Namchak Community Blog

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....

Tips for Meditation and Tips for Working with Spiritual Teachers

Starting or refreshing your meditation practice can be overwhelming. So, we’ve compiled some common questions and issues that students and teachers discuss at our retreats. Let’s begin with some meditation tips!How do I start meditating? When you’re a beginner to meditation, focus on one practice at a time. It’s tempting to try to learn tons of...