A complete introduction to meditation practice
Sometimes it might feel like we cannot do very much about the state of the world. Yet there is one thing we can always do something about—our mind. By transforming our mind, we can begin to examine what’s really going on and we can make a choice about how we want to view the world around us.
The Buddha discovered that each and every one of us possesses a basic fundamental goodness, an enlightened, vast sky-like nature, with potentially limitless qualities of love, warm-heartedness, intelligence, awareness and wisdom. This is who we are. Connecting with this awareness, with our true nature, is the whole point of meditation.
This precious collection of teachings, reflections and guided practices presents the view and some of the most important methods of meditation in an accessible and experiential way. They were recorded during the first two days of a meditation retreat entitled, “The freedom of awareness’ given by Patrick Gaffney in Dzogchen Beara, Ireland, in 2025.
Drawing on his profound understanding and experience of meditation, Patrick explores how to practise meditation, with and without an object. He explains how the mind works, how we can respond to hindrances, and how we can use any circumstance to strengthen our meditation and our determination to uncover who we really are.
Content
This collection features 4 teachings of approximately one hour each, containing many guided meditations and reflections. Each teaching is divided into shorter extracts so that you can study at your own pace and easily go back to any of the guided meditations or teachings that you would like to repeat or study in more depth.
The teachings were given in English and there are French, German & Spanish translations. Currently only the first teaching is available with translations, but the rest will be added over the coming weeks.
Open contribution
You can contribute whatever is currently appropriate and possible for you. Our recommendations are:
- Suggested contribution: 50 €
- If you want to give more: 90 €
- If you have less means: 30 €
Your contribution will support Rigpa to make Buddha’s teaching available in a way that is authentic and at the same time relevant for the modern world. Prajna is a non-profit.
About Patrick Gaffney
Patrick is a Buddhist teacher, writer and translator who has studied and worked with some of the most renowned masters of Tibet. Patrick met Sogyal Rinpoche at Cambridge University in the 1970s and spent the next 40 years studying closely with him and helping in the development of Rigpa.
He is the co-editor of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, and has also edited a number of other books and translations, including two books by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Patrick now concentrates on sharing the Dharma in retreats and online courses. He has a particular interest in the teachings of Dzogchen and lojong, training the mind.