Taking the message of impermanence to heart
Self-paced online course
Self-paced online course
- The course is made up of 10 sessions.
- One session will be released each week, starting on 25 January, 2022.
- All videos, guided practices and accompanying written notes will remain available so you can study at your own pace and go over the sessions as many times as you wish.
- Open to everyone in the Rigpa Sangha.
Course overview
We all encounter change and loss. Often it’s in small ways, but sometimes impermanence turns our world upside down. Some of us took up the spiritual path after a personal encounter with death. Some of us spend time each day reflecting on impermanence. But the question remains: have we fully taken the message of impermanence to heart?
In the teachings of the Buddha, the recognition of impermanence gives a sense of urgency and challenges us to question our life’s priorities. The deeper implications of impermanence—that everything is interdependent and selfless—help us to let go of grasping and emerge from self-destructive habits. Taking the message of impermanence and death to heart fully reveals the deathless nature of mind and is the doorway to freedom.
Based on Chapter 1-3 of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
2022 is the 30th anniversary of the publication of the The Tibetan Book ofLiving and Dying. It is particularly apt that Patrick Gaffney, who co-edited this book, has revisited the first three chapters in this new 10 session online course.
With great care and wisdom, Patrick guides us through a series of contemplations and meditations on impermanence, death, selflessness and emptiness, allowing us to step out of the clutches of fear and discover a new meaning, a new inspiration, and a new joy in our lives.
In the teachings of the Buddha, the recognition of impermanence gives a sense of urgency and challenges us to question our life’s priorities. The deeper implications of impermanence—that everything is interdependent and selfless—help us to let go of grasping and emerge from self-destructive habits. Taking the message of impermanence and death to heart fully reveals the deathless nature of mind and is the doorway to freedom.
Based on Chapter 1-3 of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
2022 is the 30th anniversary of the publication of the The Tibetan Book ofLiving and Dying. It is particularly apt that Patrick Gaffney, who co-edited this book, has revisited the first three chapters in this new 10 session online course.
With great care and wisdom, Patrick guides us through a series of contemplations and meditations on impermanence, death, selflessness and emptiness, allowing us to step out of the clutches of fear and discover a new meaning, a new inspiration, and a new joy in our lives.
What is included in this course?
- 10 video teachings by Patrick Gaffney
- Audio guided meditations and reflections (available via the orange button below)
- Suggestions for how to apply what you learn into your daily life
- Written notes to help you continue the contemplations on your own
What will you learn?
- How can the reflection on impermanence inspire deeper meaning and purpose in our lives?
- What happens when we fully embrace the truth of change and impermanence?
- What are our fears about facing change and death?
- What distracts us from this truth, and what impact does this have?
Form a study group
The topic of impermanence is really one to take time to reflect on and internalise. It is also a topic that can touch on raw emotions and be quite challenging at times.
It can be very helpful, therefore, to follow this course with Dharma friends. You may like to form a study group with other sangha members to discuss and share your discoveries and insights.
Some Rigpa Centres may organise study groups—check with your local centre to see if study groups are being arranged.
It can be very helpful, therefore, to follow this course with Dharma friends. You may like to form a study group with other sangha members to discuss and share your discoveries and insights.
Some Rigpa Centres may organise study groups—check with your local centre to see if study groups are being arranged.
You can choose your contribution
- Suggested contribution: 80 €
- If you want to give more: 140 €
- If you have less means: 50 €