The FPMT Puja Fund

1. The FPMT Puja Fund Sponsoring continual pujas and practices around the world for the benefit of all FPMT centers and projects, all FPMT students and benefactors, and for all beings everywhere

2. The FPMT Puja Fund began in 1995, as a result of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wish to offer ongoing pujas and practices dedicated specifically for the entire organization and all the students and benefactors • Sponsoring these pujas and practices not only benefits FPMT, but has a direct financial benefit to the monasteries and nunneries and the Sangha that perform them

3. Pujas and practices are performed on an ongoing basis on the following auspicious days: • The four great wheel turning days • Full moon and new moon • The anniversaries of Trijang Rinpoche and Lama Tsongkhapa • Losar (Tibetan New Year) • Each Tibetan 8th (a special day to perform the Medicine Buddha puja) Monks at Sera Je Monastery doing Hayagriva practice to eliminate obstacles

4. Monthly pujas and practices • Medicine Buddha puja – offered by 2,000 monks of Sera Mey • Extensive Hayagriva puja- offered by 40 - 50 senior monks of Sera Je • Offering saffron, a new giant silk umbrella and lights at the Boudhanath stupa and Swambunath stupa in Nepal – this is offered every full and new moon • 16 Arhant Puja – offered by 370 monks of Kopan Monastery • Offering gold to the face of Jowo Buddha in the Jokang, Tibet • Offering new robes to the Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Bodh Gaya, India Gold is offered to the face of Jowo Buddha every full moon

5. On the 4 great Buddha days these pujas and practices are offered • Tukchuma puja- 64 Offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles for one’s activities or projects that are bringing benefit to others • NamgyälTsechog-1,000 offerings to Namgyalma (long life deity) • Medicine Buddha puja and recitation of the King of Prayers • NamgyälTongchu-Long life puja of Namgyalma • Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama • Offerings are made to the Sangha at FPMT Sangha communities

6. During the month of Saka Dawa these pujas and practices are offered • 100,000 recitations of the Praises to the 21 Tarasoffered by the 400 nuns of KhachoeGhakyil Ling Nunnery, Nepal • GyurmeTantric College offers recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions) by 650 monks • 100,000 Tsog Offerings to Padmasambhava- offered by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Dagri Rinpoche, Khadro-la and high lamas from Geluk, Nyingma and Kagyu monasteries.

7. On these days, virtuouskarma is increased many times, magnified as much as 100 million times • Many of these pujas are done by over 9,000 ordained Sangha from Sera Je and Sera Mey, Ganden, Drepung and Kopan Monastery

8. Annually • The 1,750 monks at Ganden Monastery offer a requesting puja for Buddha to descend from Tushita • 100,000 Praises to the 21 Tarasare offered by the 400 Kopan nuns • Recitation of the entire Kangyurby the 400 nuns of Kopan Nunner • Tsog is offered on the anniversary of Trijang Rinpoche’s passing at Ganden Monastery • 10,000 light offerings are made at Ganden Monastery on Lama Tsongkhapa day • Robes are offered to scholars of Sera Je who have been able to memorize certain rare texts 

9. Offerings are made on the 15th day of the annual Monlam festival at Kopan monastery • Stupas are made and sponsored every Saka Dawa at Chenrezig Institute • A full set of robes are offered to all the FPMT geshes and resident teachers • Each year FPMT checks with one of Rinpoche’s gurus to see if there are obstacles to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s health or to the FPMT and then pujas are arranged accordingly

10. Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested the Sangha serving at his house each day to do prayers and practices • For those who have died they make, fill and dedicate a Kadmapa stupa • For those who are sick they make 7 Medicine Buddha, 13 Mitukpa and 3 Long Life Deity tsa-tsas • Animal liberations are performed 4 x a month with extensive prayers and dedications.

11. The Sangha who perform these pujas and practices always dedicate the merit • To the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama • To the removal of all obstacles to all FPMT Dharma activities, centers and projects • To all people working for FPMT and their families • To all benefactors and their families • To all beings who sick • To all beings who have passed away • To all who have requested for prayers • And to all sentient beings The Kopan nuns

12. “So far, these offerings and pujas have not been publicized much, but I would like to make it known so that other people can participate in making these extensive offerings. The offering to all these monasteries and sangha happen continuously, every year, every month. My idea is for these offerings and pujas to continue forever or as long as the monasteries exist. All the offerings that are made are in monasteries of my gurus; this is because it creates so much more merit. If you make offerings, please think in this way and dedicate, and you can also remember on the actual day that the pujas are happening, rejoice and dedicate. This is the best business, the best way to create most extensive merit.”Lama Zopa Rinpoche These are the actual robes offered every month to the Buddha in Bodh Gaya

13. The annual cost for all these practices and pujas is $85,000 • For the last fifteen years Rinpoche himself has almost entirely covered the cost of these pujas and practices because of their importance for the success of the entire organization • The pujas will happen continuouslyfor as long as the monasteries and nunneries exist Rinpoche recently commented “how is it possible for a day to go by without doing puja’s, it is so extremely important”

14. All these pujas and practices are being offered by ordained Sangha, sometimes up to 9,000, many whom are fully ordained monks and all of whom are disciples of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Even offering one dollar to this fund helps it continue For more information www.fpmt.org/projects/puja Or please email holly@fpmt.org Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche doing puja