A Complete Buddhist Path

The essence of all Buddhist teachings is to arrive at lasting peace and happiness through transforming the mind.

Rigpa offers courses and events that can help us face the challenges and big questions in life, as well as an in-depth curriculum of study, reflection, practice and retreat based on the graduated stages of the Buddhist path of awakening.

A Complete Path of Buddhist
Study and Practice

Courses and events offered in Rigpa form part of an in-depth curriculum of study, reflection, practice and retreat designed for anyone who wishes to follow the teachings of the Buddha and in particular the Buddhist tradition of Tibet.

The general approach shared in Rigpa is that of Tibetan Buddhism, which brings together the Basic Yana, the Mahayana and the Vajrayana (see Glossary of Terms). In particular, Rigpa follows the Nyingma lineage and tradition of Dzogchen, or “Great Perfection”—the most ancient and direct stream of wisdom within the Buddhist tradition of Tibet, which reveals the way to realize the innermost nature of mind.

The essence of all Buddhist teachings is to arrive at lasting peace and happiness through transforming the mind. The Buddha taught the importance of recognizing the reality of suffering, abandoning its causes and achieving liberation by following the path. The underlying goal of Rigpa’s path of study and practice is to support individuals of all ages, cultures and backgrounds, to travel this path and gradually embody the wisdom and compassion that are the essence of the Buddha’s teachings.

In general, the Buddhist path is very flexible. Buddha was renowned for teaching a wide variety of ways to practise, each attuned to the needs of different individuals. At all stages of the path, one can study and practise in great depth, or in a more essential way, the key point being the transformation that actually takes place in one’s being.

Stages of the Path

The Rigpa curriculum is broadly divided into five stages or categories and each stage has a number of core areas:

Courses, retreats and teaching events happening in Rigpa are labelled according to these categories to make it clearer which part of the path they emphasize. This is intended to indicate what is best suited for beginners, what is best suited for more established Buddhist practitioners, what are core Buddhist studies and what is relevant for anyone, and so on. This is not intended to be rigid or prescriptive, but to provide a general reference point. It is highly recommended that those already following courses and programmes in Rigpa seek out the advice of experienced instructors or peers in order to make the best choices about how to best continue their studies.

In the spirit of the Buddha, individuals are encouraged to question, clarify, explore and test the teachings and practices until they arrive at a personal conviction. A culture of open dialogue and critical analysis is encouraged at every stage of the path.

Stages of the path in more detail - on rigpa.org