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Mandala eZine A BENEFIT OF THE FRIENDS OF FPMT PROGRAM Mandala eZine e-VOL. 3 ISSUE 2 MAY 2010 Are you a Friend of FPMT? If not, click here: www.fpmt.org/ friends HOLY OBJECTS THE FORM OF ENLIGHTENMENT HOLY OBJECTS THE FORM OF ENLIGHTENMENT

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Page 1: Mandala eZine May 2010

Mandala eZine

A BENEFIT OF

THE FRIENDS

OF FPMT

PROGRAM

Mandala eZinee-VOL. 3 ISSUE 2

MAY 2010

Are you a

Friend of FPMT?

If not, click here:

www.fpmt.org/

friends

HOLY OBJECTSTHE FORM OF

ENLIGHTENMENT

HOLY OBJECTSTHE FORM OF

ENLIGHTENMENT

Page 2: Mandala eZine May 2010

Photo

:Pier

oSiri

ani

www.fpmt.org/shopFoundation for the Preservationof the Mahayana Tradition

The Foundation Store

Buddhist study materials

books

meditation supplies

ritual objects

educational programs

All proceeds are used to further

the charitable mission of

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT Inc.

Photo

:Pier

oSiri

ani

Page 3: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 3

contents

www.mandalamagazine.orgwww.fpmt.org

12

16

Mandala eZineMandala eZine

e-Vol 3 ISSUE 2MAY 2010.TheMandala eZine is publishedas an online quarterly for Friends of FPMT by FPMT Inc.,1632 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214-4702.

LAMA YESHE’S WISDOM6 Taking RefugeBy Lama Yeshe

ADVICE FROM THE VIRTUOUSFRIEND9 You Could have Been Born As a WormBy Lama Zopa Rinpoche

COVER FEATURE12 Holy Objects:The Form of Enlightenment

COMMUNITY FORUM20 Discussion Topic21 Photo Bulletin Board

MEDIA PAGE23 Featured Media

COVER: Photo by Nick Dawson - White Tarastatue Offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama ata Long Life Puja offered by FPMT in 2000 inBodhgaya, India.

Page 4: Mandala eZine May 2010

Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive contains recordings and transcripts

of Lama Thubten Yeshe’s and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings

dating back to the early 1970s—and we’re still growing! Our

Web site offers thousands of pages of teachings by some

of the greatest lamas of our time. Hundreds of audio

recordings, our photo gallery and our ever-popular

books are also freely accessible at lamayeshe.com.

Please see our Web site or contact us

for more information

TEACHINGS FROM THE MEDICINE BUDDHA RETREATLand of Medicine Buddha, October–November 2001

by lama zopa rinpocheedited by ailsa cameron458 pages, $20

“Because bodhisattvas have unbelievable merit, they can understand the limitless skies of bene�t and qualities that Medicine Buddha has. �e fortunate one who has good karma and much merit and the one who has miraculous psychic powers is able to believe in this, and they should cherish this Medicine Buddha practice.”

FREEDOM THROUGHUNDERSTANDINGThe Buddhist Pathto Happiness and Liberation

lama thubten yeshe & lama zopa rinpoche198 pages. free

THE HEART OF THE PATHSeeing the Guru as Buddha

by lama zopa rinpocheedited by ailsa cameron502 pages, $20

*plus shipping charges of$1 per book ($5 minimum)

* plus shipping charges of

free books!*

Page 5: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 5

Mandala is the official publica-tion of the Foundation for thePreservation of the MahayanaTradition (FPMT), an interna-tional charitable organizationfounded more than thirty yearsago by two Tibetan Buddhistmasters: Lama Thubten Yeshe

(1935-1984) and LamaThubten Zopa Rinpoche. FPMT is now a vibrantinternational community with a network of over 150 affiliate centers,projects, services and study groups in more than thirty countries.

Editorial PolicyRecurring topics include: Buddhist philosophy; Education; Ordinationand the Sangha; Buddhism and Modern Life; Youth Issues; FPMTActivities Worldwide; Lama Yeshe and his teachings; Lama Zopa Rin-poche and his teachings; His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his teachings,among many other topics.

