeasurable kindness and pray for his swift return.

Valuable Resources for Students

We would like to draw your attention to some valuable resources for students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Compendium of Precious Instructions: A Catalog of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Works is a collection of Rinpoche’s literary and graphic works which are available digitally and/or in print, with particular emphasis on key teachings that Rinpoche especially wanted his students to take note of and put into practice, as well as a guide on where to find the audio and video.

Life Practice Advice is a resource based on Rinpoche’s essential daily practice and lifetime practice advice. This is his essential advice and by following this advice, students can feel confident they are following and practicing according to Rinpoche’s heart advice.

FPMT.org offers a collection of practical advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Students can also find Rinpoche’s advice on a wide range of topics in the form of short talks and letters at the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Lama Yeshe’s Wisdom

A Message Lama Left for Us: Telling the Story of FPMT

Lama Yeshe, 1983. Photo by Holger Hjorth, from Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

In January 1983, Lama Yeshe traveled to Sicily. It would turn out to be one of his last trips before he showed the aspect of passing away in March 1984. During that visit, he gave his personal attendant and FPMT Central Office director, Jacie Keeley, three important messages to be distributed to all the centers.

In the first message, Lama Yeshe wanted all the centers to make video documentaries on how they started and developed. “Show all the obstacles you faced and surmounted with your determination. Show if you are happy or not and if you are healthy or not.”

With this sincere request, Lama wasn’t asking for promotional material. He was asking centers to document the real story — including the difficulties — so that the experience and know-how of the first generations of students could be passed on to those who would follow.

Honest storytelling like this helps preserve the precious knowledge of how our centers were built, helps future directors, spiritual program coordinators and volunteers reinforce their motivation to serve with greater dedication, and serves the vast vision of our Lamas. Leaving future generations a sense of connection — of being part of something vast and continuous, of belonging to what Lama always called the FPMT family — is precisely what these stories can restore.

More than 40 years later, with far more accessible technology available, this feels like exactly the right moment to take up Lama’s request — especially as FPMT moves through the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. Read more.…

What We’re Rejoicing About

Saka Dawa: A Day of Creating Merit and Prayers for All Beings

Saka Dawa (May 31, 2026) is one of the most powerful days of the year for creating merit and engaging in practice (see above for practice advice).

The world needs our prayers at this time, and this is a precious opportunity to offer extensive practices and dedicate the merit to all beings.

Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained that the actions of all the Buddhas manifest in the aspect of Tara, to grant the wishes of sentient beings, so it is very important for us to pray to Tara — if we pray to her with great sincerity and faith, relying on her completely, she can definitely help eliminate hindrances.

With this in our hearts, we have arranged extensive prayers throughout the day on Saka Dawa, including:

• Three recitations of the 100,000 Praises to the Twenty-One Taras – one recitation undertaken by over 4,000 sangha of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery
• The recitation of the Guhyasamaja Root Tantra
• 1,000 Offerings to Buddha Namgyalma
• Recitations of Jampal Tshen Jo (Chanting the Names of Manjushri)
• Offerings will be made to all the Sangha undertaking these practices and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• The stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath in Nepal will be freshly painted, and their pinnacle umbrellas replaced, and a new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.

You are welcome to join in this day of merit by offering any amount but also by remembering that these practices are happening on the day – you can rejoice in them and dedicate all the merits. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche so often reminded us, this is the best way to create the most extensive merit.

2026 FPMT Global MANI Retreat Begins!

One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization was to hold 100 Million Mani retreats.

“This is one of my dreams, to have 100 Million Mani Retreats each year and for it to continue forever, even after I die, even after the people living now die. Those who are working, offering service now—to continue even after they die; to continue for as long as the country exists.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

On Sunday May 17—the first day of holy Saka Dawa month—an estimated 700+ people joined the FPMT Global MANI Retreat from around the world.

This was the launch of an unprecedented worldwide effort to devote our collective time and effort to powerful Dharma practice, dedicating ourselves to the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s unmistaken reincarnation.

Ven. Roger Kunsang opened the event with highly encouraging remarks about how close 100 Million Mani retreats were to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s heart.

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi then gave a wonderful teaching based on the official Chenrezig Sadhana we are using for this retreat, emphasizing the importance of various parts such as the Four Immeasurables (“…so important to meditate on these points for a few minutes every day, so that it becomes easy for us to generate great compassion…”), and the power of the MANI mantra.

