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FPMT Annual Review 2011
FPMT International Office Annual Review 2011
FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:31 AM Page 1 fpmt FPMT ANNUAL REVIEW 2011 CHERISHING LIFE FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:31 AM Page 2 CHERISHING LIFE A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE My very dear most precious, wish-fulfilling, dearest benefactors, students, staff of the FPMT organization, friends and everybody, Because I had a stroke you can't imagine all the pujas that have been done in Tibet, India and all over the world such as so many hundreds and thousands and millions of Padmasambhava mantras and OM MANI PADME HUM in Tibet and so on, in many different places by individuals, groups and centers, projects and services. Then especially the liberation of animals, so many in Tibet and other places, of course that is a very good thing as it helps the animals to not suffer and not be killed. When I was in the hospital I saw a program about animals that were sold to be killed in Indonesia and other countries (live export). I don't know how long this has been going on, must be already for a long time. On the TV I saw the goats waiting in line, between wooden fences. It didn't show how they were killed, but it showed one cow that was on the platform, with the head tied, being pulled down to be killed. The cow didn't want to go and the man was pulling it. I thought, "I don't have power to stop all this killing, but what I can do is to try to inspire people to become vegetarian," 2 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:31 AM Page 3 and since then whatever teaching I am giving, even if it is tantra, I am trying to talk to people about becoming vegetarian, to avoid eating meat or to eat less meat so that there are less animals getting killed. I am trying like that. Then just to mention that one person in Vietnam became vegetarian because he heard I was sick and one student from Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore took lifetime Mahayana precepts after she heard I was sick and one prisoner in USA also stopped eating meat. So they are really, really amazing! I am very, very sorry, even the abbots of the large monasteries and high officials in the Tibetan government, when they get sick or die, don't have so many pujas done, but I who is nothing, has no education from this life and neither from past lives, just an old cow that couldn't even chew the grass well, difficult to benefit others, so all over the world individuals and also centers did so many pujas and each monk at Nalanda Monastery recited 1,000 long Namgyälma mantras, so that is really amazing, this helps them so much, it is most unbelievable, most unbelievably powerful, after that they will have so much power to help others, it is such a rare thing to have done. Really there are no words left to thank everyone, even to those who just did some prayers, with a positive heart, so with my palms together at the heart, really thank you. So now I will try to benefit, with two or three words of Dharma that I know, just like imitating, like a tape recorder, I will try like that as much as possible to help others. Over the course of three weeks in August, 2011, while recovering at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, Lama Zopa Rinpoche composed and designed ten inspiring and moving quotes on compassion called, "Compassion is of the Utmost Need." This was one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's first offerings to his students after manifesting a stroke in April of this year. We included these ten quotes throughout this year's Annual Review. You may also download these quotes together as a beautiful card at the FPMT Foundation Store. THE DESTROYER QUALIFIED GONE BEYOND ONE (BHAGAWAN) SAID, "THE BODHISATTVA DOES NOT FOLLOW MANY DHARMAS. THE BODHISATTVA HOLDS For me this experience has been like learning the lam-rim, which is the heart of the Dharma, the heart of Kangyur and Tengyur. To really understand that karma is definite — once virtue has been created and dedicated to enlightenment and sealed with emptiness and not destroyed by heresy or anger and once non-virtue has been created and if it has not been purified then it is definite that one will have to experience the result. ONE DHARMA WELL AND REALIZES IT WELL. THE WHOLE BUDDHADHARMA WILL BE IN THE HAND OF THAT PERSON. WHAT IS THAT DHARMA? Then karma is expandable — even if what is created is very small, the result is expandable. For example according to King Ashoka's life story, when he was a child playing in the sand, he offered a handful of sand to the Buddha, but he visualized that it was gold and he actually received the merit IT IS GREAT COMPASSION. (FROM THE CHENREZIG SUTRA WELL-CONDENSED DHARMA.) - LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 3 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:31 AM Page 4 of having actually offered gold in Buddha's begging bowl. In his next life he was born as a Dharma King, he was very wealthy and was able to build ten million stupas in one day. So that is amazing, amazing, amazing, unbelievable merits he was able to collect. So this is the same in regards to negative karma. WHAT DIFFERENTIATES BUDDHISM FROM OTHER RELIGIONS IS COMPASSION FOR EVERY SINGLE SENTIENT BEING. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* WHAT REALLY PLEASES ALL THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS IS COMPASSION. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 4 This means it is very important to abandon even small negative karma as much as possible and to practice even small good karma as much as possible. To really make effort in this way. Then if the cause has been created one will experience the result of that karma, the result will never get lost, no matter how many billions of years ago that it was created, one will still have to experience the result. For example we can see this in our lives, maybe somebody is so beautiful, so healthy, then suddenly their whole body totally changes, becomes so sick. They might wonder what happened, that they didn't do anything bad in this life, so why now do they have to experience this pain. So this is the result of negative karma created either in this life or billions and billions of eons ago. One should not relate everything to just this life, that is silly. We must have created so much karma from beginningless rebirth, which we have not yet finished experiencing the results. Then karma that is created never gets lost – no matter how small the karma is, the result never gets lost. This has been really a serious teaching for me. Please everybody, dear ones, wish-fulfilling dears, most precious friends, please rejoice in the unbelievable, unbelievable merit that has been created, please rejoice in all the pujas that have been done by every single individual, or in groups, and also please rejoice for all those who have dedicated their lives to FPMT, all the directors and staff who have sacrificed their lives, for many years, completely sacrificed their most precious time, as well as those who have done practices, even simple good prayers, for the organization, everyone has taken on so many hardships, this is real bodhisattva actions and real guru yoga practice, by doing the work or practice, thinking of the guru, so in this way fulfilling His Holiness the Dalai Lama's advice, fulfilling the wishes of all the buddhas and bodhisattvas, by pleasing them through benefiting sentient beings with the teachings of Buddha, by studying and also by practicing. On behalf of all the buddhas and bodhisattvas, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe, every single sentient being and miniscule me – thank you from my heart, with my palms together (even the right hand which has stroke and doesn't stay up so well but still putting both hands together), with all my ten fingers, thank you, thank you all every day, every hour, every minute and every second, thank you very much. Please enjoy with bodhichitta, enjoy the happiness of Dharma with bodhichitta. FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:31 AM Page 5 CHERISHING LIFE A MESSAGE FROM OSEL HITA 2011 was a great year for me. I was able to travel so much and had the opportunity to become involved in many FPMT activities. I was thrilled to be able to meet many old friends and to make so many new friendships too. From my home in Ibiza, Spain, I traveled to California for an FPMT Board meeting in March. In April, together with Gomo Tulku, I traveled to Australia to visit Lama Zopa Rinpoche who was in the initial stages of recovering from his stroke. In July I traveled to Kopan with Karuna Cayton. I very much wanted to visit Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup whose health was declining. It turned out to be a great visit. Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested me to speak to the assembly of nuns at the nunnery and then to all the monks at the monastery. I was very happy with the visit and connected very well with the monks and nuns. In August I was able to direct the filming of a documentary on Universal Wisdom Education (UWE) along with Matteo Passigato and other crew members. The filming took place at Institut Vajra Yogini in France during the first international gathering of UWE which was attended by individuals and families from all over the world. The documentary is currently in the stage of "director's final cut." Gomo Tulku, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Osel Hita. In November I traveled with my partner Mai, and brother Kunkyen to India. We stayed in my former home, Osel Labrang, at Sera Monastery. I was invited to address the Kopan monks at Sera and was able to spend time with my teacher, Geshe Genden Chomphel, and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. From Sera we traveled onto Bodhgaya to attend the Kalachakra initiation given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in January 2012. In between my travels, I have been developing a number of business concepts I hope will contribute to FPMT's long-term sustainability. So many people welcomed and helped me everywhere I went and I really thank everyone, especially those I didn't get to thank personally. I am looking forward to being much more in touch with everyone who has been helping me over the years, and I am so happy to be available to help wherever I can in the future. Big love, Osel COMPASSION IS WHAT MAKES ALL SENTIENT BEINGS HAPPY. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 5 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:31 AM Page 6 CHERISHING LIFE A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER VEN. ROGER KUNSANG Dear Friends, In 2011 things changed. Lama Zopa Rinpoche's stroke in April was a shock to everyone. Although a shock, the reaction from Dharma students and friends around the world was truly supportive, in particular from the students at the retreat. They came together and did strong practice and pujas to purify karma and create merit. From so many monasteries in India, Nepal and Tibet and from centers, projects, services and individuals around the world, the spontaneous response in the form of prayers, pujas and practice (committing to become vegetarian for life, taking the Mahayana precepts for life, saving and liberating animals, etc.) was overwhelming! As Rinpoche came to hear of this, he said to please let everyone know about these activities so everyone can rejoice. Meanwhile, Rinpoche showed no interest in his own serious condition. He asked no questions of the doctors and seemed to have very little interest in his condition or the outcome. He just prayed and meditated. In a letter Rinpoche wrote to His Holiness the Dalai Lama while in the hospital, Rinpoche expressed his sadness at not being able to use his right hand to do prostrations and how he learned to use one tissue several times rather than once, trying to be less wasteful and kinder to the environment. Rinpoche would often laugh and make jokes about his own awkward physical condition. It was truly a teaching on impermanence and what is most important in life. A few days after the stroke, Rinpoche insisted to leave the hospital. His plan was to go back to Atisha Centre and complete the Yamantaka initiation. Rinpoche said we could lift him up on the throne and Geshe-la (Geshe Konchok Tsering) could read the text while Rinpoche led the meditation. When the doctor heard of the plan, she announced (in true Australian fashion), "Over my dead body you will!" It was a Christian hospital and the doctors and nursing staff were very kind and thoughtful. The hospital had a fundraising event showing the work of well-known artists and Rinpoche was keen to participate, buying two aboriginal paintings in support. Khadro-la came to Australia to help guide the recovery. Osel Hita and Gomo Tulku arrived in Australia soon after the stroke to stay with Rinpoche and offer their support. Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Ven. Roger Kunsang, Bodhgaya, January 2012 6 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/8/13 2:21 PM Page 7 STRONG When Rinpoche had the stroke, many of us thought of what it would be like without Rinpoche: how would we continue Rinpoche's and Lama Yeshe's work? The FPMT Board of Directors had already been thinking about this, but Rinpoche's stroke brought home the urgency and it was Rinpoche himself who strongly encouraged the board to think about this. Rinpoche gave certain criteria to guide the process. COMPASSION IS THE It is worthwhile reflecting on the incredible opportunity so many of us have had in meeting Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The profound impact these two lamas have had on so many of us is very, very hard to comprehend. Rinpoche has been working continuously day and night without any break for the last 40 years giving teachings and personal advice to students; supporting many centers, monasteries and projects around the world; helping in so many ways – it is truly hard to fathom. There have been no breaks or even pauses to catch one's breath, no weekends, no days off or even a night off! It is truly a bodhisattva's way of life. If this isn't, then what is! To experience the Dharma through an accomplished, realized, easy-to-relate-to, and humble master is an amazingly rare opportunity. ACHIEVE FULL Rinpoche seems even more determined now to accomplish things in the FPMT. Rinpoche has been saying recently that FPMT now has good teachers, education and study opportunities, and what we need now is to have students actualizing the lam-rim, especially attaining shine (calm abiding). When this happens FPMT will be truly successful! Rinpoche's office in Portland, USA, FPMT International Office, has been continuing to support Rinpoche and serve the organization in many ways. We have a great team in the office that has worked very hard over the last year to create a stronger foundation for the organization's future especially in the areas of education, communications (including Mandala), charitable projects and financial stability. This you will see in the reports that follow. So much of the work of International Office is successful due to the excellent collaboration and support from our centers, projects and services around the world. Key to FPMT's continued success is the effort of so many people around the world working together to achieve Lama Yeshe's and Rinpoche's vision of a more compassionate world, working for the happiness of others and enlightenment for all sentient beings. Merry Colony has left International Office after so many years of devoted service in FPMT Education Services. Merry accomplished a lot during her time and now will be our Education Consultant, working from her new home in Washington. Tom Truty has taken over as Education Services Coordinator. George Williams has joined us in the office as Operations Director, in charge of the office's day-to-day operations and reports to me. Rinpoche's International Office exists to serve Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche, and all the students, supporters, centers, projects and services of the FPMT around the world. We are very committed to what we do, and although we are only a few individuals, we will continue to work hard at improving our service to the organization. A very warm heartfelt thank you to everyone around the world who helps make all this happen. roger FOUNDATION THAT CAUSES YOU TO ENLIGHTENMENT MOST QUICKLY. IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FULL ENLIGHTENMENT IN ORDER TO LIBERATE ALL SENTIENT BEINGS FROM SUFFERING AND BRING THEM TO FULL ENLIGHTENMENT, THE QUICKEST WAY IS TO GENERATE STRONG COMPASSION. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 7 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 8 CHERISHING LIFE A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS This past year was one of both significant achievements as well as challenges. The board wishes to share its sadness at the loss of our beloved Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, who had been an FPMT board member since its inception. Amid this sadness, we take joy in welcoming the new abbot of Kopan Monastery, Khenrinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, to the board. In addition we are pleased that Osel Hita, who had been attending meetings as a guest, has accepted an invitation to become an official member of the board. Early this past year the board came together from nine different countries to meet in person near Rinpoche's residence in Aptos, California, and throughout the rest of the year seven remote board meetings were held by teleconference. The recurring theme of our communications has been to stay abreast of Rinpoche's health and well-being and to encourage Rinpoche to take all the time and space necessary to recover fully. Beyond that we continue to focus on the ongoing development of longer-range plans and best practices for governance and management throughout the entire organization. With Rinpoche's encouragement, the vision of a more culturally and geographically representative leadership as well as a more diverse and democratic organization, continues to unfold. It is truly awe-inspiring to see the many accomplishments of the centers, projects and services and holy objects coming to fruition due to the inconceivable kindness and inspiration of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. We thank each and every one of you who has contributed toward these wonderful successes. I know you all join us in our resolve to work harmoniously together to actualize our highest aspirations, and in our special entreaties to Rinpoche to live long and continue to guide us. Best, Tim McNeill, Chair of the Board of Directors, FPMT Inc. 8 FPMT Board of Directors: Back Row: Peter Kedge, Osel Hita, Tim McNeill, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Tara Melwani, Karuna Cayton, Ven. Pemba Sherpa. Front Row: Ven. Roger Kunsang, Paula de Wijs-Koolkin, Alison Murdoch. Missing: Andrew Haynes. WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) is an international, non-profit Buddhist organization, founded in 1975 by Lama Yeshe (1935-1984) and his heart disciple, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. FPMT is devoted to transmitting and preserving Mahayana Buddhist teachings and values worldwide and is spiritually directed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. FPMT is an organization encompassing 160 centers, projects and social service initiatives. Our work reaches across Asia Pacific, North and South America, Europe, Australasia and Asia. FPMT programs offer a comprehensive, experiential approach to study, practice and service in the great educational tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Office, or "FPMT International Office," provides the necessary framework for all FPMT activity, develops and delivers high quality education programs and materials, maintains several primary channels for communication including fpmt.org, Mandala magazine and social media accounts, manages charitable projects key to FPMT's mission, coordinates communication between Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the larger organization and provides support to FPMT centers, projects and services. FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 9 CHERISHING LIFE INTRODUCTION CHANDRAKIRTI SAID, "AT THE At the start of each year, FPMT International Office studies the year prior and identifies a main theme for the past year in order to frame our accomplishments and rejoice in our collective effort. Because of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's stroke and ongoing rehabilitation and physiotherapy, 2011 was not a typical year for FPMT as our incomparable spiritual director was not available in the ways we have grown accustomed to, and taken for granted, year after year. BEGINNING, COMPASSION IS LIKE A SEED; IN THE But what was beautifully typical were the ways in which the FPMT organization demonstrated its resilience and strength in the face of adversity. In fact, for nearly 40 years, the organization has demonstrated time and again its ability to triumph over obstacles, due mainly to its strong foundation, structure, and the good hearts and effort of its students and supporters. Lama Zopa Rinpoche's stroke prompted FPMT students around the world, in addition to many high lamas, teachers and friends, to offer continuous pujas, practices, prayers and service dedicated to Rinpoche's long and healthy life. In addition, the failing health and subsequent passing of Kopan Monastery's Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup propelled our global network of students to engage whole heartedly in recommended prayers and practices for Lama Lhundrup's life and swift return. And while Rinpoche's love for and commitment to benefiting animals is legendary, 2011 marked unequivocal advances in Rinpoche's resolve to benefit animals including his commitment to encouraging people, wherever he goes, to become vegetarian, or at the very least, to eat less meat. He also strongly encouraged us to rejoice about animals saved recently in Tibet and Singapore. And further, while recovering from his stroke, Rinpoche very kindly and sweetly composed his Remembering the Kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan People prayer which honors the life and kindness of His Holiness and the people of Tibet. MIDDLE, IT IS LIKE WATER; AT THE END, IT IS LIKE A RIPENED FRUIT. ACHIEVING THE RESULT OF FULL With these events and developments in mind, we offer "FPMT 2011: Cherishing Life" as the title of this year's Annual Review. It is with great joy and heartfelt thanks for your support that all of us here at Lama Zopa Rinpoche's International Office present you with this collection of accomplishments and highlights with our strong wish that it becomes the cause for all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's wishes to manifest without delay and that his life be long and stable, for the benefit of all. LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE Lama Zopa Rinpoche's kindness and love for others is endless. He is a living example of one's capacity for cherishing life. Despite manifesting and then recovering from a stroke in 2011, Rinpoche met local students; attended informal lunches, picnics and pujas; met center directors and staff; and advised centers, projects and services on their progress. He inspired all with his compassion for animals and personally donated over US$1.8 million to worthy social service and Dharma projects. What follows is a short snapshot of Rinpoche's 2011. ENLIGHTENMENT IS ALL DUE TO COMPASSION. