This Life - The Buddha's Guide to Inner Transformation
2026-02-03 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
The Buddhist spiritual path centres on our own mind’s vast potential for peace, compassion and wisdom. True lasting happiness does not depend on external factors but comes from looking inwards to better know our own mind and heart. This course presents key insights from the Buddha’s life and teachings to show how, through meditation and shifting our focus inwards, we can find true, unending contentment.
This course presents key Buddhist frameworks that guide our path, including:

The four noble truths (a clear-eyed view of our suffering, its causes, the potential for that suffering to be brought to an end, and how to attain that cessation of suffering)
The three vehicles of Buddhism, which progressively show how we can nurture our innate peace, compassion and wisdom
The four seals, which encapsulate what is unique about the Buddha’s teachings and sets them apart from other religions and philosophies.

Including teachings from foremost Tibetan masters of our time, space for contemplation, reflection and discussion, and guided meditations, this course will give you practical tools to help you work with your mind and take charge of your spiritual path.

Details
Where: Attend in person at Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, or online via Zoom.
When: Tuesday evenings, for 5 weeks, starting 3 February 2026

This Life: The Buddha's guide to inner transformation
2026-02-03 19:00 - 2026-12-15 21:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | nsw
The Buddhist spiritual path centres on our own mind’s vast potential for peace, compassion and wisdom. True lasting happiness does not depend on external factors but comes from looking inwards to better know our own mind and heart. This course presents key insights from the Buddha’s life and teachings to show how, through meditation and shifting our focus inwards, we can find true, unending contentment.
This course presents key Buddhist frameworks that guide our path, including:

The four noble truths (a clear-eyed view of our suffering, its causes, the potential for that suffering to be brought to an end, and how to attain that cessation of suffering.
The three vehicles of Buddhism, which progressively show how we can nurture our innate peace, compassion and wisdom.
The four seals, which encapsulate what is unique about the Buddha’s teachings and sets them apart from other religions and philosophies.

Including teachings from foremost Tibetan masters of our time, space for contemplation, reflection and discussion, and guided meditations, this course will give you practical tools to help you work with your mind and take charge of your spiritual path.

Sydney and Online
Tuesday evenings, all year. Next topic – The Three Vehicles: Peace, Compassion & Wisdom, starting 28 April
6:30-8:30pm AEST (9:30am CET, 3:30am US East)
Online via Zoom, or in person at Rigpa Sydney 158 Australia St, Newtown
9 week block: free for Rigpa subscribers/members
Book Now

Melbourne
Monday evenings, all year. Next module starts 27 April.
7:00pm-9:00pm AEST
Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson St, Carlton North
9 week block: full $180, concession $90, free for Rigpa subscribers
Book Now

Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life
2026-02-07 09:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Make Friends with Your Mind
Saturday 7 February | 9.30am – 12.00 noon
These Saturday morning sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age.
Your mind can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. This session will introduce simple meditation practices that allow us to glimpse the pure mind that underlies all our emotions so that we can find lasting peace and sanity.
Feel free to come along to any session that suits you. No need to register, just drop in.
Fee: Standard $15, Concession/Student $10
We do not have credit card facilities, please bring cash.
Cost negotiable depending on your financial circumstances.

Make Friends with Your Mind | Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life
2026-02-07 15:00 - 17:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
Make Friends with Your Mind
Your mind can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. This session will introduce simple meditation practices that allow us to glimpse the pure mind that underlies all our emotions so that we can find lasting peace and sanity.
A session in the Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Every Day Life series.
Spend time with your best self on a journey from sadness and anger to peace and joy. The timeless wisdom and meditative insights of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition offer many practical methods to help us heal and thrive as we face the everyday challenges of anxiety, depression, anger, physical pain, loneliness, and burnout.
This series of Saturday afternoon sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age. Applying these teachings can help us meet the challenges of these difficult times, to heal ourselves, and to bring us to the core of our own peace, compassion and wisdom.
Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Dungse Jampal Norbu and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment and to connect with a community of practitioners

Dates and Topics for 2026
7 March A Path to Fearlessness
4 April No session due to Easter retreat
2 May Calming the Mind and Overcoming Anxiety
6 June No session due to the Finding Inner Peace and Contentment retreat
4 July Where Can We Find Lasting Happiness?
1 August Everything is Workable
5 September Overcoming Depression
3 October Accentuate the Positive: How to Work with Negative Emotions
7 November Beating Burnout and Stress
5 December How to Remain Unshaken By Life’s Ups and Downs

Guided Meditation
2026-02-11 11:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Returning of 11 February 2026
Every Wednesday, all are welcome to join this 1-hour drop-in meditation session. Sit quietly with others and rest your mind.
Simple instructions provided.
No need to register, just drop in.
By donation.

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind
2026-02-11 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
Join us on an experiential journey through The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Discover a deep and universal wisdom explored in the major themes of the book, and learn about their practical implications for living well. Suitable for people of any religion or of none, this course encourages you to reflect on the Buddhist teachings, to see what makes sense to you and to experiment with applying these teachings in your daily life.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of Tibetan Buddhism. A manual for life and death and a source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. The teachings, meditation and contemplations from this authentic tradition reveal how each of us can live a more meaningful, connected and fulfilling life.
Participants in this course will learn:

How to meditate
How an acceptance of impermanence can help us understand death and change our attitude towards life
How meditation can transform our perception, increase our confidence and fully connect us to the world around us
That mind is much more than just thoughts and emotions
How understanding the interdependency of all things and the principle of karma (that every action has an effect) gives us a logical basis for ethics and personal responsibility

Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan and Western Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment.

