The Wealth of Our Innate Wakefulness - Saturday 8 November 2025
2025-11-08 09:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson St, Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria, 3054, Australia
Please note that the teachings in day 2 follow on from day 1 with a beginning, middle and end, and therefore it is advisable to register for both days. All effort will be made to help those unable to attend both days to catch up.
A weekend teaching on buddha nature
Out of all of Buddha’s teachings, those on buddha nature communicate most directly what lies at their heart: that we are fundamentally good, and our essential nature, our identity, is the same profound, peaceful, stainless, lucid, and unconditioned‍ essence that Buddha himself discovered as a result of following the spiritual path.
Confidence in buddha nature is deeply transformative in terms of our outlook on life; the way we view ourselves, the world around us, our values and priorities in life, our relationship to our spiritual path: all this is touched by the teachings on buddha nature.
This weekend teaching will bring together classic Indian and Tibetan Buddhist teachings on buddha nature, and contemporary teachings by Sogyal Rinpoche, which will give us the opportunity to discover our own buddha nature, and give expression to it in our thoughts and actions.
We will work together on building confidence in our buddha nature through the practice of contemplation — which will enable us to see its relevance to our own lives and experience — and more experientially, through the practice of meditation: learning to let go and relax in the clarity and awareness of our mind which is available to us all the time.
Together we will reflect on questions like:

What are we looking for in life? And why?
Who are we really? If our thoughts, emotions, our body, and our world are always changing, is there something in us that is really ‘us ’, which is constant and unchanging?
What is mind?
How can I know I have buddha nature?
If my mind’s nature is buddha nature, why am I suffering?
How to overcome fear?
How do we habitually relate to ourselves and others? And why?
What is wisdom? And what is compassion?
How can I come to fully actualise my buddha nature?

About Jan van der Breggen
Jan began his path of meditation at 17 years old, touched by the tenderness of the human experience and filled with questions about what reality was all about. Forty years later, Jan continues to be moved by the vast profundity of the Buddhist path and its vision of the inherent wisdom, loving kindness and strength that lies in the minds of each and every one of us.
Jan completed Rigpa’s three-year retreat under the guidance of Sogyal Rinpoche. He was entrusted as one of Rigpa’s Senior teachers by Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche and Mindroling Jetsun Khandro in 2022. Jan has been a participant in the Milinda program since 2017. Milinda is a 10-year, international Buddhist teacher training program under the guidance of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, with a three month per year intensive and immersive in-person learning and reflection program.
Jan grew up in the Netherlands where he obtained a Masters Degree in Social and Historical Anthropology. He has lived in Brisbane, Australia, since 1998, and was instrumental in founding Rigpa Brisbane in 1999, where he has served as a Dharma instructor for over 20 years.
About Alessandra Pizzardello
Alessandra is a dedicated practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism with over 20 years of study and retreat experience, including at Rigpa Shedra East in Nepal.
Originally from Italy, she also lived in Sweden and Australia, where she started a successful business that has been running for over two decades before deciding to fully committing to the Dharma. Rooted in the Nyingma and Longchen Nyingtik traditions, Alessandra has been sharing the Buddhist teachings as a Dharma instructor in Australia for several years, with the heartfelt wish to support and inspire others on their own path of study and practice.

Cost for each day :
Sangha and Concession: $30 per day
Full Price: $50 per day
Benefactor $75 per day
BYO lunch
Morning and Afternoon tea provided

Self Forgiveness in the Light of Compassion
2025-11-08 19:00 - 21:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Online via Zoom, Australia
A seminar with Christine Longaker
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 self-blame. But punishing ourselves only deepens our suffering. 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 lightens your heart. As you cultivate forgiveness and compassion for yourself, you’ll naturally feel empathy and understanding for others— which brings more kindness and healing into your family and the entire world.
Seminar topics:
● Dismantling the barriers to self-forgiveness
● Understanding your life with kindness and acceptance
● Transforming your “inner critic”
● A few good reasons to let yourself off the hook
● Meditations that deepen authentic compassion and forgiveness for yourself and others