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 9 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 10 2011 HIGHLIGHTS Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught in five locations, which included the major continuing commentaries on Lama Chöpa and Ganden Lha Gyäma, and the beginning of the Bodhisattvacharyavatara teachings. These teachings were all made available as streaming videos to watch online via the FPMT Online Learning Center. Rinpoche started 2011 in India where he attended a meeting on the Maitreya Project in Kushinagar followed by attendance of the 30th Dharma Celebration in India for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, hosted by Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre. From there, Rinpoche went to Sarnath and visited the Tara Project, a project whereby Kopan nuns and students from the Alice Project School recite Tara praises 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. On January 30 Rinpoche traveled to Bangalore to attend a public talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama which was hosted by Choe Khor Sum Ling Study Group. In February Rinpoche went to Singapore, to teach at Amitabha Buddhist Centre. At the end of February Rinpoche traveled to USA where he taught at Tse Chen Ling Center, Gyalwa Gyatso Buddhist Center and Land of Medicine Buddha. He also attended an FPMT board of directors meeting. From California, Rinpoche left for Australia at the end of March. First he attended a tea party at Tara Institute, getting an opportunity to meet the 10 students and display the relics of buddhas and holy beings that he carries with him. Rinpoche then went to Bendigo to begin teaching a month long retreat at the beginning of April hosted by Atisha Centre, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, and Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery. By all accounts this was the retreat of a lifetime: 250 students attended, including many old students and at least 50 Sangha members. The event was extremely well organized and the auspiciousness of a retreat located at the base of the Great Stupa, the largest stupa in the Western world, was felt by all. Rinpoche began the retreat by teaching on the Bodhisattvacharyavatara for two weeks. In the middle of the retreat, Rinpoche attended the Australian national meeting and gave advice to participants. Rinpoche took all the retreatants up to the first floor of the Great Stupa, and expressed tremendous pleasure at the progress of the stupa, giving a short talk on the stupa's incredible benefits, as well as the benefits of the mantra hats (as the sun was very hot and people needed hats). The second half of the retreat started with Rinchen Gyatso initiations. To start it off, Rinpoche said he would offer Heruka, Guhyasamaja and Yamantaka initiations. He began with the Yamantaka initiation on April 19 and early reports from the retreat were that it was incredibly powerful and transformative. FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 11 On April 22, the FPMT community was shaken to the core when individuals around the world received a brief but urgent request from Ven. Roger Kunsang to pray and commit to practices dedicated to Lama Zopa Rinpoche's health and long life. The following day confirmed everyone's fears: Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT's precious spiritual director and guide, had been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke while giving the Yamantaka initiation at Atisha Centre. humor, laughing at his inability to walk or speak properly, not demonstrating the slightest shock or embarrassment at the situation. According to all accounts, not one moment of self-pity arose for Rinpoche. He gave teachings to every single nurse or doctor or physiotherapist who "treated" him, always explaining the ultimate view of the sickness (karma and delusion), always trying to benefit them and leave imprints, never letting up for even a second. International Office quickly created a webpage dedicated to continual news, information, photos and videos concerning Rinpoche's health so that students could be promptly informed. Over the course of the following months a collective whirlwind effort of prayers, pujas and practices ensued and all variety of service was offered and dedicated to Rinpoche's immediate recovery. Rinpoche's commitment to benefiting animals in 2011 reached new heights. As Rinpoche mentioned in his letter on page 2, since his stroke he has resolved to talk to people wherever he goes about the benefits of becoming vegetarian. Nothing about Rinpoche's progress has been ordinary. In fact, during the Yamantaka initiation, as the stroke was taking form, in Rinpoche's absolute pure bodhichitta he persisted to grant vows to the students in order to purify and strengthen vows they had received in the past. Even while his body was manifesting a stroke, Rinpoche's main concern was for the students to take the vows perfectly. From the hospital, while suffering from paralysis and slurred speech, Rinpoche demonstrated through his actions and words, as he does again and again, how to benefit others. He uplifted all around him with his unceasing sense of Following the stroke, Rinpoche spent one month in the hospital then moved to a local student's home. At this point, Khadro-la (an extraordinary Tibetan woman who is widely regarded as a dakini, an oracle, and certainly someone special), joined Rinpoche's rehabilitation team. Rinpoche says of Khadro-la, "She is my main doctor." While rehabilitating in this house, Rinpoche composed, Remembering the Kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the People of Tibet a stunningly moving prayer in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's life and the bravery of the Tibetan people. The prayer was offered to His Holiness when he visited Chenrezig Institute in June 2011 at the invitation of FPMT Australia. After Australia, Rinpoche left for Nepal in June, to stay at Kopan Monastery for five months. As part of his physiotherapy Rinpoche circumambulated the Swayambhunath Stupa and Bouddha Stupa. The timing for this was particularly important as Kopan's precious abbot, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup had been manifesting declining health due to cancer. Lama Lhundrup passed away in September 2011. From left: His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at a public talk in Bangalore, India, January 2011. Photo by Tara Melwani. Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching during the retreat hosted by Atisha Centre, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, and Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery. Photo by George Manos. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, seen here from his hospital bed just a few days after his stroke, kept his characteristic light- hearted since of humor and lifted the spirits of all around him. Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khadro-la, 2011 11 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 12 On June10 Rinpoche was offered, on behalf of all FPMT, a special two-day long life puja, organized by Khadro-la and Dagri Rinpoche. In September Rinpoche gave his first official teachings since the stroke, teaching a number of times to the Kopan Sangha. In October Rinpoche traveled to France for five weeks for intensive therapy. From there he went to Nalanda Monastery and gave two teachings as well as meeting many students of Kalachakra Paris and Institut Vajra Yogini, offering dinners and lunches, where Rinpoche spent time carefully choosing the menus to make them as special as possible. has benefited hundreds of thousands of people fortunate enough to see it. Rinpoche traveled to India in November. In Delhi he met with students and then went to Dharamsala to Tushita Meditation Centre where he gave the 21 Tara jenang. At Tushita, a moving and powerful three-day long life puja was offered to Rinpoche by FPMT, Khadro-la and Dagri Rinpoche. Following the long life puja, Rinpoche met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in December. Rinpoche was moved to tears by this meeting. Rinpoche engaged in personal retreat for two weeks from mid-December. Just prior to this, His Holiness the Dalai Lama taught in France. This event, which was well attended and very successful, was hosted by Institut Vajra Yogini, Nalanda Monastery and other centers. Rinpoche also visited the Jade Buddha, the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world, which happened to be in Paris at the time. This was the first time Rinpoche had seen the statue. The Jade Buddha Project At the end of 2011, Rinpoche left for Bodhgaya for the Kalachakra initiation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He taught at Root Institute on December 27. A report of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's charitable contributions in 2011 can be found on page 26. From left: Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan, June 2011. Lama Zopa Rinpoche using right hand to write out a long life mantra for exercise and purification and to collect merit. 12 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 13 CHERISHING LIFE EDUCATION We create high quality educational programs, practice and study materials and work with a global network of educators, translators, trainers and publishers to deliver the ancient wisdom of the Tibetan study and practice tradition to international students, and essential training to staff and volunteers of FPMT centers, projects and services. • We completed comprehensive Guidelines and History documents for the Masters Program. 2011 HIGHLIGHTS TRANSLATION AND TRAINING NEW PRACTICE MATERIALS PRODUCED • 15 new practice booklets including: Lama Chöpa Jorchö with Tibetan and tunes, Charity to Ants and Service as the Path to Enlightenment, both by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. • Two previously out of print DVDs: Remembering Impermanence by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Vajrayogini Hand Mudras by Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundup. • White Umbrella and Atisha protections. • Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Compassion is of the Utmost Need quotes. • 21 new MP3 downloads including Vajrayogini Self-Initiation in Tibetan and English chanting. • We now make 135 practices available in e-reader format! PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • We offered 76 honorary Discovering Buddhism completion certificates as part of our updated teacher registration process. • We sent out our 100th Basic Program completion certificate. • 82 residential English and Italian speaking students continued to participate in the Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy. • The first FPMT International Translation Conference was hosted at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in May: 39 participants attended from nine countries with Yangsi Rinpoche presiding. • We provided support and materials for Translation Offices translating education materials into French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Mongolian, Czech, Danish, Slovenian, Portuguese, Italian and German. • Foundation Training was offered at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa. FPMT ONLINE LEARNING CENTER The FPMT Online Learning Center (OLC) currently offers FPMT Education study courses and media resources ranging in level from beginner to advanced, and philosophical to practice-oriented. • We launched 17 new courses of commentaries and teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche including commentary on Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, Lama Chöpa and Bodhicaryavatara. We also added five new Living in the Path modules, two new Basic Program online courses, two new French courses, and three new Spanish courses. 13 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 EVEN FOR NON- 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 14 • The Online Learning Center had 7,700 registered users from 148 countries, an increase of 80% from last year. BELIEVERS THE BEST THING AND ONLY WAY TO CREATE MERIT (GOOD KARMA) IS COMPASSION, AS WELL AS MAKING OFFERINGS AND PROSTRATIONS TO HOLY OBJECTS AND CIRCUMAMBULATING THEM, EVEN BY CHANCE. WHAT GIVES ALL BEINGS A HAPPY, SATISFIED, MEANINGFUL AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE IS COMPASSION. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 14 • We facilitated over 1,000 discussion forum posts. • The site received 92,202 visits from 47,155 users in 159 countries. An increase from last year's 68,542 visits from 22,614 users in 141 countries. THE FOUNDATION STORE The Foundation Store is FPMT's online shop, providing students around the world with FPMT's education programs, as well as supplemental practice, study and meditation materials and supplies. • We focused on enhanced communication with foreign vendors, insisting on good quality products and reducing our damaged products by 25%. • Due to education practices being produced in downloadable e-reader formats and MP3s, the Foundation Store was able to deliver resources to students without expensive shipping fees. OUR DHARMA INCOME Proceeds from sales in the Foundation Store are carefully categorized and calculated to ensure that income from Dharma items is used only to make more Dharma available and to further the charitable mission and projects of FPMT. We follow the Buddhist principles for the use of Dharma income and any payments for salaries or personnel expenses are excluded when calculating the net Dharma proceeds. • Customer service continues to be at the heart of our work. Immediate response to inquiries and prompt delivery remains our number one goal year after year. "I want to say how grateful I am that you're putting these teachings online and making them so easily available. I've gotten more out of the Buddhism in a Nutshell modules than I ever did from reading books on my own. So, thank you for making this a reality." • We sold a variety of products which supported the Buddhist practice of FPMT students including: books and magazines, malas, statues, incense, thangkas and ritual items. – DIANA, USA • We supported FPMT Education programs by making hardcopy and downloadable programs and practices available to students. "Thank you very, very much for the super-quick delivery of those wonderful texts! It must have taken just a week to get here, so that was a lovely surprise. I will be starting my retreat in a couple of days and those booklets come in very handy!" – FEEDBACK FROM A FOUNDATION STORE CUSTOMER. FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 15 CHERISHING LIFE CENTERS, PROJECTS AND SERVICES 2011 HIGHLIGHTS We disseminate Lama Zopa Rinpoche's advice, coordinate Rinpoche's teaching schedule, administer FPMT teacher policy and registration process and help FPMT centers, projects and services implement the structures, policies and guidelines that frame their work. SERVICE • With the help of three regional and seven national offices, we supported 160 centers, projects and services (including 13 study groups, which are probationary centers, projects and services) in 40 countries! Participants of the 2011 European regional meeting. Photo by Erich Leopold. • Long life pujas were offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche on behalf of all FPMT centers, projects, services and students. • We supported 51 highly qualified resident teachers, and interpreters where needed, in FPMT centers. • New directors and spiritual program coordinators were assisted in their role of service through substantial orientation material, verbal introduction as well as email, Skype and phone support. • Centers, projects and services celebrated FPMT's 9th International Sangha Day. STRUCTURE • The Study Group Policy was updated to ensure greater success for aspiring centers, projects and services. • Center Services participated in the European regional and the Australian national meetings in order to progress the concept and practice of regionalization. • FPMT Teacher Policy and registration process was updated, a necessary evolution as the organization matures. Participants of the Australian national meeting. Lama Zopa Rinpoche center. Photo by George Manos. "Thank you over and over. I am so totally inspired and deeply encouraged by our vast resources which are continually developing and always at our fingertips. Our absolute unfathomable amazing fortune knows no bounds. How could any moment slip by without deep rejoicing?" – FEEDBACK FROM A CENTER DIRECTOR 15 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 16 FROM THE SUTRA REQUEST BY LODRO GYATSO: THE THOUGHT OF COMPLETE ENLIGHTENMENT PRESERVING DHARMA, PRACTICING DHARMA AND HAVING LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR LIVING BEINGS: THESE FOUR DHARMAS HAVE INFINITE QUALITIES – THE LIMIT OF THEIR BENEFITS IS NOT SEEN BY THE VICTORIOUS ONES. IT IS SAID THAT PRESERVING DHARMA AND PROTECTING THE LIVES OF LIVING COMMUNICATING • We helped keep all FPMT centers, projects and services connected with their spiritual director by updating Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Advice on fpmt.org, including the new Rinpoche's Collected Advice for Centers, Projects and Services; and informing of new advice via the FPMT International Office e-News. • The newly updated chapters of the FPMT Handbook were translated into Spanish, French, Italian and Chinese by the relevant translation teams. • We kept the FPMT directories online and in Mandala up to date so that people could easily connect with FPMT centers, projects and services. BEINGS HAS LIMITLESS BENEFITS. • We answered thousands of emails seeking guidance on a wide range of issues related to invitations to Rinpoche, teachers, human resources, policy, and various successes and challenges. THIS SHOWS THAT IF WE HAVE COMPASSION FOR SENTIENT BEINGS, FROM THOSE WE CAN'T SEE WITH THE NAKED EYE BUT ONLY UNDER A MICROSCOPE UP TO CREATURES THE More information on our 2011 communication efforts can be found on pages 20-21. "Many thanks for taking responsibility for ensuring that we have a qualified and certificated body of FPMT teachers. I have direct experience in the secular context of the value, desirability and practical challenges and processes for developing a professional teaching body. I feel that you are doing very well, at least thus far, especially in the management of change. Thanks!" – FEEDBACK FROM A TEACHER SIZE OF A MOUNTAIN, THEN THE BUDDHA HAS NEVER EXPLAINED THE LIMITS OF THE COMPASSION WE GENERATE FOR THEM. IT'S THE SAME AS SAVING THE LIVES OF HUMAN BEINGS, ANIMALS AND INSECTS; WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS The most important purpose is Dharma, it is more important than food, clothing or having a job; understanding, practicing Dharma, understanding karma and developing wisdom and compsassion for numberless sentient beings. We each have full responsibility to free all sentient beings from suffering and bring them to full enlightenment. Therefore, we need to achieve full enlightenment and so we need to practice Dharma. Now we can see how important each Dharma center is. We should know how fortunate and lucky we are having so many different Dharma centers with teachers. LIMITLESS BENEFITS. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE, FROM A LETTER TO A DHARMA CENTER THAT WAS CELEBRATING ITS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, 2011. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 16 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 17 CHERISHING LIFE CHARITABLE PROJECTS FPMT's Charitable Projects flourished in 2011, contributing to the organization's worldwide effort to cherish life. Tremendous heartfelt thanks to all of the kind benefactors who support the amazing array of charitable projects, all of which are the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 2011 HIGHLIGHTS • 2011 was the twentieth year that FPMT was able to offer to the 2,600 monks at Sera Je Monastery through the Sera Je Food Fund. Two and half million meals were offered this year alone! In 2011 US$217,117 was offered covering the cost of all the food and preparation. The kitchen was upgraded with a new walk-in refrigerator and bread making machine (the first of its kind in any monastery) this will cut the number of monks who work in the kitchen daily by half, giving them more time to study. This offering was made due to the kindness of Cherok Lama. Osel also visited the kitchen and gave some advice about the nutrition of the food. • The Amdo Eye Hospital was officially opened in 2011 and currently has 24 people working in the hospital, including four doctors and four nurses. The hospital is three and half stories high and has 36 beds to accommodate patients. The hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Xining dedicated solely to performing eye surgery. • 2011 was the 13th year that FPMT was able to offer over US$17,427 for the monthly stipends of the current abbots, past abbots and main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition, including the Ganden Tripa, through the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund. Also from this fund we offered From left: Thankful recipients of Amdo Eye Hospital's services. FPMT sponsors all Sera Je monks to attend the annual winter debate, a tradition that dates back to the time of Lama Tsongkhapa. In 2011 the debate was held at Drepung Monastery. 17 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 18 US$8,036 for the annual Gelug examination that was attended by over 602 of the foremost scholars from the great monasteries. • Each month the FPMT Puja Fund arranged ongoing and continuous pujas offered by as many as 9,000 Sangha in India and Nepal. All the pujas are dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. The puja fund was also able to make offerings on each of the four Buddha days to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's gurus, as well as to all the Sangha in FPMT sangha communities. • In 2009, Ven. Roger Kunsang received advice that it would be beneficial to build a 14-foot [4-meter] high statue of Nagarjuna in Bodhgaya, India, dedicated to the long, healthy and stable life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the immediate removal of any obstacles to the accomplishment of Rinpoche's holy wishes. We are very happy to report that the white marble statue was finished and consecrated by several high lamas. It looks magnificent and is currently at Root Institute in Bodhgaya. • The Sangha at Lama Zopa Rinpoche's house continued doing animal liberations three times a month, taking all the animals around holy objects and blessing them with mantras before they are released. This is dedicated for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's gurus, as well as for students and all beings who are sick. Also the Sangha continued to make long life tsa-tsas and stupas dedicated to sick students or anyone who has passed away. In 2011 over 1,000 stupas were made, filled and dedicated in this way. • 2011 was the ninth year that Ven. Tsering has been writing the Prajnaparamita in pure gold and he has now completed the second volume (out of 12 volumes)! Ven. Tsen-la also has completed writing the Vajra Cutter Sutra in pure silver. From left: Nagarjuna statue finished and living at Root Institute, Bodhgaya. Animal Liberation Fund saved the lives of 60 yaks that were going to be killed in Nepal in 2011. 