A year long course you can join at any time.
📍 Online and Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown.
🗓️ Wednesday evenings, for 5 weeks starting 11 February
⏰ 6.30pm – 8.30pm (AEST)

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind
2026-02-13 10:00 - 11:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
Join us on an experiential journey through The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Discover a deep and universal wisdom explored in the major themes of the book, and learn about their practical implications for living well. Suitable for people of any religion or of none, this course encourages you to reflect on the Buddhist teachings, to see what makes sense to you and to experiment with applying these teachings in your daily life.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of Tibetan Buddhism. A manual for life and death and a source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. The teachings, meditation and contemplations from this authentic tradition reveal how each of us can live a more meaningful, connected and fulfilling life.

Participants in this course will learn:

How to meditate
How an acceptance of impermanence can help us understand death and change our attitude towards life
How meditation can transform our perception, increase our confidence and fully connect us to the world around us
That mind is much more than just thoughts and emotions
How understanding the interdependency of all things and the principle of karma (that every action has an effect) gives us a logical basis for ethics and personal responsibility

Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan and Western Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment.

A year-long course that students can join at any stage.
Details
This first module will give participants a taste of the main themes of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, including meditation, finding inner peace and contentment and the true nature of our own mind.
“In this book I endeavoured to share some of the wisdom of the tradition I gre up in. I sought to show the practical nature of its ancient teachings and how they can help us at every stage of living and dying. Many people, over the years, had urged me to write this book. They said it would help relieve some of the intense sufferings that so many of us go through in the modern world.”
– Sogyal Rinpoche

Where: In person at Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown.
When: Friday mornings, for 10 weeks starting 13th February 2026.
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am (AEDT) Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time.
Cost:
Individual sessions: Full $20, Concession $10
10-week module: Full $100, Concession $50
FREE for Rigpa members/subscribers who may email sydney@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at sydney@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.

This Life: The Buddha's guide to inner transformation
2026-02-17 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
The Buddhist spiritual path centres on our own mind’s vast potential for peace, compassion and wisdom. True lasting happiness does not depend on external factors but comes from looking inwards to better know our own mind and heart. This course presents key insights from the Buddha’s life and teachings to show how, through meditation and shifting our focus inwards, we can find true, unending contentment.
This course presents key Buddhist frameworks that guide our path, including:– The four noble truths (a clear-eyed view of our suffering, its causes, the potential for that suffering to be brought to an end, and how to attain that cessation of suffering)– The three vehicles of Buddhism, which progressively show how we can nurture our innate peace, compassion and wisdom– The four seals, which encapsulate what is unique about the Buddha’s teachings and sets them apart from other religions and philosophies.
Including teachings from foremost Tibetan masters of our time, space for contemplation, reflection and discussion, and guided meditations, this course will give you practical tools to help you work with your mind and take charge of your spiritual path.
Online and Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown.

Power Up Your Heart
2026-02-20 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
Power Up Your Heart
Loving Kindness and a Clear Mind in a Queer World
A Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Event
Join us for an inspiring and inclusive evening of meditation, contemplation and open discussion.
Identifying as LGBTQIA+ often comes packaged with deep questions about your own identity and a search to find an accepting, affirming community. Buddhist meditation and compassion practices offer grounded, practical tools to support the journey of finding answers to those questions and our community of meditation practitioners welcomes and supports everyone.
At Power Up Your Heart, we’ll share :

A guided meditation
A loving kindness contemplation honouring the hurt LGBTQIA+ people experience
Free flowing discussion
Drag performances and some music to lift the mood
Light refreshments

🗓️ 20 February 2026
⏰ 6:30 – 8:30pm
📍Temple on the Park, 158 Australia St, Newtown
💰Free
Registration is essential as places are strictly limited.

The "I can't meditate" trap (and how to escape it)
2026-02-21 09:00 - 2026-02-22 16:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | nsw
A Weekend Course, 21-22 February, 9am – 4.30pm.
Free introductory zoom call on Wednesday 11th February, 7:00pm to 7:40pm.
In Person at Newcastle Rigpa Centre, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown 2290.

Many people believe meditation is something you either “get” or you don’t. They imagine a quiet mind or an instant sense of calm—then feel discouraged when thoughts inevitably show up! Western concepts of meditation have set us up to fail.
Meditation isn’t about banishing thoughts to achieve peace. It’s about changing our relationship with thoughts, so they no longer trigger anxiety, fear, or negativity. And it isn’t about becoming a different person. Meditation is about discovering the peace, clarity, and ease, that are already there— hidden beneath our habits of rushing, striving, and self-criticism.
This weekend course is an invitation to step out of that pattern and explore and experience meditation in its most natural form without pressure or performance.
Free introductory zoom call – This is a no obligation free introductory discussion about the weekend course “The ‘I can’t meditate’ trap (and how to escape it)”. You will meet the instructors Merryn and Craig who will describe the flow of the weekend, the types of meditation practices we will do during the weekend and answer any questions you might have. Click this button to register for the zoom call.
What we’ll explore together
Across the weekend, we’ll discover why trying to “force” meditation often backfires. Instead we’ll explore:
• How genuine ease can arise naturally
Discover the quality of ease already present in your very being through meditation.
• How mindfulness, awareness, and spaciousness work in everyday life
Not as abstract concepts, but as lived experiences that can shift how we respond to stress, relationships, and uncertainty.
• How everything can become meditation
Sitting, walking, eating, conversations, movement—even the difficult moments. Life becomes the practice.
• How to meet your mind with curiosity rather than judgment
This includes learning simple techniques to work with overthinking, restlessness, emotional turbulence, and sensory overwhelm.
• How change becomes possible without straining for it
When awareness deepens, clarity and resilience emerge on their own.
Who this course is for
This weekend is designed for people who:
• have tried meditating but feel they’re “not doing it right”
• have never meditated but are keen to dip your toe in
• are curious about meditation as a way of being, not just a technique
• feel stuck or overwhelmed and want a spacious reset
• want to build confidence in their ability to find inner peace and calm
What you’ll take away
By the end of the weekend, you can expect to leave with:
• a sense of ease you can access anytime
• practical tools for navigating stress and change
• a renewed relationship with your own mind and emotions
• confidence that meditation is possible for you
• a simple daily practice you can sustain
Why a weekend?
A short immersion allows you to slow down just enough to notice what’s always been available but rarely seen. This often leads to breakthroughs that are hard to access in quick or isolated sessions.
Evening Zoom call introduction – optional Wednesday 11 or 18th February
This is a free introduction to the weekend that you can attend as either a taster and introduction to the weekend or to help you decide if you want to attend the weekend course.
Meditation style and instructors
The techniques taught will be secular but based on the Tibetan Nyingma Buddhist meditation methods that are our tradition. These methods have been passed down from teacher to student for centuries.