About Christine Longaker
Christine Longaker co-founded one of the first home care hospices in California in 1978, and helped establish the international Spiritual Care Program in 1993, in which she trained teams of caregivers who collectively brought the vision of compassionate care for the dying to over 30,000 people. Her book, Facing Death and Finding Hope: A Guide to the Emotional and Spiritual Care of the Dying, is published in eight languages. For forty years, Christine Longaker has become an internationally renowned teacher on meditation, compassion, and care for the dying. Her trainings inspired the founding of four hospices and two spiritual care centers.
Longaker was developer and faculty for the six-month “Contemplative End-of-Life Care” training that was accredited by Naropa University in Colorado. The long-term benefits of spiritual care training were demonstrated in research she co-authored that was published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine in 2005.
Because self-compassion is the most vital ingredient for inner healing, building resilience and the essential precursor to having compassion for others, Christine Longaker’s vision is to bring the skills and methods of self-compassion to many areas of endeavor. This, combined with her decades of spiritual training and skill in communicating with diverse audiences, bring unique insights and powerful methods to the work.

The Wealth of Our Innate Wakefulness - Sunday 9 November 2025
2025-11-09 09:00 - 15:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson St, Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria, 3054, Australia

Expanding Our Heart: Love and Compassion in Everyday Life
2025-11-16 09:30 - 16:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
An Experiential Workshop with Valerie Baker,
Newcastle in Person, Sunday 16th November, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Carrington Memorial Hall, 1A Hargraves St Carrington, NSW 2294.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
— His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Many people think of compassion as something we either have or don’t — in the Buddhist tradition, however, compassion is a quality we can consciously develop, just like mindfulness or concentration.
Rigpa Newcastle warmly invites you to a special workshop with Buddhist teacher Valerie Baker.
Valerie will guide us through profound yet practical methods from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, showing how compassion can grow our daily lives.
Together we will explore:

How compassion can transform the way we relate to ourselves and others.
What begins to unfold when we actively cultivate compassion.
The Four Immeasurables — loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity — timeless practices for opening the heart to others.
Simple guided exercises that bring ease, connection, and a sense of spaciousness.

At a time when compassion is needed more than ever, this is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and discover that compassion is not just an ideal, but a practice that can be learned, deepened, and shared.
📍Carrington Memorial Hall, 1A Hargraves St Carrington, (Newcastle). It is a charming hall, is wheelchair accessible and has easy parking.
🗓️ Sunday 16th November
⏰ 9.30am – 4.30pm
with breaks for morning and afternoon tea (supplied) and lunch (not supplied).
About Valerie

Valerie grew up in Ireland and has been a student of Buddhism since the early 1990s and has completed several traditional closed retreats. For the last 20 years, Valerie has developed Buddhist courses and study programmes for Rigpa and has held teaching and practice events around the world.
She is known for her clarity, her sense of humour, kindness and humility. She currently lives and works at the Lerab Ling Retreat Centre in France.

Expanding Our Heart: Love and Compassion in Everyday Life
2025-11-16 09:30 - 16:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Online via Zoom, Australia
An Experiential Workshop with Valerie Baker
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
— His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Many people think of compassion as something we either have or don’t — in the Buddhist tradition, however, compassion is a quality we can consciously develop, just like mindfulness or concentration.
Valerie will guide us through profound yet practical methods from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, showing how compassion can grow our daily lives.
Together we will explore:

How compassion can transform the way we relate to ourselves and others.
What begins to unfold when we actively cultivate compassion.
The Four Immeasurables — loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity — timeless practices for opening the heart to others.
Simple guided exercises that bring ease, connection, and a sense of spaciousness.

