27th September 2026 - 30th June 2027
A cycle of the All-Encompassing Path to Enlightenment (YEAR 4)
The All-Encompassing Path to Enlightenment (AEPE) is Rigpa’s main study programme for students of all levels: new, more advanced and in-between. Within the present study cycle of the AEPE called The Way of the Great Perfection we will continue with the second part of our training in bodhichitta within the broader practice of the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro, the preliminaries for The Heart-essence of the Vast Expanse from the Great Perfection. In particular this year we will explore the aspects of bodhichitta in aspiration and action, as well as the bodhisattva vow. This training comprises the most precious direct instructions to ensure that our bodhichitta never declines, but continues to increase further and further.
The next Live Sangha Day
Saturday, 10th October 2026, about 10:00am CET
Topic and teacher are still to be conformed
→ The talk will be given in English, with translations into French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Elements of the program
OPEN TO ALL: Rigpa‘s most experienced teachers will be holding Live Sangha Days with students gathering in person at centres and online and so connecting all of us together internationally. These sessions have live translations and if you can’t attend live, you will also be able to view on PrajnaOnline for delayed viewing. You find the live streamings each month under ‘Live Practices’ on Prajna, there you can access the recordings of the live sangha days via the orange buttons on the left hand side.
Here are all recordings of the previous years:
-> Year 1: The Four Thoughts – the outer preliminaries of the ngöndro (2023/2024)
-> Year 2: Refuge and an overview of the Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro (2024/2025)
-> Year 3: Developing Bodhichitta through the Four Immeasurables (2025/2026)For those who wish for continued support throughout the month, you will have the guidance of the weekly study sessions held by local and national teachers and instructors in-person or online, which include the pithiest teachings by Sogyal Rinpoche and other masters, together with crucial contemplations and meditations.
OPEN TO all students who have studied and contemplated the four thoughts and basic knowledge of refuge (eg. last first two years of The Way of the Great Perfection and have attended either the ‘For the Sake of Others retreat in Lerab Ling during the months of April, or the Ngöndro Summer Retreat in Lerab Ling in July 2026).
For these weekly study you need to register with your National Rigpa.Additional material will be provided for those of us who want more detailed study.
The International Ngöndro Retreat each summer in Lerab Ling will be an occasion to come together internationally and further our understanding and experience, catch up on what we may have missed and receive personal guidance from Rigpa’s most experienced teachers. The date for this retreat is likely to in July 2027. More information will follow.
For those registered, the entire program can also be followed online at your own pace and will be delivered on Rigpa Online Courses (ROC). If you prefer to study online by yourself, we encourage you to have a study buddy, with whom you can exchange information and insights about your study and practice and you could also find encouragement and support.
The programme of The Way of the Great Perfection
The whole path to enlightenment taught in Tibetan Buddhism has been clearly mapped out in the teachings over centuries. Many masters consider the preliminary practices, called Ngöndro in Tibetan, to be the main practice of this tradition. This also encompasses all the elements needed to prepare us to fully receive the Great Perfection teachings of Dzogchen, the highest and most direct stream of wisdom within the Buddhist tradition of Tibet.
So no matter where we are on our path, this new cycle called “The Way of the Great Perfection” will support us in taking it to completion. Our senior and most experienced Rigpa teachers will guide us through the key principles of the Ngöndro, helping us to discover or revisit these principles in a fresh, up-to-date, real life way. We will dig into the framework of these practices with an out-of-the box perspective while preserving their authenticity entirely.
So, the goal of this multi-year programme of The Way of the Great Perfection is for us to arrive at a thorough and complete understanding of what the teachings tell us about the different methods and to reach a complete certainty on how we apply them in our practice and in daily life and ultimately realise the innermost nature of our own minds.
Dates and topics for the Live Sangha Days 2026/2027
You can follow all of the Live Sangha Days in your centre, live online or delayed on Prajna.
Please find the dates for the live sangha days below, the time will be Saturdays at 10:00am Paris time (unless the location of the teacher does not permit this time)
10 October 2026: Life in a box
14 November 2026: The dangers of self-centredness & Equalising Self & Others
12 December 2026: Exchanging self and others
9 January 2027: Training the mind: Lojong in a nutshell
13 February 2027: Considering others as more important
13 March 2027: The paramita of generosity
10 April 2027: The paramitas of discipline & patience
8 May 2027: The paramitas of diligence & meditation
12 June 2027: The paramita of wisdom
Practical details about how to join the All Encompassing Path to Enlightenment
Gathering with sangha friends: As much as possible we hope we can gather (in person or online) with sangha friends for the Live Sangha Days and weekly study. We also understand that this isn’t always possible, for this reason it’s also possible to follow in your own time on Prajna.
There are two ways you can participate in the programme:
1: Live Sangha Days only: Everyone in the Rigpa sangha and also the public can join the monthly live sessions without being registered for the AEPE. These sessions are available on Prajna for any Rigpa student who is registered to the Prajna Website (no need for a paid subscription).
2: Join the full programme which includes the live sangha days plus weekly study with your local sangha and other materials. Please register for the full programme with your national Rigpa. Attending this programme qualifies for this stage on the path to further study Vajrayana.
Where do I find the programme?
The Live Sangha Days will be accessible through the LIVE PRACTICES section on Prajna and via the blue Zoom button above.
The weekly study materials as well as the additional materials can be accessed via the website "Rigpa Online Courses (ROC)".
Registration is through the countries. Please contact your national Rigpa.
Donation
The aim of the Light of Dharma grant is to secure the teachings by sponsoring projects and programmes developed in Rigpa that use new channels to share the Dharma, in ways most adapted to these times of great unpredictability and fast-developing technologies.
All teachers are offered a small honorarium for their contribution to The Way of the Great Perfection. If you want to support the teachers and Rigpas projects, please donate to the Light of Dharma grant.