Inspired by The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Rigpa's Spiritual Care program applies the compassion and wisdom of the Buddhist teachings in practical ways to help those facing illness or death, their families and caregivers. The program, designed for people of any faith, is offered in seven European countries, the United States, Canada and Australia.

The Spiritual Care Program has been designed to augment the professional's training with a comprehensive and practical approach to end-of-life care. It provides education and training to doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, volunteers, and clergy of all denominations.

It includes: public conferences and seminars, study groups for professional and trained volunteer caregivers, and training days for hospital or hospice staff. A conference organized near Munich in 1996 for 1,500 professionals had a major impact on the German hospice movement.

Current activities include:
— comprehensive one-and two-year training courses for professional caregivers in Holland and Germany
— three collaborative volunteer service projects in the USA and France: in San Francisco with an AIDS hospice; in Oakland and Berkeley, CA, with two nursing homes; and in Montpellier, France, with a local hospital
— a volunteer training in Montpellier for a local Mobile Palliative Care Service
— a respite program for caregivers, the sick, and the bereaved, being developed at Dzogchen Beara in Ireland