ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition

Okay kiddo, so you know how there are lots of different types of Buddhism, right? Well, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (or FPMT for short) is a group that focuses on one particular type called Mahayana Buddhism.

The people in this group believe in something called the Bodhisattva way of life. That's a big fancy word that means they want to be kind and helpful to everyone they meet in order to help them find happiness and escape suffering.

The group was started by a man named Lama Thubten Yeshe and his student Lama Zopa Rinpoche. They wanted to make sure that Mahayana Buddhism was available to people all over the world, so they set up centers and created programs to teach people about it.

The FPMT also does a lot of charitable work, like building schools and hospitals for people in need. They believe that helping others is an important part of following the Bodhisattva way of life.

So basically, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition is a group of people who practice an important type of Buddhism and want to share it with others while also helping those in need.