Cherok Lama will offer a teaching in the second session of the Global MANI Retreat on May 23 from 11:30am – 1:00pm (UTC).

Please check out the retreat webpage, where you will find important resources and inspiration, including the Chenrezig sadhana and translated materials.

How do I access the Zoom account? What if you cannot do the sadhana every day? Are there any diet restrictions? Will the sessions be recorded? Answers to all this and more can be found in the FAQ section of the webpage.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Service to India’s Poorest: The Ever-Flowing Generosity of Maitri Charitable Trust

Maitri Charitable Trust has been serving some of India’s poorest people since 1989 and continues to be guided by its founder and longtime director, Adriana Ferranti. Adriana has spent decades at the helm of Maitri. Now 81, she carries on with unwavering commitment. Please read about Adriana’s life of service and the essential work she carries forth through Maitri.

Geshe Tenzin Zopa in Mexico: Dharma in Challenging Times

Geshe Tenzin Zopa with students. Photo courtesy of FPMT Mexico.

Geshe Tenzin Zopa’s first-ever visit to Mexico — and to Latin America— from March 6-14, 2026, was organized by the Mexican centers and study groups. Ramón Lara, FPMT Mexico National Coordinator and FPMT Latin America Regional Coordinator, recently shared details about this inspiring visit.

FPMT Community Stories

The FPMT family is full of inspiring activities at centers, projects, services, and study groups, as well as among registered teachers and individuals who bring our communities to life. We would love to hear about it.

Whether it’s a recent accomplishment or an activity that gives your community reason to rejoice, your story can spark ideas and create connections across the FPMT family.

Please review our submission guidelines and reach out if you have something to share— we’d love to hear from you.

Your memories and experiences are part of this living history. We have already begun gathering some of these precious stories, but there are so many more voices we would love to hear. We would love to collect as much of this history as possible: short videos, presentations, written stories, and group shots from your center, projects, and services. We warmly invite you to please be in touch!

Resources and Opportunities for Study and Practice

Light of the Path Retreat at Kopan Monastery, December 2026

This year’s Light of the Path Retreat (LOP) at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, will take place from December 20–30, 2026, and will be led by Geshe Tenzin Namdak, offering students a precious opportunity to come together in meditation and practice, and to honor the extraordinary legacy of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The retreat will take place shortly after the grand inauguration ceremonies of the Memorial Stupas of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lhundrup Rigsel.

Please read more about this precious opportunity.

New FPMT Basic Program at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy!

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) renews its tradition of offering a residential FPMT Basic Program (BP) in English and in Italian, also available online! This three-year BP is a once in a lifetime chance to enjoy residential study of this much acclaimed in-depth FPMT program, completed over a relatively short period of time, while living at beautiful ILTK, in the rolling hills of Tuscany, in welcoming and warm-hearted Italy!

From 2027 to 2029 this BP provides daily teachings supported by review classes, meditation sessions, discussion groups, quizzes, and written tests. Graduation follows in 2030, upon program completion with the BP review and final exam, and the three-months lamrim retreat. The program includes short retreats for each subject, helping students to relate the BP subject matter to practice and to daily life. Online students share in everything the program offers by means of recordings and the full range of course materials provided. Please continue to read more about this opportunity.

Make Extensive Offerings to the Boudha Stupa from Anywhere in the World

Rinpoche making offerings at Boudha Stupa, Nepal, July 2021. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

The great stupa of Boudhanath in Kathmandu, Nepal, was extremely important for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It was in Boudha that Rinpoche first settled upon returning to Nepal in the late 1960s with Lama Thubten Yeshe. While staying at Samtenling Monastery, located behind the circumambulation path around the stupa, Lama Yeshe could see a hill from the monastery and felt drawn to it. Later that hill would become Kopan Monastery, the first FPMT center established by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Whenever Rinpoche returned to Kopan, he would often circumambulate the Boudha Stupa in the evenings together with a couple of attendants, while making offerings and reciting prayers and mantras. By the time the circumambulations were completed, a crowd would often have formed, following Rinpoche around the stupa. At the very end, Rinpoche would lead everyone present in offering five-colored khatags to the stupa, followed by extensive dedications.

The practice booklet, Making Extensive Offerings to Boudha Stupa, is available to students who wish to make offerings to Boudha Stupa from anywhere in the world! Read more about this practice and the history of how it came to be.

Newly Available from the FPMT Foundation Store

This month we are happy to share the Italian translation of The Yoga of the Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara, a Chenrezig guru yoga composed by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso when he was nineteen years old.