18 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 19 A KADAMPA GESHE SAID, • Animal Liberation Fund donated US$25,000 to liberate 2 million lives, dedicated especially for the health and long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This animal liberation was organized by Fred Cheong of Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore who has liberated well over 150 million animals. The Fund was also able to offer US$10,665 to save the lives of 60 yaks that were going to be killed in Rowaling, Nepal. • During an annual animal sacrifice in India and Nepal, when hundreds of thousands of animals are sacrificed, Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested more than 10,000 monks and nuns from 14 great monasteries and nunneries to make strong prayers and engage in practices specifically for all the animals and also for those performing the sacrifices. Over US$8,000 was offered for this effort. During Thanksgiving 25 turkeys were bought and liberated at Buddha Amitabha Pureland in Washington State. • Sangha continued offering thousands of light and water offerings daily at Rinpoche's residences, with extensive prayers for the entire organization. HOLY BEINGS OF THE LAND OF DZAMBU " (THIS WORLD) RESPOND TO HARM WITH GOOD ACTIONS." WHEN ORDINARY PEOPLE ARE HARMED THEY RETALIATE WITH HARM. HOLY BEINGS REPAY HARM WITH POSITIVE ACTIONS. WHOEVER SEES THE ENEMY AS THE VIRTUOUS FRIEND IS HAPPY • Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Other Projects Fund continues to offer ongoing support of housing, food and other expenses to young reincarnated lamas, Khadro-la, as well as individual monks and nuns around the world. Rinpoche's charitable contributions in 2011 was extraordinary. Rinpoche personally raised and offered over US$1.8 million to various charitable and Dharma activities including US$50,000 to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Australia; US$100,000 toward the education and the building of holy objects in outlying villages of Nepal; US$100,000 for a new kitchen and accommodation for the nuns at Kopan Nunnery; US$200,000 for a retreat house dedicated to practicing the 5th Dalai Lama's teachings; US$60,000 to the Padmasambhava Project for Peace; among many other worthy projects and initiatives. Rinpoche also offered robes to all ordained resident teachers and busy touring teachers as well as a new refrigerator for Sera Je Monastery's kitchen which will directly benefit all the monks at Sera Je Monastery. For a complete report of FPMT's Charitable Projects and Fiscal Sponsorship Projects, including Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Other Projects, please see page 26. "There is nothing more important for me than the Dharma and FPMT is a great teaching organization, helping so very, very many people. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart." – ANNA PEPPARD, USA WHEREVER THAT PERSON IS. THE GREAT INDIAN SCHOLAR BODHISATTVA SHANTIDEVA SAID IN THE FIRST CHAPTER OF HIS BODHICARYAVATARA: I BOW DOWN TO THE BODY OF HIM IN WHOM THE SACRED PRECIOUS MIND IS BORN. I SEEK REFUGE IN THAT SOURCE OF JOY, WHO BRINGS TO HAPPINESS EVEN THOSE WHO HARM HIM. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 19 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:32 AM Page 20 CHERISHING LIFE COMMUNICATIONS FPMT International Office communicates with the wider organization by utilizing a full array of methods: the FPMT website provides Lama Zopa Rinpoche's schedule and advice, provides information for those offering service in the organization, serves as a gateway to the offerings and opportunities of the entire FPMT organization, plus much more. Mandala Publications (website and print magazine) reports on larger events with Lama Zopa Rinpoche; provides quarterly news from FPMT centers, projects and services; and offers engaging features that provide inspiration and perspective for students including online blogs. FPMT International Office e-News (a monthly digital newsletter) brings monthly updates on key news and advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, International Office and the organization as a whole. The FPMT and CPMT e-groups give the community an easy way to communicate and release updates and news. Our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts provide snippets of news, advice, teachings and video clips of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the greater organization. Prayers for the Dead offers a support service for those who have died or who are in grief. 2011 HIGHLIGHTS WEBSITE, PICASA PHOTO GALLERY, FILE SHARING: • fpmt.org received 655,680 visits from individuals in 154 countries, an 18% increase from last year. The site had 281,652 unique visitors, a 9% increase from 2010. • We implemented a new Picasa photo gallery system for our public galleries which allows for better viewing and photo searches. • We updated our streaming video pages to display our YouTube videos along with short descriptions for easier browsing. • We added RSS Feeds for fpmt.org and mandalamagazine.org, with a subscription service managed by FeedBurner enabling students to subscribe to updates most meaningful to them. • The Google Translate feature was improved on fpmt.org and added to mandalamagazine.org, allowing students to translate existing articles into their preferred language. • We implemented the ability to "like," "+1," "tweet" and "share" pages and articles on our websites which helped increase the traffic to our website over the past year. 20 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:33 AM Page 21 • We implemented a new web test environment, which allows us to test updates and features before applying to the live production sites, dramatically decreasing the downtime on our sites for upgrades and routine maintenance. • We migrated to Box.com for file storage and sharing, allowing us to collaborate and share files with users all around the world while increasing security and accessibility. • We now have tagged articles and a tag cloud on the home page to help students find articles on specific people and topics. • We increased our foreign language translations. We how have articles published in Spanish, French, Russian, Hebrew and Vietnamese. MANDALA PUBLICATIONS SOCIAL NETWORKING, FPMT INTERNATIONAL OFFICE NEWS, E-GROUPS, PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD • Mandala created nearly 600 pages of new content plus shared many hours of video and audio content. • At the end of 2011 we had 18,017 monthly subscribers to our FPMT International Office e-News, an increase of 1,595 from 2010. • We published regular blog posts on our website, including Ven. Roger Kunsang's "Life on the Road with Lama Zopa Rinpoche," one of Mandala's most popular online features. • The FPMT and CPMT e-groups continued to provide an essential communication tool for 3,000 students and for those offering service in FPMT. • We added over 500 pages of archived articles to our website. • Average readership per print issue in 2011 was 12,000. • Our website had 115,000 visits from people in 116 countries, an increase of 30% from the previous year. We had 68,000 unique visitors, a 27% increase from 2010. • Several new features were added to our website including photo galleries featuring the activities of FPMT centers, projects and services around the world. • FPMT's, Lama Zopa Rinpoche's and Mandala's Facebook and Twitter Accounts kept the international FPMT community informed and inspired through daily updates, videos, news and topical articles and we saw an average 90% increase in followers and friends from last year! • FPMT now has nine Facebook "causes." Supporters made 257 donations, amounting to US$10,962.77 raised for FPMT Charitable Projects through this effort. • The FPMT YouTube channel has 140 uploaded videos and 967 subscribers, an increase of 544 from last year. • Prayers for the Dead facilitated prayers for 363 individuals who had passed away. Thank you so much for sending Mandala. As a Buddhist follower, it's most valuable and precious to me – I have an opportunity to know about the Mahayana tradition. – DUJ PAIJA, THAILAND, LIBERATION PRISON PROJECT STUDENT 21 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:33 AM Page 22 CHERISHING LIFE DONOR SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT 2011 HIGHLIGHTS DONOR SERVICES 2011 INTERNATIONAL MERIT BOX GRANT RECIPIENTS (USD) Serving our generous donors kindly and in a timely manner is an utmost priority for FPMT International Office. Editions Vajra Yogini Publishing Steps of the Path to Enlightenment, Volume One by Geshe Lhundup Sopa in French $ 5,000 Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom Art and Ethics, a program for young people $ 5,000 FPMT Education Services Publishing Service as a Path to $ 4,000 Enlightenment and Lama Chöpa Jorchö FPMT International Office Most Secret Hayagriva Statue $ 1,684 FPMT Puja Fund Ongoing Pujas for FPMT $12,000 The International Merit Box Project enables students to support the activities of the organization and help Lama Zopa Rinpoche fund beneficial projects through their daily practice of generosity. The success of the Merit Box Project is reason for great rejoicing and a true testament to the collective generosity of the FPMT community. Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa Masters Program $ 5,000 Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive Big Love (Lama Yeshe's biography) $ 3,000 Land of Calm Abiding Retreatant Support $ 4,200 Maitripa College Library Development $ 5,000 • The International Merit Box Project distributed US$78,200 to 17 centers or projects. Milarepa Center Stupa Ornamentation $ 3,000 Mandala Publications Magazine Subscriptions for Prisoners $ 4,200 Online Learning Center Fund Video Teachings Development $ 2,000 Osel Education Fund Osel's Education $10,500 • We upgraded our donor management database which now offers better functionality to our donors including the ability to access a Supporter Center allowing donors to see their donation history and update their contact details. Additionally, we now have our donation forms integrated with our donor database and we can do better, more detailed customized thanking for donations to our charitable projects. INTERNATIONAL MERIT BOX PROJECT Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth Online HABITS Program Repaying the Kindness, a project Meditation for Carers Program of Jamyang Buddhist Centre 22 $ 3,500 $ 5,000 Vajrapani Institute Lama Yeshe Statue $ 5,000 Ven. Freeman Trebilcock New Youth Program Research $ 2,316 Total Disbursements $78,200 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:33 AM Page 23 THE EXTENSIVE BENEFITS OF BODHICHITTA, WHICH ARE LIKE THE SKY AND THE DEPTHLESS FRIENDS OF FPMT The primary purpose of Friends of FPMT is to connect and inspire the global FPMT community and preserve the FPMT lineage in comprehensive ways: through providing individuals with the FPMT International Office News, Mandala Publications, and the FPMT Online Learning Center. OCEAN, ARE ALSO THE BENEFITS OF GENERATING GREAT The Friends of FPMT program offers a free level and discounts to ordained Sangha as well as Friends living in countries with low to medium level currency exchange rates. • During 2011 we welcomed or continued to support 1,934 Friends worldwide, an increase of 179 from last year. • Friends of FPMT raised US$232,884, an increase of US$38,939 from last year. This revenue is critical for supporting FPMT International Office's efforts to coordinate communication between Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the organization, as well as provide support and services to the entire Foundation. WORK A DAY FOR RINPOCHE Work a Day for Rinpoche allows all those who are inspired by Rinpoche's activities to spend one day in full support of his compassionate contributions to the world. On a merit increasing day of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, students dedicate their work and a day's salary (or more) to this project. • People from 42 countries worked a day for Rinpoche on Saka Dawa, contributing US$59,407 to this fund, an increase of US$5,593 from last year. WORK A DAY for RINPOCHE "Thank you so much for the award of a $5,000 grant to the Maitripa College Research Library. Your support of this project will ensure that we have the funds to continue to develop this most precious project." – NAMDROL MIRANDA ADAMS, MAITRIPA COLLEGE, PORTLAND, USA COMPASSION FOR ALL SENTIENT BEINGS. WITHOUT GREAT COMPASSION THERE IS NO WAY ACHIEVE BODHICHITTA, WHICH HAS LIMITLESS BENEFITS. