The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Book Course
Thursdays, January 18 through March 21, 2024 (10 Sessions)
Start Time: 3 pm PST/ 6 pm EST
End Time: 5 pm PST/ 8 pm EST
Online via Zoom
Sogyal Rinpoche’s acclaimed spiritual classic, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, is widely regarded as one of the most complete and definitive presentations of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. The new 2022 edition marked the 30th year the book has been continuously in print. It has reached and inspired hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
In this course, we will explore the main themes of the book, focusing on meditation, compassion, devotion, and the nature of mind, along with the practices associated with each topic. We will use a combination of close reading of the book, further instruction from experienced Rigpa teachers, and guided meditation and contemplation practices to bring the Buddhist teachings in the book right into the hearts of our students. This classic wisdom knowledge is an essential support in living a good life in these chaotic times.
The course is open to members of the public who wish to learn about meditation and beyond in the wider context of Tibetan Buddhist teachings. It is also open to Rigpa sangha members who seek to deepen their understanding of the teachings. As it is said, the more and more you study, the more and more you understand.
This course follows the chapters of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, so you will need a copy if you don’t already have one. The book is readily available for purchase online. Other reference materials will be provided as needed.
Space is limited to facilitate interaction and discussion.
Teachers: Joan Elizabeth & Jeff Biggs
Click here to register
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Course Fees
Suggested Donation: $100
Concession rate: $75
Or any amount you would like to offer.
No one is turned away due to lack of finances.
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About the Teachers
Joan Elizabeth
Joan Elizabeth began her spiritual journey studying Transcendental Meditation and Yoga. She was introduced into the Fourth Way Tradition in Boston in 1978 and went on to attend a 9-month course in West Virginia in 1980, where she met Sogyal Rinpoche. She became a student formally in 1987 and has been a practicing Buddhist ever since. She had the good fortune to receive many of the Dzogchen Empowerments from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse in 1990 in Prapoutel, France, a powerful turning point in her life. She began her teacher training after the first 3-month retreat in Lerab Ling, Rigpa’s main retreat center in southern France, and has continued to study and share the teachings ever since. Joan moved to Maine in 1992 and began teaching based on the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, holding various courses such as Cultivating Compassion, 7 Points of Mind Training, 8 Verses of Training the Mind, Loving Kindness, and What Meditation Really Is. Joan was instrumental in the growth of the Rigpa Sangha in Maine. She was entrusted as a teacher in Rigpa in 2022.
Jeffrey Biggs
Jeffrey Biggs first met and received teachings from Sogyal Rinpoche when The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying came out in the early 1990s. He has been a student of Rinpoche’s since then and has attended many retreats. He has been an instructor in Rigpa since 1998 and was recently entrusted as a Rigpa Teacher. In 2006, he began the Home Version of Rigpa’s Three-Year Retreat and completed it in 2012. In addition, he has led a weekly meditation and study group in Ventura County, California.