The Heart of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying : Discovering Inner Peace In the Midst of Chaos - January 2026

Rigpa US is pleased to offer an exciting series of online courses exploring The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, the groundbreaking classic by Sogyal Rinpoche, which has helped millions of people throughout the world to find wellbeing in their lives. These courses rely on the Buddhist tradition of wisdom and compassion and open the way to deeper understanding and freedom from suffering.   

The series of courses provides an overview of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings as presented in this acclaimed book. Suitable for everyone, each course is designed to stand alone, so you can attend any or all in the series. 

SECOND COURSE IN THE SERIES

Discoving Inner Peace In The Midst of Chaos 

This 10-week course offers a gentle path out of cycles of worry, stress, and emotional overwhelm by helping you discover two distinct aspects of your mind: the busy surface level of thoughts and emotions, and the deeper spacious awareness that remains calm and clear beneath all mental activity. Through practical meditation techniques and compassionate guidance, you'll learn to step back from overwhelming thoughts without fighting them, access your natural inner peace, and transform difficult moods—not by becoming a "good meditator," but by recognizing the open, aware nature you already are. Perfect for anyone feeling trapped by mental chatter, curious about meditation but finding traditional approaches intimidating, or ready to explore their deeper potential beyond just managing daily problems—no previous experience needed, just curiosity and willingness to discover the unchanging peaceful awareness that's always been there, like rediscovering a forgotten room in your own house.

Do you ever feel caught in cycles of worry, stress, or emotional overwhelm? 

Many of us find ourselves trapped in patterns of thinking that seem to create more suffering than peace. We get lost in endless mental chatter, reactive emotions, and stories that keep us feeling stuck or disconnected from our deeper sense of well-being.

What if there was a way to step back from this mental noise and discover a part of yourself that remains calm, clear, and unshaken—no matter what's happening around you?

A Different Way of Understanding Your Mind 

In this 10-week exploration, we'll discover something profound: your mind is not just the source of your struggles—it's also the key to lasting peace and happiness. Together, we'll learn to work with two distinct aspects of your inner experience:

The surface level - those busy thoughts, shifting emotions, and the countless stories your mind creates throughout the day

The deeper level - a spacious, aware presence that's always there beneath the mental activity—clear, knowing, and naturally at peace

Think of it like the difference between the waves on the ocean's surface and the vast, calm depths below. Both are part of the same ocean, but offer completely different experiences.

What You'll Experience

Through gentle guidance and practical meditation techniques, you'll learn to:

• Step back from overwhelming thoughts and emotions without fighting them
• Access a sense of inner spaciousness that feels both grounding and freeing
• Develop tools to transform difficult moods naturally
• Connect with a part of yourself that feels unchanging and peaceful
• Experience meditation not as another task, but as a return home to yourself

We'll explore various meditation approaches, always with the understanding that the ultimate goal isn't to become a "good meditator"—it's to recognize the open, aware nature that you already are.

This Course Is For You If:

• You feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or emotional ups and downs
• You're curious about meditation but find traditional approaches intimidating or unclear
• You sense there's more to life than just managing problems and checking boxes
• You're ready to explore a deeper understanding of your own mind and potential
• You want practical tools that work in real life, not just on the meditation cushion
• You're open to discovering aspects of yourself you may not have known existed
•  

Dates: Every Wednesday from January 7 to March 11 (10 Sessions)

Start Time: 4 pm Pacific Time/ 7 pm Eastern Time

Each session will be approximately 2 hours.

Location: Online through Zoom

Led by Teaching Team: Pat Best, Linda Forrester, Jeff Middelton, & Hanne Riegg-Luedge

Participant Limit: The maximum number of participants is 30 for each course

Materials: You will need a copy of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. This book is readily available for purchase online.   Please note this book is also available as an audiobook. The audiobook would be a valuable complement to the course materials for students who choose to purchase it.

Course materials for each session will be available, including suggested home study and a forum for participants to discuss the lessons.  Information on accessing these will be provided at least a week prior to the first class. 

Upcoming Course Schedule 2026

Spring 2026 (Course 3): 

(The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - Chapters 6–10)