A journey to the heart of Buddha’s teachings
With Jan van der Breggen
This is the first of three modules that together explore the essence of the Buddha's teachings. Buddha presented his teachings on three occasions, called the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma:
- Module 1: (Current Course): Presents the First Turning, showing how developing wisdom can transform our lives and help us find our path that leads to inner peace and well-being.
- Module 2: Explores the Second Turning, broadening our path to include our relationship with others through the Middle Way view of emptiness and interdependence and the practices of love and compassion.
- Module 3: Presents the Third Turning with its key message that our mind's nature, and that of all other beings, is, and always has been, the Buddha: open, spacious, awake, and full of wisdom and compassion. From this perspective, our path is one of coming to recognise our enlightened essence, and bring it into direct experience.
In this 8-week course, we will explore the revolutionary Buddhist insight that our own mind — rather than external circumstances — is the creator of happiness and suffering. When we deeply come to know our mind, and care for it, we can tap into a source of inner peace, well-being, wisdom, and compassion. The key to this is the practice of meditation, which will be the main topic of our course. As Sogyal Rinpoche says in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying:
"The gift of learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this life. For it is only through meditation that you can undertake the journey to discover your true nature, and so find the stability and confidence you will need to live, and die, well."
Through meditation and shared reflection, we will investigate what our mind is, how it functions, and exactly how it creates our happiness and suffering. This exploration can lead to profound confidence in our mind's intrinsic essence: an unchanging, pure awareness that underlies the whole of life and death. We come to understand that our thoughts and emotions are workable, and we find the patience and dedication to gradually uncover our inherent peace and wisdom.
There will be ample time for meditation, reflection, and discussion, making these classes meaningful for everyone, from beginners to those who come with a foundation in Buddhism.
Course Details
🗓️ 8 classes on Wednesday evenings 7:00pm-8:45pm AEST, starting on 27 May to 22 July 2026 (no class on 10 June). Plus two extended classes 9:30am-3:00pm AEST on Sunday 14 June and Sunday 12 July 2026
📍 In person at Rigpa Brisbane, 2/19 Enoggera Terrace, Red Hill QLD and online (online attendance only available if you do not live in Brisbane)
💰 $200 full fee or $110 concession
For Rigpa subscribers: The course is included in your subscription fees. Please email Rigpa Brisbane at brisbane@rigpa.org.au for the discount code.