APPLICATION is now CLOSED
Students of Buddhism should now apply to join the 2021 Rigpa Shedra Online for three months of in-depth study with Khenpo Tashi Tseten, under the guidance of Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche.
For the first time ever the Rigpa Shedra will be held online, opening vast new possibilities! Maybe you’ve always wanted to study at the shedra, but were not able to travel to and stay in Nepal for three months. Here is your chance.
Rigpa Shedra is open to all students, whether interested in following the complete curriculum, or joining for only one year to boost your study and practice.
From January 2021, both newer students and more experienced students will have the chance to immerse themselves in the study of Longchenpa’s Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind, a teaching of the Great Perfection, using a wonderful new translation by Padmakara.
Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind, a teaching of the Great Perfection
Finding rest in the Nature of Mind, a teaching of the Great Perfection, or in Tibetan: Dzogpachenpo Semnyi Ngalso, Longchenpa’s classic Buddhist manual for attaining liberation, teaches us how to familiarize ourselves with our most basic nature—pristine and empty awareness. It is a lamrim text in the Nyingma lineage, presenting the entire scope of the Buddhist view combined with pith instructions for pointing out the nature of one’s mind.
Written in the fourteenth century, this text is the first volume of Longchenpa’s Trilogy of Rest, a work within the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition. It is a profound and comprehensive presentation of the Buddhist view and path that combines a scholastic expository method with direct pith instructions designed for serious practitioners. Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche therefore classifies this text as a mengak lam rim text. The subject matter covers both sutra and tantra.
In 2020 we studied the first four chapters of the text, which present the first part of Longchenpa’s brilliant explanation of key sutra teachings, going deep into the four thoughts that turn the mind away from samsara.
At Rigpa Shedra 2021 we will study the second half of the sutra part of the text, covering Following a spiritual teacher, Taking refuge, The Four Immeasurables and Cultivating Bodhicitta. Khenpo Tashi Tseten has said he will especially emphasize the view, which is indispensible for our path, whether we are beginners or more experienced students.
Students who haven’t followed last year’s shedra are also encouraged to enter at this point. There will be an opportunity to review teachings on the first four chapters prior to Rigpa Shedra 2021 Program.
In 2022 we will proceed to the tantra section of the text, which will be an indispensable guide to your Vajrayana practice, teaching the view of tantra and associated meditation techniques. Studying the sutra section in 2021 will very likely be a prerequisite for entering the tantra section in 2022.
“In his stunningly poetic exposition, the Trilogy of Rest, Gyalwa Longchenpa illumines the great path to enlightenment with unsurpassable depth and detail. Volume 1 of the trilogy, Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind, sets us upon that path, grounding us from our very first steps through to the profound—showing the most profound to be grounded in unshakable simplicity. Brilliantly clarifying the complexities we create to come to this realization, Longchenpa easily and clearly reveals the concordance of the journey’s various stages.” Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche
Our teacher will be Khenpo Tashi Tseten, a brilliant young khenpo from Namdrolling Monastery in South India. He is one of the most promising khenpos of his generation and has been teaching at the Rigpa Shedra for the past six years. 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.
Tibetan classes
The Rigpa Shedra Online offers all students the opportunity to learn Tibetan. Tibetan classes on several levels, from absolute beginners to translators in the making, are part of the shedra’s daily schedule.
If you are interested in learning Tibetan, but can’t join the shedra program, please write to shedra@rigpa.org
Practical Information
Dates & Prices
Shedra will operate January 6th to April 2nd 2021
Online Study Program Fees: €840
The fees include tuition, reviews, Tibetan language lessons (optional), study guidance and assessments. If you can’t afford the complete fee, please still apply, you will be assessed for fee reduction.
Language
The main class each day is translated from Tibetan into English. All other classes and activities are held in English.
Daily program and commitment to follow.
It is important to realize that the online Rigpa Shedra will emulate the Rigpa Shedra in Nepal as much as possible. The time investment will be about 5 hours a day from Monday to Friday, or 6 hours if you also wish to learn Tibetan. The daily program will include
- Class with Khenpo Tashi Tseten streamed from India
- Live-review that will be held through Zoom
- Study group to prepare for review-class (or personal revision)
- Optional Tibetan language class
There will also be assessments to help you check your knowledge and understanding as a skilful tool for your studies.
If you wish to follow this year’s shedra, we ask of you to commit to follow from beginning to end, and to follow both the teaching and the class review sessions.
Application process
If you are interested, please let us know by filling out the application form. We will then get in touch with you and will be happy to answer all the questions you might have. It is not always easy to free up three months and to make a decision for such a big commitment. We can explore together to determine if this program is appropriate for your needs and possibilities.
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 early December, which is accompanied by payment.