Self-Forgiveness in the Light of Compassion
2026-06-20 18:00 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Online via Zoom, Australia
Discover how to live with a lighter, kinder heart. Many of us carry beliefs that we’re unworthy of love or beyond forgiveness, leaving us trapped in guilt and self-blame. But punishing ourselves only deepens our suffering and prevents us from realizing our natural state. Through insight, compassion, and guided meditations, you’ll learn to soften your “inner critic,” release false beliefs, and understand why you can let yourself off the hook—all of which frees your heart. As you cultivate forgiveness and compassion for yourself, you’ll naturally feel a genuine compassion and understanding for others—and the world.
Seminar topics:

The spiritual dimension of self-forgiveness
Dismantling the barriers to forgiving oneself
Understanding your life with compassion and insight
Transforming your ‘inner critic’
Really good reasons you can let yourself off the hook
Meditations that deepen compassion and forgiveness for yourself and others

Feedback from past participants
“It was helpful to be constantly reminded that no matter what, we are fundamentally good and our mistakes do not define us. They are only a very small part and we can always shift towards the centre of ourselves with love.”
“Forgiveness – of ourselves and others, frees us. The seminar is a rich and deep dive into self-forgiveness using experiential learning in a supportive, engaging and accessible format, and is inclusive to people of all and no faith traditions. The content and guided meditations draw on different sources and this, along with the kindness, clarity and skill of Christine act as an invitation to a more profound connection with our own basic goodness.”
“The seminar has brought profound understanding and healing. It was both liberating and extremely challenging with the emergence of once unacknowledged emotions. A moving and heartfelt experience.”
“The seminar was timely as I’ve had a few new challenges, while already living in a shut-down state. I’ve been able to offer my younger self love, compassion and forgiveness which in turn has softened my heart to others I’d been closed off to. Now, I feel more open and spacious.”

3 sessions:
20 June 6:00pm-8:30pm AEST
27 June 6:00pm-8:30pm AEST
4 July 6:00pm-8:30pm AEST
(6:00pm AEST = 4:00pm Hong Kong Time, 9:00am GMT, and 10:00am Central European Time)
Time and date converter
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?iso=20260620T080000&p1=31&p2=240&p3=196&p4=102&p5=136&p6=103&p7=176
If you need to miss one of these sessions, you’ll be able to catch up by viewing a recording.

About Christine
Christine Longaker is a pioneer of the hospice movement and author of Facing Death and Finding Hope , translated into 9 languages. She’s co-author of Are You Ready and of published research on the benefits of Spiritual Care Training. She founded Rigpa in the USA in 1981, the Spiritual Care Education Program in 1993, and co-produced an in-depth accredited Contemplative Palliative Care training at Naropa University. Christine has produced an album of meditations: “Joy, Ease and Self-Forgiveness”, guides self-compassion meditations online every Sunday and leads a yearly retreat in Sri Lanka. Christine infuses her seminars with heartfelt presence, humor, and clarity. Read more at www.christinelongaker.com.

The Search for a Sense of Personal Identity: a Buddhist View
2026-10-04 10:00 - 12:30 | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
The Search for a Sense of Personal Identity: A Buddhist View
Moving through the highs and lows of life can challenge our sense of self, and even create an identity crisis, leading us asking ‘who are we in the face of loss and failure?’ Conversely, experiences of success can feel self-affirming, but may leave us fearing that they will not last or simply leave us wanting more. The Buddha found that the underlying cause of so much of our suffering is the immense pain of having lost touch with who we really are.
In this morning teaching, Dominique Side will present some Buddhist insights into our true identity, and show how, by nurturing a deeper understanding of who we really are, we can begin to find the confidence and inner strength to weather life’s ups and downs.
With Dominique’s fresh approach to this topic, this evening will be dynamic and interactive, with opportunities for personal reflection, group dialogue and questions & answers.
Details
Date: Sunday, 4 October 2026
Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm
Where: Temple on the Park, 158 Australia St, Newtown & Online
Fee (incl GST): Benefactor $75; Standard $55; Concession $18

Dominique Side’s Australian Tour
This talk is part of a series of five talks that Dominique will be presenting in Australia. Each talk covers a stand-alone topic, but follows a progressive sequence. We strongly encourage you to attend the session in your city in person, and join the others online. Register for all five talks and receive a 20% discount: register here.
This talk is one of two talks that Dominique will give on Sunday 4 October. Attend both the morning and afternoon talks and receive a 15% discount by registering here.