Merryn Kennedy is a senior instructor with Rigpa Australia with over 30 years of meditation practice. She was a senior civil servant in the Commonwealth Government. Merryn is an active member of Rigpa supporting retreats throughout the year. She finds having a daily meditation practice not only brings a sense of optimism but is the key to being able to better respond to everyday events and setbacks.

Craig Dalton has been an instructor with Rigpa for over 15 years. He spends between 4 to 8 weeks in retreat each year. He is a public health physician and credits meditation practice with guiding him through the challenges of both work and raising two boisterous boys. He was the course coordinator for Buddhist and other Contemplative Traditions at the University of Newcastle.
What the schedule looks like
We will start the program at 9am each day and end no later than 4.30pm.
There will be a mix of sitting practice, meditation instructions and discussion. Some meditation sessions will be guided and others will be personal practice. Challenges to practice and integration in daily life will be discussed. We will have two 20 minute breaks and a 40 minute lunch break.
On Sunday, for those who would like to join us for a complimentary light breakfast, we’ll be there at 8am.
Accessibility statement
The venue is ground floor with good access for wheelchairs and those with reduced mobility. Unfortunately the toilet is not wheelchair-accessible. The room has opening windows for fresh air and air conditioning. It is a simple comfortable room, with easy access to the outside, and there will be an image or statue of the Buddha.
Setting
We create a cosy and quiet atmosphere, and people are welcome to take breaks outside whenever they wish, or to lie down if they need. Merryn and Craig are available to chat and questions are encouraged.
Maximum group size 25 people
What you need to bring
Bring a water bottle. A cushion will be available if you want to sit on the floor or you can bring your own. Chairs are also available. There is no “dress code”, just wear comfortable clothing.
If you’re ready to explore meditation in a fresh and empowering way, this weekend is a place to begin. All are welcome.
Course Details
Date – 21-22 February with a free introductory zoom call on Wednesday 11th February
Time – 9am – 4.30pm (at the latest)
Place – 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown
Cost – $180 full and $90 concession (we want no one to miss out because of finances so please contact us at newcastle@rigpa.org.au if you need assistance)

Cultivating Compassion
2026-02-21 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Online via Zoom, Australia
We are all looking for simple, practical ways to nurture our own inner goodness and find the peace and courage to live well in the face of a world full of stress, anxiety and disconnect
This online course presents Geshe Chekawa’s summation of the Tibetan Buddhist guidelines for living a compassionate life, The Seven Points of Mind Training.
These lojong (mind training) teachings have guided practitioners for more than a thousand years. Chekawa’s pithy slogans open the way for each of us to develop our own compassionate nature and apply it in everyday life. They offer a vital practical antidote to despair and despondency.
At the core of this course are video recordings of Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche’s comprehensive commentary on The Seven Points of Mind Training, given in 2018. These teachings are accompanied by guided practices that bring this commentary to life.
Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, one of Rigpa’s Spiritual Directors, is an outstanding meditation teacher. She is known for her penetrating wisdom and humour, conveying the Buddhist teachings in a concise and lively manner, enriched with personal anecdotes of particular relevance to the everyday life of the modern, fast-paced world.
The course has been deliberately designed to be slow and spacious.
If you wish, this will allow study of optional textual commentaries from other masters, contemporary and past. Explicitly referenced during the course are: Ringu Tulku Rinpoche‘s Mind Training; Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche‘s The Great Path of Awakening; and Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche‘s The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind. All demonstrate the profound benefits of studying and practising Lojong.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche is renowned for his ability to transmit the most complicated teachings in an accessible way, infused with warmth and humour. A master of the Kagyu Order, he was trained in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism under great masters including His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He has authored several books on Buddhism, including the Lazy Lama series and has taught at Rigpa’s annual retreat.
In Mind Training, he begins the chapter entitled “The Lojong Tradition” with the following.
“Mind Training comes directly from the Buddha and has been passed down to this day in an unbroken line. It was originally brought to Tibet from India in the eleventh century by the great Indian master Atisha Dipamkara (A.D. 982-1054).”
He goes on to say:
“The teachings of Buddhism are so vast and complicated that it would be impossible to study them all. Lojong contains, in a condensed form, the essence of all Buddhist thought. Our prospects in other traditional meditation methods depend to some extent on our individual level of ability but mind training is worthwhile for everyone and enriching in every situation.”
In the translator’s introduction to The Great Path of Awakening, we are told that Jamgon Kongtrul (1813 – 1899) produced five major works, known as The Five Treasuries, which “embrace all Tibetan learning and constitute one of the greatest contributions of the religious revival in eastern Tibet, the Ri-me movement” and that “His …influence on buddhism was enormous”.
He was one of many teachers “inspired or urged by their students to write further” on the subject of The Seven Points of Mind Training. and “he likely welcomed the opportunity to write on a highly regarded teaching that had, by his time, been assimilated by all schools of Buddhism in Tibet”.
In one translation of his subsequent commentary, he is quoted as saying:
“…we should strive only for the state of completely perfected buddhahood. There are no methods to effect this attainment other than those which rely on two forms of meditation: relative bodhicitta, which is training the mind in love and compassion, and ultimate bodhicitta, which is resting evenly in a non-discursive state free from conceptual elaborations.”
Kongtrul quotes the great Nagarjuna:
“If the rest of humanity and I
Wish to attain unsurpassable awakening,
The basis for this is bodhicitta
As stable as the King of Mountains:
Compassion, which touches everything,
And pristine wisdom, which does not rely on duality.”
From the early 1980s onwards, Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was a pioneer in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to Australia and a strong advocate of non-sectarianism. He taught extensively on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought.
2026 marks His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th year.
A ‘Year of Compassion’ has been declared in his honor and this course is offered in the spirit of the year.
It is open to all, but does assume some familiarity with meditation and the Buddhist understanding of interdependence.
Details
Where: Online
When: Saturday mornings, third Saturday of each month – 21 February; 21 March; 16 May; 20 June; 18 July; 15 August; 19 September; 21 November; 19 December 2026 and extending some way into 2027.
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm Australian Eastern Time
(12.30am Central European Time; 6.30pm Friday US East Coast Time, 3.30pm Friday US West Coast Time)
Cost:
Individual sessions: Full $20, Concession $10
FREE for Rigpa members/subscribers. Please email sydney@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at sydney@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.
NB This course takes a personal, intimate approach to working with these teachings so numbers will be limited to a maximum of 25 participants.
Places in the course will be assigned in the order in which valid registrations are received.

