Tushita's co-founder and Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, had a small stroke on the 23rd of April 2011 while leading a retreat in Bendigo, Australia. Rinpoche's main attendant, Venerable Roger Kunsang, sent us the following initial message.

"Medical staff have confirmed that Rinpoche has had a stroke and temporally lost some of the movement of his right side and his speech is impaired. The hospital have requested that Rinpoche stay for a few days to observe and monitor him to ensure there are no further complications. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been informed of Rinpoche’s situation and high Lamas close to Rinpoche are doing pujas as well as Kopan Monastery. Apart from Rinpoche’s right side and speech being affected, Rinpoche seems in good humor and is doing his prayers in the hospital (altar is set up with prayer wheel, thanka and texts)."

On the 25th of April, Ven Roger added this update: "Yesterday's CAT scan showed no bleeding or clot in the brain. There will be another scan to confirm that. Possibly Rinpoche will be able to leave the hospital tomorrow if doctors say ok. Rinpoche's right arm and leg have lost some use, speech is slurred making it difficult to understand him, but this part got a little better today. Doctors say Rinpoche will need intensive therapy for His right side and speech ... Hopefully to regain all or most use back. This can take several months but difficult to say."

You can see updates about Rinpoche's health here:
http://www.fpmt.org/announcements.html

This is the advice for practices that can be done, as advised by Khandro-la and Choden Rinpoche:

1. Medicine Buddha puja ... with extensive offerings.
2. 4 Mandala offering to Tara ... as many as possible.
3. Most Secret Hayagriva mantra as much as possible

In accordance with this advice, Tushita will be holding various Pujas and practice sessions which anyone is welcome to attend. White Tara recitations (1pm) and evening Medicine Buddha Pujas (7pm) will continue daily throughout this week.

You can see pictures from the Medicine Buddha Puja held in order to make prayers for the speedy recovery and long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, on Sunday April 25th 2011 here. Those attending were Tushita staff & volunteers, students on the current Intermediate Level course and members of the local expat community. We were really amazed at the response from those down in town - about 30 people responded to the call and climbed up the hill at night for this Puja to show their love and support for Lama Zopa, including Nuns from Thosamling Institute, an non-FPMT Nunnery on the Plains. So in total, almost 50 people were in attendance.

The Puja was led by Ondy Willson, a student of Lama Zopa's for over 30 years, and despite the difficult circumstances that initiated the Puja, under her direction it was very moving - even joyful!

In addition to this Puja, we also held a lunchtime White Tara recitation open to all students and visitors, the 60 members of the current Introduction to Buddhism course were informed of the situation and many joined a session of Green Tara Mantra recitation, and the Tibetan Monks resident here held their own Green Tara practices at the same time as the Medicine Buddha Puja.

We hope that you'll be able to join us for one of our Pujas or Practices, see our calendar of events for specific times.

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