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT COMPASSION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRACTICE IN LIFE. – LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE* 23 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 FPMT 2011: 3/15/12 9:33 AM Page 24 CHERISHING LIFE FISCAL YEAR 2011 The CFO and Director of Finance of FPMT International Office are responsible for managing and supervising the finances of FPMT Inc. as directed by its Board of Directors1. Finances are divided between general (unrestricted) funds, and funds earmarked for certain projects (restricted) funds. Restricted Funds are further divided into Charitable Projects and Fiscal Sponsorship2 funds and Restricted Designated3 funds. The following charts give an overview of the income and disbursements for 2011. $"## 3:.;66.666 3:.666.666 39.;66.666 39.666.666 38.;66.666 38.666.666 37.;66.666 37.666.666 3;66.666 36 %# &! 1 #% #!%$ ! 37.878.89< 3:.6>9.6<= $%#%$ % ( $ 38.7:>.9:9 +" $$ 37.6;;.:89 3:.7;8.>88 38.<=6.<>6 *Excludes exceptional items 1 FPMT Inc. is the legal entity of FPMT International Office. The terms FPMT Inc. and International Office are interchangeable. In practical terms, this is Lama Zopa Rinpoche's office, therefore whenever FPMT Inc. or International Office is mentioned, the guidance of our Spiritual Director is implicit. 2 FPMT Charitable Projects and Fiscal Sponsorship Projects include all the Charitable Projects of the FPMT as well as Restricted Designated funds with Fiscal Sponsorship agreements in place. These are listed on our website as well as certain other charitable projects as directed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Board of the Directors. 3 Restricted Designated funds are funds which are received on behalf of and held in trust for certain affiliates mainly based in India and Nepal. As such funds are under the control and direction of foreign affiliates, any donations originating in the U.S. for these funds are not tax deductible. 24 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:33 AM Page 25 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS INCOME AND EXPENSES – 2011 Unrestricted funds have no donor-imposed restrictions, and therefore can be used to fulfill the varying needs of the organization. The following charts give a summary of FPMT's unrestricted income and expenses in 2011. The primary sources of income for FPMT were fundraising, general donations, and revenue produced from Mandala magazine (including Friends of FPMT program) and the Foundation Store. The primary expenses were the management costs of the International Office, where each department is responsible for helping carry out the charitable mission of FPMT and its projects. These departments include Education Services, Center Services, Development, The Foundation Store, Mandala, Information Services, and Administration4. FPMT INC. – 2011 UNRESTRICTED INCOME UNRESTRICTED FUNDS INCOME FY 2011 (USD) Income Administrative Income $ 353,917 Foundation Store Gross Profit $ 242,772 Fundraising and Donation Income $ 222,846 Mandala/Friends Gross Profit $ 230,671 Investment Income & Movements5 $ 81,956 Income transferred from Restricted Funds $ 63,628 Other Income $ 17,624 Total Income BI DI +#&'##$#)$# #$" #!5&#'&$''&$( >FI ?=I >EI $1,213,415 BI "#'(&),$'(' AI $ 404,284 Education $ 171,557 Portland Building $ 170,003 Foundation Store $ 168,557 Development $ 165,434 Information Services $ 125,021 Center Services $ 63,248 Lama Zopa Rinpoche's CA Office $ 48,948 Total Expenses $1,317,053 4 #,'("#( #$": $,"#(' #$"(&#'&&&$" '(&(+#' (& #$" FPMT INC. – 2011 UNRESTRICTED EXPENSES Expenses6 Administrative Costs "#'(&), #$" ?FI $+#)$#($&&$''&$( UNRESTRICTED FUNDS EXPENSES FY 2011 (USD) ?I +)$# FI @>I $&(!#+!# $+#)$#($& >?I ,!$%"#( #$&")$#&,' >@I >@I >@I #(&&,' "$%#%$9' A description of these departments can be seen on the website at: http://www.fpmt.org/organization/descriptions.asp 5 Investment income includes any gains or losses in the value of investments during the year. FPMT Inc. has adopted SFAS No. 124, Accounting for Certain Investments held by Not-for-Profit Organizations. Under SFAS No. 124, investments in marketable securities with readily determinable fair values and all investments in debt securities are reported at their fair values in the statement of financial position. Unrealized gains and losses are included in the change in net assets. 6 These expenses exclude exceptional items and are subject to adjustments (such as interfund offsets) during our annual audit, by Respess and Respess, PC. 25 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:33 AM Page 26 FPMT'S CHARITABLE PROJECTS AND FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROJECTS – 2011 The following charts show the direct disbursements for 2011 to FPMT's Charitable Projects. Details of Direct Disbursements to FPMT Charitable Projects7 In US Dollars LZR Other Projects* 2011 KZR Misc Funds $1,107,233 Padmasambhava Project for Peace $ 576,442 Sera Food fund $ 305,924 FPMT Puja Fund $ 104,379 FPMT Mongolia $ Merit Box Fund $ 87,125 HHDL Long Life Puja $ 61,810 Tsum Project $ 61,225 " !! #!$"%"" #! ! #") 97,102 Work A Day Project $ Other Charitable Projects: $ 354,893 59,407 LRCM Lam Rim Chen Mo $ 50,434 Animal Liberation Aptos $ 41,139 KZR Long Life Puja $ 35,552 Lama Tsong Khapa Fund $ 30,138 Prajnaparamita & Sanghata Sutra Writing $ 27,981 Education Scholarship and Projects Funds $ 25,225 Lama Osel Support $ 25,077 Prayers for Dead $ 20,687 Nagarjuna Statue in Bodhgaya $ 19,122 Translations Fund $ 18,853 Maitreya Statue Project $ 16,792 Online Learning $ 9,989 Lhasa Project $ 9,317 Lama Yeshe Sangha Fund $ 7,766 Animal Liberation Sanctuary Nepal $ 1,171 Mani Wheel Fund $ 410 Sakya Initiations $ 362 TOTAL DISBURSED TO CHARITABLE PROJECTS The total amount disbursed was $4,152,822. $1,337,281 "$" *2 +2 ,2 *2 /2 ,+2 +2 +2 "% ! # ! ! $ $$ .2 !# &$ $ *-2 +.2 "$ ! # !' ! # #!!# ! #"( $4,152,822 *Such as donations to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holines Sakya Trizen, Domo Geshe Labrang, Tsangpa Khantsen, Lawudo Retreat Center, Atisha Centre, Tsum Project, Losang Namgyal Rinpoche's Dharma Activities, Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery, the BhumTsogs in Switzerland, Gaden Shartse, Rinchen Ling Dharma Society, Gaden Lachi University, Drepung Gomang, Sera Thekchenling Lachi Cultural Society, Nalanda Monastery, FPMT International Office, various pujas, support of up to 11 Sangha and ongoing extensive offerings at Rinpoche's house, the repayment of loans, and many more. More details about the disbursements of Charitable Project Income can be found in the financial performance section of this report. 7 26 Direct Disbursements do not include administrative fees, project management fees, and credit card fees. FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/8/13 3:45 PM Page 27 FPMT INTERNATIONAL OFFICE STAFF EXECUTIVE OFFICE Ven. Roger Kunsang, President and Chief Executive Officer Ven. Holly Ansett, Executive Assistant to the CEO Eamon Walsh, Chief Financial Officer George Williams, Director of Operations FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Sarah Pool, Director of Finance Chuck Latimer, Human Resources, Administration, and Development Ugyen Shola, Administrator, Office Manager CENTER SERVICES Claire Isitt, Director EDUCATION SERVICES Tom Truty, Education Services Coordinator Merry Colony, Education Consultant Sarah Shifferd, Editor and Materials Olga Planken, Masters and Basic Program Consultant Kendall Magnussen, Light of the Path Online Development FOUNDATION STORE Diana Ospina, Manager Samten Gorab, Order Fulfillment and Customer Service MANDALA PUBLICATIONS Laura Miller, Managing Editor and Publisher Carina Rumrill, Editor Michael Jolliffe, Assistant Editor, Advertising and Sales DONOR SERVICES Heather Drollinger, Donor Services Coordinator FPMT International Office is Lama Zopa Rinpoche's office. TECHNOLOGY Brad Ackroyd, Information Technology Manager Adam Payne, Web Developer *The ten quotes about compassion found throughout this Annual Review, collectively called, "Compassion is of the Utmost Need" were composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, August 11, 2011. Scribed by Ven. Holly Ansett, edited by Nick Ribush. 27 FPMT Annual Report 2011 j:Layout 1 3/15/12 9:33 AM Page 28 THANK YOU! FPMT International Office offers our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all FPMT centers, projects, services, teachers, students, volunteers and benefactors who supported us in 2011. Your kindness helps provide the tools and resources we need to help carry forth Lama Zopa Rinpoche's wishes. All of our accomplishments are yours as well, so please rejoice along with us! We would like to recognize and deeply thank our very kind volunteers who gave their time and enthusiasm in 2011: Ven. Nerea Basurto, Ven. Tenzin Chonyi, Ven. Choekyi, Nathalie Cornu, Darima Daribazaron, Ven. Tenzin Ngeunga, Leah Chevalier, Zenobia Chevalier, Denis Davis, Tsultrim Davis, Emily Hsu, Heather Jensen, Daniel Lebedies, Max Leiber, Kate Macdonald, Gwen McEwen, Louise Miller, Marilena Molinaro, Nga Nguyen, Mary Oberdorf, Sharon Overbey, Tubten Pende, Tom Truty, Thubten Yeshe, all of our regional and national coordinators and all of the Sangha and volunteers who help at Lama Zopa Rinpoche's house as well as all the doctors and local students who directly helped in Australia after Rinpoche's stroke. Dedications at the pujas sponsored by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the great monasteries throughout the year are made especially for purifying obstacles and creating merit for Dharma activity to flourish in FPMT as well as for all students, supporters and FPMT friends who are ill or have died, and for all those who have worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much to benefit the organization in different ways. HOW YOU CAN HELP There are limitless opportunities to offer support to FPMT. From volunteering or taking teachings at your local FPMT center, to making a contribution to our charitable projects, to enrolling in our Friends of FPMT program, to participating in one of our education programs, to offering prayers and good wishes, your support and good heart allows us to continue our work. May 2012 usher in an era of peace and loving kindness in your home, your country and the world. FPMT INC. 1632 SE 11th AVE. PORTLAND, OR 97214-4702 USA TEL: 1 (503) 808-1588 FAX: 1 (503) 232-0557 www.fpmt.org


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Photo by Cookbook cover image courtesy of Random House
YIELD: Serves 4 to 6
- 1 1/4 pounds golden beets, trimmed and rinsed
- 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon whole-grain or Dijon mustard
- 1 ounce spinach leaves or baby spinach, sliced (about 1 cup)
- 3 tablespoons toasted walnuts
- 1 ounce blue cheese, crumbled (1/4 cup)
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Place the beets in a roasting pan and add water to a depth of 1/2 inch. Cover the pan with foil and bake until the beets are easily pierced with a fork, about 1 1/2 hours. Set the beets aside until they are cool enough to handle. Peel and rinse off any pieces of skin. Slice the beets into 1/2-inch-thick rounds, and then cut them into 1/4-inch-thick sticks. Let the beets cool to room temperature.
Toss the beets with the rice vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add the olive oil and mustard and toss with the spinach. Garnish with the toasted walnuts and crumbled blue cheese.
Make Ahead: You can roast the beets up to 3 days in advance; toss them just before serving.
Per serving: 160.0 calories, 80.0 calories from fat, 9.0g total fat, 2.0g saturated fat, 5.0mg cholesterol, 510.0mg sodium, 15.0g total carbs, 5.0g dietary fiber, 10.0g sugars, 5.0g protein
Nutritional analysis provided by TasteBook, using the USDA Nutrition Database
Reprinted with permission from Pure Flavor: 125 Fresh All-American Recipes from the Pacific Northwest by Kurt Beecher Dammeier with Laura Holmes Haddad. Copyright © 2007 by Kurt Beecher Dammeier and Laura Holmes Haddad. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.
