View source for Rigpa Shedra

[[Image:Classroom with Khenpo Namdrol teaching 1.jpg|thumb|600px|'''[[Khenpo Namdrol]]''' teaches the Rigpa Shedra East and a number of Lamas, monks, nuns and western students, 2009 in [[Pharping]].]]
'''Rigpa [[Shedra]]''' — [[About Rigpa|Rigpa]]'s intensive study program that takes place in [[Pharping]], Nepal under the guidance of [[Khenpo Namdrol]].
==About the Shedra==
[[File:Stupa marking Shariputra's birth death place (Small).JPG|thumb|left|[[Nalanda University]]]]
Inspired by the vision of [[Sogyal Rinpoche]] and the achievements of great centres of buddhist learning from the past, such as [[Nalanda]] in India, [[Shri Singha shedra]] at [[Dzogchen Monastery]], [[Dzongsar shedra|Kham-jé]] at [[Dzongsar]] and more recently, [[Larung Gar]], established by the great [[Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok|Khen Rinpoche Jikmé Phuntsok]], the Rigpa Shedra seeks to provide a thorough and comprehensive Dharma education of the very highest standards. The approach is traditional, based on the proven methods of the unbroken lineage of learning and realization that dates back to ancient India, and encourages not just formal study, but also deeper integration of the teachings through contemplation and meditation.

The curriculum is designed with a view to supporting the needs of the wider Rigpa Sangha, complementing the teachings of Sogyal Rinpoche and also the courses offered in Rigpa centres throughout the world. It is entirely non-sectarian, and features the most important writings of the great Indian and Tibetan masters, including works on both [[sutra]] and [[tantra]]. The teachers providing commentary on these texts are highly qualified [[khenpo]]s and [[acharya]]s. Additional teachings and guidance are also sought from many of the lamas connected with the Rigpa sangha. In addition to studying the most important classical writings, students have the option to study the Tibetan language, and all the major and minor sciences studied by the [[pandita]]s of India and Tibet, including the history of Buddhism in India and Tibet, Tibetan medicine, astrology, grammar (according to the main Tibetan grammar treatises), poetry and arts and crafts.

==Teachers==
[[Image:RTRShedra.JPG|frame|[[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] teaching at the Rigpa Shedra]]
The following lamas and scholars have taught at the Rigpa Shedra:

===Senior Lamas===
*[[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]]
*[[Dzogchen Rinpoche]]
*[[Khenchen Namdrol]]
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab]]
*[[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]]

===Other Khenpos===
*[[Khenpo Dawa Paljor]]
*Khenpo Jampal Dorje
*Khenpo Pasang Tenzin
*[[Sönam Tobden|Khenpo Sönam Tobden]]

===Western Scholars===
*B. [[Alan Wallace]]
*Klaus-Dieter Mathes
*[[Steven Goodman]]

==Shedra History==
===Shedra East===

====2006====
In 2006 the first Rigpa Shedra East took place at the [[Palyul Retreat Centre]] in [[Pharping]], Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Students spent four months studying [[Mipham Rinpoche]]’s [[Gateway to Knowledge]] with Khenpo Pasang Tenzin, translated by Gyurme Avertin.

====2007====
In 2007, the shedra focused on [[Shantideva]]'s classic text, the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'',  with [[Khenpo Sönam Tobden]], translated by Gyurme Avertin. MP3 audio files of these teachings are available [[Teachings on 'Nectar of Manjushri's Speech (MP3)'|here]].

====2008====
The Shedra 2007-2008 studied [[Mipham Rinpoche|Mipham Rinpoche’s]] commentary ''The Adornment of the Middle Way, [[Shantarakshita|Shantarakshita’s]] ''[[Madhyamakalankara]]'' with Commentary By Jamgön Mipham,  with [[Khenpo Sönam Tobden]], translated by Gyurme Avertin.

