Namchak Community Blog
Buddhist Ethics: Ten Virtues and Non-Virtues
Welcome to your crash course in Buddhist Ethics! Don’t worry, there won’t be any actual crashing. Hopefully this will be more of a road map of where to go depending on your desired destination. If you’re going for happiness and enlightenment, the Buddha advises you to follow the Ten Virtues and avoid the Non-Virtues. If you’re going for suffering and unhappiness, you would do the opposite.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness: Your Vipassana Guide
We will follow the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Buddha’s fundamental teaching on meditation) as our Vipassana guide as we hone our awareness of the world around us.
Sympathetic Joy: A Tibetan Buddhist Formula for Multiplying Happiness
Searching for happiness is a common theme in books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and all kinds of media
Birth with a Rainbow and Death with a Rainbow
The roots of this story can be found in an account of the most famous Tibetan mantrika known as Sangye Yeshe of the great Nub clan. He is depicted today in paintings and sculptures as a majestic man with a long goatee like the kesh of a Sikh man
The Four Thoughts of Buddhism
What are the Four Thoughts of Tibetan Buddhism?
Contemplation of the Four Thoughts turns the mind from worldly preoccupations towards liberation and freedom.
Walking the Bodhisattva Path: Bodhisattva and Refuge Vows Explained
An in-depth look at refuge and bodhisattva vows and the meaning of being on the bodhisattva path.
Bodhi what? Bodhicitta? Bodhisattva? What’s the difference?
A Tibetan Buddhist explanation of bodhisattva and bodhicitta and meditation practices for developing bodhicitta.
How to Develop Equanimity According to Tibetan Buddhism
According to Tibetan Buddhism in order to develop equanimity it requires understanding the causes and conditions that contribute to suffering.
The Three Poisons
Unfortunately, the Three Poisons we discuss often in Buddhism do not come with attention-grabbing labels. They tend to sneak into our lives and cause suffering until we gain an awareness of them. Though not always pleasant, gaining that awareness and learning to work with them is necessary for ending Samsara. Most of us have a “favorite” that we...
10 Journal Prompts for Introspection & Self-Awareness
Have you ever journaled or wanted to add that to your meditation practice but didn’t know how to get started? Journaling is a great way to record your thoughts, relieve stress, and self-reflect. Grab a cup of hot tea, your favorite blanket, and settle in as we give you some easy prompts to get you started. Consider these: How am I feeling about...