6th ANNIVERSARY OF SOGYAL RINPOCHE’S PARINIRVANA - at Lerab Ling and Online, 25-29 August 2025

Written by Nicolas Schram on 25 August 2025.

6^th ANNIVERSARY OF SOGYAL RINPOCHE’S PARINIRVANA – AT LERAB LING AND ONLINE

Annual Rigpa Sangha Gathering

Dates: from 25 to 29 August

This annual all-mandala retreat brings together the whole sangha in a festive atmosphere to practise, celebrate, share stories, receive teachings, and simply for us to be together as a sangha.

This is one time in the year that we can each connect with the wider Rigpa family, of which we are all part, revitalise our connection with each other, to our spiritual home Lerab Ling, and our many great teachers, and foremost celebrating Sogyal Rinpoche’s life and legacy.

Each year this event has been held, something surprising or unexpected has been added to the programme at the last minute, making it an even more joyful and auspicious time.

The practice programme that is the heart of the retreat includes a range of practices to enable everyone to participate, wherever we are on the path. We will practise meditation, Guru Yoga, Riwo Sangchö, Rigdzin Düpa* and offer an abundant tsok feast every day.

Interspersing practice sessions, we will revisit some of Sogyal Rinpoche’s best teachings and hear stories from his life, as well as receive teachings and advice from Rigpa teachers and practice holders as well as Rigpa’s spiritual advisors, either in person or online.

During the 2023 retreat, the inner stupa of Sogyal Rinpoche was consecrated in a ceremony led by Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche and Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche. In 2024 we will see the construction of the Great Enlightenment Stupa outside the Lerab Ling temple. This stupa will contain millions of mantras, thousands of tsa-tsas, specially prepared mandalas that liberate upon sight, and numerous other texts and precious substances.

In August, under the exacting guidance of Tulku Rigdzin Pema, our monastic community will start placing numerous precious vases and other sacred substances in the base of the Stupa, as prescribed in the texts. This will be immediately followed by assembling and filling the remaining levels of the Stupa, currently scheduled to take place during the Dzogchen retreat and Parinirvana celebrations.

Once the Stupa has been completed, Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche will conduct a rabné (blessing). A fuller inauguration will take place at a later date with guest lamas and gathered sangha.

As in previous years, we look forward to sharing the retreat with the wider family of students of other teachers who are connected to Rigpa, many of whom have joined us for this event over the last 5 years.

Many people have shared that this retreat has produced some of the most inspiring and magical moments for them in recent years in Lerab Ling. We hope this experience will continue in 2025.

HOW TO FOLLOW

We encourage everyone to gather physically in Lerab Ling, but the commemorations can also be followed live online.

In Lerab Ling

• 5-day programme (25-29 August)
• Sogyal Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Anniversary (28 August)
  The commemoration programme on the 28th of August will be based on donations, for all those who wish to join in Lerab Ling or online. Please note that this is also reflected in the lowered price of the 5-day event.
  
  

Live online

• Please register for the online event on Prajna (see below).
  
  

*Rigdzin Düpa, 'The Gathering of Vidyadharas,' is the inner lama practice from the Longchen Nyingtik, the terma revelation of Jikmé Lingpa. It is one of the main sadhanas practised in Rigpa. For those unfamiliar with this practice, there will be guidance on how to participate according to your level of practice.

LOSAR - Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik Drupchö in English, 20-27 March 2025

Written by Paula on 20 March 2025.

LOSAR - CHIMÉ PAKMÉ NYINGTIK DRUPCHÖ IN ENGLISH

The Heart Essence of the Sublime Lady of Immortality

Dates: from 20 to 27 March, at Lerab Ling and Online

Through the power and blessings of Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik, many masters and practitioners have been able to remove obstacles to their long life, so that they can enhance their accomplishments and continue to benefit beings.

Participating in a Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik practice intensive—drupchö—is the best and fastest way to become familiar with and deepen your practice of this profound sadhana which is one of the two main yidam practices of the Rigpa sangha.

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche explains that the main reason for doing this White Tara practice is to spread the teachings of the Buddha far and wide and to promote the well-being and happiness of all sentient beings, and also so that the practitioners may be free from illness, live long lives and quickly attain enlightenment.

All practice sessions will be held and guided by Rigpa Senior Practice Holders and short evocative teachings will be shared to inspire our practice.

The Tibetan New Year (Losar) period is traditionally a very important time for practice in all Tibetan Monasteries. Holding annual drupchös during this period in Lerab Ling was very much initiated by Sogyal Rinpoche, and the Lerab Ling practice team does its utmost to continue this annual tradition of group Vajrayana practice for the benefit of the whole sangha and all beings.