====2009====
[[Buddha nature]] was the main topic of the Shedra 2008-2009, following two commentaries by [[Mipham Rinpoche]]: ''[[The Lion's Roar: A Commentary on Sugatagarbha]]'', taught by [[Khenchen Namdrol]], and Mipham Rinpoche’s commentary on the ''[[Uttaratantra Shastra]]'' (Tib. ''Gyü Lama''), Buddha Maitreya’s famous treatise, taught by [[Khenpo Dawa Paljor]] and translated by Gyurme Avertin.

====2010====
The main text studied at Shedra East in 2010 was ''[[Madhyamakavatara]]'' (Tib. ''Umajukpa'') and its auto-commentary by [[Chandrakirti]], with [[Khenpo Sönam Tobden]], translated by Gyurme Avertin.

====2011====
Teachings on [[Mipham Rinpoche]]'s commentary on the ''[[Abhisamayalankara]]'' with [[Khenpo Sönam Tobden]], translated by Stefan Gueffroy.

====2012====
Shedra East students studied either [[Shantideva]]’s ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'', using the commentary by [[Khenpo Kunzang Palden]], taught by Ane Lopön Damchoe Wangmo and translated by Melanie Slomka and Damien van Effenterre, or the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]'', using the commentary by [[Mipham Rinpoche]], taught by [[Khenpo Sönam Tobden]] and translated by Gyurme Avertin.

====2013====
Three texts were offered to Shedra East students for study: [[Shantideva]]’s ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'', taught by Ane Lopön Sangye Paldrön and translated by Melanie Slomka and Damien van Effenterre; the ''[[Khenjuk]]'', by [[Mipham Rinpoche]], taught by Lopön Tenzin Wangdü and translated by Damien van Effenterre and Roger Espel Llima; and the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]'', using the commentary by [[Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima]], taught by Lopön Tashi Tseten with translation by Ane Lopön Damchoe Wangmo (Canada). 

====2014====
Shedra East students studied the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'', taught by Ane Lopön Phuntsok Chamdrol and translated by Christina Monson; [[Shantarakshita]]’s ''[[Ornament of the Middle Way]]'', with commentary by [[Mipham Rinpoche]], taught by Lopön Lodrö Palge and translated by Damien van Effenterre; and ''[[Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind]]'', part of the ''[[Trilogy of Finding Comfort and Ease]]'' by [[Longchenpa]], taught by Khenpo Gyatso with translation by Ane Lopön Damchoe Wangmo (Canada). In addition [[Khenchen Namdrol]] taught for six weeks to 76 students.

====2015====
The three texts offered to Shedra East students for study included the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'' using [[Khenpo Shenga]]’s commentary, taught by Ane Lopön Phuntsok Chamdrol and translated by Daniela Hartman and Han Kop; [[Maitreya]]’s ''[[Uttaratantra Shastra]]'' using [[Mipham Rinpoche]]’s commentary as well as his ''[[The Lion's Roar: A Commentary on Sugatagarbha]]'', taught in English by Ane Lopön Damchoe Wangmo (Canada); and the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]'' with commentary by [[Mipham Rinpoche]], taught by Lopön Tashi Tseten, with translation by Christina Monson. An additional six students joined the Uttaratantra class for a one-month short option teaching on the [[Four tenet systems]], using [[Mipham Rinpoche]]'s ''[[Summary of the Wish-Fulfilling Treasury’s Chapter on Tenet Systems]]'', based on a text by [[Longchenpa]], also taught in English by Ane Lopön Damchoe Wangmo (Canada).

====2016====
The Shedra East students received teachings on the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'', taught in English by Chantal Bergers; [[Chandrakirti]]’s ''[[Introduction to the Middle Way]]'', using [[Mipham Rinpoche]]’s commentary, taught in English by Ane Lopön Damchoe Wangmo (Canada); or the vajrayana chapter of [[Jikme Lingpa]]’s ''[[Yönten Dzö]]'', taught by Lopön Tashi Tseten and translated by Christina Monson.