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind | Newcastle | Day Class
2026-02-24 09:30 - 11:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | nsw
Join us on an experiential journey through The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Discover a deep and universal wisdom explored in the major themes of the book, and learn about their practical implications for living well. Suitable for people of any religion or of none, this course encourages you to reflect on the Buddhist teachings, to see what makes sense to you and to experiment with applying these teachings in your daily life.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of Tibetan Buddhism. A manual for life and death and a source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. The teachings, meditation and contemplations from this authentic tradition reveal how each of us can live a more meaningful, connected and fulfilling life.
Participants in this course will learn:

How to meditate
How an acceptance of impermanence can help us understand death and change our attitude towards life
How meditation can transform our perception, increase our confidence and fully connect us to the world around us
That mind is much more than just thoughts and emotions
How understanding the interdependency of all things and the principle of karma (that every action has an effect) gives us a logical basis for ethics and personal responsibility

Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan and Western Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment.

This is module one of a year-long course that students can join at any stage. Each module focusses on a different topic.
Details
This first module will give participants a taste of the main themes of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, including meditation, finding inner peace and contentment and the true nature of our own mind.
“In this book I endeavoured to share some of the wisdom of the tradition I grew up in. I sought to show the practical nature of its ancient teachings and how they can help us at every stage of living and dying. Many people, over the years, had urged me to write this book. They said it would help relieve some of the intense sufferings that so many of us go through in the modern world.”
– Sogyal Rinpoche
Where: In person at Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown.
When: Tuesday mornings, 5 sessions, 24 February to 24 March
Who: All Welcome
Time: 9:30am-11:30am AEDT
Cost: 5 session module: Full $100, Concession $50
FREE for Rigpa members/subscribers who may email newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code. If you wish to join the class after the first session of a module then please contact us via email to register.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind | Newcastle | Evening Class
2026-02-26 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | nsw
Join us on an experiential journey through The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Discover a deep and universal wisdom explored in the major themes of the book, and learn about their practical implications for living well. Suitable for people of any religion or of none, this course encourages you to reflect on the Buddhist teachings, to see what makes sense to you and to experiment with applying these teachings in your daily life.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of Tibetan Buddhism. A manual for life and death and a source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. The teachings, meditation and contemplations from this authentic tradition reveal how each of us can live a more meaningful, connected and fulfilling life.
Participants in this course will learn:

How to meditate
How an acceptance of impermanence can help us understand death and change our attitude towards life
How meditation can transform our perception, increase our confidence and fully connect us to the world around us
That mind is much more than just thoughts and emotions
How understanding the interdependency of all things and the principle of karma (that every action has an effect) gives us a logical basis for ethics and personal responsibility

Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan and Western Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment.

This is module one of a year-long course that students can join at any stage. Each module focusses on a different topic.
Details
This first module will give participants a taste of the main themes of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, including meditation, finding inner peace and contentment and the true nature of our own mind.
“In this book I endeavoured to share some of the wisdom of the tradition I grew up in. I sought to show the practical nature of its ancient teachings and how they can help us at every stage of living and dying. Many people, over the years, had urged me to write this book. They said it would help relieve some of the intense sufferings that so many of us go through in the modern world.”
– Sogyal Rinpoche
Where: In person at Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown.
When: Thursday evenings, 5 sessions, 26 February to 26 March
Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm AEDT
Who: All welcome
Cost: 5 session module: Full $100, Concession $50
FREE for Rigpa members/subscribers who may email newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code. If you wish to join the class after the first session of a module then please contact us via email to register.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.

Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life
2026-03-07 09:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
A Path to Fearlessness
Saturday 7 March | 9.30am – 12.00 noon

These Saturday morning sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age.
The sense of fear is a useful tool for survival. Living in fear for fear’s sake, however, can be paralysing. This session will present a short teaching by Dungse Jampal Norbu as he explores the root causes of our fear, and how we can cultivate the antidote to them. From the Buddhist view, fear arises from three negative emotions: attachment, aversion, and ignorance. By investigating the source of our fears and confronting them with fierce compassion, Buddhism offers a path away from fear and anxiety towards courage.
Feel free to come along to any session that suits you. No need to register, just drop in.
Fee: Standard $15, Concession/Student $10
We do not have credit card facilities, please bring cash.
Cost negotiable depending on your financial circumstances.

