Rigpa:
Rigpa is a Buddhist center founded in San Fransico, California that has grown exponentially in recent years to a national organization. Founded in 1979, Rigpa has continued to provide enriched environments for people to explore Buddhist teachings. There are centers and groups in over 12 cities, online courses, and programs supporting those who cannot attend in person. These centers focus on passing the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism in an authentic and traditional way that also applies to the everyday life of people in the modern world. There are a variety of courses offered that surround meditation and compassion, as well as a complete program of study and practice for every stage of the Buddha’s teachings. Each national Rigpa association has charitable and non-profit status and is funded by donations.
“Rigpa” is a Tibetan word that means ‘intelligence’ or ‘awareness’ in Dzogchen. This is considered to be the highest form of teaching in the Buddhist traditions of Tibet. In this regard, Rigpa has a deeper connotation, meaning the innermost nature of the mind. As Buddhist teachings in general have the goal of realizing the state of omniscience or enlightenment, the Rigpa teachings follow closely focusing on the state of the mind.
Foundings:
The first Rigpa center was established by Sogyal Rinpoche, a Buddhist teacher from Tibet, who also authored the book The Tibet Book of Living and Dying. It was early in his childhood when Sogyal Rinpoche was recognized as the incarnation of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa, a famous mystic and saint who was also the teacher of the 13th Dalai Lama. Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö supervised Sogyal and trained him in a traditional sense and was also considered to be one of the most outstanding spiritual masters of the twentieth century. Following this supervision, Rinpoche went on to study with masters from all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, in particular masters Dudjom Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He initially worked as a translator and aid to his masters, but then began a steady stream of producing his own teachings. His unique style of teaching developed by using his acute awareness of modern life and what attributes of Buddhist teachings play a role. He vividly expressed these concepts in his teachings in his book.
Rinpoche dedicated his life to the Buddhist path and practice of the Great Perfection. He taught for over forty-five years and founded the Rigpa centers and groups based on his revolutionary visions for end-of-life care that has been adopted by institutions and groups of various kinds, educational, medical, and spiritual. His idea to make the teachings more accessible and relevant to people of the modern world was a type of inclusion not experienced before. Rinpoche passed away in 2019 and left the legacy of his Dharma to be upheld by his students, many of whom are highly respected practitioners, teachers, scholars, and translators of Tibetan Buddhism. This community that he founded continues to thrive to this day by offering courses, programs, seminars, and retreats to anyone who is interested in exploring the profound wisdom and powerful methods of Tibetan Buddhism
Traditions:
This Rigpa association shares the tradition of meditation with its constituents and all those who want to join by offering courses and programs that teach the techniques of meditation and methods for compassion. The training has evolved over the centuries to help us deal with the challenges of everyday life and is expressed as essential to leading a healthy life. They highlight the importance of meditation and compassion as being crucial to bringing peace of mind, and combating stress, depression, and other mental health issues – but most importantly, developing kindness and warm-heartedness for ourselves, our families, and those around us.
In an attempt to welcome all levels of devotees, this Rigpa offers practice programs that include courses in the Vajrayana Buddhist Tradition of Tibet, a traditional study college (shedra), and short and practice retreats (drupdra). While they offer the teachings of the Buddha in ways that apply to people’s everyday lives, Rigpa also actively sustains the culture or rimé or ‘non-partisan’ encouragement of different Tibetan Buddhist Traditions.
Tibetan Buddhist Traditions:
In their event program, Rigpa regularly hosts teachers of all Tibetan Buddhist traditions, as well as Buddhist masters of other lineages, and teachers from different spiritual traditions.
A History of rimé:
Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi, who was an incarnation of one of the initiators of the rimé movement and was the master of Sogyyal Rinpoche’s, advocated for the continuation of rimé or “non-sectarian” approach.
Buddhism and Western Science
In more recent years, an open dialogue with experts from other disciplines has developed, a dialogue that’s both spiritual and scientific that perseveres through Tibetan Buddhism.
Practices:
Rigpa’s program serves complete training in Buddhist teachings and practice. The main program aims to guide and support students along the path by establishing a strong foundation in meditation, opening the heart of compassion, and awakening the mind to the truth of our fundamental goodness.
Centers hold regular courses, talks, seminars, and retreats by Rigpa’s senior instructors and teachers from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition for their local communities. Through these attempts, they aim to make their practices and teachings accessible and relevant to the modern way of life of people of all ages and from all walks of life.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Written by Sogyal Rinpoche, it is considered to be one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. It is considered to be a manual for life and death and a source of inspiration from the heart of Tibetan tradition. It provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of the mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care for the dying, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path.
Events:
Drop-In Meditation is open to new meditations and experiences. They describe meditation as getting to know your own mind which can be extremely vast and profound, however, the basics of meditation are actually very simple. In a unique way to make meditation courses more accessible, they offer meditation classes over Zoom. Rigpa offers a broad spectrum of courses and seminars and retreats designed to make Buddhist teachings accessible and relevant to men and women of all ages, from all walks of life. In this way, they try to make Buddhism simple. They offer to completely guide you through Buddhist teachings and practice.
They offer a Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying course that goes over the definitive presentations of Tibetan Buddhist teachings. From the teachings of this course, they will explore the main themes of the book, focusing on meditation, compassion, devotion, and the nature of the mind, along with the practices associated with each topic. This course is open to the public and all Rigpa members who seek to deepen their understanding.
Members of the Rigpa Community
Since the passing of Sogyal Rinpoche, the Rigpa Vision Board was assembled to guide Rigpa’s future and conduct with the goal of maintaining the vision of Rinpoche. The members of the Vision Board are to uphold the authentic teachings of Buddhism and the lineage of the Nyingma (Ancient Transmission) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, which offers a complete, graduated path to enlightenment. The Vision Board is advised by eminent Tibetan Buddhist lamas. Each member of the Vision Board has a lifelong commitment to the dharma and has been a long-time student and supporter of Rinpoche.
The activities of the Vision Board include: ensuring Rigpa maintains a clear spiritual direction, vision, and mission and advising when it comes into question whether the activities being upheld align with Rigpa’s vision, mission, and values while also supporting conflict resolution. These are just a couple to name however; the Rigpa Vision Board has a dedicated Charter that highlights their specific activities and also outlines the specificities that should characterize any particular member.
The Rigpa community has a unique community and basis as they merge the historic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and modern-day life. This blend serves to make Buddhist Dharmas more applicable and universal in our day-to-day lives. There is a great importance set upon the expression of meditation and compassion established by the founder Sogyal Rinpoche. The Rigpa center is open and opens all of its programs, seminars, and retreats to all of its members as well as the public. A complete in-depth curriculum of study, reflection, and practice is offered to guide an individual on the Buddhist path of enlightenment. Rigpa is often very active in society by offering a Spiritual Care Program that offers non-denominational contemplative-based care for health, social care professionals, and trained volunteers as well as the public. Rigpa regularly hosts international conferences that bring Buddhist teachers, scientists, and leading experts together to discuss the benefits of meditation, compassion, and other topics. Rigpa also hosts charitable projects every year by sponsoring educational projects, a number of monasteries in the east, and charities that directly help victims of natural disasters.
By Meriem Hcini
Citations:
Boston, R. (2016, December 23). Open Meditation. Rigpa Boston. http://rigpaboston.blogspot.com/
DuVal, R. (n.d.). Home. Rigpa Fellowship. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://usa.rigpa.org/