SHANTIDEVA MEDITATION CENTER F P M T N Y C 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW

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1 SHANTIDEVA MEDITATION CENTER F P M T N Y C 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW

2 "The whole point of FPMT is to bring sentient beings to full enlightenment, to the peerless happiness the total cessation of all the obscurations and completion of all the realizations... Lama Zopa Rinpoche performing incense puja at Mt. Taranaki, NZ "When a person has cancer, diabetes or leprosy, but then the person s nose is crooked, they try to fix it with plastic surgery, but that doesn t help cure the cancer, diabetes or leprosy... People spend so much money and time on something really unimportant, such small things, and have no idea at all, no knowledge at all about the suffering of death, sickness and old age. They don t know where this suffering comes from, which is karma and delusions... The root of samsara is the ignorance holding the I as truly existent, as real from its own side, while it is not, while it is totally empty from its own side, from beginningless time..." - LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE FROM THE 2015 FPMT ANNUAL REVIEW

3 Shantideva Meditation Center is dedicated to cultivating wisdom and compassion through the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. We are affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), which follows the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and our spiritual director, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. We aspire to be a wish-fulfilling jewel for the New York City area and all beings everywhere. Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering a mandala to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Jangchub Lamrim teachings in India FPMT is an international organization devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice, and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings.

4 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

5 VISIT BY LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE Shantideva Meditation Center flourished in 2015, with the causes and conditions coming together for many teachings and activities. Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching in New York City - August 2015 This year we fulfilled our dream of hosting Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT s Spiritual Director. For two weeks in August, Rinpoche offered many teachings, an initiation hosted by the ex-kopan monks and nuns,, Guru puja and other events. He also provided invaluable advice to our students and community for the success of the Center so that we may best benefit others. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VISIT ADVICE AND TRANSMISSIONS Lama Zopa Rinpoche with students at Guru Puja - August 2015

6 VISITING TEACHER EVENTS Geshe Thubten Sherab - October 2015 Shantideva Meditation also hosted new visiting teachers Geshe Thubten Sherab, Geshe Jampa Tharchin and Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi, and welcomed back Geshe Ngawang Tenley, Ven. Robina Courtin, Ven. Amy Miller, Ven. Fedor Stracke and Gen Don Handrick. These public talks and teachings addressed various topics (including meditation, the lam-rim, emptiness and compassion) and some incorporated the study of works by great Buddhist masters, like Lama Tsongkhapa and Master Shantideva. We also hosted our first offsite retreat at Garrison Institute in July, providing a peaceful setting for a lam-rim retreat with Ven. Amy Miller. Students with Ven. Robina Courtin - November 2015

7 Students with Ven. Amy Miller in Garrison, NY - July 2015 "At present most education is focused on material things, not on the importance of inner values. This is what we need to change. - HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA "Like molding dough in your hand, you can definitely turn your mind whichever way you want." - LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE Students with Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi - May 2015 Geshe Jampa Tharchin with Tenzin Gelek teaching debate - June 2015

8 PUBLIC TALKS & CULTURAL EVENTS Interdisciplinary perspectives on Buddhism and meditation allow for a rich, integrated education that touches people from various walks of life. Public Talk with Dan Harris of ABC News - December 2015 Shantideva Meditation hosted scholar Andrew Quintman from Yale University on the biographical evolution of Milarepa. We also welcomed Dan Harris of ABC News, who taught about meditation from the secular perspective as a method to increase happiness. Sharing the vibrant artistic heritage of Mahayana Buddhism, Carmen Mensink led a drawing workshop on the hand mudras and their symbolic meanings. We also journeyed on a private tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to explore beautiful treasures from the Himalayas and their significance. Drawing of mudra from workshop with Carmen Mensink - July 2015

9 STUDY PROGAMS Following the curriculum of FPMT, designed with both scholastic rigor and practical applicability: Students with facilitator George Michael Cuesta Shantideva Meditation's "Discovering Buddhism Study Group" finished studying and discussing modules on: - How to Meditate - Presenting the Path - Death and Rebirth - Karma The intermediate-advanced group ("Basic Program") successfully completed its first module on Shantideva s "Guide to the Bodhisattva s Way of Life" and studied the Buddhist tenets of Vaibashika and Sautantrika with Gen Don Handrick. Shantideva Meditation also held "Meditation 101," a series of meditation sessions including instruction, group practice and opportunities to ask questions. Depiction of Manjushri - Bodhisattva of Wisdom

10 PUJAS, PRACTICES & MEDITATIONS To complement the study component of our programming, Shantideva Meditation offered a variety of pujas and practices to help students develop realizations and experience ideal conditions for temporal and ultimate well-being. Crystal offering bowls gifted by Lama Zopa Rinpoche We continued our weekly meditation program, "Becoming Your Own Therapist," to practice concentrationmeditation for greater pliancy and bliss, while incorporating analytical meditations to foster realization and integrate Buddhist teachings into one's personal life experience. Our ongoing puja program continued with Guru Puja, Tara Puja and Medicine Buddha Puja, which are powerful practices to help overcome obstacles, heal deeply, and realize the Lam Rim (graduated path to enlightenment). Practice Day for Extensive Benefit - December 2015

