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When We Heal Ourselves, We Can Heal Others

Last week on Awakin Calls, Jacques Verduin, an expert in prison rehabilitation and Founding Director and Minister of Transformation of Insight-Out and Founder of its GRIP (Guiding Rage into Power) Program, and Lama Tsomo discussed how we can help us, free ourselves from prisons of our own making. Their perspectives and life experiences come together to give a powerful message that when we heal ourselves, we can heal others.

Here are a few of the discussion points:

  • An Us vs. Them mentality exists in our society. Identifying where it exists within us is key to healing ourselves, our communities, and our world.
  • Finding our triggers and surrounding them with consciousness is vital for human connection.
  • Lama Tsomo sheds light on the issue of projection on ourselves and others. In community with others, or sangha, we have the opportunity to look deeply at these projections and learn about the stories we are telling ourselves.
  • Jacques shares moving stories of healing and transformation from his work in the prison system.
  • Both teachers share exercises for welcoming and feeling our own pain, rather than avoiding it.

The recording is still available, please try and we highly recommend taking some time to listen. Follow this link to hear the conversation. We encourage you to do the exercises with them, then in the comments let us know how it went. 

Published on Sep 17 04 : 19 pm

We’re accepting applications and nominations for the 2025-2026 Compassion in Action Fellows Program.

The Compassion in Action Fellows program is a year-long inner & outer change program that supports next-generation leaders in learning meditation practice, building community, and promoting social change. 💟

Inspired by the path of the bodhisattva, awakened beings filled with compassion and committed to ending suffering and benefiting all life. Fellows embark upon a journey that includes personal development, community building, shared learning, and collaborative action as they transform their lives, campus, and society. 🌍

Next-generation leaders ages 18-27 in the United States and Canada who have a meditation practice and commitment to creating inner and outer change are encouraged to apply! If you know an aspiring leader interested in positively impacting the world, consider nominating them for this opportunity.

Reset & Renew

We invite you to join us for a precious opportunity to learn and immerse in foundational meditation practices in the presence of a supportive community and the beauty of the Namchak Retreat Ranch.

Over this in-person weekend retreat, you’ll learn foundational Buddhist meditation practices while enjoying the support and warmth of a like-minded community. Whether new to meditation or looking to refresh your practice, this retreat offers tools to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and resilience in your daily life. The retreat will be in-person at the Namchak Retreat Ranch: Bodhi House, in Hot Springs, Montana from Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13, 2025