The following cards  are now available into Spanish:

• Amoghapasha
• Verse to Put at the Base of Paintings and Statues of Milarepa
• If You Have Devotion, Padmasambhava is Lying at Your Door
• Making Offerings to the Actual Buddha and to a Buddha Image Are the Same
• Enlightenment at your fingertips

We are happy to also offer an updated version of the Liberation Card for Dying Person.

Foundation Store Resources

You can order printed copies of a selection of Foundation Store titles through Amazon’s print-on-demand service in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. In the item description click on the Amazon market that is closest to you. Foundation Store also offers a selection of prayers and practices available for 1-click download.

Retreat Opportunities

Please check our retreat schedule page for group retreat opportunities upcoming in your area.

Announcements, Opportunities, and Changes

Opportunities to Offer Service

Read about the amazing benefits and importance of offering service in the FPMT organization, and have a look at these meritorious opportunities to offer service as paid staff or as a volunteer in FPMT centers, projects, and services around the world, including opportunities in Australia, France, India, Italy, North American Region, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK and the USA. Newly added: Chenrezig Institute (Australia), Buddha House (Australia), Land of Medicine Buddha (California) and Ocean of Compassion (California) are looking for a new director; Ocean of Compassion and Land of Medicine Buddha (both in California), and Atisha Centre (Australia) are looking for SPCs.

Foundation Service Seminar in Italy this June

The Foundation Service Seminar (FSS) is the “FPMT immersion retreat,” providing essential information and nourishment for all serving, or wishing to serve, in the FPMT organization. This is a wonderful opportunity for centers, projects, and services to invest in the future by training the next generation of directors, SPCs, volunteers, board members, etc.

Please watch an inspiring video about the FSS.

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, is organizing an FSS on June 10-14, 2026 and places are still available. Reservations are now open.

Teacher Development Service Seminar in the USA this July and in France this September

The Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) supports the lifelong growth of current and aspiring FPMT teachers, facilitators, and meditation leaders. Returning in a hybrid format, TDSS now features updated pedagogy and a flexible delivery to meet the needs of our global community. Rooted in the FPMT lineage, the TDSS introduces the principles of contemporary Dharma pedagogy -practical, effective methods for teaching and guiding others with wisdom and compassion.

Maitripa College (Oregon, USA) is organizing a TDSS hybrid and in-person from July 17-19 with pre-seminar online modules. Places are still available, and reservations are now open.

Kalachakra Retreat Centre, France, is organizing a TDSS on September 24-26, 2026 with pre-seminar online modules and places are still available. Reservations are now open.

Become a Friend of FPMT

Contact information for the centers mentioned, and all FPMT centers, projects, and services can be found in the FPMT Directory.

If you received this from someone else, or unformatted, visit our subscribe page to receive this newsletter directly.

FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s office.

Saka Dawa (May 31, 2026) is one of the most powerful days of the year for creating merit and engaging in practice. The world needs our prayers at this time, and this is a precious opportunity to offer extensive practices and dedicate the merit to all beings.

The actions of all the Buddhas manifest in the aspect of Tara, to grant the wishes of sentient beings, so it is very important for us to pray to Tara — if we pray to her with great sincerity and faith, relying on her completely, she can definitely help eliminate hindrances. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

With this in our hearts, we have arranged extensive prayers throughout the day on Saka Dawa, including:

• Three recitations of the 100,000 Praises to the Twenty-One Taras – one recitation undertaken by over 4,000 sangha of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monastery
• The recitation of the Guhyasamaja Root Tantra
• 1,000 Offerings to Buddha Namgyalma 
• Recitations of Jampal Tshen Jo (Chanting the Names of Manjushri) 
• Offerings will be made to all the sangha undertaking these practices and to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.
• The stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath in Nepal will be freshly painted, and their pinnacle umbrellas replaced and a new set of robes will be offered to the Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.

We warmly invite anyone who wishes to share in the merit created by offering any amount toward the pujas: 

Make an Offering

This is the 31st consecutive year the FPMT Puja Fund has arranged extensive pujas and prayers — offered monthly and on every Buddha Day — on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. Rinpoche expressed his wish that these pujas continue forever, or for as long as the monasteries and nunneries exist.

Rinpoche explained that all the merit created from these pujas is also your merit. While these prayers are taking place on Saka Dawa, you are invited to rejoice, reflect on the practices being done, and dedicate the merits toward your own realizations and the enlightenment of all sentient beings. 

