Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition

The FPMT is an international, non-profit organization, founded in 1975 by Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935-84), a Tibetan Buddhist monk. The Foundation is devoted to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation, and community service.

Lama Yeshe, Founder of the FPMT

We provide integrated education through which people's minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founder Lama Thubten Yeshe and spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Every living being has the potential to be free from suffering and to develop limitless love and compassion for others. Working to help human beings fulfill this potential are the FPMT meditation, retreat and study centres, monasteries, publishing houses, businesses and students. The FPMT strives to follow the example and inspiration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his compassionate service to humanity.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of FPMT

Since 1984 when his Guru Lama Yeshe passed away Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been the Spiritual Director of the FPMT and oversees all of its activities. There are now 156 centres, projects and services in 36 countries worldwide which are under the spiritual direction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT.

FPMT students try to serve others throughout the world with kindness and wisdom. It is a rapidly growing non-profit organization participating in many aspects of the world community. Some of the projects which are affiliated with FPMT are:

• Monasteries and nunneries in 6 countries
• Liberation Prison Project
• Leprosy Clinics
• Polio Clinics
• Health and Nutrition Clinics
• Meditation Centres in 36 Countries
• Hospices
• Building the world's largest statue: a 500ft/152m statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, by the Maitreya Project in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Publishing houses
• Essential Education Schools