Dorje Chang Institute



fpmt_title


Who is the FPMT?
  • The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT)
  • A rapidly growing international, non-profit organization (with currently over 150 centers, study groups, and projects in 31 countries worldwide)
  • Founded in 1975 by Lama Thubten Yeshe, a Tibetan Buddhist monk
What tradition is the FPMT?
  • Tibetan Buddhist
  • Based on the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founder Lama Yeshe and spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche
What is the purpose of the FPMT?
  • Transmit Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation, and community service
  • Provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility
  • Create harmonious environments and help all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion
Who's Who in the FPMT?

  His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Inspiration and Guide of the FPMT

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. His Holiness has won the Nobel Peace Prize and continues to inspire the world with His total embodiment of loving-kindness and compassion towards all living beings (without exception).

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s praise of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Dec 2006: "Rinpoche is someone who follows my guidance sincerely, very expansively and with one hundred percent trust. He possesses unwavering faith and pure samaya; not only has he pure samaya and faith but whatever I instruct, Zopa Rinpoche has the capability to accomplish it. So whatever dedications Lama Zopa Rinpoche makes I also pray to accomplish this and you should do the same thing."

For a Collection of Advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama Regarding Dholgyal (Shugden) please click here. For the results of the recent referendum on this issue click here.
 

© FPMT 		  Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Spiritual Director

Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche was born in 1946 in Thami, in the Mount Everest region of Nepal, not far from the Lawudo cave where his predecessor had meditated for the last 20 years of his life. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is now the Spiritual Director of the Foundation and oversees all of its activities. Read Rinpoche's account of Rinpoche's childhood here.

Read A joint biography of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche here.
 

Kopan 1981, Photographer: Merry Colony, © FPMT 		  Lama Yeshe (1935-1984)
Founder

Lama Thubten Yeshe was born in Tibet in 1935. At the age of six, he entered Sera Monastic University in Tibet where he studied until 1959, when as Lama Yeshe himself has said, "In that year the Chinese kindly told us that it was time to leave Tibet and meet the outside world." Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, together as teacher and disciple since their exile in India, met their first Western students in 1965. By 1971 they settled at Kopan, a small hamlet near Kathmandu in Nepal. In 1974, the Lamas began touring and teaching in the West, which would eventually result in the FPMT. Lama Yeshe died in 1984, his reincarnation Lama Tenzin Osel Rinpoche was born to Spanish parents in 1985.
 

© FPMT 		  Osel Hita (Lama Osel Rinpoche), Lama Yeshe's reincarnation
Lama Osel who likes to be known as Osel Hita, has received a combination of traditional Tibetan monastic training, as well as a Western education. He is currently pursuing a course of Western studies, at which he is doing extremely well. To read more about his life and recent times visit here.
 
 
Some of the projects which are part of the FPMT are...
 
To learn more visit:
 Charitable Projects of the FPMT
 Community Services in the FPMT
 
 
Useful internet resources from the FPMT:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






Big thanks to the FPMT website for the above biographical information and description of the FPMT.
We invite you to visit the main FPMT website for more extensive information www.fpmt.org