FPMT International Office Department Name Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund Directly supporting the Great Gelug Masters and Scholars and Preserving the Mahayana Tradition

FPMT International Office Department Name Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund At the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund was established in 1997 by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to support current masters within the tradition The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund supports annually up to 150 senior teachers, such as the current Abbots, past Abbots, the Ganden Tripa as well as the most senior teachers of the monasteries, by offering a small monthly stipend The examination board for 2009 Gelugpa exam

FPMT International Office Department Name The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund has 3 main activities Supporting the most senior teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition Supporting the annual Gelugpa exam Supporting the annual winter debate Monks debating as part of the Gelugpa exam

FPMT International Office Department Name Supporting the Teachers Offering a small monthly stipend to 150 of the main teachers of the 8 great monasteries of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition The amount offered ranges from US$10 to $30 a month This small offering supports the basic needs of the current Abbots, past Abbots and main teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition, including the Ganden Tripa Offering to current Abbott of Sera Je Monastery

FPMT International Office Department Name Supporting the Annual Gelugpa Exam Each year the foremost scholars from Sera, Ganden, Drepung, Gyume, Gyuto, Tashi Lhunpo and Rato monasteries come together for the annual Gelugpa exam The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund covers the basic expenses, such as food and travel expenses, for over 600 monks from Sera Je who participate in the annual Gelugpa exam Monks taking the annual Gelugpa Exam in 2009

FPMT International Office Department Name Supporting the Traditional Winter Debate The annual winter debate dates back to the time of Lama Tsongkhapa and continued each year until 1959 In 1981 the present and former Abbots of the 3 great monasteries met to revive the annual winter debate, but due to costs were only able to sponsor about 200 monks In 2008 FPMT undertook the responsibility to cover all the annual costs for 400 monks of Sera Je monastery to attend the debate In 2009 over 600 monks of Sera Je were able to attend the annual winter debate Offering of food to monks attending the annual winter debate

FPMT International Office Department Name Monks during the annual winter debate “The continuity and spread of Buddhadharma throughout the world depends upon highly qualified teachers. The three great monasteries are the only place in the world where the entire, complete teachings of the Buddha are studied and practiced with deep logic.” -Lama Zopa Rinpoche

FPMT International Office Department Name Annual cost of Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund Supporting the most senior teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition: $19,710 Supporting the annual Gelugpa exam: $8,850 Supporting the annual winter debate: $18,230 TOTAL ANNUAL COST- $46,790 The Amdo Eye Center July 2010

FPMT International Office Department Name The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is a vital initiative for keeping the pure unstained teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa alive and is critical to FPMT’s mission of preserving and transmitting the Mahayana teachings worldwide For more information, photos, video and regular updates: Or please