AUGUST 2026 NEWSLETTER
- 1 day ago
- 11 min read
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
Keeping my Practice Fresh: It's About the Basics
By Judy Hirsh
I recently had the honor of joining The Wisdom Seat Board. Since I live on the west coast I'm the Board member you're least likely to see in person at Pawo Khandro Ling. I welcome this opportunity to share a bit about myself.
My sitting practice and studying the Dharma in the tradition of Chögyam Trungpa have been a vital part of my life for the past 20 years. I benefit from the teachers and teachings via classes, retreats and reading dharma. It helps me understand my own mind, relationships, my pain, suffering, conflicts and personal direction. Sometimes the teachings seem very complicated and esoteric (and that's fascinating too). Let me share a few fundamental teachings that keep me grounded:
First are the words of Zen teacher Suzuki Roshi said: The most important thing is to remember the most important thing. This phrase resonates with me and cuts through my swirl of mental confusion, self-centeredness and indecision. It helps me question and examine if I'm living in alignment of what's most important to me—love, presence, connection, compassion, gratitude and being of service to others.
Second are the Four Reminders:
- Preciousness of human birth
- Death and impermanence
- Law of Karma
- Samsara
So basic and profound. Every time I contemplate the 4 reminders and say "the life of beings is like a bubble. Death comes without warning" my eyes tear up in recognition of this truth and I'm grateful for the reminder. Now that I'm older these words feel even more poignant. They ground me and help me recognize, focus on and TRY to live by what is most important.
Last, is Chögyam Trungpa's description that meditation is making friends with ourselves. Very simple but not easy to practice on or off the cushion. The other week I was helping a 20-something woman with her meditation practice and shared this description. She was relieved to hear this gentleness which was so different from the way she perceived meditation.
How do you relate to these ideas? I look forward to our getting to know each other in The Wisdom Seat programs and conversations. I'm committed to serving our sangha as we strive to be a welcome Buddhist spiritual home for all of us.
- Judy Hirsh
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Notes from Bill
Greeting from Halifax, where many of us traveled for the enriching visit of Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche.
We're delighted to welcome Judy Hirsh to The Wisdom Seat board. Judy brings over twenty years of practice in the tradition of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and we look forward to her voice shaping the community in the years ahead.
Jetsunma Jamyang Yeshe Palmo is visiting us for three days of events in September, and we are thrilled to welcome her for the first time. Jetsunma sent a video message to our community:
If you missed our recent Mindful Gathering on music and dharma with Alex deVaron, the recording is now up on youtube.
Our next community of care discussion on death and dying will be in September, and The Wisdom Seat is helping with an Irini Rockwell event in October - see below.
take care,
Bill Moriarty
Board President of The Wisdom Seat
The Heart of Change: Buddhist Wisdom for a Troubled World with Jetsunma Jamyang Yeshe Palmo
September 11, 2026, 6:30PM - 8:30 PM EDT
Public talk at Swarthmore University and Zoom.
An evening with Jetsunma Jamyang Yeshe Palmo exploring Buddhist wisdom for our modern world. In person, and also online via Zoom.
Open to all.
Six Ways of Opening to the World: The Path of the Paramitas with Jetsunma Jamyang Yeshe Palmo
September 12, 2026, 10AM - 5:30PM EDT
PKL Shrine Room and Zoom.
A day-long exploration of the Six Paramitas as a practical guide for everyday life. In person, and also online via Zoom.
Open to all.
From Heart to Heart: The Meaning of Lineage with Jetsunma Jamyang Yeshe Palmo
September 13, 2026, 10AM - 5PM EDT
We will explore how lineage serves as a source of inspiration and guidance for modern practitioners, and why it remains central to Vajrayana practice today. Please note this Sunday program is restricted to Vajrayana students.
PKL Shrine Room and Zoom.
Nyinthun: Full Day Online & In Person Practice, August 2026
August 2, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM EDT
In person and online full day group sitting practice, interspersed with walking meditation.
Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat
Aug 10-18, 2026
How do we navigate with wisdom, compassion, and fierce courage in an age of spiritual crisis? Please join Buddhist teachers Michael Carroll and Susan Piver for a week of meditation, community, and real talk about how to take our practice into the beauty and confusion of our world.
Embracing the Wisdom of Death, Dying and Illness
September 17, 2026, 6:30 – 7:30 PM EDT
An open community discussion on death, dying, and mortality, hosted by The Wisdom Seat's Community of Care group.
The practice of Maitri Space Awareness with Irini Rockwell
Oct 9 - 11, 2026
The practice of Maitri Space Awareness and the teachings of the Five Wisdom Energies with Irini Rockwell. In this program, we will delve into the Five Wisdoms through Maitri Space Awareness practice created by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
The Wisdom Seat Retreat 2026
Nov 28th - Dec 6th
We invite you to join us for this in-person annual retreat at the Karma TriyanaDharmachakra monastery in the delightful upstate New York Catskill Mountains. Michael Carroll will be leading this 8-day practice intensive designed to help us deepen our mindfulness-awareness meditation and integrate it into our daily life.
Monday Morning Sessions with Michael & Susan
Mondays 9am EDT
Join Michael and Susan for Dharma teachings and meditation. This is a beautiful opportunity to hear these dear friends teach together. Every Monday, 9:00–9:45am Eastern Time.
The Power of Mind: The 7 Points of Mind Training
Select Tuesdays 6:30pm EDT
Join us for an in-depth exploration of lojong, or mind training, starting May 19, 2026. Using the text The Power of Mind by Khentrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche as our base, we will meet Tuesday evenings to practice and discuss the text.
Wednesday Meditation
Wednesdays 6:15pm EDT
Ongoing sitting meditation practice. Zoom only. Every Wednesday, 6:15–7:30pm Eastern Time.
Shambhala
The Essence of Dzogchen: Teachings on the Nature of Mind With Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche
Sunday and Monday, August 2-3, 2026 (times to be confirmed) Halifax, Nova Scotia
During his time in Halifax, Nova Scotia, His Holiness Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche will confer a number of abhishekas (empowerments), transmissions, and teachings, including teachings on the nature of mind. These teachings will be based on His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's commentary on Three Words That Strike the Vital Point (often published as Primordial Purity), a quintessential Dzogchen teaching focused specifically on the practice of Trekchö, or "cutting through" to primordial purity, the core of the Dzogchen tradition. Recordings of the talks will be available in perpetuity to those who register, to view and study on your own schedule. Prerequisite: restricted to Vajrayana students who have received pointing-out instructions from a qualified master.
Gampo Abbey
Anam Thubten Rinpoche Online Daylong Retreat: Life as a Charnel Ground
August 7, 2026, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Atlantic Time (9:00 AM-3:00 PM EDT), with a break midday Online
Join a daylong online retreat with Anam Thubten Rinpoche, hosted by Gampo Abbey, teaching on the topic of Life as a Charnel Ground. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Chöd, or "Cutting Through," practitioners go to places regarded as haunted ground to confront their own internal conflicts, such as fear and fixation, and cut through their identification with them. This approach can also be applied in everyday life. As we move through our inner struggles, we can learn to discover joy and peace amidst it all. Anam Thubten grew up in Tibet and began practicing in the Nyingma tradition at an early age. Among his many teachers, his most formative guides were Lama Tsurlo, Khenpo Chopel, and Lama Garwang. He is the founder and spiritual advisor of Dharmata Foundation, teaching widely in the U.S. and abroad, and the author of Releasing the Knot of the Mind, Voice of the Primordial Buddha, Into the Haunted Ground, and The Citadel of Awareness.