Writers, photographers and artists, both amateur and professional,are encouraged to submit material for consideration. Mandala currentlydoes not pay for publishable content; we credit all photos and other workas requested.

Mandala, in addition to the Mandala eZine, is published quarterlyand is available via the Friends of FPMT program. Additionally, bothpublications are supplemented by online stories published exclusively at:www.mandalamagazine.org

Friends of FPMT is a donor program composed of Friends workingtogether to support FPMT’s global activities.

To learn about Friends of FPMT levels and benefits, contact us orvisit: www.fpmt.org/friends

Mandala is published in January, April, July and October.Mandala eZine is published in February, May, August and December.

Managing Editor and PublisherCarina [email protected]

Assistant Editor,Advertising & SalesMichael [email protected]

Art DirectorCowgirls [email protected]

Friends of FPMT ProgramSherri [email protected]

FPMT Inc.1632 SE 11th Ave.Portland, OR 97214-4702Tel: 1 503 808 1588Fax: 1 503 808 1589Toll free USA only 1 866 808 3302

FPMT Board of DirectorsSpiritual DirectorLama Zopa Rinpoche

Board MembersKhenrinpoche Geshe LhundrupVen. Roger KunsangVen. Pemba SherpaKaruna CaytonAndrew HaynesPeter KedgeTim McNeillTara MelwaniAlison MurdochPaula de Wijs-Koolkin

www.mandalamagazine.orgwww.fpmt.org

A B O U T M A N D A L A

fpmtFF RR II EE NN DD SS OO FF

FOUNDATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE MAHAYANA TRADITION

Friends of FPMT, formerly known as FPMT Foundation

Membership, has been established to truly support your

Buddhist education while you work with other Friends toward a

larger goal: making this world a better place. We’re

confident we’ve designed a level that is perfect for

your budget, study and practice.

Become A Friend of FPMT! www.fpmt.org/friends

Page 6: Mandala eZine May 2010

6 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

LAMA YESHE’S WISDOM

Taking refuge is the first step on the Buddhistpath to inner freedom, but it is not somethingnew. We have been taking refuge all our lives,though mainly in external things, hoping tofind security and happiness. Some of us takerefuge in money, some in drugs. Others takerefuge in food, mountain climbing or sunnybeaches. Most of us seek security in a relation-ship with a man or a woman. Throughout ourlives we have drifted from one situation to thenext, always in the expectation of final satis-faction. These involvements may sometimes

offer temporary relief, but seeking refuge inphysical possessions and sense pleasures usuallydeepens our confusion rather than ending it.

Buddhist refuge is a process of turninginward that begins with our discovery of ourown unlimited potential as human beings. Thisdiscovery generates tremendous zeal for thedevelopment of our own inborn wisdom-energy.Complete, perfect wisdom is buddhahood.Perhaps the word “buddha” conjures up a remoteand rather oriental image, but “buddha” is just aword that means totally openedmind.When wefinally realize our human potential and arriveat this total openness of mind, we becomebuddhas.

However, at the outset we feel incapable ofself-improvement. Buddha seems to be some-where in the sky, completely out of reach, andwe are nothing. We should not underestimateourselves. Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha,was once even more confused than we are, butby discovering his own latent wisdom energy,he attained enlightenment. All living beingshave the innate capacity to unify their mindswith the unsurpassable clarity of enlightenment.

During Buddha Shakyamuni’s lifetime,many people attained profound insight andexperienced miraculous bliss as a result ofmerely seeing him. In spite of the fact that hepassed away long ago, we still benefit from thepower of his wisdom and compassion. Bycultivating our own power and continuouslydeveloping our wisdom, we too can immenselybenefit others. However much the worldaround us changes, our inner world can remainstable and balanced when fortified by this

TAKING REFUGE By Lama Yeshe

Lama Yeshe behind the Chenrezig Institute meditation hall inQueensland, Australia, 1975. Photo courtesy of Lama YesheWisdom Archive.

Page 7: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 7

profound understanding. Wisdom bringsunfailing happiness, unlike those temporaryobjects of refuge, which bring only briefmoments of pleasure.

