The Most Important Thing in the FPMT
by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
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Extracted from a talk given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche during
the Long Life puja at Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel,
CA on November 18 2001.
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The
benefit that we have been able to offer to sentient beings
and the teachings of the Buddha, particularly
to spread the teachings of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism in this
world, this is due to the kindness of our Gurus. That we have
been able to offer service to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
who is the sole object of refuge of all of us sentient beings
and the originator of all our peace and happiness; to the
Tibetan people - particularly the monasteries; and all the
extensive service that we have been able to offer sentient
beings - not only with Dharma but also with the various social
services - all of this is due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
the Buddha of Compassion's kindness. And particularly it is
due to the Lama whose holy name is very difficult to express
and who is kinder than all the three times Buddhas - Lama
Yeshe's kindness. It is due to his brave heart, his big heart,
as well as the idea of building a very large Maitreya Buddha
statue that blows away many living beings' minds and hearts.
And it is due to Kyabje Ribur Rinpoche here, who always prays,
as well as other Gurus who pray every day for the success
of the activities, the projects. It is
because
of this that we can have some success. There is a lot to do.
What has been done so far is very little. What is going to happen
is more. All of this is completely due to the kindness of the
Gurus. Then, next, I am not going to mention the names of all
the students because I wouldn't remember them and
even if I could it would take many days, but there is Roger
who for many years has been my attendant, and many students
whose nature is compassionate and faithful. The most important
thing is harmony, unity in the organization. That is what has
brought success so far - unity. There are many students who
are like gold, like diamonds. The most important quality is
to have the nature of compassion towards others, to be
kind-hearted, next is to be intelligent, understanding
the Dharma, and then to be responsible. It is particularly
due to the harmony, the unity, that there has been success and
that we have been able to offer this much service.
So there is a lot of potential to be able to offer much
much more extensive benefit than this. The Maitreya project
didn't happen yet. It did not get actualized yet. Because
it has such immense benefit, skies of benefit to sentient
beings, of course it has a lot of obstacles, it takes time.
But it's just a question of time. When the merit is more and
more increased, then there will be less obstacles. So I would
like to thank very much all the members of the FPMT organization,
all the students at the centres in the different countries
for all their prayers, not only for my long life but for all
the other things and particularly for the Maitreya project.
The benefit that we are able to offer, that I am able to offer,
is due to the kindness of so many students who are compassionate
to sentient beings, faithful, and responsible. And it is due
to unity, harmony in the organization. So we can offer much
more, many more times extensive benefit to the teachings of
the Buddha and more and more service to His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. So I want to thank very very much.
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