This is the “best business,” according to Rinpoche, and the best way to create the most extensive merit. 

All the sangha undertaking these prayers are dedicating all of the merit generated for the swift return of our most precious guru, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche; for the success of all the centers and projects of the FPMT organization; all the students, volunteers, and benefactors, and especially for all of the kind donors of the Puja Fund. 

All these prayers are happening on Saka Dawa day and merit created on that day is multiplied 300 million times, as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity. 

An unprecedented global merit-making effort is nearing commencement! 

The regional and national coordinators of FPMT are working with FPMT International Office and Retreat Coordinator Selina Foong to offer a Global MANI Retreat. This retreat will bring together our FPMT community on a scale we have not attempted before … a hugely exciting collective effort that we pray will promote even greater harmony, cohesion, and understanding among us all.

The retreat is scheduled to commence on the first day of Saka Dawa month (Sunday, May 17, 2026), and conclude on the final Buddha Day for this year, Lhabab Duchen (Sunday, November 1, 2026). Major online teachings will be offered throughout this period by high lamas, regional online group practice sessions will be available, and individual practice at home will be encouraged. Participants will also be invited to join the 100 Million MANI Retreat in Mongolia from August 20 to September 17, 2026. Upon the conclusion of this Global MANI Retreat, we will offer the total number of MANI mantras recited to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

You can read all about the launch of this event on May 17, and choose how you would like to participate. Please also join the 2026 Global MANI Retreat Facebook Group to stay connected to all the news, updates, and reasons to rejoice. 

We hope you will feel inspired to join as many of these online teachings and group practice sessions as you are able! 

A few key points we’d like to draw your attention to:

Online Sessions – How to Access

All Major Teachings and Chenrezig Group Practice sessions in this FPMT Global MANI Retreat will be conducted online via Zoom.

If you are joining from your computer:

Click on this Zoom link for direct access: [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82214768781]

OR

Enter this Zoom Meeting ID, if you prefer to access Zoom manually: 822 1476 8781

If you are joining from a mobile device such as your phone:

You can either use the above methods

OR

Enter the Zoom room directly by scanning the QR code image provided to the right. This QR code is also included in the individual session poster.

YouTube livestream also available.

The Practice Materials

Be Part of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Vision!

One of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the FPMT organization was to hold 100 Million Mani retreats.

“This is one of my dreams, to have 100 Million Mani Retreats each year and for it to continue forever, even after I die, even after the people living now die. Those who are working, offering service now—to continue even after they die; to continue for as long as the country exists.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

By participating in this retreat, you are not only directly helping to actualize Rinpoche’s Vast Vision for the FPMT organization, but you are contributing to world peace by invoking the powerful compassion of Chenrezig for the benefit of all sentient beings, strengthened by the sincere effort around the world from the FPMT family.

To keep up on all details related to this six month Global MANI Retreat, please refer to our webpage, and join the Facebook Group. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Offerings during commemoration of Rinpoche’s parinirvana 3rd anniversary at Chokyi Gyaltsen Center, Penang, Malaysia, April 13, 2026.. Credit: Chokyi Gyaltsen Center Facebook page.

April 13, 2026, marked the third anniversary of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche passing into parinirvana. On this meaningful occasion, students, FPMT centers, and monastic institutions around the world gathered for collective prayers and practice, and to remember with immense gratitude the great kindness of our most precious spiritual guide. 

“Making offerings on the death anniversary of a guru is an incredible practice in that it brings about the greatest purification of negative karma and collects the most extensive merit.” — Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche 

Here we share, not an exhaustive list of all the activities organized in centers and monastic institutions, but rather an example of some of the activities offered: 

At Kopan Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, together with the Sangha and devoted disciples of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, including representatives from the FPMT board, performed a Heruka Lama Chopa with extensive offerings followed by group recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri, dedicated to the swift return of Rinpoche. Kopan Lama Gyupas and senior monks recited The Guhyasamaja Root Tantra and Tea Offering to Dharma Protectors, in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room — a whole day of prayers for the swift return of our most kind and precious spiritual guide.  

At Nalanda Monastery, in France, geshes, monks, nuns, and lay students performed the Guru Puja dedicated to the long and healthy life of the new incarnation of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

A full assembly of monks gathered at Sera Jey Monastery in the main temple to offer Lama Chopa puja and Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri. 