The three objects of refuge are Buddha,Dharma and Sangha. Taking refuge in theBuddha involves accepting the guidance ofenlightened beings as the only remedy for theconfusion and dissatisfaction of our present life.This is the only way we can realize our dormantcapacity for attaining inner freedom. There aretwo aspects of refuge: the outer and the inner.Outer refuge means seeking guidance fromliving buddhas, since we are unable to achieveliberation without a teacher. Buddhas alsoprovide inspiration and are sublime models forus to emulate. When we contemplate theenlightened state, its reflection within our ownmind fills us with joyful, radiant energy. Thisdemonstrates that though at present we are notfully enlightened, the seed of buddhahood iscontained within each of us. Inner refuge isdirected towards this seed of enlightenment,this inner buddha-nature. We recognize that,ultimately, we are our own refuge.

If we are convinced that we are beyondhope and incapable of change, or if we thinkwe are already perfect, then there is obviouslyno reason to take refuge. But if we honestlyexamine our minds, our way of life, and thepattern of our relationships, we can clearlyrecognize our own spiritual sickness. Theenlightened being we turn to at this point is, ineffect, the doctor who diagnoses our ailmentsand restores us to perfect health.

The medicine prescribed by the Buddha is

the Dharma. Dharma is wisdom: the wisdomthat understands our own true nature andreveals our own latent power of self-liberation.Taking refuge in Dharma means using thatwisdom now. This will restore our previouslyobscured sense of human dignity and make usfeel that we can do something positive aboutourselves. Those who take deep refuge neverfeel lost or desperate. Refuge frees us from suchmental states. As our self-respect and confi-dence increase, our relationships with othersimprove. Having discovered our own innerstrength, we also recognize and respect thebuddha-nature in others.

Dharma means understanding reality.Meditation and prayer are not Dharma; theyare merely tools for reaching this innerwisdom. Even if we meditate all day, buttotally lack Dharma understanding, we willachieve little. Nor are religious texts Dharma;they are merely books about Dharma, meansfor communicating information aboutDharma. True Dharma, or religion, is apersonal experience that each of us must elicitfrom within ourselves alone. There is aDharma bell within us and we should use itto awaken and activate our own dormantwisdom. Usually our minds are completelyoccupied with stale, unprofitable, repetitiousthoughts: clutching at fantasies and givingway to anger, jealousy or despair when theyelude us. Practicing Dharma means ringingour inner wisdom-bell, being always on thealert and clearing away the refuse that clogsour minds. By making this our daily practice,we ourselves become Dharma; all our energy

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8 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

LAMA YESHE’S WISDOM

becomes Dharma wisdom. Then we are trulytaking refuge, allowing inner Dharma aloneto regulate our lives.

The third object of refuge is the Sangha.Sangha consists of those who are endowedwith wisdom. They are like the nurses andfriends who help us to recuperate from anillness. Sangha doesn’t only mean those whowear red or yellow robes, but also those friendswho influence us beneficially. These spiritualfriends energize and inspire us, and are there-fore to be clearly distinguished from ordinaryfriends who hold us back.

In ordinary friendships, we often confuseattachment with affection. For instance, myfriend might show his apparent affection forme by suggesting that we go on a drinkingbout together.

If I decline, he might think me unfriendlyand feel rejected, so I give in. This is howfriends can bring us down. He didn’t use force,but by displaying the kind of affection thatconsists only of clinging and attachment, he ledme into a situation I would rather have avoided.It is therefore essential that we develop thewisdom-eye that distinguishes true love frommere attachment and can see the differencebetween what benefits us and what harms us.We should rely entirely on this wisdom, ratherthan on our ever-fluctuating emotional responses.

Excerpted from Buddhism in a Nutshell: Essentials forEnlightenment, a compilation of teachings and essays byLama Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Amy Miller. Thisbook and audio program set covers all the introductory topicsfound in Tibetan Buddhism.

