Our Sangha

What is Sangha?

Sangha is an ancient word in the Pali and Sanskrit languages meaning “association”, “assembly”, “company” or “community” and refers in Buddhism to the monastic community of ordained Buddhist monks or nuns.

At Rigpa, we use the word Sangha more broadly to refer to our community of dedicated students, who have made a personal commitment to the study and practice of Buddhism in their lives. Most members of the Rigpa Sangha are laymen on the path. In Rigpa’s Lerab Ling Retreat Center (Southern France) there is also a small community of nuns and monks.

The Rigpa Mandalas

The Rigpa Sangha consists of three mandalas worldwide, each sharing the same study and practice focus: Meditation, Ngondro and Dzogchen. The members of a mandala follow the path on different levels and with varying degrees of intensity – depending on the time and opportunities to devote themselves to study and practice in everyday life.

The Rigpa Mandalas ensure that all students receive the care and support they need to get the full benefits of their studies and practice.

Meditation Mandala

The Meditation Mandala is our beginner mandala: If you have studied and practiced the basics of meditation  and or other introductory studies for a year or more and you decide to continue to study and practice this path, then you can may request to become part of the meditation mandala. In addition to meditation, this Mandala also studies and practices the basics and the “logic” of compassion as well as essential Buddhist Studies.

Ngöndro Mandala

By joining the Ngöndro mandala, you are heading for the path of the Vajrayana, which begins with the so-called preparatory exercises ( ngöndro ). These are a set of five different practices that, building on each other, provide a complete path to enlightenment.

Dzogchen Mandala

In this mandala, the teachings of Dzogchen are gradually taught. To become part of the Dzogchen Mandala, it is important and necessary that you have completed at least 50 percent of your Ngöndro and completed a special preparatory, multi-year study program.

Connection to a Mandala

You want to join a mandala? Which mandala you can and want to join depends on your practice and study focus. In the selection we support and advise you. In Australia a mandala affiliation is bound to a regular membership payment rather than course fees.

An instructor will be pleased to assist you in your selection and also advise you on the best way to contact the Mandalas. 

Whether you change from meditation to ngöndro to dzogchen mandala depends entirely on your personal preferences and desires.

Detailed calendar for Rigpa students

See the course section for more information about study.

The practice sessions on this calendar are for those who are familiar with these practices. Please contact us if you have any questions.

View the online sangha calendar

Upcoming Classes Alerts

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