At Ngari Institute, Ladakh, the community honored the third anniversary of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche with dedicated prayers including Manjushri mantra, Migtsema prayer, and Tea Offerings to Dharma Protectors. 

Gaden Jangtse Monastic College, Mundgod, offered Lama Chopa as well as Chanting the Names of Manjushri, and Migtsema prayer. 

Chenrezig Institute’s community, in Australia, observed a full day of practice, including Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri and The King of Prayers, in the morning, and concluding with Lama Chopa puja with Tsog and light offerings in the evening. They dedicated the merit for the swift recognition of Rinpoche’s unmistaken reincarnation.  

In California, Land of Medicine Buddha’s Sangha and long-time students gathered with Venerable Yangchen and Venerable Angie to honor the anniversary of Rinpoche showing the aspect of passing away. Personal stories were shared, bringing Rinpoche’s kindness vividly to mind.  

Jamyang Buddhist Centre, in London, offered a hybrid program to follow in person or online starting with the recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri, the community then gathered to watch an excerpt of archival footage of Rinpoche giving a Dharma teaching at Jamyang and share personal stories from those who knew him or heard him teach. 

 We share below some scenes from the powerful group prayers, and we thank everyone who participated in this heartfelt collective effort to remember the immeasurable kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and pray for his swift return. 

Assembly at Sera Jey Monastery, India, commemorating the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit: Sera Jey Monastery Facebook page.

Sangha at Kopan Monastery, performing a Heruka Lama Chopa and many other prayers and practices for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana. April 13, 2026. Photo credit Kopan Monastery Facebook page.

Sangha in prayers at Osel Labrang, Sera Jey, India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit Osel Labrang Sera Jey Facebook page.

Sangha in prayers at Shalu Monastery India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit Shalu Monastery Facebook Page.

Puja at Sera Je Dhakpo Khangtsen, India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Credit: Dhakpo Khamtsen Facebook page.

Sera Jey Drati Khangtsen offering prayers to commemorate the third anniversary of the parinirvana of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Guru Puja at Nalanda Monastery, France for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo courtesy of Nalanda Monastery.

Photo: Community at Tsum Rachen Nunnery, Nepal, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026.. Credit: Tsum Rachen Nunnery Facebook page.

Community in prayer at Ngari Institute, Ladakh, India, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Ngari Institute Facebook page.

Ogmin Jangchup Sishu Tsogpa, a community association of former Kopan Monastery monks and nuns residing in New York, USA, offered prayers for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo by Ogmin Jangchup Sishu Tsogpa Facebook page.

Guru Puja at Chokyi Gyaltsen Center, Penang, Malaysia, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Chokyi Gyaltsen Center Facebook page.

Commemorations in Taipei for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026.. Photo from FPMT Taiwan Facebook page.

Prayers in Taichung, Taiwan, at Shakyamuni Center the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from FPMT Taichung’s Facebook Page .

Community at Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre, Delhi, India the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre Facebook page.

Root Institute, India, offered prayers and light offerings were made by Ani Dekyong and the resident nuns for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Root Institute Facebook page.

Prayers at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore led by Venerable Tsultrim, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo by Tan Seow Kheng, ABC Facebook page.

Community praying at Chenrezig Institute, Queensland, Australia for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Chenrezig Institute Facebook page.

Teachings at Lama Yeshe Ling, Canada. Geshe Sonam offered transmissions of Ganden Lha Gyäma, including Lama Tsongkhapa Migtsema Prayer and Name Mantra, for the 3rd anniversary of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, April 13, 2026. Photo from Lama Yeshe Ling Tibetan Group Facebook page.

This is just s small sampling of the thoughtful activity organized around the world and we offer extensive thanks to ALL who participated in commemorating Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing into parinirvana. 

Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away is a short text translated by Rinpoche that explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Venerable Jampa Kunchog at Kopan, 1976. Credits Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive

Venerable Jampa Kunchog (Delsturtz Theadore “Yogi” Pryor) died of prostate cancer on April 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia, US.

An early student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Ven. Jampa devoted more than five decades to Dharma study, monastic life, translation work, and the preservation of Tibetan Buddhist teachings. He studied for many years at Sera Je Monastery in South India and later founded the Scholastic Institute Chökyi Gyaltsen University (SICGU) in the United States.

