Journal

by Katherine Jamieson. I talk to a lot of people who want to be writers, but are struggling. Something is in the way. They sit down to create and 10,000 distractions rise up.   Learn More »

In January, Nalanda Institute, in collaboration with Wonderstruck, hosted Tatsudo Nicole Baden Roshi at Tibet House US, who gave a dharma talk and meditation on the foundational Buddhist principle of Śūnyatā, or emptiness.    Learn More »

by Rahshaana Green. To be honest, I get a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach as February approaches every year.   Learn More »

by Geri Loizzo. On the evening of the Solstice, the Nalanda community gathered to support our Year-End Drive and its theme, Awakening Our Shared Humanity...   Learn More »

by Nalanda Institute. In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we offer you this impactful teaching from late Anishinaabe Elder Dr. Dave Courchene[...]   Learn More »

by Joe Loizzo. As the devastating tide of violence and loss, terror and rage in the Middle East keeps rising day by day, our hearts break for all the lives already lost, for all those [...]   Learn More »

by Alexa Owen. Contemplative science is widely recognized as a growing support for a number of populations: patients of chronic pain and illness, caregivers, mental health practitioners, and more. [...]   Learn More »

by Ayesha Basi. Last week, I participated in my first silent retreat led by the wonderful Kate Johnson. Not only was it my first retreat, but it was my first time spending five days in meditation focused solely on metta, the practice of lovingkindness. [...]   Learn More »

by Joe Loizzo. As you consider whether our program may be right for you, I thought it might help if I share some of the feedback I’ve heard over the years on what makes this program such [...]   Learn More »

by Nalanda Institute and Lama Rod Owens. Compassion is one of the most important practices that we can embrace. It’s also one of the hardest for us to be working on because it’s so easy [...]   Learn More »

by Geri Loizzo. One of the ways the Nalanda Institute community likes to step into the groove of the warm season is to find opportunities to sink into a good book, whether it’s reading or listening. [...]   Learn More »

by Rahshaana Green. When I think of summer, I think of Juneteenth. As a young girl growing up in Houston, TX, I remember it fondly as part of the festivities of summer. [...]   Learn More »

Contemplative Psychotherapy is a shared journey of deep learning and transformation that prepares therapists and non-therapists alike for an ongoing practice harnessing the healing wisdom and arts of both Buddhist and Western psychology.   Learn More »

As a person living with a diagnosis of severe mental illness, in a Black body, and with a queer heart, the lack of belonging, community, and connection has been normalized.   Learn More »

by Victoria Fontana When I think about my path to becoming a Mindfulness and Compassion teacher, I am reminded of the many paths that converged from diverse points into the moment I realized that this was my calling. Life experiences, mentors, friends and contemplative teachings make up the landscape of my path. Here I share […]   Learn More »

by Geri Loizzo The Mindfulness Revolution has helped many taste a life of more clarity and ease, but the promise and depth of traditional Mindfulness goes much deeper. Our Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (CPP) Mindfulness Year will not only update you on the latest research and practical applications of mindfulness, self-compassion, and loving-kindness, but will also ground you in […]   Learn More »

by Dr. Joe Loizzo I recently had the pleasure of connecting (in person!) with contemplative neuroscientist David Vago and some of our mutual friends at the inaugural meeting of the International Society of Contemplative Research (ISCR) he founded with Nalanda Institute board member Doris Chang and others. Set on the lovely campus of the UC […]   Learn More »

by Nalanda Institute Recently, the Compassion Year Live Learning cohort in Nalanda Institute’s Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (CPP), had the good fortune to receive an impactful teaching by the wise, warm, and fiercely compassionate Venerable Robina Courtin. Here is an excerpt of the class, which included a robust question and answer period (not shown here). In […]   Learn More »

by Dan Donohue As I look back on the year, there’s a theme that keeps coming up for me — the importance of community. As we emerge into what’s often referred to as the post-pandemic new normal, it’s ever more vital that we come together to support one another and work with intention to bring […]   Learn More »

by Geri Loizzo Editor’s note: Read on and then enjoy all of the videos from this special in-person event. The laws of impermanence teach us that things are changing all the time — a teaching that has been especially apparent in the time of covid. Like all institutions of learning, Nalanda Institute has had to […]   Learn More »

by Dan Donohue On November 15th 2022, Dr. Joe Loizzo and Elazar Aslan, co-authors and co-developers of the Boundless Leadership award-winning book and program, offered a 90-minute webinar in which they shared three counter-intuitive steps (and the science behind these steps) to improving our relationships. The webinar also included a guided compassion meditation — a […]   Learn More »

by Heather Shaw It has not been the best year of my life. Much of it was spent with a partner battling stage 3 cancer — juggling the regular responsibilities of a family, a job and one very active puppy (which seemed like a good idea at the time) with an added dimension of constant […]   Learn More »

By Elazar Aslan Who hasn’t suffered with a difficult colleague, an aggressive boss, an overly demanding client or a toxic work environment? Our conditioned response to these situations is typically with an “us vs. them” bunker mentality where we attack and defend or shut down and withdraw, bound by the implicit rules of civility at […]   Learn More »

by Caverly Morgan We all long to be happy. Not happy as in glee but deep contentment. We all long to feel at ease, to know that we’re okay, that life is okay, to be at peace. And we’re deeply habituated to look for this happiness outside us, to grasp and scramble for an experience […]   Learn More »