It is said that several days participating in a drupchö or drupchen can yield the same results as years of solitary retreat, and great contemporary masters such as Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche have made a point of encouraging and reviving the practice of drupchen, because of its power of transformation.

WHO THIS EVENT IS FOR

Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik is recommended for established Ngöndro students and Dzogchen Mandala students who have already received a Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik empowerment and wish to become familiar with and/or deepen the practice of sadhana.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN?

Drupchös are most suited for students that:

• Have a firm grounding in the practice of ngöndro, which includes having received all the ngöndro teachings, up to and including guru yoga,
• Have started their ngöndro accumulations;
• Have already received some instructions for sadhana practice, including a basic understanding of the key principles of the Vajrayana. This means you have either followed:
  
  
  • Rigpa's study and practice programme of the Vajrayana cycle from the Three-year retreat, Home Retreat or Vajrayana online retreats streamed from Lerab Ling,
  • Or you received these instructions during previous drupchens with Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche,
  • Or you are a student from a sangha other than Rigpa and have received these instructions from a qualified Vajrayana teacher.

To participate in this drupchö, a Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik empowerment is absolutely required. The empowerment has recently been given by Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, in Lerab Ling, in 2023 and 2024.

PREPARING YOURSELF FOR THIS EVENT

You can support your practice by studying the Kyerim section of A Guide to Vajrayana Practice for the Rigpa Sangha which is available at ZAM. This will help make your participation as meaningful as possible.

Further study recommendations are shared on Rigpa’s Study & Practice page for Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik.

Which texts to bring:

• The provisional Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik practice text arranged for chanting in English and additional texts needed, can be found on the Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik event page on Prajna live, in “How to prepare”.
• Additional Practice Text Booklet for Drupchen (ATB version 2017) order or download the English text from ZAM: order hardcopy download
• Daily Sadhana book
  
  

HOW TO FOLLOW

• The best of course is to follow onsite in Lerab Ling.
  
• However, you can also follow this drupchö online via Prajna live (there is no need to register). If you are from another sangha than Rigpa, please write an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., so we can give you access. This live streaming is offered on a donation basis. We suggest 21€ per day as a contribution to the offerings, the running of the event and to make the streaming possible. You can donate here.
• For members of other sanghas than Rigpa or Rigpa students who are unclear whether they meet the outlined requirements of this event, please fill in this application form and allow us 1-2 weeks to process.

TEACHERS

This event is held and presided by Lerab Ling’s team of Senior Practice Holders, with the help of the whole Practice and Chopön team. 

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

This year, as preparation for holding the first Rigpa Drupchen in 2026, we will include many new aspects which usually belong to Drupchen practice only. Therefore the daily sessions will start at 6am already. We will post a more detailed daily schedule nearer the time on Prajna.

Thu 20 March: Preliminary day starting 8am ! (Anniversary of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo)
Fri 21 - Tue 25 March: 5 full days of Drupchö practice
Wed 26 March: Siddhis day
Thu 27 March: Tendrel Nyesel Jinsek, to seal all the Losar drupchös well

MORE INFORMATION

Shedra Wiki articles on: drupchö & Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik

MEDITATION BREAK AND PRACTICE RETREATS

Written by Paula on 19 November 2016.

MEDITATION BREAKS & PRACTICE RETREATS

Meditate, practice and recharge your batteries in the middle of nature

If you feel the need to take a break from your daily life and stresses, it may be time to reconnect with nature and recharge your batteries in a peaceful atmosphere.

In the unique spiritual environment of Lerab Ling, we offer you the opportunity to experience:

You can join us for:

• a meditation break (open to all) to learn to meditate or deepen your practice. 
• a sangha practice retreat (for Rigpa students only) to advance your practice and personal study.
  
  

In both cases, you will have the support of experienced instructors to guide you, and have access to a library and video teachings to further your study.

You can learn more about each of these options by clicking on one of the pictures below.

Practice Retreats for the Sangha

Written by Nicolas Schram on 27 November 2019.

PRACTICE RETREATS FOR THE SANGHA

Deepening your study and practice in a blessed environment

Wherever you are on the path, doing a retreat is an amazing opportunity to deepen your study and practice in the blessed environment of Lerab Ling.

From September to June, you can choose to come for one or several weeks or even longer. There could be a possibility to do a retreat outside this period depending on the number and types of events that are taking place at the time. Please check availability at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Before you come to Lerab Ling, a guide will help you to plan your retreat, help you settle in when you arrive and assist you with practical and spiritual support throughout your stay.

During your retreat you can choose to focus on studying a particular subject or text, accomplish the practice of meditation or compassion, accumulating your Ngöndro or sadhana practice, or focus on Dzogchen practice.

While on retreat, you are welcome to practise in one of the temple shrine rooms when they are available. You are free to join the daily group practices such as Riwo Sangchö and Tendrel Nyesel.

