“To realise the truth of who and what we are as human beings is to realise our buddha-nature”
Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche
We invite you to take part in a weekly study program on Buddha Nature starting in April, 2025. The weekly program will be split into two modules:
- Part 1: Thursday 24 April – Wednesday 9 July, 2025.
- Part 2: Thursday 25 September – Thursday 18 December, 2025
The course will allow you to join a weekly teaching taught by Khenpo Tashi Tseten, who will teach the essence of Mipham Rinpoche’s commentary to the Uttaratantra shastra in combination with the Lion’s Roar by Mipham Rinpoche. The classes will be live-streamed on a weekly basis (Thursdays) with a mandatory online review session scheduled for the following week. In order for the teachings to make a lasting impact, a profound change, it is really important for all of us to commit to joining all of the review sessions. To make this possible we will offer review sessions on different days and times.
As for the teachings by Khenpo Tashi Tseten, if you cannot make it for the live streaming of the session with the Khenpo there will be the option to watch a recording of the session in your own time.
The Text
Because the perfect buddhas’s kaya is all-pervading,
Maitreya, Sublime Continuum, 1, 27
Because reality is undifferentiated,
And because they possess the potential,
Beings always have the buddha nature.”
The Mahayana Uttaratranta Shastra [Gyü Lama, Treatise on the Sublime Continuum] is considered one of the most important teachings on buddha-nature and enlightenment. It is revered by buddhist masters as a very special text, one of the five great teachings given by Lord Maitreya to Asanga, and part of the third turning of the wheel of the Dharma.
Within the traditional buddhist shedras for monastic education, it is often taught as the final text in the curriculum, and many masters say it can be considered a bridge between the sutras and tantra. It provides an important philosophical foundation for understanding the workings of the buddhist path, particularly for Vajrayana practitioners.
Like all buddhist philosophy, this text is not intended simply to provoke an academic discussion that we leave behind as we return to our everyday lives. It is taught as a path for us to attain liberation. For practitioners, the Uttaratantra clearly explains what it means to accumulate merit and purify defilements, and it offers a safety net to protect our path from falling into all-too-common eternalist or nihilist extremes. (source: Siddharta’s Intent)
It shows how all sentient beings, without exception, have buddha-nature: primordially pure and perfect. Although it may be clouded by obscurations and defilements, these are temporary and cannot taint our buddha-nature.
Who can apply:
Dharma students who have at least 2 years of meditation experience. Studying this text is highly recommended for Rigpa teachers, instructors and practice holders.
Why join this programme?
“The buddha nature is simply the birthright of every sentient being, and I always say: our buddha nature is as good as any buddha’s buddha nature. This is the good news that the Buddha brought us from his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, and which many people find so inspiring. His message—that enlightenment is within the reach of all—holds out tremendous hope. Through practice, we too can all become awakened. If this were not true, countless individuals down to the present day would not have become enlightened. Sogyal Rinpoche – Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
“The fact that you have met the Dharma, and in particular the Vajrayana and this crucial text, proves that you have accumulated much merit in past lives. A lot of people in the West suffer from lack of self-esteem. But if you think about the infinite lives you’ve taken in samsara, you will realize that this life is a great life. So, with a sense of confidence, you can rise to the occasion of studying the Uttaratantra Shastra and learning to embody your buddha nature.” – Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
“Buddha-nature is the main subject of this text. Basically, if you want to know about Buddha-nature, then this is the text that you have to study.” –
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche
Khenpo Tashi Tseten will show clearly how to gain confidence in our Buddhanature and live it in our everyday life and practice.
Experience of studying at the Rigpa Shedra:
Following this programme will give you an experience of Shedra-like studies at a gentle pace. Sally Burgess, one of the students who has followed the rigpa shedra teachings for the last few years says:
I love the Rigpa Shedra. For me it has really been like finding a home in Rigpa. I enjoy the friendship, the opportunity to study outside a single national group or mandala. The teaching and learning strategies in the Shedra are great (the review sessions and, yes, the quizzes too) and I’ve found myself ‘stealing’ ideas for my university teaching and for the Spanish Rigpa sessions I am involved with.
The opportunity to study in a structured way in which we are actively involved (not just recipients) is also really important.
Perhaps most importantly I know that I am following a ‘curriculum’ approved and established by Khenchen Namdrol. I know I am in very safe hands.
