Welcome to our foundational course series:
The Heart of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Fall 2026 : Becoming Friends with Uncertainty and Change

What if uncertainty didn't have to feel so overwhelming?

Life keeps changing. People we love get sick and die. Jobs end. Relationships shift. Plans fall apart. And somewhere in the middle of it all, we find ourselves asking: Is there another way to live? How do I find more peace, purpose, or resilience when everything feels so unstable? How can the death of loved ones and my own death motivate and help me to live more fully and authentically?

As Sogyal Rinpoche writes, “Although we have been made to believe that if we let go we will end up with nothing, life itself reveals again and again the opposite: that letting go is the path to real freedom.”

Drawing from the profound wisdom of Sogyal Rinpoche’s teachings, we'll explore the idea that if nothing stays the same, we might actually find a source of strength and comfort—testing that against our own life, not just taking it on faith.

Starting From Where You Are

Maybe what brought you here is a specific loss, or just a low hum of anxiety about everything you can't control. For many, the harder question underneath all this is loss—what it means that nothing lasts, including the people and things we love most.Once we see change as the very fabric of life rather than a tragedy, what opens up isn't despair but a sharper sense of being alive, free to love fiercely without grasping.

From there, you might ask how it all connects—your joy, your grief, the people around you—realizing, as Sogyal Rinpoche wrote , "We are all interdependent, and we are all responsible for one another." And at the base of it all: if everything keeps changing, is there anything in you that doesn't alter? The Buddhist teachings point to something "boundless and infinitely spacious, something in which the dance of change... takes place." 

During a 9-week journey exploring Chapters 1-3 of  The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche, we'll study and practice together, using reflection, meditation,  discussion, and other practical tools for facing death and finding steadiness through change.

No prior experience with Buddhism or meditation is necessary to join. This course is open to everyone—regardless of your background, spiritual path, or religious tradition—offering accessible, practical tools that anyone can apply to daily life. 

This course offers a sense of community—the joy of studying, reflecting, discussing ideas and meditating together. Join us!!

Wednesdays
October 7 - December 16, 2026
4pm PT/ 7pm ET
Duration: 2h
Note: No classes on November 18 and November 25

Rigpa US is pleased to offer an exciting series of online courses exploring The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, the groundbreaking classic by Sogyal Rinpoche, which has helped millions of people throughout the world to find wellbeing in their lives. These courses rely on the Buddhist tradition of wisdom and compassion and open the way to deeper understanding and freedom from suffering.

The series of courses provides an overview of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings as presented in this acclaimed book. Suitable for everyone, each course is designed to stand alone, so you can attend any or all in the series. 

Link to Register

Course Instructors

  • Pat Best

  • Linda Forrester

  • Hanne Riegg-Luedge

  • Nancy Searls

  • Cam Tran

THE INSTRUCTORS TEAM

Pat Best: A deep longing developed in Pat’s heart to ease the suffering of beings after a young daughter of a co-worker was diagnosed with an incurable illness. She found The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying showed the causes of all suffering and gave practical ways to deal with suffering. Decades later, she continues to use these techniques and finds these teachings are more relevant than ever and wishes to share them with the world.

Linda Forrester: once a classical singer and English teacher, spent years searching for meaning and connection. Reading The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and meeting Sogyal Rinpoche in 2001 affirmed her sense of innate goodness and became an anchor through life’s challenges. Now, she supports others in realizing their own worth and potential for growth.

Hanne Riegg-Luedge: has been an instructor since The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying was published in 1992. After living in Santa Cruz for over 30 years, she moved to Southern Oregon in 2020 with her husband to live close to her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.  Hanne is a retired psychologist.

Nancy Searls: read The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying in 1996 and has considered herself as a dharma student since. She completed an extensive study and practice that takes seven years to complete. She's been a teacher with Rigpa helping to hold a variety of courses. Currently she is retired on an island, North of Seattle, where she can focus on practice and study and co-holds a biweekly meditation group. 

Cam Tran: was at a very low point in her life when she first met Sogyal Rinpoche in the Bay Area in 1994. Consumed by suffering, she read The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and fell in love with the book, especially the chapters on Loving Kindness, The Spiritual Path and the Innermost Essence.  Rinpoche’s teaching and compassion helped her to heal, and learn to let go and forgive. By continuing to study and follow the spiritual path, she gained a newfound sense of purpose and aspires to benefit others.