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:
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.
How to Continue and Resources
Available to All
Whether you choose to join the Meditation Mandala or not there
are a variety of resources available to you to support you on
the spiritual path including:
·
RigpaLink is the main vehicle that
Sogyal Rinpoche uses to ensure his best and most recent
teachings are made available. Subscribe to Rigpalink and
receive carefully selected teachings delivered to your home
every month (hotlink to Rigpalink subscript page on Zam
store) http://zamamerica.stores.yahoo.net/tapeofmonth1.html
·
Ongoing courses at our 14
city
centers and Rigpa
Online
Courses .
·
Annual Retreats and special programs with
Sogyal Rinpoche, his senior students, and visiting masters, at
our retreat centers worldwide (hotlink to events page).
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