A Path to Fearlessness | Meditation and Wisdom for Every Day
2026-03-07 15:00 - 17:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
The sense of fear is a useful tool for survival. Living in fear for fear’s sake, however, can be paralysing.
This session will present a short teaching by Dungse Jampal Norbu as he explores the root causes of our fear, and how we can cultivate the antidote to them. From the Buddhist view, fear arises from three negative emotions: attachment, aversion, and ignorance. By investigating the source of our fears and confronting them with fierce compassion, Buddhism offers a path away from fear and anxiety towards courage.

A session in the Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Every Day Life series.
Spend time with your best self on a journey from sadness and anger to peace and joy. The timeless wisdom and meditative insights of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition offer many practical methods to help us heal and thrive as we face the everyday challenges of anxiety, depression, anger, physical pain, loneliness, and burnout.
This series of Saturday afternoon sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age. Applying these teachings can help us meet the challenges of these difficult times, to heal ourselves, and to bring us to the core of our own peace, compassion and wisdom.
Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Dungse Jampal Norbu and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment and to connect with a community of practitioners

Dates and Topics for 2026
7 March A Path to Fearlessness
4 April No session due to Easter retreat
2 May Calming the Mind and Overcoming Anxiety
6 June No session due to the Finding Inner Peace and Contentment retreat
4 July Where Can We Find Lasting Happiness?
1 August Everything is Workable
5 September Overcoming Depression
3 October Accentuate the Positive: How to Work with Negative Emotions
7 November Beating Burnout and Stress
5 December How to Remain Unshaken By Life’s Ups and Downs

📍 Online and Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown.

The Wisdom of Compassion
2026-03-10 08:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Presenting key Buddhist teachings on the powerful logic of compassion and practical methods for developing a more kind relationship with ourselves, those around us and ultimately all beings.
Our innate capacity for empathy is the source of the very best of human qualities: love, kindness, generosity, warm-heartedness, courage, compassion. Although we are born with a vast capacity to love, we may not know how to do so unconditionally, or how to express that love in practice.
When our heart and mind are filled with love, we find the greatest inner healing, tranquillity and well-being. Modern research shows that with empathy and compassion we can be more fully ourselves, connect more easily with others, improve self-worth and reduce self-criticism, and lead healthier lives.
Register here.

The Wisdom of Compassion
2026-03-17 18:30 - 2026-04-14 20:30 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Presenting key Buddhist teachings on the powerful logic of compassion and practical methods for developing a kinder relationship with ourselves, those around us and ultimately all beings.
Our innate capacity for empathy is the source of the very best of human qualities: love, kindness, generosity, warm-heartedness, courage, compassion. Although we are born with a vast capacity to love, we may not know how to do so unconditionally, or how to express that love in practice.
When our heart and mind are filled with love, we find the greatest inner healing, tranquillity and well-being. Modern research shows that with empathy and compassion we can be more fully ourselves, connect more easily with others, improve self-worth and reduce self-criticism, and lead healthier lives.
Register here.

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind: Understanding Death & Impermanence
2026-03-18 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
All of us are touched by death in one way or another. The Buddha said, “If you want to know the truth of life and death, you must reflect continuously on this: there is only one law in the universe that never changes—that all things change, and that all things are impermanent.”
In the Buddhist approach, life and death are seen as one whole. Death is a mirror in which the entire meaning of life is reflected. And we do not have to wait for the death of someone close to us to force us into looking at our lives. We can begin, here and now, to find meaning in our lives.
Come with us on a journey investigating death and impermanence, through deep reflection on change and interconnectedness, to arrive at an appreciation of the vast potential of our own mind that is revealed when we let go of grasping at surface appearances.
📍 Online and Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown.
🗓️ Wednesday evenings, starting 18 March
⏰ 6.30pm – 8.30pm (Australian Eastern Time)

Cultivating Compassion
2026-03-21 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Online via Zoom, Australia
We are all looking for simple, practical ways to nurture our own inner goodness and find the peace and courage to live well in the face of a world full of stress, anxiety and disconnect
This online course presents Geshe Chekawa’s summation of the Tibetan Buddhist guidelines for living a compassionate life, The Seven Points of Mind Training.
These lojong (mind training) teachings have guided practitioners for more than a thousand years. Chekawa’s pithy slogans open the way for each of us to develop our own compassionate nature and apply it in everyday life. They offer a vital practical antidote to despair and despondency.
At the core of this course are video recordings of Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche’s comprehensive commentary on The Seven Points of Mind Training, given in 2018. These teachings are accompanied by guided practices that bring this commentary to life.
Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, one of Rigpa’s Spiritual Directors, is an outstanding meditation teacher. She is known for her penetrating wisdom and humour; conveying the Buddhist teachings in a concise and lively manner, enriched with personal anecdotes of particular relevance to the everyday life of the modern, fast-paced world.

The course has been deliberately designed to be slow and spacious.
If you wish, this will allow study of optional textual commentaries from other masters, contemporary and past. Explicitly referenced during the course are: Ringu Tulku Rinpoche’s Mind Training; Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche’s The Great Path of Awakening; and Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche’s The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind. All demonstrate the profound benefits of studying and practising Lojong.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche is renowned for his ability to transmit the most complicated teachings in an accessible way, infused with warmth and humour. A master of the Kagyu Order, he was trained in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism under great masters including His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He has authored several books on Buddhism, including the Lazy Lama series and has taught at Rigpa’s annual retreat.
In Mind Training, he begins the chapter entitled “The Lojong Tradition” with the following.
“Mind Training comes directly from the Buddha and has been passed down to this day in an unbroken line. It was originally brought to Tibet from India in the eleventh century by the great Indian master Atisha Dipamkara (A.D. 982-1054).”
He goes on to say:
“The teachings of Buddhism are so vast and complicated that it would be impossible to study them all. Lojong contains, in a condensed form, the essence of all Buddhist thought. Our prospects in other traditional meditation methods depend to some extent on our individual level of ability but mind training is worthwhile for everyone and enriching in every situation.”

