Teachings & empowerments on the transformative path of Buddhism with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche

Main event: 9-13 September
With the 3-day practice extension: 9-16 September

This gathering with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is a unique opportunity for everyone to experience the transformative power of the living lineage of Tibetan Buddhism through receiving wisdom teachings and empowerments, practice and sharing experiences as a community. 

We will connect directly with this lineage through one of its foremost holders, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, spiritual heir of the great Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, whose life and legacy deeply inspired generations of practitioners. 

What We’ll Explore

At the heart of this gathering are teachings on Guru Rinpoche—the embodiment of the wisdom and compassion of all the buddhas—and how we can invoke his blessings. In this context, “blessing” points to something experiential: the way certain teachings, practices, and the atmosphere created by the masters can open something within us, and transform the whole way we relate to ourselves and the world. Ultimately, the goal of blessings is to break the shell of our ego, bringing us to see the true nature of our minds.

Running through this gentle introduction to the path of Vajrayana is the theme of devotion—understood here not as blind faith, but as a way of opening the heart to our own innate wisdom. In a fragmented and distracted world, this quality of trust and inner connection can become a genuine source of protection and serenity.

Guru Rinpoche himself declared:
I am never far from those with faith, 
Or even from those without it, 
Though they do not see me.

My children will always, 
Always,

Be protected by my compassion. 

What the programme includes (9-13 September):

• Teachings and blessing empowerments bestowed by Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche
• Guided meditation and group practices
• Rare films and archival footage of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
• Time for questions, reflection, and sharing as a community

In particular, Rabjam Rinpoche will give:

– Teachings on The Quintessence of the Profound Path: A Concise Guide to the Stages of Visualization for the Guru Yoga of the Seven-Line Supplication, A Shower of Blessings. This is a detailed guide to Mipham Rinpoche’s Shower of Blessings, a famous guru yoga practice based on the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche. The text is freely available here

– Teachings on selected poems of Heart Advice by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, covering different aspects of the spiritual path

– Blessing empowerments, which are planned to include Guru Rinpoche, Orgyen Menla (Guru Rinpoche of Medicine), Green Tara and a long-life blessing (final programme to be confirmed).

A 3-day extension led by Rigpa teachers and practice holders (14-16 September): 

For those who wish to take more time to deepen their practice, this extension will create space to further integrate the teachings that Rabjam Rinpoche has just given. We will gather several times a day to practise the Shower of Blessings guru yoga as a community. We will ‘accumulate’ the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche and dedicate our practice and pray strongly for all those affected by war, environmental changes, and anyone enduring hardship and loss across our world.

This is an ideal opportunity for Ngöndro students accumulating the Seven-Line Prayer. 

Who This Event Is For

No prior experience with Tibetan Buddhism is required—only an open mind and a genuine interest in exploring these teachings and this living tradition. 

As Rinpoche will teach on the Seven-Line Prayer and guru yoga, the event is especially beneficial for students practising the Vajrayana Preliminaries (Ngöndro) and Vajrayana practices. 

ABOUT SHECHEN RABJAM RINPOCHE 

VENERABLE SEAN PRICE 

Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche will be assisted and translated by Ven. Sean Price.

Sean Price was ordained as a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in 1994 and has since studied at various monastic institutes in India and Nepal. A number of his translations have been published: The Supreme Siddhi of Mahamudra: Teachings, Poems, and Songs of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage (Snow Lion Publications and The Emanated Scripture of Manjushri: Shabkar’s Essential Meditation Instructions (Snow Lion Publications). He has been Tsadra Foundation’s Director of Tibetan Publications since 2009.  He currently resides at the Shechen Monastery, Nepal.

PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITY

Volunteers are the backbone of our Dharma events. Together, we create the environment for the teachings and practices to happen smoothly. Everyone is asked to help in one activity, for up to 1 hour per day (according to your physical capacity and health). Teams take care of cleaning the temple, transcribing, helping the kitchen staff, gardening, cleaning the sanitary blocks, helping to support group practices by preparing offerings and distributing tsok. You can indicate your capacity during the registration procedure. 

MORE INFO

• Guru Rinpoche

Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, is one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism. Traditionally regarded as the master who established Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century, he is seen not only as a historical teacher but as the embodiment of the compassion and blessings of all the buddhas. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche said: “There have been many incredible and incomparable masters from the noble land of India and Tibet, yet of them all, the one who has the greatest compassion and blessing toward beings in this difficult age is Padmasambhava, who embodies the compassion and wisdom of all the buddhas. One of his qualities is that he has the power to give his blessing instantly to whoever prays to him, and whatever we may pray for, he has the power to grant our wish immediately.”

Read this article for more information.

• Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Read this article for more information.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

START:
Wednesday 9 September at 10am
END Main event:
Sunday 13 September at 6pm With the practice extension: Wednesday 16 September at 4pm

CONTRIBUTION
Main event: €265
With the 3-day practice extension: €384 (does not include accommodation or meals)

REGISTRATION AND BADGE/KEY COLLECTION:
Tuesday 8 September: 2pm – 6pm Wednesday
9 September: 9am – 9:45am
If arriving after 6pm on Tuesday, please notify registration@rigpa.org

LANGUAGES Teachings:
English
Translation: French, German, Spanish, Chinese (for the extension: English and French only)

TRANSPORT:
Montpellier → Lerab Ling: Tuesday, September 8th

• Departure from Montpellier Airport: 3:15 pm
• Departure from Montpellier Sud de France railway station: 3:45 pm
• Departure from Montpellier Saint-Roch railway station: 4:15 pm

Lerab Ling → Montpellier : Monday, September 14th

Departure from Lerab Ling: 8:30 am (with stops at Montpellier Airport, Montpellier Sud de France railway station, and Montpellier Saint-Roch railway station)