Namchak Community Blog
How to Stay Motivated to Meditate
If a teacher yells at a child when they do something they’ve always done before, the teacher is not going to have a very good student.
The Buddhist Story of the Monkey Mind
pages 40-41, from Ancient Wisdom for Our Times. Tibetan Buddhist Practice: Wisdom & Compassion (Starting with Yourself) (c)2021 Lama Tsomo LLC. Published by Namchak Publishing Company LLC, USA.
Shamata or Tranquil Abiding
We refer to Shamata as Calm or Tranquil Abiding. It serves as the foundation for all other practices and is suitable for those just starting to meditate as well as experienced practictioners
What is Karma in Buddhism?
Karma: Urges, Actions, and Results Explained Karma is one of the most complex and misunderstood topics in Buddhism. We’re here to shed a little light on it! Translated from Sanskrit, it means “action.” Generally speaking, karma refers to the actions that naturally grow out of thoughts and feelings.The thoughts and feelings...
The Path to Happiness
In her book Why Bother? An Introduction, Lama Tsomo discusses why she bothered with meditation and the benefits she has experienced
The Compassion in Action Fellowship 2022 in Review
The Three Jewels of Buddhism are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Each jewel holds an invaluable place on the path. Today we’d like to take a moment to reflect and hold dear one particular segment of our Sangha or community; the Compassion in Action Fellows.
The Bodhisattva Path to Enlightenment
The demands and pace of modern life tend to leave us with little time to think through all of our decisions and actions. Even on normal-seeming days, we wake up to a mountain of decisions: what to eat, what to wear, how and with whom to communicate, and how we show up at work and with our loved ones. With this constant decision-making, it’s easy...
Compassion in Action Student Spotlight: Yulie
Name : Yulie School : UC Berkeley Tell us a little about yourself. I am a first-generation immigrant from Korea and the younger of two daughters. I like to honor my culture through food and speaking Korean with my parents. I am in my last year (now month!) of undergrad, after which I will be starting out as a software engineer. I have a deep love...
Compassion in Action Student Spotlight: Dancer
Name : DancerSchool : James Madison University Tell us a little about yourself.I feel more comfortable with animals than I do with people. I feel uncomfortable when humans name a non-human an “it”. I enjoy being in the middle of the woods as much as I enjoy being in the middle of a busy city. Different species of plants give me as much joy as...
Three Methods for Quieting Your Inner Critic
If you aren’t familiar with your inner critic, congratulations! Most of us are all too familiar. It is that inner voice that is constantly ready to point out our faults and pass harsh judgment on us for them. When we are accustomed to hearing this voice and going along with the stories it tells, it can feel like a permanent part of us....