UPDATE: FPMT shares news on Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The International Buddhist Community Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) has shared some important updates regarding revered Gelug Master and Tibetan Buddhist scholar Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who died in Nepal last week at the age of 76. years.*

After Lama Zopa Rinpoche was reported to have entered a state of tukdam meditation on April 13, FPMT shared that he finished his meditation at 22 p.m. Nepal time on April 14, which was indicated by blood coming from Rinpoche's left nostril.

Subsequently, the Kopan monastery chamber where Rinpoche was seated was cooled and the following morning his body was encased in ice during preparations for the embalming process, which began on Sunday.

“Khandro Kunga Bhuma indicated that (April 15) is a dakini day, and that 19:30 p.m. Nepal time is the special time. . . for Rinpoche's sacred body to begin the embalming process. Khandro Kunga Bhuma will continue to look after her – she is now in Nepal. Two lamas are there who will be in charge of the embalming process, which can take several months. They are: Geshe Wangdu; (Abbot of Segyu Dratsang, Khen Rinpoche Losang Wangdu); and (Lama Ngawang Chokyung) (from whom Lama Zopa Rinpoche had received transmissions) and who took care of the embalming of Trulshik Rinpoche,” FPMT explained. (FPMT)

“His Excellency Ling Rinpoche suggested that Rinpoche's sacred body be embalmed (rather than cremated) because Lama Zopa Rinpoche has so many students and is so widely known, so people can come and pay their respects to Rinpoche's sacred body – it will become an object of pilgrimage in Kopan. (FPMT)

Live broadcast of prayers and pujas for Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“Pujas continue to take place constantly all over Kopan: everyone in the monastery and nunnery participates,” FPMT added. (FPMT)

The FPMT also expressed its gratitude for the outpouring in recent days of heartfelt tributes, condolences and announcements of prayers offered by high lamas, friends and leaders of monasteries around the world. The FPMT has created a page to collect the honor of these messages and activities.

“With great joy, we received a prayer that His Holiness the Dalai Lama composed for the early return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This is available in English and Tibetan. . . as well as a small collection of additional prayers for Rinpoche's early return, composed and offered spontaneously by other distinguished lamas with whom Rinpoche had a connection in this lifetime. Shared FPMT.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born in the Everest region of Thangme, Nepal in 1945 and was recognized as the reincarnation of the Sherpa Nyingma yogi Kunsang Yeshe, the Lawudo Lama, at the age of three. At the age of 10, Lama Zopa Rinpoche traveled to Tibet, where he studied and meditated at Domo Geshe Rinpoche's monastery in southern Tibet. In 1959 Rinpoche was forced to seek refuge in Bhutan.

He then traveled as a refugee to West Bengal in India, where he first met Lama Thubten Yeshe, who was to become his closest teacher. The two lamas moved to Nepal in 1967, where they established the Kopan and Lawudo monasteries.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche founded FPMT in Nepal in 1975 with Lama Yeshe and began teaching Buddhism to Western students. In the years that followed, FPMT expanded worldwide, with Dharma centers, projects, and activities in 37 countries. Lama Zopa Rinpoche had been the spiritual director of the FPMT since Lama Yeshe passed away in 1984.

Rinpoche showed the aspect of death in Nepal at 9:30 a.m. on April 13. Close associates reported that Rinpoche had traveled to high altitudes in his native Nepal and was affected by the altitude.

"Please keep trying to fulfill Rinpoche's sacred wishes, especially to practice impermanence and bodhicitta in the context of larim. Fulfilling the sacred wishes of the gurus is a very important part of the guru's invitation to return,” FPMT noted. “May Rinpoche be reborn as soon as possible in a place where he can be recognized very quickly and be most beneficial to sentient beings. »

* Renowned Buddhist scholar and FPMT founder Lama Zopa Rinpoche has passed away (BDG)