We offer a year-round programme of retreats, courses and guided practices, led by Rigpa’s teachers and other teachers primarily from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, both at Dzogchen Beara and online.
The following is intended to support you in choosing a retreat that is aligned with your personal aspirations.
Meditation
The foundational practice of meditation is to allow the mind to settle into a state of ‘calm-abiding’ (shamatha), where it will find peace and stability.
Without difficult techniques or postures, this simple yet profound practice allows the discursive mind to rest naturally in a state of relaxed awareness, where Rigpa, the innermost nature of mind, can reveal itself.
Through a combination of mindfulness, awareness and spaciousness – we pacify our scattered minds, and overcome distraction.
Meditation is now widely recognised as a powerful support for modern life—something that can be practised anywhere, by anyone, of any age or background. Moreover, there is growing scientific evidence that meditation has a positive effect on our health and wellbeing.
Most of our meditation retreats are suitable for those who are new to meditation and those who are familiar with the practice.
If you have an established meditation practice and wish to enter more deeply into experience, with extended periods of practice and silence, you may be interested in Moving into Meditation (early Summer) or our annual Natural Great Peace retreat (November)
Compassion
Compassion is more than sympathy for someone who is suffering or the empathy you might feel when you recognise their pain: Compassion includes the determination to do whatever is possible to help alleviate their suffering.
A particular strength of the Buddhist teachings is the clarity with which they demonstrate the ‘logic’ of compassion, as well as its benefits.
The inherent love and compassion that we all share are sometimes hidden from us. Fortunately, the “training of the mind in compassion” teaching offers techniques that help us connect with these innate resources, as beginning with the practice of loving kindness we let our heart open and progressively compassion is naturally born.
We offer introductory retreats on Loving Kindness each year. If you have an established loving kindness practice and wish to deepen your experience with extended periods of practice and silence you may be interested in the annual week-long Loving Kindness retreat (spring). We also offer retreats that support a deepening understanding of the Buddhist training in compassion, for example, retreats on the practice of Tonglen or the Six Paramitas.
Spiritual Care: Living & Dying
Spiritual Care retreats and workshops provide contemplative support for those facing illness, or bereavement, or who are in a caring role, whether voluntary or professional.
These include accredited retreats such as Deep Listening and Authentic Presence, which offer training in compassionate care and resilience, for health and social care professionals and volunteers.
Additionally, we offer workshops and retreats focused on bereavement (Facing Loss, Healing Grief), , deepening our understanding of impermanence (Embracing Change), and death and dying (Making Friends with Death).
Buddhist Teachers
We regularly host Tibetan Buddhist Lamas, teachers who have spent their lives in study, practice and retreat. We invite Lamas known for their authenticity, and for being living examples of this ancient wisdom tradition, as part of an unbroken lineage of instruction that begins with Buddha. It is a rare and wonderful blessing to receive teachings and advice from these Masters, and to simply be in their presence in the inspiring and intimate environment of the Dzogchen Beara temple.
Most Lamas who visit Dzogchen Beara teach in English but some teach in Tibetan with English translation. Most of these retreats are mostly open to everybody but some are for students of Tibetan Buddhism who have already completed certain practices or have received prior initiations. Details about language or any restrictions on attendance will be in the retreat description.
Buddhism and following a Spiritual Path
Some of our retreats explore the philosophical framework of the Buddha’s teachings on mind and the nature of reality. These intellectual explorations are supported by meditation and contemplation so that
theoretical learning can be evaluated through the lens of experience.
If you already have an established meditation practice and would like to know more about the Buddhist spiritual path, the Steps to Freedom retreat offers an outline of the path and guidance on the different stages.
For those who wish to follow the Buddhist spiritual path, Rigpa offers study and practice programs including courses in the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition of Tibet, a traditional study college (shedra), and short and long practice retreats.
Rigpa
If you are interested in connecting more regularly with a spiritual community of like-minded people to support you on your spiritual path then the Rigpa community might be for you.
Dzogchen Beara is a member of the One Rigpa Network – an international network , a worldwide network of groups dedicated to sharing the Buddha’s teachings in authentic ways that are accessible and meaningful for the modern world.
Rigpa Ireland is a non-profit voluntary organisation that has an established presence in Ireland for over 30 years. Rigpa groups throughout Ireland offer a place where everyone is welcome to explore Buddhist practice and tradition as well as to engage with a regular study programme.
You can find out more about what Rigpa offers internationally as well the history of Rigpa here
Prajna: Online Library
Prajna Online offers a treasure trove of wisdom. The site has a vast collection of teachings on video, from Masters who lived and taught in Tibet, through to today’s modern generation of Tibetan Buddhist teachers who grew up in the West, or who are themselves western. New content is added frequently.