These new sessions “For the Benefit of All Beings” are held one Sunday each Month and presents teachings on the classic text the Bodhicharyavatara.

A bodhisattva is anyone who has generated a spontaneous wish and compassionate mind to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said: If I have any understanding of compassion and the bodhisattva path, it all comes from studying this text.

The main aim of this module is to help us discover the relevance of this classic text for our daily lives, to better understand ourselves and others, and identify and change some of our unhelpful patterns. The module will take a more experiential approach, rather than cover the entire text word for word in a traditional Tibetan shedra style.

The first three months of the module will explore some of the more general topics of the Bodhicharyavatara, as an introduction to the text, including: what is compassion, a bodhisattva, and the benefits of altruism.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche has advised that it is best to connect with our ‘essence’ love before embarking on a text like the Bodhicharyavatara, which mainly emphasizes ‘expression’ love, through practices such as lojong. Consequently, the module’s practice focus will be on compassion for ourselves, starting off with a month-long exploration of Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s methods of ‘dropping’ and ‘handshake’ as a means to deeply connect with ourselves.  Then we will embark on a cycle of ‘self-compassion’ based on practices, including body scans, loving kindness for ourselves and self tonglen. The module will run at least until July 2020. It might continue a few months longer.

We will receive teachings from Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku, Sogyal Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and other masters who have given teachings at Rigpa centres over the past years, as well as senior Rigpa presenters.

These teachings are suitable for anyone who has some familiarity with meditation practice.

Sessions will be held on these Sundays 9.30am – 2.00pm (usually, but not always, the second Sunday of each month).

• 8 March 2020
• 12 April 2020
• 10 May 2020
• 14 June 2020
• 12 July 2020

These sessions will consist of:

• study on classic text: Bodhicharyavatara
• video teachings
• meditation practice
• discussion and interactive groups

Details:

These sessions are once a month.
Open to anyone.
Where: 158 Australia St, Newtown
When: One Sunday Each Month (exact dates above)
Time: 9:30am-2:00pm
Cost: Public: $20, Friends: $18, Rigpa Subscribers (members): free