11 Pledge to recite 1 million OM MANI PADME HUM (compassion) mantras, presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama "Even reciting OM MANI PADME HUM one time, the merit is unfathomable." - LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE To accumulate merit (positive potential) and purify negative potential in the mind, we also: - Recited the Golden Light Sutra for World Peace - Recited one million OM MANI PADME HUM mantras as an offering to H.H. Dalai Lama - Practiced advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the Center's success - Recited Ksitigarbha mantras to mitigate the effects of earthquakes - Liberated 2,000 worms from imminent death and performed Animal Liberation practice - Performed a blessing ceremony for the sentient beings of the sea Heaps of offerings of fruit, flowers and sweets made before practice Rehabilitated bird receiving blessings - with Dharma Voices for Animals

12 COMPASSION IN ACTION Off the meditation cushion, our Compassion in Action program helped feed New Yorkers by volunteering with NY Cares and City Harvest. We also took part in the Buddhist Global Relief Walk to Feed the Hungry in November and donated around $2,000 to support the earthquake relief efforts in Nepal. Clean-up at Plumb Beach organized by NYC H2O - September 2015 To promote environmental sustainability, our volunteers participated in Earth Day, an Environmental Initiative Workshop at the Zen Center of NYC and Light the Way, a multi-faith climate festival. We also participated in the historic first Buddhist Conference at the White House, which focused on promoting environmental sustainability and social justice while aiming to increase the representation of Buddhist values in Washington, D.C. Assisting at the City Harvest Mobile Market - March 2015

13 MEDIA & RESOURCES To expand our ability to offer learning resources, especially to those outside of the geographic area, Shantideva Meditation launched a new YouTube channel and blog, and released a series of short videos to offer perspectives and teachings on topics relevant to everyday life for people from all over the world. Feature title - Book of the Month with Wisdom Publications We also continued our collaboration with Wisdom Publications for our Book of the Month program, giving away titles from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Lhundub Sopa and other great masters. Roster of select short video teachings on YouTube

14 DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION Given that the center was founded in 2012 as a small, independently-funded, community-led organization, we have focused on developing structures for financial sustainability while running on a lean budget. Lapis Lazuli mala blessed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at auction Shantideva Meditation held its first fundraising auction, which successfully met our fundraising goal of $8,000. We were grateful to receive help from our wonderful community, as well as larger donors such as the Gere Foundation,, the Disney Corporation and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In continuing our commitment to organizational development with the Buddhist principles of ethics and compassion, we continued to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards of financial management and donated to outside causes in Benefit Auction at Fig. 19 / The Lodge Gallery - October 2015

15 FINANCIAL HEALTH 2015 INCOME Visiting Teacher Events General Operating Donations Classes and Pujas Membership Donations Special Events Community Events Bookstore Other Income $36,494 $8,371 $10,432 $15,982 $12,623 $3,199 $3,117 $232 TOTAL INCOME $90, EXPENSES Programs and Donations Administration Human Resources Special Events Bookstore $43,848 $16,774 $13,585 $5,129 $2,176 TOTAL EXPENSES $81,512

16 DONORS AND MEMBERS Heartfelt thanks to our 2015 donors and members who enabled Shantideva Meditation to thrive. Thank you also to our goods-in-kind donors and auction-item contributors (not listed below). Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi Snehy Gupta & Navtej Nandra Joel Bernardo Jeffrey Caspari Marc Freed Pearl Wong Chenrezig Shakti Augusto Giacoman Sean Tanaka Pamela Sherrid Bonnie Costa Johan Wiberg Leilani-Kali Rivers Mary La Rosa Elisabeth Wassman Keetin Cheung Jan Tilley Damion & Iris Badalamenti Gigi Salomon Laura Mitchell-Woolson Margaret Kim Pattie Hansen Sheila Odessey Charles Freehof Matthew Gausman Robyn Brentano Leslie Alan Miles Neale Marina Matatova Andrew Graves Jiggy Nordzin Robert Colpitts Kathleen Goger Jesse Willard Amanda Sidran Jonathan Krop Roy Mitchell George Michael Cuesta Tricia Clark Victoria Samosvatova Alexandra Silva Tara Baltazar Jay Sautter Guenevere Rodriguez Ricardo Aragon Jennifer Kim David Kittay Desmond Hosford Sheila Richardson Janis and Bob Chilton Orlando Pellot Jaleh Farahani Thomas McGinley Meg Sweetland Baker Debra Thornburg Hailey Aldren Leslie Sawyer Marianne Richter Rachana Bhatia Ying Yu Ladha Jane Seidlitz Michael Wick Carol Sussal John Sutton Steven Bernhaut Olga Dobroskok Charlotte Lowson Kimberly Brown Doreen O'Sullivan Mountaha Ayoub Andrii Slabinskyi Birgit Matzerath Megan O'Leary Stacey Polacco Michael Pafford Joshua Builder Wendy vanden Heuvel Arnaud Berger Lauren Coleman Andrew Spreitzer Peggy Shannon John Holloway Georges Piette Diane del Pozo Janna Weiss Nazareno Fontanilla Loren Kantor Patricia Crain Catherine De Long Steven Bernhaut & Vijay Sharmapuri Aniko Muriglan Emma Cobb Jed Aicher Marcus Keyzer Mary Cotta Michael Shorr Kaia Fischer Marianna Janicelli Rebecca Smith Eleanor Nettleton Lynne Sonenberg James Jones Samuel Go Elizabeth Murphy Matthew Breit Josephine Lee Peggy Brim Bewkes Agnese Bisofa Elena Andres Rohan Dowe