Datun Study Program
Judy Lief and Dorje Loppon Classes in Buddhism: View and Path Online Course
Saturdays, August 1, 8, and 15, 2026, 9:30 AM ET (10:30 AM Halifax/Rio, 2:30 PM CET) Online
We are delighted and honoured that the last three classes of the 7½ month online Buddhism: View and Path course will be taught by two of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's earliest and closest students, both renowned exponents of his teachings. On August 1 and 8, Judy Lief will teach the last two Mahayana classes on how lojong can permeate our entire lives and on the six paramitas that show us how to actually be a bodhisattva. On August 15, Dorje Loppon Lodro Dorje will introduce course participants to the Vajrayana and will give the refuge and bodhisattva vows. You are welcome to join these teachings. Zoom Link. Readings for the Aug 1 and 8 classes are posted in the Readings Folder, with the Aug 15 readings posted shortly before class. For any questions, please contact: siddharthadatunretreat@gmail.com
Rime / Drala Mountain Center
Creating Sacred Space: A Special Dharma Talk at the Great Stupa with Jetsünma Jamyang Dolma
August 20, 2026, 2:00 PM In-person at the Great Stupa, Drala Mountain Center, or online
There are places that naturally invite us to become quieter, more present, and more aware of what is sacred. The Great Stupa at Drala Mountain Center is one such place, a living expression of wisdom, compassion, and the awakened mind. We are honored to welcome Jetsünma Jamyang Dolma to offer a special Dharma talk on Creating Sacred Space within this extraordinary setting. Surrounded by the presence of the Great Stupa, Jetsünma will explore how sacred space is created both outwardly and inwardly. Buddhist tradition teaches that sacred places support the awakening of our own innate wisdom and compassion, inviting us to experience the world with greater clarity, openness, and devotion. At the same time, through our own practice, intention, and presence, we participate in creating sacred space wherever we are. Whether you are a longtime practitioner or simply curious about the Buddhist path, all are warmly invited to join for this special afternoon with an authentic lineage holder whose life embodies the transformative power of authentic practice. This Dharma talk is offered both in-person in the Great Stupa and online. To register to attend online instead, visit: https://www.dralamountain.org/program/o-cs826-online-creating-sacred-space-a-special-dharma-talk-at-the-great-stupa-with-jetsunma-jamyang-dolma/?form=1
Dorje Denma Ling
[Online] The Tibetan Buddhist Path: Wisdom and Compassion
September 3, 2026 — April 8, 2027 (year-long online course, take the full path or join any module) Online
With Al San Valentin, Andy Karr, Daniel Nguyen, Jean Marie Robbins, Lynn Friedman, Molly DeShong, Rhea Colmar, and Tavita Martinez
Four modules guide students through the Mahayana path from foundation to bodhicitta, paramita, lojong, and emptiness. Join for the full year or register for any individual module. Register for the full year by September 1st and receive a 1:1 meeting with an instructor included with the program.
Mahayana Introduction: Sept. 3 to Oct. 15 Paramitas: Oct. 29 to Dec. 17 Lojong: Jan. 7 to Feb. 18 Emptiness: March 4 to April 8
Ocean / The Chronicles
The Five Wisdoms of Tantric Buddhism
September 6, 13, 20, 27, 2026 Online
The Five Wisdom Energies, also known as the Five Buddha Families, are rooted in the teachings of Tantric Buddhism. They offer a framework for understanding how we express our inherent nature, experience the world, and relate to others. This introductory course offers an accessible entry point into these profound teachings developed through the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Each wisdom, simple presence, insightful clarity, abundant resourcefulness, passionate engagement, and skillful action, illuminates a distinct facet of human consciousness and lived experience. Each of us carries a combination of these energies, a mix that is entirely our own. When they manifest as wisdom, they illuminate and enliven everything we touch. When confused or out of balance, they quietly shape our struggles.
Over four Sunday sessions, you'll move from concept into lived experience: explore the energetic dimensions of your experience, recognize personal energy patterns, see where you shine, work with the places you get stuck, and learn how even your most challenging emotions point toward inherent brilliance.
Instructor: Irini Rockwell, MA, is the founder of the Five Wisdoms Institute and a pioneering teacher in the field of human development. Drawing on her roots as a dancer and her training in Contemplative Psychotherapy, Irini brings decades of experience in translating the profound teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism into accessible, embodied tools for transformation.
