Dzogchen Beara is a member of the One Rigpa Network – an international network of 117 centres and groups in 24 countries. Rigpa aims to present the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in a way that is both authentic and best adapted to be beneficial for people in the modern world.
Retreats, courses and events offered at Dzogchen Beara are based on an in-depth curriculum of study, reflection, practice and retreat established within Rigpa and designed for anyone who wishes to follow the teachings of the Buddha and in particular the Buddhist tradition of Tibet.
The general approach shared in Rigpa is that of Tibetan Buddhism. In particular, Rigpa follows the Nyingma lineage and tradition of Dzogchen, or “Great Perfection”—the most ancient and direct stream of wisdom within the Buddhist tradition of Tibet, which reveals the way to realize the innermost nature of mind. Dzogchen Beara was the name given to our centre by Sogyal Rinpoche.
The essence of all Buddhist teachings is to arrive at lasting peace and happiness through transforming the mind.
The Buddha taught the importance of recognizing the reality of suffering, abandoning its causes and achieving liberation by following the path. The underlying goal of Rigpa’s path of study and practice is to support individuals of all ages, cultures and backgrounds, to travel this path and gradually embody the wisdom and compassion that are the essence of the Buddha’s teachings.
In general, the Buddhist path is very flexible. Buddha was renowned for teaching a wide variety of ways to practise, each attuned to the needs of different individuals. At all stages of the path, one can study and practise in great depth, or in a more essential way, the key point being the transformation that actually takes place in one’s being.
The vision of Dzogchen Beara is to offer a place of refuge where everyone is welcome to come and explore the methods and techniques that come from the Buddhist tradition regardless of spiritual orientation. At the same time, we offer a programme of study, practice and retreat for those who wish to follow in more depth the Buddhist path.
In the spirit of the Buddha, individuals are encouraged to question, clarify, explore and test the teachings and practices until they arrive at a personal conviction. A culture of open dialogue and critical analysis is encouraged and welcomed.
Courses, retreats and teaching events generally fall into the following categories to make it clearer which part of the Buddhist path they emphasize.
This is intended to indicate what is best suited for beginners, what is best suited for more established Buddhist practitioners, what are core Buddhist studies and what is relevant for anyone, and so on. This is not intended to be rigid or prescriptive, but to provide a general reference point.
You can read more about each stage of the path here