===Shedra West===

[[Image:Shedra group.jpg|frame|[[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] with the shedra students in [[Lerab Ling]], 2005]]
====2001====
The Rigpa Shedra began in [[Lerab Ling]] in the summer of 2001. [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] and [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] both taught on the ninth chapter of [[Shantideva]]’s ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]''.<br>

====2002====
For the second year, [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] gave a commentary on [[Maitreya]]’s ''[[Uttaratantra Shastra]]'', [[Ringu Tulku]] taught [[Mipham Rinpoche]]’s {{LH|tibetan-masters/mipham/wheel-analysis-and-meditation|''Wheel of Analysis and Meditation''}} and Professor [[Steven Goodman]] introduced the basic themes of the [[Abhidharma]].<br>

====2003====
For the third year, which took place in [[Dzogchen Beara]] in Ireland, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche taught on [[Maitreya]]’s ''[[Abhisamayalankara]]'' and [http://www.alanwallace.org/ Alan Wallace] presented the views of the four main philosophical schools of Buddhism. Students also reviewed Ringu Tulku Rinpoche’s teachings on the whole of the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]''.<br>

====2004====
For the fourth year, Dzogchen Rinpoche taught on the ''[[Abhisamayalankara]]'' and introduced us to buddhist debate, and Ringu Tulku Rinpoche began his teachings on [[Shantarakshita]]’s ''[[Madhyamakalankara]]'' using the commentary of [[Mipham Rinpoche]].<br>

====2005====
In the fifth year, the shedra was once again at home in Lerab Ling. We had the pleasure of welcoming back [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]], the Rigpa Shedra’s most regular teacher, for the second and final year of his brilliant commentary upon [[Mipham Rinpoche]]’s celebrated exposition of the ''[[Ornament of the Middle Way]]'' by Khenpo [[Shantarakshita]]. Each day, Rinpoche delivered a brilliant and seemingly effortless summary of as many as thirty or forty pages of text, masterfully encapsulating the essential meaning of the treatise.

For the second part, we had the good fortune to study [[Haribhadra]]’s ''[[Sphutartha]]'' commentary on the ''[[Abhisamayalankara]]'' with the young and brilliant [[Khenpo Jampal Dorje]] from [[Dzongsar Monastery]] in India. During his lively and extremely detailed presentation, he drew upon the writings of the great Sakyapa master Kunkhyen [[Gorampa]] and especially upon the annotation commentary of the great [[Khenpo Shenga]], to whose lineage he himself belongs. On the final day, as both a thank-you and an offering, three students were called upon to present their understanding of the text, and all acquitted themselves admirably, speaking from memory for more than five minutes each and even managing a few quotations.

====2010====
*[[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche Shedra West 2010]]
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab Shedra West 2010]]

====2011====
*Khenchen Pema Sherab Shedra West 2011

====2012====
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab]] finished [[Mipham Rinpoche]]’s ''[[Beacon of Certainty]]'' and then began teaching the ''[[Yönten Dzö]]'' by [[Jikme Lingpa]], with translation by Khenpo Tensing Norgay and Gyurme Avertin.

====2013====
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab]] ''[[Yönten Dzö]]'' starting with Chapter 3 with translation by Khenpo Tensing Norgay and Gyurme Avertin, also by delayed streaming.

====2014====
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab]] ''[[Yönten Dzö]]'' with translation by Khenpo Tensing Norgay and Gyurme Avertin, also by delayed streaming. 

====2015====
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab]] ''[[Yönten Dzö]]'' sections on entrance to the bodhisattva path and the [[Bodhisattva vow]] with translation by Khenpo Tensing Norgay and Gyurme Avertin also by delayed streaming. Khen Rinpoche also gave the [[Bodhisattva vow]] to the entire Lerab Ling community.
*[[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]''


====2016====
*[[Khenchen Pema Sherab]] ''[[Yönten Dzö]]'' sections on the [[Bodhisattva vow]] and the Precepts of Bodhichitta in Aspiration and Action, with translation by Khenpo Tensing Norgay also by delayed streaming.
*[[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]''

==Internal Links==
*[[Shedra MP3 Library]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVYMQLwiTGE Rigpa Shedra Video 2006/2007 in English]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atKLGc5-RdU Rigpa Shedra Video 2006/2007 in French]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDMTzEsERPI Rigpa Shedra Video 2006/2007 in German]


[[Category:Rigpa Shedra]]