At a time when compassion is needed more than ever, this is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and discover that compassion is not just an ideal, but a practice that can be learned, deepened, and shared.
📍Online
🗓️ Sunday 16th November
⏰ 9.30am – 4.30pm
with breaks for morning and afternoon tea (supplied) and lunch (not supplied).
This event is open to everyone in person – both beginners and those with experience in meditation and compassion practices.
However, online participation is limited to people who already have some experience with these practices.‘

Rigpa Australia Sangha members can choose the concession rate when registering.

About Valerie
Valerie grew up in Ireland and has been a student of Buddhism since the early 1990s and has completed several traditional closed retreats. For the last 20 years, Valerie has developed Buddhist courses and study programmes for Rigpa and has held teaching and practice events around the world.
She is known for her clarity, her sense of humour, kindness and humility. She currently lives and works at the Lerab Ling Retreat Centre in France.

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart and Mind | Mind is Like the Sky - Nov/Dec - Sydney and Online
2025-11-19 18:30 - 2025-12-17 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne)
Mind is Like the Sky: Discover Inner Peace and Contentment in the True Nature of Your Mind
In this course, we will learn to:
· Sit with what is, cultivating a gentle curiosity toward our inner world.
· Explore the space between thoughts, discovering the innate clarity and peace that is always present.
· Work with energy and emotion not as enemies, but as natural expressions of a dynamic mind.
· Rest in awareness itself, moving from thinking about experience to directly knowing it.

This is a deeply experiential path. It is for those who feel a call to look inward, to move beyond concepts, and to touch the timeless wisdom that has illuminated hearts for centuries. No prior experience is necessary, only an open heart and a willingness to explore.

Join us. Let’s journey together from the turbulence of the surface to the profound stillness of the depths.

How to Survive Your Mind
2025-12-06 09:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Awakening Love Within
Saturday 6 December | 9.30am – 12.00 noon

How to Survive Your Mind – mindfulness, awareness and compassion practices for yourself in everyday life.
A monthly program on the first Saturday of the month that introduces you to meditation and discusses a topic of general interest.
This month’s topic is Awakening Love Within
Feel free to come along to any session that suit 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.
Location: Rigpa Adelaide
The Theosophical Society Building
1st Floor, Upper Hall
310 South Terrace, Adelaide

Break Free from Self Obsession
2025-12-06 15:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
We invite you to join us to investigate how self-centredness stacks up against a
more compassionate view, look at some simple, practical things we can do to
soften our self-obsession, and introduce loving kindness practice, one of the
core entryways into the vast toolkit of the Buddhist compassion practices.
🗓️ Saturday 6 December
⏰ 3-5pm AEDT (12 noon Perth, 2.30pm Adelaide, 5.00am CET, 11 pm Friday US East, 8:00pm Friday US West)
📍Online & Sydney

Inspiring a Revolution in Your Heart & Mind
2025-12-31 08:00 - 2026-12-31 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
Reflect on the Buddhist teachings, see what makes sense to you, and apply these teachings in your daily life.
Newcastle, Sydney & Online
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.

Sydney and Online
When: Wednesday evenings, all year, join any week, next module starts 29 April
6:30-8:30pm AEST (9:30am CET, 3:30am Thurs US East)
Where: Online via Zoom, Rigpa Sydney 158 Australia St, Newtown
Pricing: 5 week block: full $100, concession $50, free for Rigpa subscribers
Click here to view the Sydney and Online event.
Sydney In Person
When: Friday mornings, all year, join any week, next module starts 8 May
10:00-11:30am AEST
Where: Rigpa Sydney 158 Australia St, Newtown
Pricing: 10 week block: full $100, concession $50, or pay at the door, free for Rigpa subscribers
Find the Friday course here

Newcastle in Person – Module 2, Impermanence, Reflection and Change.
When: Tuesday mornings, five sessions, starting 5 May, 10:00am-12:00pm AEST
Click here to view the Newcastle morning event
When: Thursday evenings, five sessions, starting 7 May, 6:30pm-8:30pm AEST
Click here to view the Newcastle evening event
Where: Rigpa Newcastle, 2/2 Smith St, Charlestown
Pricing: 5 week block: full $100, concession $50, free for Rigpa subscribers

The Wisdom of Compassion
2025-12-31 08:00 - 2026-12-31 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Presenting the powerful Buddhist logic of compassion and practical methods for devoloping a more kind relationship with ourselves, those around us and ultimately all beings.
Adelaide

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.