In the translator’s introduction to The Great Path of Awakening, we are told that Jamgon Kongtrul (1813 – 1899) produced five major works, known as The Five Treasuries, which “embrace all Tibetan learning and constitute one of the greatest contributions of the religious revival in eastern Tibet, the Ri-me movement” and that “His …influence on buddhism was enormous”.
He was one of many teachers “inspired or urged by their students to write further” on the subject of The Seven Points of Mind Training. and “he likely welcomed the opportunity to write on a highly regarded teaching that had, by his time, been assimilated by all schools of Buddhism in Tibet”.
In one translation of his subsequent commentary, he is quoted as saying:
“…we should strive only for the state of completely perfected buddhahood. There are no methods to effect this attainment other than those which rely on two forms of meditation: relative bodhicitta, which is training the mind in love and compassion, and ultimate bodhicitta, which is resting evenly in a non-discursive state free from conceptual elaborations.”
Kongtrul quotes the great Nagarjuna:
“If the rest of humanity and I
Wish to attain unsurpassable awakening,
The basis for this is bodhicitta
As stable as the King of Mountains:
Compassion, which touches everything,
And pristine wisdom, which does not rely on duality.”
From the early 1980s onwards, Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was a pioneer in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to Australia and a strong advocate of non-sectarianism. He taught extensively on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought.

This course is open to all, but does assume some familiarity with meditation and the Buddhist understanding of interdependence.
This course takes a personal, intimate approach to working with these teachings so numbers will be limited to a maximum of 25 participants.

Online
Saturday mornings, third Saturday of the month
10.30am – 12.30pm AEDT (12:30am CET, 6:30pm Fri US East, 3:30pm Fri US West)
21 February; 21 March; 16 May; 20 June; 18 July; 15 August; 19 September; 21 November; 19 December 2026 and extending some way into 2027.
(There will not be sessions in April & October 2026).
$20, concession $10, free for Rigpa subscribers

Book Now

Make Friends with Your Mind | Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life | Melbourne
2026-03-21 14:00 - 16:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | nsw
Make Friends with Your Mind | Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life
March 21 @ 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
In person

Make Friends with Your Mind
Your mind can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. This session will introduce simple meditation practices that allow us to glimpse the pure mind that underlies all our emotions so that we can find lasting peace and sanity.
Spend time with your best self on a journey from sadness and anger to peace and joy. The timeless wisdom and meditative insights of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition offer many practical methods to help us heal and thrive as we face the everyday challenges of anxiety, depression, anger, physical pain, loneliness, and burnout.
This is a session in the Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Every Day Life series.
This series of Saturday afternoon sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age. Applying these teachings can help us meet the challenges of these difficult times, to heal ourselves, and to bring us to the core of our own peace, compassion and wisdom.
Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Dungse Jampal Norbu and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment and to connect with a community of practitioners

Details of future sessions are yet to be confirmed. Please contact melbourne@rigpa.org.au for more information.

Details

Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: Melbourne, in person
Register: Book Now

Cost: Full $20 Concession (seniors/under 35’s/concession) $10

If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at melbourne@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.

Free for Rigpa Sangha members. Please email melbourne@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code.

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind: The Deathless Unending Nature of Mind
2026-04-13 10:25 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
The Deathless Unending Nature of Mind
We have been taught to spend our lives chasing our thoughts and projections. Even when “mind” is talked about, what is referred to is thoughts and emotions alone… We rarely look into the mind itself, the ground from which all these expressions arise.
In this module, we explore our thoughts, emotions and mind to yield understandings that make meditation truly meaningful. The highest goal of meditation is to awaken in us the vast, wise and compassionate, sky-like nature of our mind and introduce to us who we really are: unchanging pure awareness. Instead of meditation being merely a way of bringing temporary relaxation, it can become a powerful cause for your long-lasting happiness and the benefit of others.

Book Group
2026-04-21 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
We meet on the third Tuesday of each month, 10:30am – 12:30pm.
We read and discuss an eclectic range of Buddhist books and books of wider interest.
We warmly invite you to join our friendly, lively discussions on the themes and challenges of our chosen book, followed by a short video and morning tea.
This group is free, but a donation towards the upkeep our temple would be appreciated.

Dates for 2026:
Tuesday 21 April
Tuesday 19 May
Tuesday 16 June
Tuesday 21 July
Tuesday 18 August
Tuesday 22 September
Tuesday 20 October
Tuesday 17 November
Tuesday 15 December

The Wisdom of Compassion
2026-04-21 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
The Wisdom of Compassion
Presenting key Buddhist teachings on the powerful logic of compassion and practical methods for developing a kinder relationship with ourselves, those around us and ultimately all beings.
Our innate capacity for empathy is the source of the very best of human qualities: love, kindness, generosity, warm-heartedness, courage, compassion. Although we are born with a vast capacity to love, we may not know how to do so unconditionally, or how to express that love in practice.
When our heart and mind are filled with love, we find the greatest inner healing, tranquillity and well-being. Modern research shows that with empathy and compassion we can be more fully ourselves, connect more easily with others, improve self-worth and reduce self-criticism, and lead healthier lives.
Registration: https://registration.rigpa.org.au/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1371