WORKA DAY

for RINPOCHE

Learn how you canWork a Day for Rinpoche

Join your fellow workers onFacebook

Page 9: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 9

YOU COULD HAVEBEEN BORN AS A WORM

ADVICE FROM THE VIRTUOUS FRIEND

By Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Peter [van Heeswijk], that student from Holland, has left this world. He

has already gone. He suddenly went into a coma yesterday, then died. So,

that could happen to you. Somehow you have been fortunate, and it hasn’t

happened so far. What happened to Peter could have happened to you a long

time ago; you could have already died a long time ago. And if it had happened

a long time ago or even last year, it’s not sure where your consciousness would

be by now. It’s hard to say where you would be now.

Phot

ocou

rtesy

ofSe

owKh

engT

an

Page 10: Mandala eZine May 2010

10 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

… [Y]ou could have been born as a worm,living in filth and attacked by ants. Even if youwere completely covered by ants, no matterhow much pain you had, there would benothing you could do. Think how painful it iswhen a single ant bites you on the leg. Nowthink of this fragile worm completely coveredby ants and being bitten all over its body. Itcan’t do anything. So, you could have been likethat by now.

Or you could have been born as a wormand already be in a bird’s beak, with a little ofyour body hanging out and the rest inside.Your body could already have been choppedby a sharp beak. There would be nothing youcould do except suffer. You could have beenlike that.

On TV I saw a program about a whiteworm that lives inside trees – it might havebeen somewhere in Africa. There’s a hole inthe trunk of a tree where the branches start,and this white worm lives some distanceinside the wood. The karma is incredible. Theworm is the food of a particular bird. Thebird’s beak isn’t long, like a humming bird’s,which is long enough to fit into flowers. Herethe bird’s beak isn’t long enough to reach theworm, because it’s quite a way down. How-ever, tiny sticks, like tooth-picks only longer,grow from the tree. With its beak the birdbreaks off one of these sticks and puts it downthe hole. The bird doesn’t get the wormimmediately, because the worm’s head hasthick, brown skin. If the stick hits the head,it doesn’t pierce the worm. It takes a littletime. After two or three tries, however, thestick goes through the worm’s body, probablybecause the worm moves around. The bird

then takes out the stick with the worm on itand flies away.

It’s amazing karma. The length of the stickis such that it exactly fits down the hole, and italso grows just there, on the same tree. The birdbreaks the stick and puts it through the wormwith its beak. By now you could have been likethat – today, this hour, you could be like that.

… It’s very good to picture yourself in thosesituations and imagine how it would be,because it then makes you appreciate yourpresent perfect human body. That you havemet the Dharma and taken the opportunity tofollow the teachings is like a dream. It’s anincredibly joyful thing. But you also shouldn’twaste it. Not practicing Dharma with thisperfect human body for a minute, or even asecond, is an incredible waste. It’s a greater lossthan losing zillions of dollars. Wasting thisprecious human body by not practicingDharma for a minute, or even a second, is agreater loss than having lost billions of zillionsof dollars or the whole sky filled with wish-granting jewels.

…The times while you are dying and whenyou are recently dead are most critical. You needso much help at those times. If somebody fromthe human realm is praying for you, that is verykind. You have incredible need of that help. Sothere is no doubt about your need of prayers ifyou have already been born in the lower realmsand are experiencing the most unbearable,unimaginable suffering. Use yourself as anexample; think of your being in that situation.So, youmust pray for Peter.Whenever you hearthat a student in the FPMT organization haspassed away, you must dedicate your merits tothem or do your best prayers for them. This

ADVICE FROM THE VIRTUOUS FRIEND

Page 11: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 11

applies in general, not only to when an FPMTstudent has died. You should do this whenyou’re watching the news on TV or reading thenewspapers and you see that many people havedied. Just one or two days ago, thirty thousandpeople died in an earthquake in Iran. A wholecity, built in the traditional way with mud, wascompletely destroyed by the earthquake.Whenever you see something like that on TV,you should immediately pray, “Due to all themerits of the three times collected by me and byothers, may all of these people who have died beborn in a pure land of buddha where they can beenlightened or receive a perfect human body,meet a perfectly qualified Mahayana guru and

Mahayana teachings and achieve enlightenmentas quickly as possible.” You must immediatelypray in this way. Don’t just think, “I’ll pray forthem later.” Do it immediately. As soon as youhear someone has died, pray for them. This isour duty, our responsibility, our job.