Adelaide
Tuesday evenings, all year
6:30-8:30pm ACDT
Rigpa Adelaide, 310 South Terrace, Adelaide
5 week block: full $75, concession $50, free for Rigpa subscribers
Email adelaide@rigpa.org.au for details

Enlightened Courage
2025-12-31 08:00 - 2026-12-31 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
Enlightened Courage: the secret to training and transforming your mind with wisdom and compassion
Presenting the Seven Points of Mind Training to lay out a path of formal meditation practice to help us express our enlightened heart in everything we think, say and do.
Online
Friday mornings
Featuring 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.
Online – Term 6
When: Friday mornings, 11 sessions starting 24 April
9.30am – 11.30am AEST (11:30pm CET, 5.30pm Thu US East)
Where: Online via Zoom
Pricing: $220, concession $110, free for Rigpa subscribers
Book Now

The All Encompassing Path
2025-12-31 08:00 - 2026-12-31 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
Exploring compassion practices set within the context of the Vajrayana preliminaries, the ngöndro, in a fresh and meaningful way.
Online
Thursday evenings

The All-Encompassing Path to Enlightenment (AEPE) is the main study programme in Rigpa, for students of all levels: new, more advanced or in-between. This year, the AEPE will focus on compassion practices. These will be set within the context of the vajrayana preliminary practices, called Ngöndro in Tibetan.
Rigpa’s most experienced teachers will guide us through the key principles of the Ngöndro, helping us to explore these principles in a fresh, up-to-date, real life way, while preserving their authenticity. These practices are a complete path in themselves and also the foundation for Vajrayana and Dzogchen practice, encompassing all the elements needed to prepare us to fully receive the Great Perfection teachings of Dzogchen, the highest and most direct stream of wisdom within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. So no matter where we are on our path, the AEPE will support us in taking it to completion.

Online
When: Thursday evenings, all year
6:00-7:30pm AEDT (8:00am CET, 2:00am Mon US East)
Where: Online via Zoom
Pricing: free for Rigpa subscribers
Register

The Home Retreat
2025-12-31 08:00 - 2026-12-31 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
A weekly online study program
This seven-year program is a comprehensive, authentic program of study and practice embedded in the Longchen Nyingtik lineage and Sogyal Rinpoche’s Dzogchen teachings.

The Home Retreat is one of the most comprehensive and authentic Tibetan Buddhist teaching and practice programs offered anywhere in the world.
The Home Retreat is an on-line study and practice program intended for Rigpa students who wish to follow the vast and unique teachings of Sogyal Rinpoche. It incorporates all of the teachings from Sogyal Rinpoche’s 2006 Three-Year Retreat plus some additional topics.
The Home Retreat is embedded in the Longchen Nyingtik lineage and the teachings of the ‘Great Perfection’, Dzogpachenpo, a dynamic, unbroken, living lineage of wisdom and compassion that leads us on a journey through the three yanas.
In addition to the weekly on-line study program, the Home Retreat offers regular Zoom study sessions and monthly Zoom group gatherings. The Home Retreat does ask that you maintain a stable commitment to your study and practice each week.
(Completion of all Home Retreat modules, and 50 percent of the Ngöndro accumulations is a prerequisite for entry into Rigpa’s Dzogchen Mandala.)
This exciting and dynamic seven year program is open to all Rigpa Mandala students. It is anticipated that our next intake into the Home Retreat will occur in May 2027.
If you are a Rigpa mandala student who is interested in applying for the Home Retreat program, please email rigpa.australia@rigpa.org.au.

