Fundraising

Practices for Fundraising Success
A center was fundraising for a new place. Rinpoche advised the following pujas and prayers for success.
- Arya Sanghata Sutra: recite this 400 times
- Recitation of the Prajnaparamita: 12 volumes
- White Mahakala protector puja: 100 times
- It’s very good to offer food and money to Ganden and Shartse Monasteries. This can be done in conjunction with strong prayers for the success of the center’s fundraising. Also offer to the Chenrezig Institute nuns and request them to make strong prayers for your success.
- Each time the center does Lama Chöpa tsog over the next year, at the tsog section do the tsog offerings 200 times. This means you should recite all those verses 200 times. The recitation can be divided amongst the number of people attending the puja.
- Recitation of Barche Lamsel, Guru Rinpoche prayer, at least once each time you do tsog. Do this for one year at least.
All these prayers need to be done by students at the center. Try to do them very much from the heart.
Erma Jam to Raise Funds For Lawudo
Rinpoche sent this hand-written note to one of his attendants, who had offered erma and avocado on a cracker to Rinpoche. Erma is a spice, like red peppercorn, that comes from Lawudo in Solu Khumbu region, Nepal. On the previous days Rinpoche had made up some jars of erma and butter, and also erma and jam, as gifts for the neighbors and the person who built the house.
Yesterday what you offered me, with avocado and erma, putting a small amount on a cracker, that was very delicious. I think what we made for the builder of the house and neighbors was a little bit strong, because maybe we put too much erma in that. Now every being is full awakened by erma with avocado.
Wow! Gorgeous flavor.
I had that idea to mix erma and butter many years ago, but I never tried it, only this time. I was hoping the neighbors and builder would be happy, but this mixture that you made is better.
I had the idea in New Zealand, when I was doing Vajra Yogini retreat. __ helped me with my fire puja, which went well, of course all night. I had the idea to make erma jam or erma butter, and sell it in a bottle to raise funds for Lawudo.
HA HA HA. Enjoy life!
Fundraising With Strong Guru Devotion
This letter was sent to a student who was trying very hard to fundraise for projects.
My very dear Justin,
I am very happy you have taken responsibility on yourself. There should be great success sooner or later, because of one hundred percent strong guru devotion—strong reliance on the guru, the lama—but of course, be a little bit careful to not destroy the merits by anger.
With much love and prayers...
Fundraising for a House
Rinpoche gave the following advice to a nun on various topics, including fundraising to buy a house.
My very dear Christine,
How are you? I hope you are still Vajrayogini.
I think your good karma is ripening—you are receiving more support from people, after all these years of hard work, merit and doing the Six-Session Yoga. It is great that this couple wants to help you. It is great you have become the honey and they have become the flies. It is not a honeymoon but honey Dharma.
I am in London and Jean is helping me. He brings me tea at 3am, while I am sleeping. I am taking an English class, but I must be her laziest student. This is so that in the future I can explain the Dharma more professionally.
As far as buying the house, coming for the teachings, etc., as you mentioned, I think it is better if you do retreat than go for teachings. It is good to buy the house, but you shouldn’t rely on the teaching program to pay for it. There have to be other methods of fundraising. Discuss with other people the methods to raise the money.
Much love and prayer...
Successful Fundraising
Rinpoche gave the following advice for successful fundraising for a foundation that benefits many people.
I checked, and the mo came out very good for success. You should still do the following:
- Recite the Golden Light Sutra three times.
- Recite Guru Rinpoche’s prayer Quickly Fulfilling All Wishes four times a day.
How to Raise Money for Retreat Places
Rinpoche gave the following advice on how to raise money to support retreat lands and retreatants.
Many people are very busy with their families and many other things, and they don’t have time to experience or meditate on the lamrim themselves, but they can help others who are doing retreat and giving their lives to that (meditating on the lamrim). They can give other people the opportunity to practice.
Support for retreat places and retreatants can be advertised like that. Many people will understand that; they can’t do retreat themselves, but they can give others the opportunity to do retreat.