17 "In giving we not only find wealth while in cyclic existence, but we achieve the zenith of prosperity in supreme enlightenment." - HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA "Charity of Dharma [is] the highest form of giving." - LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE

18 STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS Director: Jennifer Kim Spiritual Program Coordinator: Arnaud Berger Communications & Events Manager: Bonnie Costa BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS: Ven. Lhundub Chodron (Treasurer) Arnaud Berger George Michael Cuesta Jennifer Kim (President) Leilani-Kali Rivers (Secretary) 2015 INTRODUCTORY CLASS & PUJA FACILITATORS: Discovering Buddhism Study Group: Weekly Meditations: Basic Program: Pujas: Gustavo Cutz George Michael Cuesta, Arnaud Berger, Lauren Coleman, Bonnie Costa & Jennifer Kim Arnaud Berger George Michael Cuesta & Jennifer Kim Bookkeeper: Registration Manager: Registration Volunteers: Membership Manager: 2015 VOLUNTEER STAFF Meg Sweetland-Baker Desmond Hosford Gigi Salomon, Jane Bosveld, Michael Benjamin, Tricia Clark, Charlotte Lowson, Birgit Matzerath & Michael Pafford Desmond Hosford Audio/Visual Managers: Audio/Visual Volunteers: Video Production Manager: Steve Utzig & Josh Builder Dana McCurdy & Michael Pafford Edward Sczudlo

19 STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS - CONT VOLUNTEER STAFF - CONTINUED Compassion in Action Managers: Animal Liberation Manager: Environmental Stewardship Manager: Book of the Month Manager: Communications Volunteers: Sacred Space Setup Manager: Sacred Space Setup Volunteers: Hospitality Volunteers: Photography Volunteers: Sangha Care Volunteers: Space Setup Volunteers: Bonnie Costa & Desmond Hosford Desmond Hosford Lauren Coleman Damion Badalamenti Tara Baltazar (Blog and Special Projects) Desmond Hosford (Copy Editing) Lana Popovic (Web - Visiting Teachers) Lauren Coleman Desmond Hosford & Gigi Salomon Snehy Gupta & Tricia Clark (Sponsors), Ann Marie Witzel, Ricardo Aragon & Jane Bosveld Edward Sczudlo, Gigi Salomon & Claus Eggers George Michael Cuesta, Tara Baltazar & Desmond Hosford Damion Badalamenti, Jane Bosveld, Desmond Hosford, Gail Pickett, Lana Popovic & Gigi Salomon Many thanks to those kind beings who have also volunteered for our events, classes and our auction in various capacities.

20 TEAMWORK MADE IT HAPPEN

21 Students with Ven. Robina Courtin at the conclusion of teachings - November 2016 "Sometimes you feel that your dreams are impossible, but they re not. Human beings have great potential; they can do anything. The power of the mind is incredible, limitless." - LAMA THUBTEN YESHE Lama Zopa Rinpoche welcomed by Dr. Robert Thurman - August 2015 Students listening to Dharma - November 2015

22 Due to these merits, may all sentient beings be free from suffering and achieve temporal happiness and enlightenment. May our compassionate teachers remain for a very long time and continue to turn the wheel of Dharma for the benefit of all beings. May all the students, friends and benefactors of Shantideva Meditation Center and FPMT enjoy long, healthy lives and realize the path to enlightenment in their own minds as quickly as possible. May we all become an antidote to war, torture and sickness and to all physical and mental problems. Through education of the good heart, may all beings practice kindness, forgiveness, wisdom, patience, tolerance, humility and delight. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Inspiration and Guide of FPMT May there be no war, famine, disease, quarreling or unhappy minds. May there be great prosperity and may everyone enjoy the happiness of Dharma. Lama Thubten Yeshe Founder of FPMT "For as long as space remains, For as long as sentient beings remain, Until then may I too remain To dispel the miseries of the world." - SHANTIDEVA Lama Zopa Rinpoche Spiritual Director of FPMT