Take a look behind the scenes at Namchak, Tibetan Buddhism, and the people entrusted with the teachings of the Namchak lineage in this new series, “Well-acquainted with Wisdom.” This second installment features a discussion between Tibetan Buddhist nun Dorlop Choenyi Sangmo or Dorlop la*, and Amanda Taylor, Digital Content Curator at the Namchak Foundation. They explore Dorlop la’s inspiring journey from Tibet to Nepal, through multiple three-year retreats, and eventually to Montana. Special thanks to Justin Kirkwood, our Tibetan translator, who made this conversation possible. * Dorlop i ..read more

Take a look behind the scenes at Namchak, Tibetan Buddhism, and the people entrusted with the teachings of the Namchak lineage in this new series, “Well-Acquainted with Wisdom.” This first installment features a discussion between Tibetan Translator Chökyi and Amanda Taylor, Digital Content Curator at the Namchak Foundation. They explore his life’s work as a translator and the role a three-year retreat played in his life. In addition to fostering the translation of sacred texts by a team of highly qualified translators like Chökyi, the Namchak Retreat Ranch will open its Three-Year Retreat C ..read more

A Tibetan Buddhist Prophecy As humans, part of a deeply interconnected world, when we hear, see, or experience stories of natural disasters, climate change, and civil unrest, our first question is usually, “What can I do?” The answer is rarely clear, and knowing where to begin is challenging. Some of us may respond by trying to do everything immediately and then burning out. Some of us may freeze, get overwhelmed, and never start. Fortunately, there is a voice far wiser and more ancient than ours that helps us understand what’s happening and what will happen and provides us with collective ac ..read more

Enlightenment sure seems like a lofty goal sometimes, doesn’t it? Amidst life’s many tasks, we’re also trying to reach enlightenment?! It’s hard to know where to begin. Simply meditating isn’t the answer. Applying the Three Noble Principles or the Three Excellences to our practice provides us with a tangible starting place. The Three Noble Principles are: The Noble Beginning: Generating Bodhicitta The Noble Main Part: Non-referential State of the Main Body of Practice. Don’t worry, we will describe what that means soon The Noble Conclusion: Dedicating Virtue to Enlightenment The Great Omni ..read more

As many of our students are moving deeper into the Dharma, we thought it pertinent to share some context and history about the Namchak lineage. Let’s start with reviewing the Three Paths or Yanas of Buddhism. Fortunately, the Buddha saw that we’re all different, with different capacities and styles, so he didn’t lay out one path to enlightenment. He laid out the Three Yanas, or vehicles, which are like the boughs of a tree. Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism became the two prevalent paths that spread throughout Asia. Vajrayana Buddhism is a subset of Mahayana. It was Vajrayana that Tibet adopte ..read more

Welcome back to our series on the Six Perfections or Six Paramitas of Buddhism! The Six Perfections are: Generosity Ethical Discipline Patience Joyful Effort Meditative Concentration Wisdom, which we will cover here, answers the question, “What makes a Perfection perfect?” Get started with this Dharma talk by teacher and Tibetan Translator Justin Kirkwood. He explores the Perfection of Wisdom in this August 2023 One Community Sangha gathering recording. What is Wisdom? Wisdom, or sublime intelligence, is to know reality as it really is and is what makes the other five become Perfec ..read more

Let’s begin by discussing lineage and why it’s beneficial to know if a spiritual teacher has one. In the Buddhist tradition, there are two kinds of teachings or Dharma: 1. The Dharma of Scripture: What most people usually think of first when they hear the word dharma: the texts containing the Buddha’s words and authentic commentaries explaining their meanings. 2. The Dharma of Realization: This refers to the realization of the meaning of those teachings in the mindstreams of practitioners. For example, the texts describe the nature of impermanence in detail and how to meditate on it; then, s ..read more

Our exploration of the Six Perfections or Six Paramitas brings us to the Perfection of Diligence or Joyful Effort. The Six Perfections are essential to Vajrayana and Mahayan Buddhism. These perfections are Generosity, Ethical Discipline, Patience, Joyful Effort or Diligence, Meditative Concentration, and Wisdom. According to the Buddha’s teachings, each of the Six Perfections is considered essential for achieving enlightenment. Have you ever set a goal to meditate more but then found yourself strictly following your practice goals without enjoyment? Or maybe you gave up on meditation e ..read more

Hot, fiery anger. We’ve all felt it, right? Usually, it calls us to act quickly and with force. Sometimes that can actually protect us from danger. But more often than not, when we act out of anger, we cause harm to ourselves and others. Then in comes our old friend, Regret. We can never un-say or undo the hurtful thing. We can try to repair that damage, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t cause harm in the first place? The Perfection of Patience or Forbearance is the antidote to anger and with some practice can probably help us avoid the feeling of regret. Lama Tsomo writes about t ..read more

Next up in our exploration of the Six Perfections or Paramitas is the Perfection of Ethical Discipline. What does the word “discipline” mean to you? It sounds stern and stuffy, but it doesn’t have to be. We assure you that no one is in trouble! It means that instead of stubbornly resisting harmful actions, we stop wanting to do them in the first place because we have experienced the benefits of making more virtuous choices. This applies to how we take care of our bodies, our minds, our interactions with others, and our meditation. For example, a person can take on a strict diet and fo ..read more