Obituary compiled and edited by Nick Ribush

Memories of Venerable Jampa Kunchog from His Old Friend, Scott Brusso

In the early 1970s, Jampa was known as Yogi. He and I lived in lower Dharamsala and every morning without fail would walk up to the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives to attend Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey’s one-hour classes. During the 1973–74 winter break we went to Bodhgaya for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Kalachakra initiation. There we were very fortunate to meet Lama Yeshe and attend his talk at the Japanese temple. It was very mystical and with Geshe Dhargyey’s blessing we both decided to attend the sixth Kopan course that spring. After the course we took Lama Yeshe’s Heruka Vajrasattva initiation and teachings and did the Kopan group retreat. 

After the retreat we decided to be ordained as monks. Yogi (and five other Kopan students) took novice ordination from Lati Rinpoche in March 1975, and later full ordination from H.H. the Dalai Lama, becoming known as Jampa Kunchog. He remained a monk his entire life. I received novice ordination from H.H. Trijang Rinpoche a year later in 1976. After that we lived at Kopan, where Lama Lhundrup was kind enough to teach us debate. During that time, we also taught English to the young monks and they taught us Tibetan. 

International Mahayana Institute group at Kopan 1974. Jampa is still a layman. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Around 1978 Yogi went to Sera monastery to study philosophy and debate. I don’t know the details of his years there, but it’s a tribute to his dedication and perseverance that he bore the poor conditions there in order to study to become a geshe, not only studying Buddhist philosophy but also becoming fluent in the Tibetan language, partly by refusing to speak English. He lived exactly as the Tibetan monks did, working in the fields as necessary and eating the same food.

Tushita Dharamsala, March 1975. Ordination group with Lati Rinpoche. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

SICGU logo

He returned to the United States in the early 90s and from 1994 to 1995 served as the translator for Geshe Losang Tsultrim (Tsulga) at Boston’s FPMT center, Kurukulla. After that he moved to Atlanta with the wish to start a Buddhist University, which he called the Scholastic Institute Chökyi Gyaltsen University (SICGU). He also taught several students and translated and self-published a number of books. 

IMI group, Kopan, 1976.

About three years ago he began getting sick, having a very hard time walking or even standing. He entered a hospital in the Atlanta area where they had difficulty finding out what was causing his symptoms. Physical therapy was not successful. In improving his condition. Jampa also suffered a heart issue, from which he recovered. 

By this point we were talking on the phone weekly, but Jampa would not let the doctors or his family probe further. He was taking Tibetan medicine and did not let the doctors investigate further in order to diagnose what was going on. However, about six months ago they discovered advanced aggressive metastatic prostate cancer and recently he was admitted to hospice. I was still able to talk to him up to a few days before he passed away at around 7:40 pm on April 20. Jampa was unable to sit up but appeared to be meditating on the absorption process. He appeared very peaceful and was saying something about the light. It was his wish to not make a big announcement and to be cremated. He asked that his ashes be buried with his father’s remains.  

March 1975. Post-ordination with H.H. the Dalai Lama at his residence. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Memories of Venerable Jampa Kunchog from His Former Colleague from Sera, Ian Coghlan

I met Jampa Kunchog when I first went to Sera in 1980. He was living in House One, the house of Khensur Dhondup Topgyal. I lived in House Fifteen as arranged by Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. I got to know him better when Geshe Losang Thupten from house Sixteen invited us to attend teachings on Tibetan grammar—Sum Chupa and Takkyi Jugpa—while he was still finishing his three-year retreat. 

IMI audience with His Holiness, May 1975. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Sera Monastery was very poor in those days: no toilets, no bathrooms, electricity for an hour or two, water pumped for an hour to fill large earthen pots buried in the ground, and the food was basic. It was hard physically but easier mentally. Everything in Sera focused on study and absorbing the Dharma. Jampa Kunchog had a great zeal for study to which he applied great energy. He had a nickname, Mahe, meaning water buffalo, for his impressive physical strength, which he often displayed in the debate ground when warding off half his debate class while making a debate point! He also had a useful ability to find ways of remaining in India when all doors appeared closed. Later, he set up a computer club, with the thought to use its potential in study. His dedication to Jetsun Chökyi Gyaltsen, the author of the Sera Je debate manuals, was immense, and later when he returned to the US he founded SICGU (Scholastic Institute Chökyi Gyaltsen) in his honor. My enduring impression and my greatest point of respect for Jampa was his genuine resolute exertion in the study of Dharma. 