HOW TO REGISTER

Dates: September to June (to be confirmed depending on the events that are happening in Lerab Ling). In 2025, Practice Retreats end on 5 June and resume in September.
Arrival dates & times: Monday to Friday between 10am and 5pm.
Event contribution: From €21 to €7/day depending on the length of your retreat (does not include accommodation and meals). This contribution covers the support for your retreat as well as administrative and other costs.

Please note - The minimum stay for a practice retreat is of 1 week

Before you register please contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and fill-in an application form below. Once the dates and details are confirmed, we will send you a link to register online. Please register at least 2 weeks before the start of your retreat.

REDUCTIONS ON ACCOMMODATION

Except during main events (please check with us).

Different types of accommodation are available depending on the season, ranging from a simple wooden cabin in the forest to a retreat room or studio with a view of the temple. Reduced rates are available for longer stay.

• 25% off for retreats from 8 days to 3 weeks
• 45% off for retreats from 3 to 6 weeks
• 65% off for retreats of more than 6 weeks
  
  

STUDY & PRACTICE GRANTS

If you have the heartfelt wish to do a practice retreat but lack financial means, you now have the opportunity to ask for support from the Study & Practice Grant. Read more

Teachings on Rigdzin Düpa, 24 May - 1 June 2025

Written by Paula on 24 May 2025.

TEACHINGS ON RIGDZIN DÜPA

With Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche in Lerab Ling & live online

Dates: from 24 May to 1 June. Onsite and live online.

Rigdzin Düpa is a sadhana that focuses on the root of all blessings: Guru Rinpoche. It is one of the most important and profound practices of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition that we follow in Rigpa and has the power to awaken, in our experience, the view of the natural state of Dzogpachenpo—the nature of mind. It is also considered to be a profound long-life practice.

During this event Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche will grant detailed teachings on Rigdzin Düpa focusing on the commentary by Khangsar Tenpé Wangchuk (aka Tulku Tenpo) ‘The Light of the Sun and the Moon—Generation and Perfection Stages, Notes Explaining the Words of the Rigdzin Düpa, the Inner Sadhana of the Longchen Nyingtik’.

This text, which Sogyal Rinpoche found so inspiring and taught only partially during the three-year retreat in Lerab Ling, clearly shows the way to practise each section of the sadhana from the Dzogchen perspective.

The teachings will be complemented by sessions led by Rigpa Teachers and Practice Holders dedicated to practising the sadhana, taking the time to go through it step by step, learning all the aspects of this practice together, and answering questions.

Khenpo Sönam Tsewang, Khen Rinpoche’s translator and teaching assistant, has also agreed to offer several review sessions.

WHO THIS EVENT IS FOR

This retreat, with all its aspects, will be a complete training in how to practise Rigdzin Düpa for anyone wishing to discover this practice.

It is also a perfect preparation for anyone wishing to focus more intently on this practice—for example, to participate in a drupchö or nyenpa retreat in Lerab Ling or Dzogchen Beara, or at home. In Rigpa, where we follow mainly the Longchen Nyingtik tradition, Rigdzin Düpa is the first sadhana we “accumulate” after having completed a first set of ngöndro accumulations.

Since Rigdzin Düpa is the designated lama sadhana of the Rigpa sangha, all Vajrayana students are warmly encouraged to participate in this event, especially if they have not received detailed teachings on this practice before.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN?

This event is open to Vajrayana students who have received the empowerment of Rigdzin Düpa.

NOTE: We plan on requesting Khen Rinpoche to grant, closer to the start date, the empowerment of Rigdzin Düpa at the beginning of the retreat, but it’s not sure that he will accept.

Please check that you fulfil the following requirements.

• You are a member of the Ngöndro or Dzogchen Mandala (this does not apply if you are the member of another sangha). If you feel you should be part of the Ngöndro Mandala but are not yet, please contact your local instructor to have an interview.
• You have already formally entered the Mahayana Buddhist path by taking Refuge and Bodhisattva vows.
• You have a solid foundation and experience of the principles and practices of the Mahayana.
• You have received teachings on all the ngöndro practices, including Guru Yoga.
• You have started your ngöndro accumulations and are on track to continue.
• You have a basic understanding of Vajrayana and some experience in practising sadhanas.
• You have received the empowerment of Rigdzin Düpa. See the list of occasions this empowerment was given to the Rigpa sangha on the Rigpa wiki.

HOW TO FOLLOW

The best is to join in person to attend the teachings and practices, clarification sessions and ritual aspects. It is also possible to follow the teachings live online on Prajna.

TEACHERS

Kyabjé Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche is the senior-most Khenpo in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and among the most important lineage holders in the Palyul tradition. Khen Rinpoche is one of the last of a generation of authentic Lamas who hold the pure lineage of the Nyingma tradition, both Kama and Terma. 