It’s also very good to immediately recitesome OM MANI PADME HUM’s or some othermantra for anyone who has died. Pray forthem and then recite some mantras.

Excerpted from Kadampa Teachings, a new book freelydistributed by the LamaYesheWisdom Archive.KadampaTeachings is a dynamic collection of teachings inspiredprimarily by the histories of the Kadampa geshes and theirspiritual advice.

Online Learning Center

http://onlinelearning.fpmt.org

Video hosted by Richard Gere & Keanu Reeves Audio Teachings and Meditations by senior FPMT teachersReadings from Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche

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Follow FPMT’s Discovering Buddhism program ONLINE

Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition

Edited Transcripts of Lama Zopa RinpocheVideo Excerpts from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Light of the Path teachingsPractices and Guided Meditations

•••

Mindfulness Exercises for daily lifeKarma YogaOnline Discussion Forum

•••

NEW! Living in the Path Online, experiential Lam-rim taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche Modules 1, 2 & 3 (of 8) now available

NEW! FPMT Media Center: hosting high defi nition video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Light of the Path teachings. Free!

Page 12: Mandala eZine May 2010

12 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

THE FORM OF ENLIGHTENMENT

HOLY OBJECTS:THE FORM OF ENLIGHTENMENT

The April-June 2010 issue of Mandala exposed readers to only a sampling of

the holy object activity taking place in FPMT. Many more holy objects

remain to be discovered and engaged with, and we are happy to offer this

collection of images, texts, and audio and video recordings that allow you even

more contact with some great merit-making opportunities.

Page 13: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 13

Until sometime after the 8th century,the Sanghata Sutra was a celebrated

text in India and throughout central Asia.Although it is unclear why, the sutrastopped being incorporated in practi-tioner’s active spiritual lives, and restedsilently inTibet and China’s canonical col-lections, unknown to general public.

However, in the 1930s, the sutra wasre-discovered in the northernmost reachesof Pakistan, and eventually brought toLama Zopa Rinpoche’s attention by Ven.LhundrupDamchö in 2002. Upon readingit, Rinpoche immediately committed towrite the entire sutra by hand in gold onrainbow-colored paper to place in the550000--ffoooott MMaaiittrreeyyaa ssttaattuuee being built inIndia, and to have it translated into many languages.

The following is a series of audiorecordings featuring the entire sutra beingread aloud by Ven. Lhundrup Damchö,the translator of this particular version ofthe Sanghata Sutra. In this recording, Ven.

Lhundrup Damchö takes special pains to pronounce Sanskrit terms as accurately as possible,bringing the English translation new life and authenticity.

SANGHATA SUTRA

Kadampa Stupa at Institute Vajra Yogini

Page 14: Mandala eZine May 2010

14 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

VERSES INTO FOURLama Zopa Rinpoche translated Verses into Four at his house in California in 2002, remarkingthat there would be enormous benefit to have these verses on an altar as an object of pros trationand offering. The verses can be printed or written out beautifully on a card, framed and placedin front of the altar’s main image of Buddha. This text comes from the Kangyur, the collectionof sutra and tantra texts found in the Tibetan canon.

Verses into Four is available in PDF form here.

During the 110000 MMiilllliioonn MMaannii RReettrreeaatt at Institut Vajra Yogini in Fance, Lama Zopa Rinpochediscussed the benefits of offering just one small flower to a holy object, and provides an excellentsuggestion for how we can transform something like the flowers we see into something meaningful.

OFFERINGS FLOWERS

THE FORM OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Page 15: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 15

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gives a candid and inspiring explanation of the holy objects in hisroom at Institut Vajra Yogini during the 110000 MMiilllliioonn MMaannii RReettrreeaatt in May 2009.

LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE SHOWS THE RELICS IN HIS ROOM

Each time when you see the Buddha relic, it purifies 1,000 eons of negativekarma. After completing the path to enlightenment, the result [is relics]because sentient beings do not have the karma to see the Buddha directly.Of those that have the karma to see the relics, Buddha manifests as thisobject. This is Buddha, but we actually see a relic – like when Buddhamanifests as a rock, trees, a river, or all kinds of things. [This is done]completely out of compassion for us sentient beings, to liberate us fromoceans of samsaric suffering… – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE

Page 16: Mandala eZine May 2010

16 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

THE FORM OF ENLIGHTENMENT

This lecture was given by Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa, resident teacher at

Tse Chen Ling Center in San Francisco, CA, on June 29, 2007, after

the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour came to visit the center.

