Thubten Zopa Rinpoche
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Geshe Lhundub Sopa
Rinpoche, Geshe Tenzin Zopa
, Lama Zopa Tharchin (Albany Karma Thegsum Choling), and Geshe Lobsang Zopa (Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery)
Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche (born 1946) is a lama
from Thami
, a village in the Khumbu
region of Nepal
. Early in life, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, from the same region (hence the title "Rinpoche
"). He took his monastic vows at Dungkar Monastery in Tibet
where he travelled in 1957, but he had to flee due to severe treatment on monks inflicted by the Chinese army after the 1959 Tibetan uprising
. Instead of continuing in Tibet, his spiritual teacher, Geshe Rabten, entrusted him to the care of Lama Thubten Yeshe
. Thubten Zöpa learned english at the Young Lamas Home School
. Lama Zöpa has received teachings from many high lamas.
Lama Zöpa met the previous Panchen Lama
in Nepal in 1986 and in Tibet.
"Lama Zöpa" is most noteworthy as the co-founder, with Lama Yeshe, of Kopan Monastery
and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
(FPMT). Since the 1984 death of Lama Yeshe, Lama Zöpa has served as the FPMT's spiritual director.
Zöpa's books are published by Wisdom Publications. Free transcripts of some of his teachings are available from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. There is an extensive biography of him in the book The Lawudo Lama by Jamyang Wangmo.
Lama Zöpa supports—apparently in accordance with the dying wish of Lama Yeshe — the Maitreya Project
, a planned 152 m (500 ft) high Maitreya
statue in Kushinagar
, northern India. If built, it will be one the largest Buddha statues in the world, only one meter shorter than the Spring Temple Buddha
in China's Henan
province.
Lhundub Sopa
Not to be confused with Lama Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche, Geshe Tenzin Zopa, Lama Zopa Tharchin , and Geshe Lobsang Zopa Lhundub Sopa is a Tibetan monk....
Rinpoche, Geshe Tenzin Zopa
Tenzin Zopa
Not to be confused with Lama Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche, Geshe Lhundub Sopa Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Tharchin , and Geshe Lobsang Zopa ...
, Lama Zopa Tharchin (Albany Karma Thegsum Choling), and Geshe Lobsang Zopa (Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery)
Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche (born 1946) is a lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
from Thami
Thami
The Thami are an indigenous tribe of hills east of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital. They mainly live in Dolakha district in East-Central Nepal. They are locally known as Thangmi. Their language is Kirant. According to the 2001 Nepal Census there are a total of 22,999 Thami of which 55.74% were...
, a village in the Khumbu
Khumbu
Khumbu is located in northeastern Nepal on the Nepalese side of Mount Everest. It is part of the Solukhumbu District, which in turn is part of the Sagarmatha Zone. Khumbu is one of three subregions of the main Khambu and Sherpa settlement of the Himalaya, the other two being Solu and Pharak...
region of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Early in life, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, from the same region (hence the title "Rinpoche
Rinpoche
Rinpoche or Rinboqê is an honorific used in Tibetan Buddhism. It literally means "precious one," and is used to address or describe Tibetan lamas and other high-ranking or respected teachers. This honor is generally bestowed on reincarnated lamas, or Tulkus, by default...
"). He took his monastic vows at Dungkar Monastery in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
where he travelled in 1957, but he had to flee due to severe treatment on monks inflicted by the Chinese army after the 1959 Tibetan uprising
1959 Tibetan uprising
The 1959 Tibetan uprising, or 1959 Tibetan Rebellion began on 10 March 1959, when a revolt erupted in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which had been under the effective control of the Communist Party of China since the Seventeen Point Agreement in 1951...
. Instead of continuing in Tibet, his spiritual teacher, Geshe Rabten, entrusted him to the care of Lama Thubten Yeshe
Thubten Yeshe
Thubten Yeshe was a Tibetan lama who, while exiled in Nepal, co-founded Kopan Monastery and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition...
. Thubten Zöpa learned english at the Young Lamas Home School
Young Lamas Home School
The Young Lamas Home School was a school established by the 14th Dalai Lama and Freda Bedi in 1960. Its funding was provided by Christopher Hills and its early abbot was Karma Thinley Rinpoche....
. Lama Zöpa has received teachings from many high lamas.
Lama Zöpa met the previous Panchen Lama
Choekyi Gyaltsen
Lobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi Gyaltsen was the 10th Panchen Lama of Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He was often referred to simply as Choekyi Gyaltsen , although this is also the name of several other notable figures in Tibetan history.-Early life and selection:The 10th Panchen Lama was born...
in Nepal in 1986 and in Tibet.
"Lama Zöpa" is most noteworthy as the co-founder, with Lama Yeshe, of Kopan Monastery
Kopan Monastery
Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. It belongs to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition , an international network of Gelugpa dharma centers, and once served as its headquarters.The monastery was established...
and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition is a network of Buddhist centers focusing on the Gelugpa tradition of Tibet. Founded in 1975 by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who began teaching Buddhism to Western students in Nepal, the FPMT has grown to encompass...
(FPMT). Since the 1984 death of Lama Yeshe, Lama Zöpa has served as the FPMT's spiritual director.
Zöpa's books are published by Wisdom Publications. Free transcripts of some of his teachings are available from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. There is an extensive biography of him in the book The Lawudo Lama by Jamyang Wangmo.
Lama Zöpa supports—apparently in accordance with the dying wish of Lama Yeshe — the Maitreya Project
Maitreya Project
The Maitreya Project is an international organisation, operating since 1990,set up to construct a 152 metre statue of the Maitreya Buddha, in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, along with education and healthcare facilities for the local population...
, a planned 152 m (500 ft) high Maitreya
Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
statue in Kushinagar
Kushinagar
Kushinagar , Kusinagar or Kusinara is a town and a nagar panchayat in Kushinagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained Parinirvana after his death.-Demographics: India census, Kushinagar had a...
, northern India. If built, it will be one the largest Buddha statues in the world, only one meter shorter than the Spring Temple Buddha
Spring Temple Buddha
The Spring Temple Buddha is a statue depicting Vairocana Buddha located in the Zhaocun township of Lushan County, Henan, China. It is placed within the Fodushan Scenic Area, close to National Freeway no. 311. The statue was completed in 2002....
in China's Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
province.
External links
- Lama Zopa's Biography
- Information on Lama Zopa on the FPMT website
- Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition official website
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche meditation on emptiness (Youtube Video)