Khen Rinpoche has been generously guiding the Rigpa sangha, in particular giving key teachings and transmissions from the Ngagyur Nyingma lineage over the last 15 years. We are incredibly fortunate that Khen Rinpoche supports the Rigpa sangha so closely. More information

Khenpo Sonam Tsewang (translator and teacher) is a Khenpo at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the advanced centre for Buddhist philosophical study at Namdroling Monastery, Bylakuppe, India. 

Khenpo is known to many Rigpa students as the translator for Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche with whom he travels extensively. Khenpo Sonam is known to have a deep understanding of western practitioners and has a great skill in presenting teachings in a uniquely clear way that connects traditional teachings to a western audience. More information

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE FOR THE TEACHINGS

08.00-08.30 Riwo Sangchö (optional)
09:00-11:00 Teachings by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche
11:00-14:30 Break
14:30-16:30 Study & practice session with Rigpa Practice Holders or clarifications with Khenpo Sönam Tsewang
17:00-19:00 Daily Tendrel Nyesel Tsok (optional)

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on Rigdzin Düpa, please read our Rigpa Study & Practice page.

The Way of the Great Perfection Ngöndro Retreat & 3-day Extension 2025

Written by Patricia Pinglot on 12 July 2025.

THE WAY OF THE GREAT PERFECTION NGÖNDRO RETREAT & 3-DAY EXTENSION

Taking Refuge: From Now until Enlightenment

Dates: 12-20 July 2025, with extension for personal accumulations until 23 July.
Event onsite only.

If you want to start practising the Ngöndro but you don’t know how to start or lacked the courage so far; if you are already an established Ngöndro practitioner; then this retreat is for you!

It is an occasion for anybody interested in Ngöndro to come together, learn about the Ngöndro, deepen their understanding, and meet like-minded practitioners. This retreat is a celebration of the vajrayana preliminary practices, Ngöndro, which have the power to bring you from wherever you are now all the way to enlightenment in this very lifetime.

This year, the retreat will especially focus on taking Refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha which is the foundation and essence of the Buddhist path. Those following the programme The Way of the Great Perfection will know that this practice accompanies us from the point of entering the path all the way to its fruition. In fact, taking Refuge is synonymous with following the path. Studying and reflecting on the Refuge teachings will deepen and clarify our path, no matter where we are in our spiritual development.

During the retreat we will engage in this practice together, with our body speech and mind: offering prostrations to one of the most sacred images of Shakyamuni Buddha in the West, reciting the refuge prayer, and with our mind and heart taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. In addition, we will cover all the other aspects of Ngöndro, sharing the best teachings, instructions on how to practise them, and guidance on how to apply them in our daily lives.

There will be time for you to progress in your personal accumulations in different shrine rooms of the Lerab Ling Temple. Also, participants will be offered individual guidance from teachers, and there will be opportunities to share their experience with fellow students.

During the retreat you will have the opportunity to receive Pratimoksha vows which are associated with Taking Refuge.

HOW TO FOLLOW

For this retreat, we can all say goodbye, if only temporarily, to Zoom and come together in the blessed, beautiful environment of Lerab Ling and enjoy the company of fellow practitioners in person. Hence, the retreat is open to all Rigpa students.

Students also have the opportunity to continue the momentum of the main retreat with an extension of 3 days (21-23 July) to focus on their accumulations. During this period, students will practise on their own; optional guidance from one of the teachers or practice holders will also be available.

RIGPÉ YESHÉ PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN & TEENS

When there is sufficient interest, the Rigpé Yeshé association offers a programme designed to welcome children & teens from 6 to 17 years old whose parents are participating in the retreat. If you are interested, please fill in this request form as soon as possible.

TEACHERS / INSTRUCTORS

Ruth Seehausen, Javier Torales, Miguel Oramas, Naomi Gassler

This retreat will be held by Rigpa Senior teacher Ruth Seehausen and Rigpa teachers Javier Torales, Miguel Oramas and Naomi Gassler.
Ruth and Javier have been teaching the topic of Taking Refuge for many years. Naomi and Miguel developed “The Way of the Great Perfection”, the recent iteration of “The All-Encompassing Path to Enlightenment”, Rigpa’s study programme for the entire sangha.

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

There will be 5 sessions a day at these approximate times:

Session 1 (9:00-10:00): Guided Ngöndro practice
Session 2 (10:30-12:00): Teaching
Lunch
Session 3 (15:00-16:00): Guided practice, group discussion, time for personal interviews with a teacher, or for personal practice
Session 4 (16:30-18:00): Guided contemplation
Dinner
Session 5 (19:00-20:00): Time for personal practice