Geshe Dakpa explains with great clarity and thoroughness the broadest cat-

egories of relics that exist in Buddhism.

A TALK ON RELICS

Part of the impressive collection of relics discovered after the cremation of Geshe Lama Konchog, a 20th century yogi whosettled in Kopan Monastery in the 1980s. Photo courtesy of Maitreya Project.

Page 17: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 17

CIRCUMAMBULATINGGREEN TARA

Betrand Cayla, the sculptor responsible for the Green Tara statue that rests at OO SSeell LLiinngg

CCeennttrroo ddee RReettiirrooss,, in Granada, Spain, shot this video as he circumambulated around the

statue and the fountain in which it sits. For those unable to travel to Spain to see O Sel Ling’s

Tara in person, this is a great way to meet her.

GREEN TARA MANTRA:

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

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Page 18: Mandala eZine May 2010

18 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

THE FORM OF ENLIGHTENMENT

The MMaaiittrreeyyaa PPrroojjeecctt,, FPMT’s

ambitious project to build a

500-foot (152-meter) statue of

Maitreya Buddha in Kushinagar,

India, makes this universal peace

meditation available freely to the

public in order to encourage the

cultivation of loving kindness

in the world. The meditation is

designed to be completely accessible

to Buddhists and non-Buddhists

alike.

PEACE MEDITATION

HOLY OBJECTS RESOURCE GUIDE

Replica of the future Maitreya Buddha statue

Please also view the online HHoollyy OObbjjeeccttss RReessoouurrccee GGuuiiddee for more information on books,

sutras, sacred art, FPMT’s holy object funds as well as external links to teachings and other

websites related to holy object practice.

Page 19: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 19

Essential Buddhist Prayers,An FPMT Prayer Book, Vol 2:Comprehensive collection ofpractices advised byLama Zopa Rinpoche to beperformed on the 8th, 15th,29th and 30th of the Tibetan month. (340 pgs)

Heart Advice forDeath and Dying;Profound and accessiblewritten teachings on deathand dying by Lama ZopaRinpoche & 11 hours ofexquisite audio teachings andmeditations by Ven. SangyeKhadro on MP3 CD

Buddhism in a Nutshell;Overview of the completepath to enlightenment. Writtenteachings by Lama Yeshe,Lama Zopa Rinpoche and VenAmy Miller & 11 hours of audioteachings and meditations byVen. Amy Miller on MP3 CD

Essential Buddhist Prayers, An FPMT Prayer Book, Vol 3:Short daily practices of the primaryGelug Tantric deities: Guhyasamaja, Gyalwa Gyatso, Chakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, Yamantaka and more. Requires Empowerment.(340 pgs)

Essential Buddhist Prayers, An FPMT Prayer Book, Vol 1:All one’s daily prayers andpractices, from blessing the speech in the morning todedicating the merits in the evening. (292 pgs)

FPMT Education ServicesProviding Programs and Pract ice Materials For All

Available from the Foundation Store: www.fpmt.org/shop

Homestudy Courses:FPMT Prayer Book Series:

www.fpmt.org

FPMT Retreat Prayer Book;All of the daily practicesadvised by Lama ZopaRinpoche when in personal retreat. This text will also be used at group retreats with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. (360 pgs)

4548 Schneider Dr Oregon, Wisconsin 53575

Deer Park Buddhist Center

Tibetan Buddhism in America’s Heartland

Commentaries by Venerable Geshe Sopa

July 7 to 30 - Ocean of Reasoning Je Tsong Khapa's treatise on Nagarjuna's Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way

August 16 to 27 - Bodhicaryavatara, Wisdom Chapter, by Shantideva Commentary by Jangste Choje Rinpoche

(Gyume Khensur) Lobsang Tenzin

July 7 to 30 – Precious Garland of Tenets

2010 Summer

Programs

Details: www.deerparkcenter.org (Programs) email: [email protected]

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Page 20: Mandala eZine May 2010

20 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

COMMUNITY FORUM

D I S C U S S I O N T O P I C

Drawing by Emma Bramma-Smith

The FPMT community is made up ofthousands of individuals spanningthirty-four countries speaking elevenlanguages. Mandala’s main purposeis to keep the inter national com- munity connected, informed, and hope fully, inspired! How do youkeep in touch with the FPMT community? What would you like tosee from Mandala in terms of content, features, columns, etc. thatwould help you stay connected, informed and inspired? We want tohear from you!

