Carrying the Vision Forward: A Gathering of Rigpa's Teachers and Practice Holders
Rigpa
It had always been Sogyal Rinpoche’s wish that Rigpa’s teaching and practice programmes and Dharma lineage would be held by his own students, with support from the great masters of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. To this end, Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche formally entrusted 26 Senior Teachers and Practice Holders and 236 Teachers and Practice Holders, alongside acknowledging the importance of Activity Holders, in July 2022.
You can revisit the introduction and entrustment of Rigpa’s Holders here:
Now, as three years had passed since the entrustment, all teachers and practice holders were invited to gather and connect over 7 days in Lerab Ling, in parallel to and continuing after Sogyal Rinpoche's Parinirvana Anniversary Retreat. While the Senior Teachers and Senior Practice Holders had come together in person three times (including a one month retreat), it was the first time for the entire group to meet in person. As working together is crucial to the flourishing of the Rigpa community and its centers, national curriculum holders and a few other key activity holders participated as well. In total, around 80 holders came together in Lerab Ling and another 100 people joined the sessions online - live or via delayed recordings. There were groups joining the programme together from Dzogchen Beara, Amsterdam and Bluey’s Beach Australia and the US.
Photos: The Gathering in Lerab Ling and groups joining the Gathering in Australia and Amsterdam
What did we do together?
During the first five days, this gathering was integrated into the celebrations of the 6th anniversary of Sogyal Rinpoche’s Parinirvana. In this wider mandala, Patrick Gaffney and Dominique Side held a deeply inspiring opening talk, touching on different aspects of what it means to hold and continue Sogyal Rinpoche’s lineage into the future.
Patrick Gaffney and Dominique Side addressing the audience
Patrick Gaffney remarked in this context: “We all treasure the extraordinary vision that Sogyal Rinpoche unfurled in front of us, of our comprehensive and human Buddhist education [...]. How is it going to be honoured and how is it going to be continued in the future? Rinpoche in just one sense may be absent, but since 2019 the whole Rigpa Sangha has endeavoured to uphold and infuse with life what is our inheritance, what we understand to be Rinpoche's and Rigpa's legacy. And the vision [...] in fact has actually merged into the body of the Sangha. So naturally, what's become more and more apparent and even ever more so has been the importance of our teachers, our practice leaders and our holders in every way. So being here is to celebrate Sogyal Rinpoche's amazing achievements, what he humbly called "my work". But equally to salute and appreciate the work of everyone who is taking part in this, in whatever way whatsoever.”
In this spirit, in the second open session with everyone from the Anniversary retreat, we heard participants of different activities led by Rigpa Teachers and Practice Holders, such as the Bodhi and Tibetan Book of Living and Dying courses, share their impressions and appreciations. Afterwards, everyone was invited to reflect and exchange together in small groups, while tea and snacks made their round.
Photos: Lively discussions in small groups while snacks were shared around
Throughout the programme, we were blessed with a shower of advice and direction by our spiritual advisors Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche and Mindrolling Jestün Khandro Rinpoche, Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche who was present in Lerab Ling, as well as our very own Vision Board. You can re-watch all these talks, including Patrick Gaffney and Dominique Side’s opening talk, on Prajna.
Diving into deeper reflections and discussions
The second part of the gathering provided a space for the holders to be amongst themselves in the cosy setting of the Guru Lhakhang. Rigpa Senior Teachers Dominique Side, Damien van Effenterre, Verena Pfeiffer, Mauro de March, and Rigpa Teachers Vinciane Rycroft and Lily Ng guided the group into deeper reflections and discussions on topics such as balancing traditional study with experiential teaching, navigating confidence and self-criticism, and meeting students authentically where they are at. There was also space to share practical challenges, discuss different approaches and receive guidance on creating a safe environment for everyone within Rigpa. Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche generously shared her practical advice and long-term vision for teachers and practice holders and the enriching time together concluded with a look toward future training and personal aspirations for the next five years.
Photos: Sessions dedicated to the Teachers and Practice Holders Guru Lhakang
Enjoying time together
A special focus of this gathering was to spend time connecting and being together in person. People enjoyed an apéro evening in Sogyal Rinpoche’s garden, information booths at lunch time to talk to representatives of Rigpa Teams and Dharma councils and walking together around Lerab Ling.
Photos: ‘Apero’ & meeting the different dharma councils
A few impressions from participants
Overall the atmosphere was joyful and many likened it to an international family reunion of holders.
Britta Kühn (Practice Holder from Germany) said: “I am very touched and feel for the first time after Rinpoche’s passing that we are a big family”.
To the question of what she found most enjoyable, Annie Birken (Teacher from Amsterdam, the Netherlands) remarked: “Exchanging with my fellow holders here in the Rigpa Amsterdam centre. We had very fruitful and inspiring conversations in the breaks which was incredibly bonding and nourishing. We felt very connected to you all in Lerab Ling. The love was very palpable! Thank you so much for bringing us all together in this way. I was deeply touched by the advice and care of our advising Lamas which gave us the bigger picture and shed light on the way forward.”
Marina Gasser (Teacher from Switzerland) shared: “I'm impressed by the younger generation of Teachers, their dedication, contribution and commitment to the Buddha-Dharma and their communities. Very happy also to see the old generation of Rigpa students contributing in maintaining Rinpoche’s spirit and legacy into the world. Congratulations to the whole team who have made this possible”.
Regarding the future, Angela Bork-Kramer (Teacher from Germany) noted: “To see that there is a process of participation and inclusion for everyone available, this makes me really happy and gives me hope for the future of Rigpa and the Dharma in the West.”
With this sense of inspiration and connection, this group will continue to meet, reflect and grow together. We are deeply grateful to all their ongoing efforts in supporting and guiding Rigpa students!
