Meditation Mandala
Dear Friend,
Thank you for participating in Rigpa’s courses and programs. Now that you have become familiar with Rigpa and Sogyal Rinpoche’s teachings, we would like to share with you some additional study and practice options that are available.
Rigpa offers a complete program of study and practice that is both completely authentic and also relevant to the needs of modern women and men. In Rigpa, students begin by establishing a firm foundation in meditation practice. Guidance in meditation practice is provided in the “What Meditation Really Is” series either through Rigpa Online Courses or by instructors at a local center.
For anyone interested in pursuing additional study and practice according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, we would like to share that Rigpa offers a complete curriculum for the entire spiritual path within this tradition. In addition to teachings on compassion and Lojong (literally ‘training the mind’, or ‘transforming the mind’), Rigpa provides step by step guidance on the Ngöndro (preliminary or foundation) practices of Vajrayana. The ngöndro practices are profound and powerful means for effecting a deep purification and transformation, at every level of our being. Not only do they prepare the practitioner for the profound path of Vajrayana and teachings of Dzogchen, but they also lead him or her gradually towards the experience of enlightenment.
Regardless of whether or not you decide to pursue additional study and practice beyond meditation, all are warmly invited to join the community of Rigpa students and can begin by becoming a member of the Meditation Mandala.
Meditation Mandala Membership
What is the Meditation Mandala?
Sogyal Rinpoche has emphasized how important it is for all of his students to receive the care and support they need to benefit fully from their study and practice. So he has identified different groups of students, each of which forms a worldwide community: the Meditation Mandala; the Ngöndro Mandala; and the Dzogchen Mandala. The Meditation Mandala consists of an international group of students who are committed both to following the teachings of Sogyal Rinpoche and to establishing and maintaining a daily meditation practice.
How to become a member of the Rigpa Sangha?
Generally, you are invited to become a member of the Rigpa sangha once you have completed an academic year of foundation classes (for example What Meditation Really Is series, courses on compassion, etc... ) AND have seen Sogyal Rinpoche teach live in person, AND express your wish to become a Dharma student under the guidance of Sogyal Rinpoche.
Once you have decided to join the Meditation Mandala, Sogyal Rinpoche encourages all students to follow the All-Encompassing Path which is a study program designed to fit all of our needs- including those of us with very busy, full lives. It connects us to and makes available to us the wisdom of the teachings in a way that is accessible and manageable for all of us. This is just one of the benefits of becoming a subscribing member as described below.
What are the benefits of subscribing?
The activities of Rigpa U.S. and Sogyal Rinpoche in America are sustained wholly through your support. Therefore, we ask every student to subscribe at a level that is comfortable for them. Your support allows us to serve Sogyal Rinpoche's vision by offering the teachings to as many beings as possible and has a direct impact on firmly establishing the dharma in the West. May it bring benefit to all sentient beings.
Essentially, we could look at the significance of making offerings in three ways.
- Making offerings is an opportunity to express our gratitude to the teacher.
- It also makes a tangible link between the teacher and us, his students.
- And it is also a powerful means to accumulate merit.
It is only with your support that we can cover all of the costs associated with making the wealth of teachings available to you now and in the future. It is also one of the most direct ways that we can show our appreciation for Rinpoche's work and teachings and contribute towards a thriving and sustainable US Sangha.
As a subscribing US Sangha member, you have access to Rigpa's activities, teachings, and study and practice materials, tailored to your level and topic of interest. The Treasury of Wisdom website is filled with teachings ranging from death and dying to relationships and is constantly being updated, allowing us to always find the right teaching at the right time. For a full list of the substantial benefits of becoming a member and the different levels to which you can subscribe, please see “Subscription Benefits” below.
If it is not possible for you to cover the suggested contribution, we warmly invite you to contact Julie Just at (415) 636-8008 x 704 or finance.us@rigpa.org to find a monthly amount that can work for you. No one will be excluded and every contribution, no matter how modest, is truly valued and appreciated. All Dharma teachings are offered free of charge—expenses are associated with creating, editing, and delivering the content.
Subscription benefits include:
Access to the All-Encompassing Path to Enlightenment
The All-Encompassing Path is the groundbreaking study program for the whole Rigpa Sangha. This is Rinpoche's vision for bringing the depth and breadth of the Buddha Dharma into one complete path to enlightenment. It is tailored to the needs of each individual student, and is accessible and suited to these modern times. For questions about the All-Encompassing Path, please contact Michael Wong at: michael.wong@rigpa.org
There are five key elements to the All-Encompassing Path (AEP) program:
- The Weekly Home Study Program
- The Monthly Gatherings
- Retreats with Rinpoche (both live retreats and delayed streaming retreats)
- Access to the Treasury of Wisdom website with a growing online treasury of teachings
- The support of Rigpa's community of instructors
Study and Practice
Become part of a thriving community of practitioners, with support for all levels of engagement. From the fundamentals of meditation to more advanced practices passed down authentically through the lineage, subscribing students have many resources available for guidance along the path.
Free Access to Courses
Access to Practice Days and Events with Guest Teachers
Free Access to Rigpa Public Program Courses
Communication
Receive access to a wealth of online resources made especially for the Rigpa Sangha.
Access to Sangha Only Websites
Sangha Newsletter
Regular Communications
Please click here to see more details about the benefits of subscribing.
Please click here to join the meditation mandala.
If you have any questions or are interested in joining the Rigpa Mandala, then please contact Michael Wong at:
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Michael Wong
Rigpa Fellowship