APPLICATION open
We invite Buddhist students to join the 2023 Rigpa Shedra for a longer period of in-depth study with Löpon Heather Moody, under the guidance of Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche. We will be offering a continuation of the study of The Gateway to Knowledge by Mipham Rinpoche, a text in the category of Abhidharma. In February/March this year students have studied volume I of this text, and now we will continue with Volume II. There is no need to have studied Volume I before studying Volume II, so new students are welcome to join.
This course will be taught online over a period of 6 months (with a break in August) once a week on Tuesday, with a review session on Mondays.
The Rigpa Shedra is open to all students, whether interested in following the complete curriculum, or wishing to join for only one year to boost their study and practice.
Sally Burgess, one of the students who has studied volume I:
I love the Shedra. For me it has really been like finding a home in Rigpa. I enjoy the friendship, the opportunity to study outside a single national group or mandala. The teaching and learning strategies in the Shedra are great (the review sessions and, yes, the quizzes too) and I’ve found myself ‘stealing’ ideas for my university teaching and for the Spanish Rigpa sessions I am involved with.
Perhaps most importantly I know that I am following a ‘curriculum’ approved and established by Khenchen Namdrol. I know I am in very safe hands.
The opportunity to study in a structured way in which weare actively involved (not just recipients) is also really important.
You can find more information on the program and how to apply here.
Khenjuk (Gateway to Knowledge)
Dates: Tuesday 30 May to Tuesday 7 November 2023, with a break in the month of August (no class from 2 August to 4 September)
Schedule:
| Time Zones | Class with Lopön Heather Moody | Review with Verena Pfeiffer |
| Europe – CET | 4 – 6 pm, Tuesdays | 4 – 5.30 pm, Mondays |
| Europe – GMT | 3 – 5 pm, Tuesdays | 3 – 4.30 pm, Mondays |
| US – PT | 7 – 9 am, Tuesdays | 7 – 8.30 am, Mondays |
| US – MT | 8 – 10 am, Tuesdays | 8 – 9.30 am, Mondays |
| US/Canada – EST | 10 – 12 am, Tuesdays | 10-11.30 am, Mondays |
The Text
Mipham Rinpoche’s Gateway to Knowledge is often the first text to be taught at a shedra. It contains “all you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask” on Buddhist cosmology, ethics, philosophy and psychology.
It is a condensation of the Tripitaka (the three collections or ‘baskets’ into which the word of the Buddha is divided: Vinaya, Sutra and Abhidharma) and its accompanying commentaries.
Consolidating the intent of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings into a unified body of text books, it is the philosophical backbone of the living tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This rich source book embodies the basics of Prajnaparamita and Madhyamika as well as the Abhidharma from both the Mahayana and Hinayana perspective.
“The Gateway to Knowledge has a vital importance for followers of Buddhism. Why is that? It is not because it is vast and detailed; because it isn’t. However, by studying this text and learning it well, you ensure that you have gained a rough comprehension of what the Buddha taught in general. In particular, The Gateway to Knowledge will form the circumstance for more easily understanding all the sublime words and treatises, such as the works of Nagarjuna. It is for these many reasons that Ju Mipham’s Gateway to Knowledge is extremely important.
The student of The Gateway to Knowledge can begin to comprehend the meaning of the major works on Buddhist philosophy and of the traditional sciences. When you want to extract their meaning you need an “expert system,” a key. The Gateway to Knowledge is like that key, a magical key – it opens up the treasury of precious gemstones in the expansive collection of Buddhist scriptures.”
Once you have scrutinized The Gateway to Knowledge, those of you who wish to proceed to the major works of Buddhist philosophy will find it quite easy to understand them.
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
This text is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced students.
The Teacher
Our teacher will be Lopön Heather Moody, who has taught at the Rigpa Shedra several times before. She has trained extensively in a shedra context as well as in western academia and it will be a wonderful opportunity for us to get a unique perspective on this traditional treatise.
Lopön Heather Moody will teach the Gateway to Knowledge class in English online from Virginia, USA. Depending on your location you can either follow the class online directly, or watch the recording by yourself.
The Gateway to Knowledge Volume 2 will be taught over a period of 6 months in 2023. At the beginning of 2024 there will be another more intensive study period of Volume 3 and 4.
Application process
If you are interested, please let us know by filling out the application form. We will get in touch with you and will be happy to answer all the questions you might have. We can explore together to determine if this program is appropriate for your needs.
Note that the application is not yet a commitment on your side but will allow us to know you and contact you. The commitment to join our program only comes at the time of registration later in May, which is accompanied by payment.
Practical Information
Dates & Prices
Gateway to Knowledge: 30 May to 7 November (with a break in August) 2023
This class is streamed from Virgina, USA and is an ONLINE CLASS only. Tuition fee €550 for 20 teaching-sessions plus 20 review sessions.
The tuition fee includes tuition, reviews, study guidance and quizzes.
If you can’t afford the complete fee, please still apply, there may be different possibilities for supporting you in your studies, such as applying for a study grant from the Tertön Sogyal foundation. The deadline for applying for a study grant is 10 May 2022.
Time investment and weekly program
The time investment (sessions, study, practice) will be about 5 hours a week (for schedule see above).
There will be quizzes to help you check your knowledge and understanding as a skillful tool for your studies, as well as contemplations and study assignments.
Languages
All classes and activities are held in English.