Enlightened Courage: the Secret to Training and Transforming your Mind with Wisdom and Compassion. Term Six, 2026.
2026-04-24 09:30 - 11:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown, nsw, 2290, Australia
Enlightened Courage: the secret to training and transforming your mind with wisdom and compassion.
Term 6, 11 Sessions, 24 April – 3 July,
Online via Zoom and In Person, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown, 2290
Fridays, 9.30am – 11.30am.
/MAHAYANA/
This class is a continuing course made up of terms. The class features teachings from Sogyal Rinpoche, Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche and Patrick Gaffney, this weekly course presents the Mahayana Seven Points of Mind Training. These points lay out a path of formal meditation practice, along with guidelines for extending that practice into everyday life.
These teachings are precious and unique in presenting the entire depth and breadth of the Buddha’s Mahayana teachings succinctly and practically. Mahayana mind training offers an approach to life that is straightforward, grounded in sanity, kindness, and compassion. Yet it also offers a vision that completely transcends our ordinary way of viewing ourselves and others, with an all-encompassing vision of enlightenment.
At the heart of this vision of enlightenment is the view that our innate, fundamental identity is vast, luminous and utterly awake. The Mahayana teachings refer to this as our enlightened heart, or bodhicitta. Enlightenment is nothing other than who we really are. But for most of us, our true nature is like a hidden treasure, concealed behind layers of mental activity and preoccupation. Mahayana mind training helps us give expression to our enlightened heart in everything we think, say and do.
Founded on a practice lineage that has been actively practised for hundreds of years, these teachings are completely relevant to the challenges posed by our modern, globalised life.
11 weekly classes: Term 6, Friday Mornings, 24 April – 3 July.
9.30am – 11.30am Australian Eastern Standard Time
Online via Zoom and In Person at 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown. 2290
full $220, concession $110
Free for Rigpa subscribers/ members ( please email newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request the subscriber discount code ).
This is the sixth term of a continuing course. If you wish to join after the first two weeks of a term then please register and pay a pro rata amount by sending an email enquiry to newcastle@rigpa.org.au. If you are a newer student and would like to study this text please email Rigpa Newcastle at newcastle@rigpa.org.au.

This Life: Key insights from the Buddha's life and teachings
2026-04-28 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
The Essence of the Three Yanas is the second module of the This Life course. It presents the key teachings and insights from the Buddha via the Three Vehicles: Peace, Compassion & Wisdom. Through this nine week course, we will explore how the treasure of this ancient wisdom may help us navigate the challenges in our modern society and learn to live a contented and meaningful life.
The course is aimed at people who have some experience of meditation and buddhist studies.
This course explores the Buddhist path to awakening through reflecting on the example of the Buddha, understanding the fundamental message of his teachings, the Dharma, and looking into the value of the spiritual community—the Sangha —dedicated to following in the Buddha’s footsteps.
This course explores the life of the Buddha, both in its historical context and from a spiritual perspective, and reflects on the relevance that the Buddha’s life has for us now.
It presents the key principles of the Buddha’s Dharma teachings: including the four noble truths and the four seals, which form the basis for all levels of practice on the Buddhist path. The course does not merely address these topics intellectually, but rather gives students the opportunity to explore and internalize these crucial points through contemplation and practise. This will include examining:
—The insights the Buddha’s teachings offer us about life and death.
—How Buddhism is both a religion and a science of mind, and how it differs from other religions and philosophies.
—The Buddhist view of the nature of reality and ourselves.
We will also explore the idea and value of a spiritual community, Sangha and the role it plays in the path to awakening.
For more experienced students this is a wonderful chance to clarify, reinforce and deepen the crucial principles of our view and practice.
Rigpa’s policy is that financial difficulties should not be an obstacle to attending our courses. If this is an issue for you and attending this course, please contact us at sydney@rigpa.org.au
Current Sangha Members/Subscribers can register FREE using their discount code.

Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life
2026-05-02 09:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Calming the Mind and Overcoming Anxiety
Saturday 2 May | 9.30am – 12.00 noon

These Saturday morning sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age.
Fear and anxiety disempower us. In this session we’ll present a short teaching by Sogyal Rinpoche that will help us look into the underlying source of our fears so that we can find a firm basis for confidence and contentment.
Feel free to come along to any session that suits you. No need to register, just drop in.
Fee: Standard $15, Concession/Student $10
We do not have credit card facilities, please bring cash.
Cost negotiable depending on your financial circumstances.

A path to fearlessness | Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life | Melbourne
2026-05-02 14:00 - 16:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | nsw
A path to fearlessness | Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Everyday Life
May 02 @ 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
In person
The sense of fear is a useful tool for survival. Living in fear for fear’s sake, however, can be paralysing. This session will present a short teaching by Dungse Jampal Norbu as he explores the root causes of our fear, and how we can cultivate the antidote to them. From the Buddhist view, fear arises from three negative emotions: attachment, aversion, and ignorance. By investigating the source of our fears and confronting them with fierce compassion, Buddhism offers a path away from fear and anxiety towards courage.
A session in the Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Every Day Life series.
Spend time with your best self on a journey from sadness and anger to peace and joy. The timeless wisdom and meditative insights of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition offer many practical methods to help us heal and thrive as we face the everyday challenges of anxiety, depression, anger, physical pain, loneliness, and burnout.
This series of Saturday afternoon sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age. Applying these teachings can help us meet the challenges of these difficult times, to heal ourselves, and to bring us to the core of our own peace, compassion and wisdom.
Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Dungse Jampal Norbu and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment and to connect with a community of practitioners

Details of future sessions are:

13 June – Calming the Mind and Overcoming Anxiety
26 September – Where Can We Find Lasting Happiness?
21 November – Everything is Workable
12 December – Overcoming Depression

Details
Topic: A Path to Fearlessness

Date: Saturday, May 2nd
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: Melbourne, in person
Website: Register
Cost: Full $20 | Concession (seniors/under 35’s/concession) $10

If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at melbourne@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.
Free for Rigpa Sangha members. Please email melbourne@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code.

