Rigpa (organization)
Sogyal Rinpoche gave the name Rigpa to his work in 1979. At that time, the organization had just one centre located in north-west London known as Dzogchen Orgyen Chö Ling. After five years of teaching in the West, he established this formal identity for his efforts. By 1980, Sogyal Rinpoche was already teaching across the UK, France, the United States, Ireland and Holland. Rigpa centres opened in a number of major cities during those early years. In each country where they appeared, Rigpa was established as a non-profit organization. A programme of Easter and summer retreats began shortly after the initial founding. Rigpa's first retreat centre, Dzogchen Beara, was set up on the west coast of Ireland.
Rigpa invited the Dalai Lama to teach or sponsor teachings on several occasions throughout its history. The organization held events in Paris in 1982, London in 1984 and San Jose in 1989. Five and a half thousand people attended the teachings in San Jose at that time. This gathering stood as the largest assembly of practitioners and masters of Buddhadharma in America then. It may have been the largest such gathering anywhere in the West during that period. In 1990, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche taught and gave empowerments to 1,500 people at Rigpa's summer retreat near Grenoble in the French Alps. In 1992, the Dzogchen Monastery in Kollegal in India received official inauguration when Dzogchen Rinpoche invited the Dalai Lama to give empowerments. That same year, Rigpa opened its main retreat centre, Lerab Ling near Montpellier in the south of France. Thich Nhat Hanh, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok and Penor Rinpoche were among the masters who taught there in the years that followed. In 1999, Trulshik Rinpoche founded the basis for a monastic community within Rigpa by ordaining the first nuns.
In 1993, Sogyal Rinpoche published The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. The success of this book led to a great expansion in the work of Rigpa. A Spiritual Care Education and Training Programme was set up following the publication. In 1996 Rigpa presented a conference on care for the dying near Munich. This event had a considerable influence on the emerging hospice movement in Germany. The organization also developed a graduated study and practice program delivered internationally over several years. It begins with foundation-level courses introducing basic meditation practice using samatha methods such as resting the mind on an object like the breath or a picture of Padmasambhava. Then the Mahayana teachings are presented together with the tonglen practice of giving and receiving. Next, students are taught Vajrayana preliminaries including Taking Refuge and bodhicitta which means mind of awakening. Older students are taught sadhana practices focusing on the terma revelations of Sogyal Rinpoche's predecessor, Tertön Sogyal, as well as the practice of Dzogchen meditation.
Following testimonies from current and ex-Rigpa students regarding physical, sexual and financial abuse by Sogyal Rinpoche, the Union Bouddhiste De France suspended Rigpa Lérab Ling membership on the 3rd of August 2017. They also suspended Rigpa France membership at that time. In July 2017 a number of allegations of misconduct were brought against Rigpa's founder, Sogyal Rinpoche. One of the actions undertaken by Rigpa was to commission an independent investigation into the allegations. This allowed witnesses to come forward and be listened to in an open, impartial and sensitive way. The report confirmed serious issues involving some students who were part of the inner circle. These students had been subjected to serious physical, sexual and emotional abuse by him. There were senior individuals within Rigpa who were aware of at least some of these issues and failed to address them. This failure left others at risk.
The report by Karen Baxter of UK law firm Lewis Silkin confirmed findings on the balance of probabilities. Some students of Sogyal Lakar who were part of the inner circle have been subjected to serious physical, sexual and emotional abuse by him. There were senior individuals within Rigpa who were aware of at least some of these issues and failed to address them, leaving others at risk. Karen Baxter described one of the senior managers interviewed for the report as being guarded, hostile and inconsistent. Another senior member of the management team was involved in a pro-active cover-up according to the lawyer. The UK Charities Commission has made it very clear that organizations with safeguarding problems must launch investigations and cooperate with authorities before moving on. Rigpa has acknowledged the gravity of the independent report and committed to implementing its recommendations. Rigpa Shedra, or study college, was established in 2001 in Lerab Ling offering courses based on traditional Buddhist texts taught by lamas such as Dzogchen Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku and Khenpo Pema Sherab.
Rigpa has developed a graduated study and practice program delivered internationally over several years. It begins with foundation-level courses introducing basic meditation practice using samatha methods such as resting the mind on an object like the breath or a picture of Padmasambhava. Then the Mahayana teachings are presented together with the tonglen practice of giving and receiving. Next, students are taught Vajrayana preliminaries including Taking Refuge and bodhicitta which means mind of awakening. Older students are taught sadhana practices focusing on the terma revelations of Sogyal Rinpoche's predecessor, Tertön Sogyal, as well as the practice of Dzogchen meditation. Rigpa also has a program called Rigpé Yeshé to help members who are parents and wish to educate their children as Buddhists. The Rigpa Shedra, or study college, was established in 2001 in Lerab Ling. It offers courses based on traditional Buddhist texts taught by lamas such as Dzogchen Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku and Khenpo Pema Sherab. A longer, more intensive version known as Rigpa Shedra East began in 2006 near Kathmandu under the guidance of Khenpo Namdrol. This eastern shedra runs for four months a year and the full curriculum takes nine years to complete.
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Common questions
When did Sogyal Rinpoche give the name Rigpa to his work?
Sogyal Rinpoche gave the name Rigpa to his work in 1979. At that time, the organization had just one centre located in north-west London known as Dzogchen Orgyen Chö Ling.
What happened to Rigpa Lérab Ling membership on the 3rd of August 2017?
The Union Bouddhiste De France suspended Rigpa Lérab Ling membership on the 3rd of August 2017 following testimonies from current and ex-Rigpa students regarding physical, sexual and financial abuse by Sogyal Rinpoche. They also suspended Rigpa France membership at that time.
Where was Rigpa's first retreat centre established?
Rigpa's first retreat centre, Dzogchen Beara, was set up on the west coast of Ireland. A programme of Easter and summer retreats began shortly after the initial founding.
Who taught and gave empowerments to 1,500 people at Rigpa's summer retreat near Grenoble in 1990?
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche taught and gave empowerments to 1,500 people at Rigpa's summer retreat near Grenoble in the French Alps in 1990.
When did Rigpa Shedra open and where is it located?
Rigpa Shedra, or study college, was established in 2001 in Lerab Ling offering courses based on traditional Buddhist texts taught by lamas such as Dzogchen Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku and Khenpo Pema Sherab.