Namchak Community Blog

It’s time to recharge those goals that we’ve let slip since January. Whether your goal was to eat cleaner, bike to work daily, or get eight hours sleep every night, it’s time to get back to it. Here are some ways to kickstart your goals: Know Thyself. Write a letter to yourself explaining how you’re feeling, where you’re at, and where you want to...

The following is an except from Lama Tsomo’s book, Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? We now know that, since we’re made of Buddha Nature, we too can reach the end of all suffering, permanently. We can finally end our wandering and go back Home. For good. The Buddha laid out the actual methods for us to achieve this goal. He taught thousands...

This piece is part of a series meant to give readers an inside view of the Clearing the Lens Retreat that was held in June . Participants cultivated awareness within themselves while engaging with others to deepen sangha and gain tools to live happier and more meaningful lives. The workshop was led by Aaron Stern, president and founder of the The...

Even though the heat of summer is unrelenting, it won’t be long until there’s a coolness in the air and our schedules take a beat before hurling into autumn. It’s time to step back, reflect, and spend time with those we value most. Here are three ways to bring people together as fall sweeps in: Pass the Plate. Nothing builds community quite like...

Hello Body, we meet again. 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...

Play can lessen the mind chatter and bring us more fully into the present moment. It helps boost our energy and mood. We need to remind ourselves that play is not a luxury, but a necessity that relieves stress and increases overall health. Play can bring fresh insights and perspectives to our current problems and situations. Let’s dive into a...

The following is an except from Lama Tsomo's book, Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? The entire time I was growing up, I was exposed to another Western tradition for exploring the world: science. My father had a passion for it. Often his “bedtime story” for me was a lesson on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, or the construction of atoms, or...

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! Here are some tips for including play into your routine: Include Play Every Day. Since play...

This piece is part of a series meant to give readers an inside view of the Clearing the Lens Retreat held in June. Participants cultivated awareness within themselves while engaging with others to deepen Sangha while gaining tools to live happier and more meaningful lives. The workshop was led by Aaron Stern, president and founder of the Academy...

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? Here’s what science says about the benefits of gratitude and...