The Teacher
The Teacher Khenpo Tashi Tseten is a brilliant young khenpo from Namdrolling Monastery in South India. He is considered to be one of the most promising Khenpos of his generation and has been teaching at the Rigpa Shedra for many years. He works closely with khenchen Namdrol, assisting him in any way he can and following all his teachings. Together with the wealth of his knowledge and the clarity of his explanations, he has a rare capacity to tune into students’ understanding and needs, which makes his teachings truly inspiring and illuminating.
The Translator Damien Van Effenterre is a Rigpa Senior Teacher. He was the director of the Rigpa Shedra for eight years, while also studying the traditional treatises and translating for shedra classes in Pharping, Nepal.
For a short extract of Khenpo Tashi teaching, watch here
Review Session Teachers/Instructors:
Europe/Australia
Verena Pfeiffer– Rigpa senior teacher and Rigpa Shedra teacher
Europe/Asia/Australia:
Damien Van Effenterre – Rigpa senior teacher, Rigpa Shedra translator
Jane Gray – Rigpa teacher, Rigpa Shedra instructor, President of Rigpa Australia’s board, has studied several years in the Rigpa Shedra
Europe/US:
Chantal Bergers – Rigpa teacher, Rigpa Shedra teacher and executive director of the Rigpa Shedra
Martina Cotter – Rigpa Shedra instructor, has studied in the Rigpa Shedra as well as at Rangjung Yeshe University in Nepal.
Kieran English – Rigpa practice holder, Rigpa shedra instructor, has studied in the Rigpa Shedra several years, will hold a combination of live and online review sessions in Dzogchen Beara.
Lily Ng– Rigpa teacher, Rigpa Shedra instructor, has studied in both the Rigpa Shedra and in the Milinda Programme
Practical Information
Dates and Times
This weekly course will be offered in two parts:
- Part 1: 24 April – 9 July, 2025.
- Part 2: 25 September – 19 December, 2025
Provisional day/time for the live session with Khenpo Tashi Tseten Thursday 2.30-4.30 pm CEST (please convert to your timezone; and times will be adjusted at the start of winter or summer time)
Provisional schedule for the review sessions
(depending on the number and location of participants there will be different options to choose from)
Australia
Tuesday evening 5:00-6:30pm AET
Wednesday evening 5:00-6:30pm AET
Europe:
Tuesday morning 9:00-10.30am CEST
Tuesday evening 7:00-8.30pm CEST
Wednesday morning 9:00-10:30am CEST
Wednesday evening 7:00-8:30pm CEST
US/Canada:
Tuesday 10:00-11:30am PDT/1:00-2:30pm EDT
Wednesday 10:00-11:30am PDT/1:00-2:30pm EDT
Time investment per week
One 2 hour teaching session per week to be watched live. There will be an opportunity to watch the recorded teaching (with simultaneous translation, so about 1 hour) in your own time, if you cannot make it to the live teaching.
One mandatory 1.5 hour live review session with a shedra review teacher/instructor. In the weekly review sessions we will recall the main points together, contemplate parts of the text, and discuss the meaning with our fellow Dharma students. We will meditate so it becomes a deeper experience, and learn about ways to bring our insights into our daily life and practice. We all know we have Buddha nature, what keeps us from living it?
In addition, we also recommend 1-2 hours for study assignments and contemplation homework during the week. This will allow you to really immerse yourself more deeply into the topic of Buddha Nature, and integrate the teachings into your day.
In total, the time-investment will be around 3 – 4 hours a week.
Language: All classes and activities are held in English
Cost
Regular fee: 480 euro
Concession: 360 euro
(For those with low income, for Rigpa teachers /active instructors and practice holders to support them in their training)
Sponsors: 600 euro
(Sponsors help to support other students who wish to follow this course but may not have the financial means)
Please note: this fee is provisional and might still change, depending on the number of participants.
If you can’t afford the fee, please still apply. You can ask for a study grant with the Tertön Sogyal Foundation here. Please make sure you do this before 1 March 2025.
Application
If you are interested in joining this program, please let us know by filling in the application form here. We will get in touch with you if you are new to shedra and will be happy to answer all the questions you might have. We can explore together to determine whether or not this program is appropriate for your needs at this time.
Note: the application is not yet a commitment on your side but it will allow us to get to know you and get in contact with you. The commitment to join our program only comes at the time of registration and payment.