Namchak Community Blog

Taking some inspiration from the Buddha himself, let’s enrich our practice with a little springtime mix-up. Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince. As an adult, he secretly left the palace to begin his journey to enlightenment. He traveled for about six years, learning...

Let’s talk about projection. Not the old way our grandparents used to watch movies, but the way we tend to project our insecurities on those close to us, often seriously damaging our relationships. It’s fairly easy to know when someone is projecting on us. Most likely...

One of the unique aspects of Buddhist practice is the freedom to challenge the teachings. Buddhism invites us to question our own perceptions and convictions, even question ancient wisdom and insight. Questioning encourages us to be active in our own awakening, and...

“You have a long way to go,” I said to myself as Lama Tsomo called our awareness back to the room. It was a bright, slightly chilly Saturday morning at Lama Tsomo’s True Connection Retreat in Oakland, CA. My eyes welcomed the energizing light as I rubbed the still...

This week’s blog is written by a Namchak Learning Circle member and meditator who is doing his best to keep a calm and balanced mind. At 6 a.m. my alarm rings. I put my clothes on, go in the washroom to shave, and get ready for the day by…sitting down and closing my...

I don’t know how old I was when I started to recognize unease: that hollow, edgy discomfort that inhabits the space under your ribs.smooth..

Our inherent desire to predict and control our world brings us in direct conflict with the impermanent nature of all things, and the fact that uncertainty is unavoidable. The answer seems to lie in resiliency, namely the ability to adapt to, and even welcome,...

Spring is traditionally associated with birth and renewal, a welcome freedom after the challenges of winter. This lightening of spirit urges us to embark on new projects, including our own personal aspirations. What do we want to achieve? How do we want to move...

“Look at all those people sitting there with their eyes closed. I wonder what they’re doing,” I thought to myself as I ran past a big, pink ramada at the nearby park in Buenos Aires. I went home that day, researched the benefits of meditation and soon after, purchased...

Courage – it’s not just a word to describe people who commit to larger-than-life acts of bravery. We can turn the lens of courage on ourselves by reframing not only how we define it, but also how we cultivate it. Since meditation allows us to come to self, it can...