Calming the Mind and Overcoming Anxiety | Meditation and Wisdom for Every Day
2026-05-02 15:00 - 17:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
Fear and anxiety disempower us. In this session we’ll present a short teaching by Sogyal Rinpoche that will help us look into the underlying source of our fears so that we can find a firm basis for confidence and contentment.

A session in the Meditation and Wisdom to Transform Every Day Life series.
Spend time with your best self on a journey from sadness and anger to peace and joy. The timeless wisdom and meditative insights of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition offer many practical methods to help us heal and thrive as we face the everyday challenges of anxiety, depression, anger, physical pain, loneliness, and burnout.
This series of Saturday afternoon sessions offer an introduction to meditation and practical advice from some of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our age. Applying these teachings can help us meet the challenges of these difficult times, to heal ourselves, and to bring us to the core of our own peace, compassion and wisdom.
Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Dungse Jampal Norbu and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment and to connect with a community of practitioners

Dates and Topics for 2026
4 April No session due to Easter retreat
2 May Calming the Mind and Overcoming Anxiety
6 June No session due to the Finding Inner Peace and Contentment retreat
4 July Where Can We Find Lasting Happiness?
1 August Everything is Workable
5 September Overcoming Depression
3 October Accentuate the Positive: How to Work with Negative Emotions
7 November Beating Burnout and Stress
5 December How to Remain Unshaken By Life’s Ups and Downs

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind: Impermanence, Reflection and Change / Newcastle/ Day Class
2026-05-05 10:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown, nsw, 2290, Australia
Join us on an experiential journey through The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Discover a deep and universal wisdom explored in the major themes of the book, and learn about their practical implications for living well. Suitable for people of any religion or of none, this course encourages you to reflect on the Buddhist teachings, to see what makes sense to you and to experiment with applying these teachings in your daily life.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of Tibetan Buddhism. A manual for life and death and a source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. The teachings, meditation and contemplations from this authentic tradition reveal how each of us can live a more meaningful, connected and fulfilling life.
Participants in this course will learn:

How to meditate
How an acceptance of impermanence can help us understand death and change our attitude towards life
How meditation can transform our perception, increase our confidence and fully connect us to the world around us
That mind is much more than just thoughts and emotions
How understanding the interdependency of all things and the principle of karma (that every action has an effect) gives us a logical basis for ethics and personal responsibility

Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan and Western Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment.

This is module two of a year-long course that students can join at any stage. Each module focuses on a different topic.
Details
Module Two – Impermanence, Reflection and Change
All of us are touched by death in one way or another. The Buddha said, “If you want to know the truth of life and death, you must reflect continuously on this: there is only one law in the universe that never changes—that all things change, and that all things are impermanent.”
In the Buddhist approach, life and death are seen as one whole. Death is a mirror in which the entire meaning of life is reflected. And we do not have to wait for the death of someone close to us to force us into looking at our lives. We can begin, here and now, to find meaning in our lives.
Come with us on a journey investigating death and impermanence, through deep reflection on change and interconnectedness, to arrive at an appreciation of the vast potential of our own mind that is revealed when we let go of grasping at surface appearances.
When: Tuesday mornings, 5 May to 2 June.
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Who: All welcome
Cost: 5 session module: Full $100, Concession $50
FREE for Rigpa members/subscribers who may email newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind: Impermanence, Reflection and Change | Newcastle | Evening Class
2026-05-07 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith Street, Charlestown, nsw, 2290, Australia
Join us on an experiential journey through The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Discover a deep and universal wisdom explored in the major themes of the book, and learn about their practical implications for living well. Suitable for people of any religion or of none, this course encourages you to reflect on the Buddhist teachings, to see what makes sense to you and to experiment with applying these teachings in your daily life.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of Tibetan Buddhism. A manual for life and death and a source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. The teachings, meditation and contemplations from this authentic tradition reveal how each of us can live a more meaningful, connected and fulfilling life.
Participants in this course will learn:

How to meditate
How an acceptance of impermanence can help us understand death and change our attitude towards life
How meditation can transform our perception, increase our confidence and fully connect us to the world around us
That mind is much more than just thoughts and emotions
How understanding the interdependency of all things and the principle of karma (that every action has an effect) gives us a logical basis for ethics and personal responsibility

Led by Western meditation instructors with many years of experience, each session consists of:

Video teachings from Tibetan and Western Buddhist masters including Sogyal Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Pema Chödrön and Sharon Salzberg.
Meditation practice
Time for contemplation
Group discussions and Q&A, offering you the opportunity to explore the teachings and practices in an open supportive environment.

This is module two of a year-long course that students can join at any stage. Each module focuses on a different topic.
Details
Module Two – Impermanence, Reflection and Change
All of us are touched by death in one way or another. The Buddha said, “If you want to know the truth of life and death, you must reflect continuously on this: there is only one law in the universe that never changes—that all things change, and that all things are impermanent.”
In the Buddhist approach, life and death are seen as one whole. Death is a mirror in which the entire meaning of life is reflected. And we do not have to wait for the death of someone close to us to force us into looking at our lives. We can begin, here and now, to find meaning in our lives.
Come with us on a journey investigating death and impermanence, through deep reflection on change and interconnectedness, to arrive at an appreciation of the vast potential of our own mind that is revealed when we let go of grasping at surface appearances.
When: Thursday evenings, 7 May to 4 June.
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Who: All welcome
Cost: 5 session module: Full $100, Concession $50
FREE for Rigpa members/subscribers who may email newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at newcastle@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.
