Meditate

The gift of learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this life. For it is only through meditation that you can undertake the journey to discover your true nature, and so find the stability and confidence you will need to live, and die, well. Meditation is the road to enlightenment.

Our 2024 Courses

Starting Out

Inspiring A Revolution in Your Heart and Mind

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind
presents an experiential journey through The
Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
, its major
themes and their practical implications.
Suitable for people of any religion or none, the
course encourages you to experiment with
applying Buddhist teachings in your daily life.
A year-long course, in 5-week modules
Sydney and Online  – Wednesday evenings
Melbourne – Monday evenings
Newcastle – Tuesday mornings
Adelaide – Tuesday evenings

Finding Peace and Joy in a Troubled World

These sessions offer an introduction to
meditation and practical advice from the
Tibetan Buddhist tradition to help us
heal and thrive as we face the everyday
challenges of anxiety, depression, anger,
physical pain, loneliness, and burnout.
A year-long course
Sydney and Online
Saturday afternoons,
First Saturday of each month

The Next Step: Compassion

The Wisdom of Compassion - Inner Healing and Spiritual Strength

The Wisdom of Compassion presents the
powerful Buddhist logic of compassion and
practical methods for developing a more kind
relationship with ourselves, those around us
and ultimately all beings. When we are filled
with love, we find the greatest inner healing,
tranquillity and well-being; we become more
fully ourselves.
A year-long course, in 9-week modules
Melbourne, Sydney and Online – Tuesday evenings

Cultivating Compassion: A Practical Guide to Being Kind

In a world full of turmoil, stress, anxiety
and disconnect, the Tibetan Buddhist
guidelines, for living a compassionate
life, summarized in the Seven Points of
Mind Training, open the way for each of
us to nurture our own good heart and
offer a vital practical antidote to despair
and despondency.
A year-long course, Online – Saturday mornings, third Saturday of each month

Continuing on the Path

Our Inner Freedom - Looking Within

The Buddha’s life and teachings show that
we all encounter change and loss. The
recognition of impermanence and death
challenges us to question our life’s
priorities and helps us to let go of grasping
and emerge from self-destructive habits.
Ultimately it reveals the deathless nature
of mind and is the doorway to freedom.
A year-long course, in 10-week modules.

Melbourne, Sydney and Online – Thursday
evenings

Turning Suffering and Happiness into Enlightenment

The Buddhist teachings show us how to
find a deep sense of fulfilment that does
not depend on outer circumstances.
Through reflection and meditation, we find
the inner strength to fearlessly engage
with our lives. Then, all our experiences –
happy or sad, good or bad – will become
a source of spiritual awakening.

A year-long course
Online, Friday mornings

What's On

For Everyone

For Established Students

Prajna

Prajna – Subscribe to our treasury of wisdom teachings from some of the best teachers of Buddhism in the 20th and 21st Century for streaming or download

Our Purpose

Non-profit and volunteer-run, our purpose is to share the Buddha’s teachings that show how to transform our stressed, tired and confused minds into the effortless self-perfected state of our true nature. The path we offer embodies the authentic traditions of Tibet, in a way that is directly relevant to people in the modern world. 

A Complete Path

The first words the Buddha said: Profound Peace, Natural Simplicity Uncompounded Luminosity.

Rigpa offers courses and events to help us face the challenges and big questions in life. We provide an in-depth, complete curriculum of study, reflection, practice and retreat. Our courses follow the graduated stages of the Buddhist path of awakening to take you on a journey from the simplest forms of meditation, through the vivid richness of the Tibetan Vajrayana practices to Dzogchen, the heart-essence of all spiritual paths and the summit of an individual’s spiritual evolution.

Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is

a manual for life and death and a source of inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition. It provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the awakened nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care for the dying, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path

 

Having sold more than 3 million copies and been translated into 34 languages, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying offers tried and tested practices to help us all overcome anxiety, depression and burnout in these busy modern times. 

Compassion

Firmly grounded in the logic of enlightened self interest,

the Buddhist practices of loving kindness and compassion open our hearts and minds and can heal low self-esteem, soothe anger and meaningfully connect us to those around us.  Modern science shows that those who act compassionately are happier and healthier.

Rigpa – a safe place to study and practice dharma

In 2017 complaints were made by a number of Rigpa students against our founder, Sogyal Rinpoche. An independent report commissioned by Rigpa International revealed evidence of serious physical and sexual abuse. In response, Rigpa has recognised that some students were harmed, and that Rigpa, as an organisation, bears responsibility for failing to adequately support those students who were harmed.

 

Rigpa has apologised for its failures and has strengthened its governance, transparency, decision-making and financial practices. Further, Rigpa has used the rigorous investigation of its practices to deepen our understanding of the needs of western students who are studying and practising Buddhism.

 

Rigpa now:

  • Pledges to provide a safe environment for all students

  • Takes responsibility for healing past hurts

  • Maintains an open culture of listening and good communication

  • Continues to educate teachers and role holders to better protect and support students in their study and practice.

All of Rigpa Australia’s teachers and role holders are signatories to a code of conduct. Grievance processes are in place to address any future complaints. There are student advocates in each centre and students are encouraged to raise any concerns as they arise.

Healing, Death and Dying

We all need to care for ourselves and others skilfully and wisely. For more than 30 years Rigpa has inspired a quiet revolution in the way we look at death and care for the dying. Our Spiritual Care program offers courses, retreats and other resources for those facing illness or death, and those supporting families and care-givers in times of grief.

Blueys Beach Retreat House

Located in a breathtakingly beautiful setting on the fringe of Blueys Beach village NSW, Rigpa Australia’s retreat house is available to those looking to complete small group retreats, and individual personal meditation retreats. It is also available on a limited basis for holiday rentals.

Give the Gift of Wisdom

Since ancient times, generosity has been a defining characteristic of the Buddhist tradition. By donating to Rigpa Australia or remembering us in your will you can make a vital and lasting contribution to bringing the profound and liberating Buddhist teachings to the modern world.

Our International Partners

  • Rigpa’s Official YouTube channel with free videos on meditation and buddhism

Acknowledgement of Country

Rigpa Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to the custodians and elders of this nation, and acknowledge their vast and wise cultural, spiritual and educational practices.