Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition

Category: Organizations

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) is a network of centers focusing on the Gelug tradition of Tibet. Founded in 1975 by Lamas Thubten Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who began teaching Buddhism to Western students in Nepal, the FPMT has grown to encompass more than 142 teaching centers in 32 countries. Since the death (and subsequent reincarnation) of Lama Yeshe in 1984, the FPMT's spiritual director has been his colleague, Lama Zopa.

The Maitreya Project is an undertaking by the FPMT to build a 152 meter statue of the Maitreya Bodhisattva in Kushinagara, India.

Info

International Headquarters :

• Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Spiritual Headquarters :

• Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal

Website :

• www.fpmt.org

Structure

The FPMT is headed by a Board of Directors, with its spiritual director (presently Lama Zopa) as an ex officio member. The FPMT International Office represents the Board's executive function.

FPMT centers have their own local boards, which appoint Center Directors with the approval of the International Board. Centers also have a spiritual program director and in many cases, a resident geshe (and perhaps other sangha as well). The center directors and spiritual directors from various countries meet every 12 to 18 months as the Council for the Preservation for the Mahayana Tradition, in order to deliberate points of mutual concern. Its role is advisory to the International Board.

Programs

Westerners who encounter the FPMT typically do so via short courses and retreats offered at the various centers. The best known of these is Kopan Monastery's annual month-long meditation course.

Many FPMT centers have adopted a standardized curriculum called the "basic program", which consists of the following subjects :

1. Stages of the Path (Lamrim)

2. Heart Sutra

3. Mahayana Mind Training (Lojong)

4. Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds

5. Mind and Cognition (Lorig)

6. Tenets (Drubtha)

7. Ornament for Clear Realizations - Fourth Chapter

8. Sublime Continuum if the Mahayana (Gyulama) - First Chapter: The Tathagata Essence

9. Ground and Paths of Secret Mantra

Students desiring more advanced study have a number of options including

the Instituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Florence, Italy (5 years theological study, 1 1/2 of retreat)

Maitripa Institute in Portland, Oregon (4 years textual study)

Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program (2 years Tibetan language study in Dharamsala, followed by 2 years interpretation residency)

In addition, numerous centers are prepared to supervise a long-term meditation retreat.

Publications

The FPMT publishes a magazine called Mandala and a line of books, Wisdom Publications.

The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive - which claims copyright to the speeches and writings of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa - is one of the FPMT's member organizations.