Clarity on the Path – weekly online course

The Ten Vehicles in the Nyingma Tradition

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Pour le français, cliquez ici

We invite you to take part in a weekly study program taught by Khenpo Tashi, starting May, 2026.

What is this course about?

Most practitioners have encountered teachings from different vehicles — perhaps the practice of shamatha meditation as presented in the foundational vehicle, the practices related to lojong and emptiness as laid out in the Mahayana, and then more advanced instructions on ngöndro and sādhana practices as given in Vajrayana. Yet it is rare to step back and ask honestly: what are the views behind each of these practices? Where does my understanding genuinely find its ground? And how do these different approaches — rather than contradicting each other — form a single, coherent and progressive path to awakening? 

In this sixteen-session online course, Khenpo Tashi will offer a clear, warm and practice-oriented exploration of the ten vehicles (yanas) of the Nyingma tradition. Beginning with the vehicle of gods and humans and then moving through the nine vehicles in their traditional progression, Khenpo Tashi will shed light on each vehicle primarily through its view: how it understands the nature of reality.

The Nyingma teaching on the nine — or here, ten — vehicles is not simply a comparative overview of different Buddhist schools as practised by different people. It is above all a map of how a single practitioner’s understanding deepens and broadens over the course of a lifetime of practice. 

This course will offer:

• A clear and reliable framework for seeing honestly where we genuinely stand in our practice and understanding
• Insight into how different approaches — Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana — are not contradictory but naturally progressive
• A map we can return to again and again as our path unfolds
• The confidence that comes from understanding the view of each yana intended to infuse and support our practice

Khenpo Tashi’s approach is neither academic nor abstract. Drawing primarily on the Nyingma tradition’s own presentation of the vehicles, he will bring each vehicle to life through its essential view and its practical implications for how we practice, how we relate to our experience, and how we understand our own mind.

What is the format of this course?

The course runs over 16 sessions divided between May/June and September/October, allowing time for reflection and integration between the two cycles. Teachings can be followed live online (Thursdays) or, if that is not possible, by watching the recordings in your own time, but ideally before the weekly review sessions guided by a Shedra teacher. In order for the teachings to make a lasting impact, it is really important for all of us to commit to joining all of the review sessions. To make this possible we will offer review sessions on different days and times.

Who is this course for?

This course is intended for practitioners with an established meditation practice, familiarity with compassion training and Lojong, exposure to Ngöndro, and who have received a Vajrayāna empowerment. No scholarly background is required — only genuine interest in understanding and deepening our practice.

Who is the Teacher?

Khenpo Tashi is a brilliant young khenpo from Namdrolling Monastery in South India. He is considered to be one of the most promising khenpos of his generation and has been teaching at the Rigpa Shedra for many years. He works closely with Khenchen Namdrol, assisting him in any way he can and following all his teachings. Together with the wealth of his knowledge and the clarity of his explanations, he has a rare capacity to tune into students’ understanding and needs, which makes his teachings truly inspiring and illuminating. 

Practical Information

Dates and times for the online course:

• Part 1: Thursday 7 May – Wednesday 1 July, 2026.
• Part 2: Thursday 3 September – Wednesday 3 November 2026 

The live online streaming of the teachings by Khenpo Tashi will take place on Thursdays from 14.30 – 16.30 Paris time.

Provisional schedule for the review sessions by Shedra Teachers/Instructors (depending on the number and location of participants there will be different options to choose from):

English speaking groups:

Please be aware that times will change when there is a change to daylight savings or the other way around.

French speaking group(s)

• Monday evening 19:00 – 20:30 CEST and/or
• Wednesday evening 19:00 – 20.30 pm CEST

German speaking group(s)

• Wednesday morning 09:00 – 10:30 CEST
• Wednesday evening 19:00 – 20:30 CEST

Time investment

One 2 hour teaching session by Khenpo Tashi each week to be watched live. If you cannot make it to the live teaching, there will be an opportunity to watch the recorded teaching (with simultaneous translation, taking about 1 hour) in your own time, preferably of course before the review session.

One mandatory 1.5 hour live review session with a shedra review teacher/instructor.  In the weekly review sessions we will recall the main points together, contemplate parts of the text, and discuss the meaning with our fellow Dharma students. We will meditate so it becomes a deeper experience, and learn about ways to bring our insights into our daily life and practice.

In addition, we also recommend 1-2 hours for study assignments and contemplation homework during the week. This will allow you to really immerse yourself more deeply into the topic of the ten yanas, and integrate the teachings into your day.

In total, the time-investment will be around 3 – 4 hours a week.

Language: 

Khenpo Tashi teaches in Tibetan. He will be translated by Damien van Effenterre, a Rigpa Senior teacher, into English.

This year for the first time we will organize a French group and/or a German group if there is enough interest. In that case there would be a simultaneous translation of Khenpola’s teaching into French/German (with the possibility to watch a recorded session later if you can’t make it to the live session) and there will be review sessions held by a French/German teacher/instructor.

The review holders will be Rigpa Shedra teachers/instructors: For the English speaking groups: Chantal Bergers, Martina Cotter, Jane Gray, Lily Ng, Kieran English, (Verena Pfeiffer). For the German speaking group(s): Verena Pfeiffer. For the French speaking group(s): Cathy Blanc

Costs

Regular fee: €360
Concession (for those with low income): €240
For those who can pay more (and support one other person) : €480 Please note: this fee is provisional and might still change, depending on the number of participants.

If needed, there is a possibility to pay in installments. If the concession fee is still too high for you, please send an email with a request to join the course, and the amount you can offer, to shedra@rigpa.org.

Registration

If you are interested in joining, and you fulfill the requirements (an established meditation practice, familiarity with compassion training and Lojong, exposure to Ngöndro, and having received a Vajrayāna empowerment), please fill in this application form.

Note that the application is not yet a commitment on your side but will allow us to know if you fulfill all the criteria and to know the preferred dates and times and language for the review class. The commitment to join our program only comes at the time of registration in April, which is accompanied by payment.