Kurt Beecher Dammeier is an entrepreneur and self-taught cook. Since opening Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Seattle in 2003, Dammeier has quickly become known as an American cheese industry expert. In addition to Beecher's, he owns four Pasta & Co gourmet retail shops and Bennett's Pure Food Bistro on Mercer Island, Washington, where he lives with his wife and their three sons. Visit these establishments online at www. beechershandmadecheese.com, www.pastaco.com, and www.bennettsbistro.com.
Laura Holmes Haddad, a former caterer and cookbook editor, is a freelance food and wine writer. You can visit her at www.gourmetgrrl.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Damir Doma continues his exploration of volume and fluidity.
This lightweight wool bomber is designed with a shawl attached that tucks away when you zip up. On the pant, also in lightweight wool, there are two inverted pleats which gives a soft fullness.
1 Comment | Permalink | Posted in Adiciannoveventitre, Damir Doma


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Precast homes
Jul 04 2012
To achieve the target of providing housing for all in India, and keeping in mind the ever-increasing input cost of labour and material, precast technology may be a feasible model
Sumit Rakshit, executive director – India, corporate occupier and investor services, Cushman & Wakefield, says the precast technology is a quick answer to India's problems. "Labour and material have increased by 20 per cent since 2010, and this technology being cost-effective, is the final answer to the lingering problem. Also, due to the widening demand-supply gap, there is a need for more homes in a short span of time, which can be possible with the use of this method."
Since the parts for building are made in a factory, the quality of the product is better monitored, and thus, this technology helps in maintaining efficient quality, health and safety standard control. This kind of construction is also independent of weather conditions.
Rakshit estimates the number of man-hour gets reduced by 50-60 per cent through this technology. For example, if a building would take one year to complete through conventional brick-and-mortar method, you can finish the same building in five to six months.
In India, the hybrid precast or prefabricated technology is under implementation. This means that the base of the building is constructed onsite, and the elements such as columns, beams, windows, walls and staircases, among others, are ferried from the factory situated in a remote location, and are installed onsite to complete the structure.
Rajendra Pate, director, Amit Enterprises Housing, which has been using alu-form (precast of aluminium) technology in three of its projects — Astonia Royale in Ambegaon and Amit's Sereno at Baner in Pune and at Eka in Nashik also finds this technology accurate, highly consistent and resilient.
"Moreover, the use of this construction technology vastly reduces the chance of on-site mishaps, making it one of the safest systems for building construction available at present," Pate justifies.
According to Prem Kumar, president of Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Development Association, residential projects still depend on the use of brick and cement for walls and others structures. Prefab will be the next wave to hit the construction industry, which is grappling with shortage of labour and skilled manpower, but as of now, it has not taken off in a big way. There are cases where builders have used 'shuttering' technology for faster completion of technology. In this, unlike in prefab technology where the structures are made at a different site, the structures to be assembled are made at the construction site itself.
"Shuttering achieves faster turnaround time compared to conventional construction, but still cannot be equated to prefab technology," he says.
Commercial projects are seeing a lot of prefab structures, mainly of glass and steel.
However, M Karthik, director of Chennai-based VME Precast, sees the initial capital cost of opting for pre-cast method for construction to be high, as against conventional way of constructing a building. "There is a feeling that precast is costlier, but most developers do not look at the tangible benefits in terms of time saved and high consistent quality delivered with the finished product. As a result, this remains not so popular despite the major advantages."
VME Precast has set up a facility with a capacity to make 10,000 sq ft of finished product, at Oragadam industrial belt near Chennai with technology support from Vabe, Finland. Explaining the benefits of this technology, Kartik says, "In large commercial buildings, this method can save up to 40 per cent of the energy costs. In the case of residential buildings, homebuyers will get a larger carpet area, since precast walls are thinner, compared with conventional brick walls, but at the same time of very high quality," Karthik adds.
Globally, in most developed countries, precast is considered as a green and environmentally-friendly product. Hence, it is exempted from various taxes in most markets. However, in Tamil Nadu, precast makers end up paying an excise duty of 12.36 per cent and value added tax (VAT) of 14.5 per cent. This leads to higher cost of the end product. "In Chennai, at present, precast is more put in use for commercial buildings like offices, hotels and factories than in residential buildings," says Karthik.
Rishi Jain, director, Jain Group, a real estate developer headquartered in Kolkata, thinks the use of this technology mainly in affordable or low-cost housing projects is due to the lack of skilled labour and manpower. The lack of awareness, especially among the contractors and construction segments, is also a contributory factor.
Noida-based Supertech claims to have introduced pre-cast concrete technology for the first time in India, and is coming up with a factory in Greater Noida with a production capacity of five million sq ft per annum. The company has set up two separate units — one for hollow slab and the other for precast wall panels.
RK Arora, chairman and MD of Supertech, said the new technology would help continue the hindrance-free construction work in any season. "Also, the quality is better in comparison with regular brick-and-mortar. Structures made up with such technology do not need plastering because it makes the surface very smooth which requires very less maintenance."
According to Rakshit of Cushman, this technology can only be used for building repetitive structures, which are in a format of, say for instance, ground-plus-three, and has less utility in luxury housing segment due to the quality of finishing involved.
"Precast technology is not preferred for building iconic structures or high-end housing projects. Keeping aside a handful of developers like BG Shirke in Mumbai (who have used the precast technology for buildings with up to 20 storeys), this technology is not preferred for high-rise buildings. If a middle income group (MIG) township is being built where all the houses have same look with same room sizes, this technology can work out to be handy," he adds.
As per the industry figures, precast technology is growing at 10 per cent year-on-year growth over the past five years, compared with overall 20 per cent growth in construction industry. Total volume of the construction industry is about Rs 35,00,000 crore, of which, only 0.5 per cent or Rs 17,500 crore is the volume of construction, including infrastructure projects and real estate. The market size of precast industry is Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 1,500 crore of infrastructure, Rs 500 crore of residential projects).
"To reach from a figure of Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 17,500 crore, the mindset of engineers should change, and real estate planners should recommend this technology to the end-users," Rakshit adds. It looks a long winding road, though.
For realising the dream of providing a whopping 27 million housing units for all in India, and keeping in mind the ever-increasing input cost of labour and material in the construction industry, pre-cast technology may be a feasible model.
(With inputs from D Govardan in Chennai, Ritwik Mukherjee in Kolkata and B Krishna Mohan in Hyderabad)


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Sena offers leather cases for MacBook Air
updated 05:10 pm EDT, Tue June 3, 2008
Sena cases
Sena Cases has announced four new slim designer notebook cases made specifically for the MacBook Air. Styles include the patent-pending Pullino Designer Case for the MacBook Air and the LeatherSkin Case which offers an ultra-slim design, and allows the device to be fully functional without removing the notebook from the case. All the cases are designed from Italian Napa Leather. The Senna Pullino Designer Case for the MacBook Air features pull-out strap for easy release of the MacBook Air and includes velvet lining to protect the device from scratches and damage. It's priced at $240.
The Sena LeatherSkin Case for the MacBook Air features a mesh material, allowing the notebook to breathe during use. It also has a thin, leather-soft layer of "skin" to gently protect the device from scratches without extra bulk. The case is priced at $150. The Sena Executive Sleeve for the MacBook Air also has a velvet lining and is priced at $200.
The Sena MacBook Air Sleeve offers a zipper closure that hugs the notebook and is constructed with hand-stitched threading.It's priced at $180.


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Moschino Toujours glamour Eau De Toilette 30ml
Item No.1174309010
Item No.1174309010
50% Off - Save a total of £14.75
Moschino's new Toujours Glamour eau de toilette is a breath of freshness that kisses your skin and reveals your deepest desires. Its alluring fragrance is the vivid expression of contemporary femininity. It is the new key that unlocks the secret door to the extraordinary world of Moschino, where reality borders fantasy. This daring debut from Moschino strikes the senses with sparkling red berries and a twist of violet leaves, underlined with an unexpected but fascinating note of cardamom. The heart of the fragrance blooms and enchants thanks to its unique and beaming femininity accentuated by a harmonious exuberance of jasmine and the gentle and delicate shades of muguet, made precious by a bitter almond touch. The refined alchemy is sealed by the smooth sensuality of benzoin, wrapped in heliotrope notes and dissolved into a caressing whisp of musk.
£49.17 per 100ml
UK Home Delivery Free (UK orders over £30) or £3.49
Delivered within 5 working days
Next or Named Day Delivery
7 days a week between 8am - 6pm
Sunday to Friday - order by 9pm - £3.99
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Collect from store the next day - FREE
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Subject to exceptions, Debenhams is happy to exchange or refund your purchase within 28 days of delivery. Please check here for more details on our returns policy and exceptions.


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- WND - http://www.wnd.com -
Media ignores doc who killed babies with bare hands
Posted By -NO AUTHOR- On 05/16/2013 @ 6:24 pm In Health,U.S. | No Comments
(Life News) The name Kermit Gosnell has become familiar to most Americans because of the gruesome abortions and infanticides that resulted a jury finding him guilty on three counts of first-degree murder. The mainstream media either ignored Gosnell's murder trial or barely reported on it.
This week, LifeNews exposed a second Kermit Gosnell — Douglas Karpen — who, like the Philadelphia-based abortion practitioner, is also killing babies born alive after botched abortions. Unlike Gosnell, who killed babies by jamming medical scissors into their necks at his Houston abortion clinic, former employees of Karpen testify he goes one shocking step further, he kills the babies wit his bare hands by twisting their necks execution style.
Thus, far, the mainstream media hasn't touched the Karpen expose' outside of Texas-based news outlets, according to Google and Yahoo News searches.
Article printed from WND: http://www.wnd.com
URL to article: http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/media-ignores-doc-who-killed-babies-with-bare-hands/
Click here to print.
© Copyright 1997-2013. All Rights Reserved. WND.com.


