Rigpa Sangha Survey
First Findings of the Rigpa Sangha Survey
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What was the purpose of the Rigpa sangha survey?
The goal of the survey was to hear directly from the Rigpa community to learn more about their interests and needs. With this information, we can make sure that, in addition to being aligned with Rigpa’s dharma vision, that Rigpa’s priorities and initiatives are also aligned with the needs and interests of our sangha.
The survey results will enrich many existing priorities and initiatives, while also indicating where new or different initiatives might be beneficial.
The survey delivery and response
The Rigpa sangha survey was emailed to 3900 sangha members in five languages in December 2020. The ‘3900’ are sangha members who are registered in the Admin and Care database and currently accept to receive emails from Rigpa.
The survey was completely anonymous.
The sangha had 19 days to complete the survey (3-21 December).
1200 (31%) sangha members replied to the survey.
Almost 40% (444) of those who responded, completed the survey within 24 hours of receiving it.
The survey included 28 multiple choice questions and 9 free text questions
The sangha shared over 5000 text comments. Many of them are heart-felt and insightful.
How are the survey findings being evaluated and how can the sangha stay informed?
The responses to the survey showed us both that many of Rigpa’s existing priorities and initiatives are aligned with the needs and interests of the sangha, and at the same time there are changes and improvements we can make to better meet the sangha needs and interests.
A number of Rigpa’s leadership teams (national and international) have begun studying the survey results and are already integrating the insights into existing priorities and initiatives.
This work will continue over the coming months as these teams look more deeply into the results to identify specifically how the insights from this survey can inform activity at a local and national level, as well as in projects across Rigpa internationally such as Rigpa’s programme of study and practice (aka ‘the curriculum’), our online and live programme offerings, how we continue to heal as a sangha, how we support students in their study and practice and more.
In this report you can find the summary data which shows how frequently each multiple choice answer was chosen by the respondents from all countries, mandalas, ages etc.
This does not yet show comparisons or insights according to different groups (country, age, course attendance etc). This will come in future updates.
The results below show three aspects:
a graph overview of responses for each question
initial insights about the overall responses for some topics
links to current initiatives or projects.
As we learn more from the survey findings and take actions in response, these will be shared with the sangha in future sangha blog posts.
What are the main insights so far and what actions are being taken in response?
Rigpa as an Organisation
Initial insights:
Almost all of the qualities were identified as important.
The top 3 most attractive organisational qualities of Rigpa are an authentic lineage, online connectivity, a complete graduated curriculum. Other qualities — community, easy availability of content, practices our own language — are also considered to be important.
The importance of being able to connect to study and practice online was touched on in several questions: 83% sangha said their study includes watching teaching videos; ‘online connectivity’ was rated 4.3/5 in importance on average (5 = very important) *This result is likely to be influenced by our need to connect online more during the pandemic.
Related projects and initiatives
A number of key initiatives have been identified as priorities in 2021, and teams will work to incorporate survey results into their activities:
The Vision Board is reading the individual feedback from the survey and will share an overview of the survey with Rigpa's Spiritual Advisors.
The Empowering Holders project is clarifying the criteria for Rigpa's dharma teachers and practice holders and ensuring they have the training they need to guide the sangha authentically.
Connecting online: Rigpa’s new online platform, Prajna, was launched in October 2020 and is now available to Rigpa students and the public. It will be developed further in 2021 replacing the current Rigpa streaming website, and also providing courses for the sangha and the public.
Curriculum: A curriculum team, with the participation of teachers and instructors around the world, is clarifying the framework for Rigpa’s complete and graduated path of study and practice, from the basic yana through Vajrayana and Dzogchen. It is establishing a group of ‘Curriculum Holders’ from each country to allow direct feedback from students on the curriculum and to guide its development. The Curriculum team will also study survey results to incorporate them into its work.
2. My involvement in Rigpa; local centres and support
Initial insights
A sense of community and friendship are clearly important to the majority of sangha members.
Lack of time and competing interests was slightly important on average, while other factors were not considered important (on average).
Related projects and initiatives:
Sangha and Community: A ‘Sangha and Community’ team with representatives from several Rigpa countries and young people has recently been formed and has begun meeting. Its focus is to take a fresh look at the needs of our community and make sure ‘Community’ is at the forefront of the thinking behind all major projects and initiatives. ‘Sangha and Community’ is one of Rigpa’s main priority areas.
Initial insights
Local centre attendance is very attractive to the sangha. At the same time, local centres can be expensive to lease and operate.
Related projects and initiatives:
Reinvigorating local centres with people and funds: One example of a project to empower and support growth in local centres is a new course, ‘Mind and its True Nature’, which will be launched in 2021 with the goal of attracting new students will be backed by a financial system that will enable 90% of the income to stay with the local centre.
3. Our Study and Practice
Study and Practice (questions 10-17):
Initial insights
The sangha is composed of diligent and enthusiastic practitioners of a wide variety of practices, who also regularly study a diverse set of dharma subjects. It is important to highlight this and to celebrate it; for example, many Rigpa students practice an average of about one hour every day and study 4 hours/week! Emaho!