Understand Your Mind
2026-10-04 14:30 - 17:00 | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
Understand Your Mind
When we seek to find who we truly are, we may find ourselves identifying with our mind. Our thoughts, feelings, emotions and opinions colour so much of how we see and interact with the world around us.
In this teaching, Dominique Side will show how Buddhist psychology unpacks different facets of our mind to give us a clearer understanding of what mind is and how it functions. This gives us insights into how we can work with our mind to find a way out of our suffering and reveal our own capacity for inner peace.
Details
Date: Sunday, 4 October 2026
Time: 2:30 – 5:00pm
Where: Temple on the Park, 158 Australia St, Newtown & Online
Fee (incl GST): Benefactor $75; Standard $55; Concession $18
Dominique Side’s Australian Tour
This talk is part of a series of five talks that Dominique will be presenting in Australia. Each talk covers a stand-alone topic, but follows a progressive sequence. We strongly encourage you to attend the session in your city in person, and join the others online. Register for all five talks and receive a 20% discount: register here.
This talk is one of two talks that Dominique will give on Sunday 4 October. Attend both the morning and afternoon talks and receive a 15% discount by registering here.

A Clear View: Seeing Our World As It Really Is
2026-10-08 18:30 - 21:00 | Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown, nsw, 2290, Australia
From a Buddhist perspective, the root of all our troubles comes down to two types of mental affliction: destructive emotions such as anger, pride, jealousy, desire and ignorance; and the distorted way we see things.
In this teaching, Dominique Side will explore how our misperception of reality leads to pain and how we can turn this whole edifice around through mindfulness.

Details
Date: Thursday 8 October 2026
Time: 6:30 – 9:00pm
Where: Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith St, Charlestown & Online
Fee (incl GST): Benefactor $75; Standard $55; Concession $18

Dominique Side’s Australian Tour
This talk is part of a series of five talks that Dominique will be presenting in Australia. Each talk covers a stand-alone topic, but follows a progressive sequence. We strongly encourage you to attend the session in your city in person, and join the others online. Register for all five talks and receive a 20% discount: register here.

Finding Peace and Clarity in Meditation
2026-10-11 10:00 - 12:30 | Ballam Ballam Place, 15 Phoenix St, Brunswick, Victoria, 3056, Australia
The practices of mindfulness and meditation are powerful, effective and practical tools for transforming our state of mind from one of agitation, despair and confusion to one of peace and clarity. In this teaching, Dominique Side will present meditation practices that relate directly to our habits and emotions to show how such a transformation is possible.

Details
Date: Sunday, 11 October 2026
Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm
Where: Ballam Ballam Place, 15 Phoenix St, Brunswick & Online
Fee (incl GST): Benefactor $75; Standard $55; Concession $18

Dominique Side’s Australian Tour
This talk is part of a series of five talks that Dominique will be presenting in Australia. Each talk covers a stand-alone topic, but follows a progressive sequence. We strongly encourage you to attend the session in your city in person, and join the others online. Register for all five talks and receive a 20% discount: register here.
This talk is one of two talks that Dominique will give on Sunday 11 October. Attend both the morning and afternoon talks and receive a 15% discount by registering here.

What's This Thing We Call Happiness
2026-10-11 14:30 - 17:00 | Ballam Ballam Place, 15 Phoenix St, Brunswick, Victoria, 3056, Australia
The Buddhist path is not about superficial or short-term happiness and wellbeing. It is not therapy or a quick fix of any kind. And yet the benefits of bringing the Buddhist view into our lives are immense. In a nutshell, it can free us from the hopes and fears that entangle us and bog us down.
In this teaching, Dominique Side will explore what happiness is. Is it wellbeing? Is it contentment? Where do we find happiness in a world full of suffering? And together we’ll investigate how can we set ourselves a goal of true, sustainable, long-lasting happiness.
With Dominique’s fresh approach to this topic, this afternoon will be dynamic and interactive, with opportunities for personal reflection, group dialogue and questions & answers.

Details
Date: Sunday, 11 October 2026
Time: 2:30 – 5:00pm
Where: Ballam Ballam Place, 15 Phoenix St, Brunswick & Online
Fee (incl GST): Benefactor $75; Standard $55; Concession $18

Dominique Side’s Australian Tour
This talk is part of a series of five talks that Dominique will be presenting in Australia. Each talk covers a stand-alone topic, but follows a progressive sequence. We strongly encourage you to attend the session in your city in person, and join the others online. Register for all five talks and receive a 20% discount: register here .
This talk is one of two talks that Dominique will give on Sunday 11 October. Attend both the morning and afternoon talks and receive a 15% discount by registering here .
