Namchak Community Blog

Tibetan Buddhism is rich in ornate symbols and art. From deities to fishes, these designs are not only cultural but practical. They represent or bring to life many aspects of the Buddhist path and practice. A few recurring symbols you might notice at Namchak and in Tibetan Buddhist work are the Eight Auspicious Symbols. As the name makes clear,...

A simple way to start this shift is meditation. Know Thyself Meditation allows us to train our minds in order to see our truest self. By taking the inner understandings gained from our time on the cushion we can apply them to everyday life. That way, we are able to connect to others with intention as we bring our most valuable skills to the...

Does the way we eat matter as much as what we eat? During a time of year riddled with culinary temptation, consider examining the way you interact with the food that fuels you. Sharing this moment with your food: We all know that truly living in the moment has the power to enrich our lives. Now, consider all those moments spent eating: rich...

One way to start developing a self-compassion practice is on the cushion. The next time you’re on the cushion, come to your breath and think about why you’re there. Start simply and don’t push yourself too fast. Slowly dig deep and explore all of the layers until you get to the truest meaning. It’s here that we reach the taproot of humanity and...

Here are three reasons why you may want to consider a Learning Circle as a way to strengthen your practice: 1. You may meditate with a stronger sense of purpose. Having others around who are on a similar journey helps instill a feeling that you and others are turning to meditation for a number of important reasons. Plus, by seeing and learning...

Gratitude. We hear about it all the time in social media and from our friends and colleagues. But with our minds so focused on checking off the next item on our to-do list, it’s hard to change our attitude from one of glass half-empty to a glass half-full. How can we develop an authentic gratitude practice that fills our cup instead of becoming...

Take a moment to imagine someone meditating. What do you see? Pure bliss? Serenity? Instagram photos of a fit individual seated in full lotus on the beach as the sun rises? Like so many things in our lives, we’re overthinking it. During meditation practice, we train our minds using our minds. Now, that may sound very confusing. Fortunately for...

Everyone deals with difficult people in their lives – teachers, colleagues, bosses…even friends and family. With so much practice, one would think dealing with the unpleasant encounters would become easier. Unfortunately, most of us struggle with anger, sadness and confusion when confronted with rude and unwarranted behavior. These emotions may...

Meditation has the power to change your brain from the better, physically! It can enhance neuropathways in your brain to improve everyday experiences and treat mental illnesses such as trauma, depression, and anxiety. A recent study from Rutgers University showed that meditation paired with aerobic exercise improved outcomes for victims of sexual...