Three mornings of meditation for the New Year I Melbourne
2026-01-01 10:00 - 10:45 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson St, Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria, 3054, Australia
Come and Meditate! January 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 10 am until 10.45 am.
Start the New Year in peace and harmony. Whether you’re new to meditation or an old hand, these guided sessions are for everyone.
An experienced meditation instructor will hold these practices for three mornings.
Come for one, two or all three. You are welcome to share in a tea or coffee after if you’d like.
Suggested donation at the door: $10 for workers or $5 for concession per session. Members free.

Thursday Drop-in meditation/Brisbane
2026-01-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Rigpa Brisbane, Unit 2/19 Enoggera Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
These drop-in meditation sessions are a good opportunity to practice meditation in a supportive environment.
All are welcome and basic guidance is given.
Pre-booking is not required.
Enquiries: brisbane@rigpa.org.au

Guided Meditation on Saturdays in Sydney 9 - 10am
2026-01-03 09:00 - 10:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
Join us in person at our National Center in Newtown on Saturday mornings for a guided meditation session 9-10 am.
Sessions are led by experienced meditation instructors for 1 hour, divided into several shorter sessions with stretch breaks.
All welcome at 158 Australia St, Newtown and there is no need to book.
Attendance is by donation.

Know your mind, transform your life
2026-01-22 - 2026-01-26 | Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
This five-day retreat will take you to the heart of the revolutionary insight of Buddhism, that life and death are in the mind, and nowhere else. In Dzogchen—the most direct stream of wisdom within the teachings of Buddhism—the mind is revealed as the universal basis of experience: the creator of happiness and the creator of suffering.
Guided by the teachings of the Buddha, deep reflection, and our own personal meditative insight, we will investigate exactly how the mind is the root of our entire reality. This exploration leads to a profound certainty and confidence in our mind’s essence: the lucid, pure awareness that underlies the whole of life and death.
The foundation of trust in our inherently pure nature, allows us to investigate

how the mind’s unending display of thoughts and emotions are workable
the cognitive and emotional patterns of delusion that perpetuate samsara; and
the challenging, yet liberating notion, that ‘samsara is mind turned outwardly, lost in its projection, whereas nirvana is mind turned inwardly, recognising its nature.’

This paves the way to the profound method of leaving the mind unaltered in its true nature, finding a natural great peace, bliss and clarity.
The retreat will allow for reflection and meditation on the teachings tailored to each participants’ prior experience: from complete beginners to ngondro, and dzogchen practitioners.
Join us for a journey from our ordinary, everyday mind, to the true essence and nature of mind.

📍Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson St, Carlton North;
📍Rigpa Sydney, 158 Australia St, Newtown
📍& Online
(Those gathering at the Rigpa Melbourne Centre will view the live event from Sydney via Zoom. To attend the retreat at the Melbourne Centre, please select the online option when registering. You may register to attend part or all of the retreat. Our Melbourne team will then be in touch to confirm arrangements.)

Saturday Drop-in meditation/Brisbane
2026-01-31 09:00 - 10:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Rigpa Brisbane, Unit 2/19 Enoggera Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

This Life: The Buddha’s guide to inner transformation | Melbourne
2026-02-02 19:00 - 21:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson St, Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria, 3054, 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 Melbourne, 803 Nicholson Street Carlton North.
When: Monday evenings, for 8 weeks, starting 2 February 2026.
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm AEDT.
Cost: 8-week module: Full $160, Concession $80.

FREE for Rigpa members who may email melbourne@rigpa.org.au to request the discount code.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please email us at melbourne@rigpa.org.au to request a further concession.
Certificates of Attendance are available on request and may be suitable for Ongoing Professional Development.
More information is available by emailing melbourne@rigpa.org.au

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) | Victoria
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) | Victoria
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)