Memories of Venerable Jampa Kunchog From Tedra Pryor, His Sister

On April 20, 2026, at 7:40 p.m., Dr. Jampa Kunchog departed this life. Born Delsturtz Theadore Pryor on January 1, 1953, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the family eventually settled in Hartford, Connecticut after living in Oahu, Hawaii for several years. 

Venerable Jampa Kunchog, South India, 1980s. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Jampa was the most adventurous of the four children born to Dr. Theadore M. Pryor, and Sophornia Mary Pryor. At the age of 19, he withdrew from Tuskegee University to trek across Europe. After spending two years in Europe, he traveled through Western Asia to India, which would become his home for approximately 20 years. 

Sera Monastery, Bylakuppe, India, early 80s. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

He first lived in Dharamsala in 1973 and studied at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. His teacher was Geshe Ngwang Dhargyey. In the spring of 1974 he attended a one-month meditation course taught by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery outside of Kathmandu, Nepal. In 1975, Jampa received ordination from Lati Rinpoche, and later full ordination from the Dalai Lama. After that he lived and studied at Kopan Monastery until deciding to enter Sera-je Monastery in Mysore around 1978. While in India he received his undergraduate degree, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate Degree in Eastern Philosophy from Sera. He was one of the few Westerners to go through such a rigorous program. Jampa was also instrumental in translating certain Tibetan teachings into English and preserving Buddhist transcripts to his computer to ensure their preservation. This had never been done before. 

Venerable Jampa Kunchog with Geshe Tsulga, Massachusetts, 1994. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Venerable Jampa Kunchog, Kurukulla Center, Boston, 1995. Credits: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Upon his return to the United States he began making guest appearances to speak on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. He published books and conducted online classes on these topics. You will find his picture in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.  Jampa was well known and respected in many parts of the world. Before he passed, his hope was to establish a university for Tibetan Buddhist studies in Massachusetts. However, his teachings will be carried on through his students and religious followers and friends who shared his vision and philosophy. 

With grateful thanks to Scott Brusso, Ian Coghlan, Tedra Pryor, and Nick Ribush for this moving tribute. 

In Venerable Jampa Kunchog’s own words: “Back in the years 1958–1962, my sister and I were the first Black children to integrate schools in both the North and the South. The picture displayed was taken after I received my first communion in North Carolina. We were accepted into the all-white school because our parents wanted us to have the best opportunity for education. We walked into the school; there were no police, no army to break up protesting crowds, and no overt discrimination. We were simply accepted. We believe we were the first example of Black integration into all-white schools. This was in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1961. I entered this school in 1960; my sister, the year before.” Photo courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive

Please pray that Venerable Jampa Kunchog may never ever be reborn in the lower realms, may he be immediately born in a pure land where he can be enlightened or to receive a perfect human body, meet the Mahayana teachings and meet a perfectly qualified guru and by only pleasing the guru’s mind, achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. More advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).

To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).

Rendering of the Stupa of Complete Victory at Kopan Monastery.

We are delighted to announce the grand inauguration ceremonies of the Memorial Stupas of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lhundrup Rigsel at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery. 

On December 11, 2026, the Stupa of Complete Victory, enshrining the sacred relics of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, will be consecrated at Kopan Monastery.

On December 14, 2026, the Mahabodhi Memorial Stupa at Kopan Nunnery will be consecrated to honor both Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup.

Kopan Monastery shared the following invitation in their official announcement: We would be deeply honored by your presence at these sacred and joyful occasions. 

Rendering of the Mahabodhi Memorial Stupa at Kopan Nunnery.

Lama Lhundrup and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, 2011. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

These ceremonies offer a powerful opportunity for students to gather, rejoice, pray, and dedicate for the flourishing of the Dharma and the swift return of our precious teacher.

Save the dates: We will also be sharing details of this year’s Light of the Path Retreat (LOP) at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, which will take place December 20–30, 2026, and will be led by Geshe Tenzin Namdak, offering students a precious opportunity to come together in meditation and practice, and to honor the extraordinary legacy of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Please learn more about these special events.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Lama Yeshe, 1983. Photo by Holger Hjorth, from Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (lamayeshe.com).

In January 1983, Lama Yeshe traveled to Sicily. It would turn out to be one of his last trips before he showed the aspect of passing away in March 1984. During that visit, he gave his personal attendant and FPMT Central Office director, Jacie Keeley, three important messages to be distributed to all the centers.

