Namchak

How often do we think we know someone only to realize what we were thinking about them was totally wrong? Humans are fantastic at creating stories about each other. Unfortunately, they are misguided and keep us from one another. The goal is to see the stories we write about others and take a minute to examine the origins of those stories. Meaningful sangha requires awareness and acceptance so that we can genuinely connect with one another.

This piece is part of a series meant to give readers an inside view of the Clearing the Lens Retreat held in June. The workshop was led by Aaron Stern, president and founder of the Academy For the Love of Learning ®, and Marianne Murray, a member of the core faculty at the Academy. They were joined by Namchak Foundation’s founder, Lama Tsomo, who shared Tibetan Buddhist meditation practices during the workshop.

Play can lessen the mind chatter and bring us more fully into the present moment. We need to remind ourselves that play is not a luxury, but a necessity.

The entire time I was growing up, I was exposed to another Western tradition for exploring the world: science.

It’s time to throw out the notion that play time is only for kids. As adults, we often cling to the idea that we need to be serious. Turns out, research shows that playtime is a healthy way to reset, grow creativity, and build community for us adults, too!

This piece is part of a series meant to give readers an inside view of the Clearing the Lens Retreat. To begin this month’s theme of Play, it seems fitting to talk about reconnecting with your inner artist. This artist may be sleeping or hiding in a secret corner of your person, but the artist is in there. It doesn’t matter if your inner artist ever becomes famous, but it does matter that it gets a chance to express itself.

Being grateful can be difficult when we’re on the precipice of the unknown. It can be a struggle to go from our current mental state to one of gratitude when we’re encapsulated in fear and anxiety. We’ve all heard that gratitude cultivates more gratitude, but is that really the case?

When I first met Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, I wasn’t expecting to. In fact, I wasn’t expecting to meet anyone.

When the transition is a clear choice, it’s natural to conjure up gratitude. But an unexpected and unwanted change may be especially unsettling, as the unpredictability removes illusions of control.