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Houston Rockets v Boston Celtics
Chandler Parsons of the Houston Rockets rebounds against Brandon Bass... NyhetsfotoAmerikanska proffsligan i basket,Basketboll,Boston - Massachusetts,Boston Celtics,Brandon Bass,Chandler Parsons,Horisontell,Houston Rockets - Basketlag,Massachusetts,Sport,Studsa tillbaka,TD Garden,USAPhotographer Brian BabineauCollection: National Basketball Association 2013 NBAEBOSTON, MA - JANUARY 11: Chandler Parsons #25 of the Houston Rockets rebounds against Brandon Bass #30 of the Boston Celtics on January 11, 2013 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)


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This photo is awaiting approval and will be posted soon.
Play our fun game and find out if the one you like likes you back. Confide in us if you think you'd hit it off by clicking: Yes, No, or Maybe. We'll anonymously find out and let you know if the feeling is mutual. You have nothing to lose!
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You've already said Maybe. If you've changed your mind, let us know. If you say Yes, we'll anonymously find out if the feeling is mutual. You have nothing to lose!
You both said YES! The feeling is mutual. Now the rest is up to you! Say Hi and get the conversation started.
Animal lover, wise-cracker, driver of manual transmissions, voracious reader, endless debater, music addict, born caregiver, eternal student, seeker of a partner in crime. Loves: Reading, driving (fast), dancing, sleeping, the soundtrack in my head, finding humor in everything, music (couldn't exist without it), 80s toys, being goofy, coffee/ caffeine, cats (and all other animals), purpose, perfection, Corona, Hello Kitty, good spelling and grammar, urban exploration and abandoned architecture, Hondas, silliness, please and thank you. Strongly dislikes: Cold/snow/ice, incompetent government, liars, waking up, being nagged,aimlessness, suburbia, snobbery, bad drivers, bad tippers, immaturity,stagnatio n, Michigan roads, status quo, assumptions, excessive amounts of free time.
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The Color Code icon tells you that this member has taken the FREE Color Code Personality Test and wants to share his/her results with you. You can read all about their Color Code profile on the new Color Code tab.
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Sometimes it is difficult to choose from the four options given, but there is usually one that fits better than the rest, or at least one that you could see yourself as more so than the others. If you're still unsure, try asking someone who knows you well, such as a parent or sibling. They can give clarity on areas of your personality that you may not notice.


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You can use your BlackBerry Keyboard with Instant Action to quickly perform a number of tasks when you type certain commands on the home screen. You can use home screen shortcuts to make a call, send email or text messages, start a BBM chat, update your Facebook status, post a tweet or a LinkedIn update, find a location in the Maps app, play music, or add notes and tasks to BlackBerry Remember.
Instead of typing an entire command on the home screen, in some instances, you can type an alternative command. Depending on your device language, alternative shortcuts might not be available.
|Alternative shortcuts
|Make a call
|Type the phone number, or type phone or dial, followed by the number.
|Send an email
|Type mail.
|Send a text message
|Type sms, msg, or message.
|Update your Facebook status
|Type fb.
|Post a tweet
|Type tweet or tw.
|Post a LinkedIn update
|Type li.
|Add a note to BlackBerry Remember
|Type memo.
|Add a task to BlackBerry Remember
|Type todo.


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About Toronto
A Prime Location
Toronto is the largest financial centre in Canada and the fourth largest economic centre in North America after New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. A long-established hub for animation production, Toronto is also home to a breadth of professional sports, industry resources, and world class entertainment.
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the studio has developed strong ties with other institutions that call Toronto home, including world-famous animation schools and software companies.
Toronto is a great place to raise children and helps our employees achieve an ideal work-life balance.
Toronto Highlights
- Toronto's theatre district is second in size only to New York City.
- Toronto has 14 beautiful islands protecting its natural harbour. The islands are a unique natural resource, comprised of parklands, nature reserves and protected wetlands.
- North America's largest continuous underground pedestrian system path, connects about 1200 stores and restaurants, 50 office towers, five subway stations, union station, six major hotels and several entertainment centers under Toronto's financial core.
- Toronto's public transit system is the second largest in North America and has the highest per capita ridership rate on the continent.
- Toronto is North America's 5th-largest city after Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
- Over half of Toronto's labour force has a university degree or college diploma.
Helpful Links


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HOME NFL Carolina Panthers Gear Carolina Panthers Ladies Carolina Panthers Ladies Hats (22 items) Product ID: 802452
Main Content
Just like the coaches on the sidelines need to choose the right plays to ensure team victory, you should make the right choice for the proper gear to represent your Carolina pride! Call the right shot and choose this Panthers Cleanup adjustable visor by '47 Brand. This comfortable visor features an embroidered team logo on the crown and an adjustable hook-and-loop strap to ensure a comfortable fit. At the next Panthers game, make sure you make the right call and add this visor to your game day apparel!
- One size fits most
- Quality embroidery
- Team colors and logo
Panthers Customers also liked:
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Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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ROMULUS, Mich. (WJBK) – The Mandy family says they were on their way to the happiest place on earth (Disney), but had to go through hell to get there.
"I realize they're trying to keep people safe, but come on, does he look like a terrorist?" said Dr. David Mandy.
The family was going through security when two TSA agents singled Drew Mandy out for a special pat down. Drew is severely mentally disabled. He's 29, but his parents said he has the mental capacity of a two-year-old,
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To link to this article, copy this persistent link:
(Oct 13, 2010) The federal government of Canada has appealed the September 28, 2010, ruling of a judge of Ontario's Superior Court that struck down as unconstitutional three key provisions of the Criminal Code prohibiting activities related to prostitution. (Janice Tibbets, Ottawa to Appeal Ontario Court's Prostitution Ruling, National Post (Sept. 29, 2010), http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Harper+government+appe
al+Ontario+court+prostitution+ruling/3597378/story.html.) Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told the House of Commons that the government was taking this action because it views prostitution as "a problem that harms individuals and communities." (Id.)
Prostitution itself is not a crime in Canada. However, in her September ruling, Justice Susan Himel found that the three provisions of the federal laws designed to effectively outlaw the activity that were unconstitutional were the ones which generally prohibit: 1) living off the avails of prostitution; 2) keeping a common bawdy house; and 3) communicating in public for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. These provisions are contained in sections 210-213 of the federal Criminal Code. (Criminal Code, R.S.C. ch. C-46, ss. 210-213 (1985), as amended, available at http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/C-46/index.htmln (last visited Oct. 12, 2010).) The Criminal Code is a federal statute that applies throughout Canada, but is enforced by provincial authorities and is reviewable by provincial courts. The reason Justice Himel found that the impugned provisions were unconstitutional was that she believed that they violate the rights to liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof by laws that are not in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. These rights are guaranteed by section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (Constitution Act, 1982, being Part B to the Canada Act, 1982, ch. 11 (U.K.) http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/1.html#anchorbo-ga:l_I-gb:s_7 (last visited Oct. 12, 2010).) Justice Himel found that the current laws make prostitution more dangerous than it otherwise might be by forcing women to work on the streets and depriving them of the opportunity to legally screen clients. She rejected the government's position that the laws should be upheld because prostitution is not only inherently dangerous, but also degrading to women. (Bedard v. Canada, 2010 ONSC 4264, http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2010/2010onsc4264/2010onsc4264.html (last visited Oct. 12, 2010).)
The decision in Bedard v. Canada is scheduled to come into force in Ontario on October 28, 2010, unless the government can show why the criminal provisions should be allowed to remain in force for a longer period of time. In constitutional cases, stays are sometimes granted to allow the government to either appeal a decision or prepare a legislative response. While similar cases are expected to be brought in other provinces, the federal government can also attempt to block the effect of the decision by obtaining a stay from Ontario's Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court of Canada.
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Last updated: 10/13/2010


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Betsy Pickle: Fountain City cupcake queen briefly back on small screen
Kathleen Robinson thought her 15 minutes of fame were probably over.
She and husband Nathan, owners of Scrumps Cupcakes at 106 Hotel Road, were finalists in November on a "Cupcake Wars" episode on the Food Network. They garnered a lot of attention from their appearance, but with television, it's always new season, new faces.
Except that the Food Network included footage of Kathleen in recent commercials for the new season of "Cupcake Wars." She found out that she was back on TV from a customer.
"I (was watching) the other night and happened to see one," she says.
"In the commercial they kind of flip through scenes really quickly, but I come up a couple of times."
The promos show her hard at work making cupcakes, not throwing a tantrum like some contestants on reality shows.
"I didn't have any of those moments on the episode," says Robinson. "My husband and I were the calm, cool and collected ones."
The Robinsons submitted an audition tape, a "casting video," last spring and filmed their episode at the end of July.
"They said they liked our casting video because it really stood out," she says. "My husband and I did a twist on 'Laverne and Shirley.' We had set up our video to make it look like we were going really fast. They liked that.
"I think they liked the fact that we were from an area where they had not had any other contestants. Our episode was about Elvis, so they really liked the fact that we're from Tennessee and, I guess, the fact that I had an accent."
What accent?!
"I'm from Florida, so that made it even funnier," she says. "The other contestants were from New Jersey, Michigan and California, so I did sound like I was from the South."
The Robinsons have been fans of "Cupcake Wars" since its debut.
"We have small children (ages 5, 7 and 9), so there aren't a lot of things that are enjoyable for us and enjoyable for small children," she says. "But they really enjoy watching it. They like to guess who is going to win and say who they think has the best display."
Robinson enjoys the show for the competition.
"You have a very short period of time to come up with something creative," she says. "Everybody that's on there is excellent at what they do, but you can tell the people that crush under the pressure. They just can't handle the pressure and the constant picking in your ear."
Robinson spent seven years teaching business at Carter High School before opening Scrumps in 2011. She says Fountain City and the surrounding communities have been very welcoming. Even moving in near the longtime favorite the Creamery hasn't been a problem.
"We take cupcakes down there to them, and we order food from them all the time," she says. "It's a very pleasant relationship.
"The other day we had a customer come in eating an ice cream cone, getting cupcakes to take home. I was like, 'Great, they bought something from both of us!' "
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