Please send your responses [email protected]

Responses will be printed in the Augustissue of Mandala eZine.

RESPONSE TO LAST ISSUE’S DISCUSSION TOPIC (What was your most potent lesson from 2009?)

Answered by Sara Parker

When obstacles come that make it hard to do formal sitting practice, there is no needto be hard on myself. Even if on the outside it looks to me like my formal practice

is falling apart, the teachings may be going deeper and deeper into my heart, and this maynot be obvious when I’m in the midst of it. This past year has been really, really rough,but now, in hindsight, I am beginning to see the blessings the year has brought. Hopefullythe next time the obstacles are thick, I will remember this.

Sara lives in Santa Cruz, California, with her two children and husband. She’s a teacher withLiberation Prison Project and student of Vajrapani Institute and Land of Medicine Buddha.

Page 21: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 21

P H O T O B U L L E T I N B O A R D

Send us a photo of you or a group with an issue of Mandala and we’ll post it onour bulletin board in the next eZine. This is an excellent opportunity for us to

visualize the amazing international community of teachers, students and friendsthat make up the FPMT family.

To see more of the FPMT family reading their Mandalas, visit our Facebook page.Send your photos to [email protected]

Participants at Land of Medicine Buddhaʼs 2010 Foundation Training, Soquel, California, USA

Stephen, Mui Cheng, Cecilia, Take Fong and Winnie from Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore

Page 22: Mandala eZine May 2010

22 MANDALA EZINE May 2010

COMMUNITY FORUM

Tim Koster, Portland, Oregon, USA

Martha Viscaya, Yamantaka Center, Bogotá, Colombia

Page 23: Mandala eZine May 2010

May 2010 MANDALA EZINE 23

F E A T U R E D M E D I AFEATURED AUDIO:“Understanding Our Buddha-Nature”By Ven. Tenzin TsaphelThis excerpt comes from a weekend retreat lead by Ven. Tenzin Tsaphel, rreessiiddeenntt tteeaacchheerr ooffCChhaannddrraakkiirrttii MMeeddiittaattiioonn CCeennttrree,, at Mahamudra Centre in Coromandel, New Zealand inMarch 2010. Ven. Tenzin Tsaphel clearly and gently introduces the concepts of buddhahoodand buddha-nature, the potential possessed by all sentient beings that allows them to become“fully awakened.” Ven. Tenzin Tsaphel has been ordained for over 20 years, and is the Westernteacher for DDiissccoovveerriinngg BBuuddddhhiissmm’’ss eleventh module, “Transforming Problems.”

MEDIA PAGE

FEATURED VIDEO:“Mindfulness of Bodhichitta”By Lama Zopa RinpocheIn this excerpt, Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches us exactly what we lose when we follow the self-cherishing thought and what we gain by following its opposite. “Mindfulness of Bodhichitta” isincluded in FPMT Education Service’s new program – LLiivviinngg iinn tthhee PPaatthh.. Living in the Path willbe FPMT’s essential lam-rim program, drawing exclusively from the teachings of Lama Yeshe andLama Zopa Rinpoche, and made completely available through FFPPMMTT’’ss OOnnlliinnee LLeeaarrnniinngg CCeenntteerr..

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FEATURED PHOTO:“Lama Yeshe with Mummy Max in Kashmir”Lama Yeshe with Max Mathews on holiday in Srinagar, Kashmir, 1970. Photo was taken byDomo Geshe Rinpoche who also accompanied them. This and other rare photos will be featuredin Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive’s biography of Lama Yeshe, BBiigg LLoovvee,, written by Adele Hulse.

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24 MANDALA EZINE May 2010