Many in the sangha are interested in guidance, check-ins, or some sort of regular one-on-one care. This interest is greater among newer students.
Related projects and initiatives
Programmes: Many existing programmes – Prajna, practice streaming, teaching events, curriculum development, empowering holders – currently support students’ study and practice. The survey results will inform the development of these programmes.
Renewed system to provide financial support for study and practice: The Scholarship Fund will be re-launched in 2021 to provide grants to support students wishing to undertake long-term and short term retreats, and for holder nominees wishing to further their training.
Curriculum and empowering teachers and holders: The focus on developing Rigpa’s Complete Path of Study and Practice, together with empowering Rigpa’s teachers and practice and activity holders, will continue to support and guide our sangha’s study and practice. These initiatives are being developed by teams with representation from many Rigpa countries to incorporate the needs of different groups in the sangha.
New courses are being developed and trialed through a collaboration of national and international teams to ensure the content and mode of delivery is relevant for different groups in the sangha (e.g. live, online, small or larger groups, newer or more experienced instructors).
4. Rigpa Moving Forward
Initial insights
Around two thirds of the sangha feel “clear and resolved with respect to the allegations and investigation findings.” and “feel safe to bring up a disagreement, complaint, or ethical issue in my sangha.”
Around one third feel neutral or do not feel ‘clear and resolved’ or ‘safe to bring up a disagreement or complaint’.
Comments shared also indicated that there is a range of perspectives and views amongst sangha members with some wishing to move on and focus on study and practice and not have to continue to discuss these topics, and others who feel it is not at all resolved.
Related projects and initiatives
The ’Moving Forward’ initiatives from the last 3 years have had a positive impact on healing in our sangha. Yet this is an ongoing process and we continue to work towards healing and a strong, dharma-focused community.
We still have more to learn about how to create a safe space for healing in our community, and how to hear differing views with an open mind and open heart. The survey findings have shown that ensuring everyone feels safe to express discontent or grievances is something we especially need to continue to work on.
Rigpa countries continue to work with the Code of Conduct and Grievance procedures ensuring they are accord with their specific national requirements and are actively applied tools in the sangha.
The restorative process held by independent mediators for those who were hurt is still open. See details here on how to contact the mediators.
A new priority in development is to reach a place where, as a community, we have an understanding of and own the entirety of Rigpa’s story - our rich dharma lineage, qualities as a dharma organisation, as well as the difficult or negative aspects of our past. The sangha survey is providing helpful insights into the support in this area sangha members are seeking.
5. Rigpa Programmes
Initial insights
Programme participation and satisfaction are high. All-Encompassing Path is the highest attended programme, attracting 1200-1500 students, and AEP appears particularly important to newer students.
It is important that we hear more from sangha members who are not joining these programmes to see how we might adapt to also meet their needs.
Related projects and initiatives
International programmes: The programme teams are developing a wide range of events for 2021.
AEP in 2021: The current AEP study of Bodhicharyavatara ends in July 2021, and research is underway for innovative ways to continue.
Prajna, Rigpa’s new online platform, offers an easy-to-use online library with regular new content which includes inspiring short video teachings and advice, and live and delayed online events - all grouped according to the stages of the path, to make it easier for each person to find the content for them.
Initial insights
While 44% of sangha members find time deadlines a helpful motivation, many are neutral or do not find them helpful.
Many sangha members specifically requested that time limits are removed and they are respected and trusted to study teachings in their own time and as they find helpful.
Related projects and initiatives:
Starting from 2021, there will no longer be any time limit for watching most online teaching events. (Some programmes such as the Dzogchen Study Programme will continue to have a time limit.).
6. Our sangha profile - age, countries, mandalas
Initial insights
Sangha country and age: The country and age profile of those who replied to the survey is very close to the overall sangha profile. That gives us confidence that the profile of those who replied to the survey matches the overall profile of the sangha.
An ageing sangha Our sangha, on average, is ageing (half the sangha are over 60) and will look very different in 10 or 20 years. There is some urgency to issues around sustainability, and in particular how best to bring in new and younger students.
Related projects and initiatives
A number of young people are currently involved as volunteers and members of staff in several national Rigpa and international teams. One positive outcome of this is that young peoples' view, wisdom, and needs can be integrated into Rigpa’s initiatives now and into the future. Further concrete actions are needed to support young dharma students. One example of such action is Rigpa France's initiative to offer a special ‘youth membership’ for a reduced fee (40€) and all their events are free for youth members.
Rigpé Shyönnu is also continuing to offer events for young people, both sangha and public.
Several countries have self-facilitated groups of older sangha members to support and raise awareness of their unique needs.
Initial insights.
More than half the respondents are in the Dzogchen Mandala.
Related projects or initiatives
In 2021 there will be courses and teaching events for all levels - Foundation, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Dzogchen, and teachings and practice events for all levels are available on Prajna, with regular new content being added.
As a majority of our sangha are in the Dzogchen Mandala, there is a continued focus on a study programme for these students.
All survey answers - in one glance