In the first message, Lama Yeshe wanted all the centers to make video documentaries on how they started and developed. “Show all the obstacles you faced and surmounted with your determination. Show if you are happy or not and if you are healthy or not.”

With this sincere request, Lama wasn’t asking for promotional material. He was asking centers to document the real story — including the difficulties — so that the experience and know-how of the first generations of students could be passed on to those who would follow.

Honest storytelling like this helps preserve the precious knowledge of how our centers were built, helps future directors, spiritual program coordinators and volunteers reinforce their motivation to serve with greater dedication, and serves the vast vision of our Lamas. Leaving future generations a sense of connection — of being part of something vast and continuous, of belonging to what Lama always called the FPMT family — is precisely what these stories can restore.

More than 40 years later, with far more accessible technology available, this feels like exactly the right moment to take up Lama’s request — especially as FPMT moves through the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Chenrezig Institute in Australia has recently shown what’s possible. They have just released their documentary The Origin of Tibetan Buddhism in Australia by independent filmmaker and resident volunteer Małgorzata Ola Dobrowolska, who received a grant toward the completion of this project by the Community Support Fund. The screening became an opportunity to bring together the communities of past and present students, creating exactly the kind of warm “family feeling” that these shared stories can generate.

FPMT International Office participated in a virtual screening of the film, with one person noting: “This work is extremely valuable. Every FPMT center should feel inspired to put together their own history, as every single center teaches so much about our lamas, our culture, and the extraordinary effort of so many to bring these centers to life. “

It would be lovely to show how far the FPMT family has grown, the remarkable achievements each center has accomplished from the humblest of beginnings, to leave a legacy for everyone involved in the centers, and finally to fulfil Lama Yeshe’s request.

These are accounts that matter not just as history, but as inspiration and instruction for everyone who serves now and everyone who will serve FPMT the future.

Thank you for your contribution to telling the extraordinary story of FPMT! We want to hear from you!

Please explore all of the resources we have compiled related to FPMT history. We look forward to all of your creative ideas on how to bring this year-long celebration to your own local activities and personal practices! Please use the hashtag #50YearsFPMT in your social media posts so we can all be connected in this way. 

Lama Yeshe’s message excerpted from from Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe, by Adele Hulse. Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. p.1118

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

Arriving at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa – photo courtesy ILTK

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (ILTK) renews its tradition of offering a residential FPMT Basic Program (BP) in English and in Italian, also available online! This three-year BP is a once in a lifetime chance to enjoy residential study of this much acclaimed in-depth FPMT program, completed over a relatively short period of time, while living at beautiful ILTK, in the rolling hills of Tuscany, in welcoming and warm-hearted Italy!

Geshe Tenzin Tenphel, resident teacher at ILTK since 1998.

From 2027 to 2029 this BP provides daily teachings supported by review classes, meditation sessions, discussion groups, quizzes, and written tests. Graduation follows in 2030, upon program completion with the BP review and final exam, and the three-months lamrim retreat. The program includes short retreats for each subject, helping students to relate the BP subject matter to practice and to daily life. Online students share in everything the program offers by means of recordings and the full range of course materials provided.

The FPMT Basic Program was designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for students who wish to move beyond introductory courses, allowing for a commitment to deeper study and sustained practice. FPMT Education Services administers the review and final exam, and issues the BP Completion Certificate. Graduates serve in many roles and functions throughout FPMT, and are eligible for FPMT teacher registration.

At ILTK, students are instructed in the nine BP main subjects by the two resident Lharampa geshes. Geshe Tenzin Tenphel, resident teacher at ILTK since 1998, much appreciated for his love for debate, the clarity of his presentations, and his humorous style, has also taught the previous five BPs. FPMT Masters Program teacher, Geshe Jampa Gelek, resident teacher at ILTK since 2012, customarily teaches the tantra subject of the BP at ILTK.

Two excellent, gifted and highly qualified interpreters, both experienced graduates of the FPMT Translator Program, LRZTP, interpret directly from the Tibetan: Shahar Tene for English and Filippo Centrone for Italian. Shahar, who also completed the BP himself at ILTK, also serves as BP Teaching Assistant and Online Tutor for this BP.

As a BP student at ILTK one enjoys the rich academic environment provided by the residential FPMT Masters Program running alongside the BP. The two resident geshes also teach a variety of other courses, some of which may be of interest to BP students as well.

Please watch a short video of Geshe Tenphel introducing the FPMT Basic Program

You can find more information about this FPMT Basic Program on the Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa’s website 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.