Course reading: Unfolding the Mystery of Your Life on the Five Wisdoms Path
Prerequisite: Open to all.
Profound Treasury Retreat
How to Be a Bodhisattva: Practicing the Paramitas
September 25 — October 4, 2026 In-Person at Drala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
An opportunity to explore paramita practice and the broader question of how to lead a more compassionate life. We will focus on the six primary paramitas -- generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and wisdom -- and how we can apply them to our lives and to our meditation practice.
Karmê Chöling
Ngöndro Practice Intensive
Start: Oct 9, 7:30pm ET — End: Oct 18, 1:30pm ET In-Person at Karmê Chöling
Instructors: Dorje Loppon, Lodro Dorje, and Adrienne Chang
Join us for a week-long Ngöndro practice intensive and connect with the energy and power of our Vajrayana heritage. We welcome individuals practicing Ngöndro in any lineage of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Kagyu, Nyingma, and/or Shambhala Ngöndros.
Karmê Chöling
Mahamudra Stepping Stones: Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso's Teachings Further Explored
Start: Nov 17, 7:30pm ET — End: Nov 24, 9:00am ET In-Person at Karmê Chöling
With Andy Karr and Scott Wellenbach
A continued exploration of Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche's Mahamudra teachings, further exploring the material from Mahamudra Stepping Stones. Prerequisites: all Tantrikas and Sadhakas who have received Pointing Out Instruction are welcome to participate in this program.
Wisdom's Melody
Everything is an Open Door
What draws us into this art? Our own desire to see past the surface appearance of things.
By Elizabeth Brownrigg
I visited the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum in Seattle. In room after room, sea creatures glowed and wriggled, strange flowers bloomed. I was mesmerized by the glass baskets that were inspired by the slumping forms of old Indian baskets.
Artist: Dale Chihuly / photo by Elizabeth Brownrigg
The artist started with the shape of a basket and expanded it to beyond-basket, drawing vastness from apparent reality. Where is basket? Instead, there is a slumping, moving, transparent form that doesn't seem solid at all.
Art opens us to emptiness.
In Buddhism, emptiness refers to the quality of all phenomena as not solid, not permanent, and empty of inherent meaning. Everything is interconnected, and dependent on causes and conditions for its existence. There is no such separate, unchanging thing as "basket."
We filter the world through words, descriptions, concepts, expectations, what we like or don't like, what we think doesn't matter. Emptiness does not deny the existence of things, but simply that they are not what we think they are. Other words for emptiness are "vastness," "spaciousness," or "potential." Nothing has a fixed, independent identity. Emptiness contains all possibilities.
After I got home from Seattle, I went to a Grace Hartigan exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art.
Hartigan rose to prominence in the 1950s. Among her interests was the intersection of abstraction and representation, at the place where the work gelled to yield something deeper. She worked closely with poets to create paintings that sprang from language and that pointed beyond both visual art and words.
Artist: Grace Hartigan / Photo by Elizabeth Brownrigg
What draws us into this art? Our own desire to see past the surface appearance of things.
When the Buddha awoke from the dream we still dream, he saw the ultimate reality of things just as they are. There are shifting appearances and conventions, the manners and traditions of the vast and diverse world; and then there is the mystery of the sheer reality of things. And yet we cannot find this reality anywhere else but right here.
Everything gestures toward a reality that exists just beyond our ability to describe it.
Raffaele Mainella, illustration for *Nos Invisibles*
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Elizabeth Brownrigg is an author of novels, essays, and feature articles. She teaches at the Durham Shambhala Center, where she has been a member since 2004. She writes about practicing the dharma and living in the difficult world in her Substack column, __"Walking the Inspired Path"__.
Wisdom's Melody is open to submissions from the Wisdom Seat community. Essays, reflections, and creative writing of 800 words or less are welcome. Contact Bill at billmoriarty@thewisdomseat.org to submit.
Guru Principle
"This practice of crying to the gurus from afar is well known to everyone.
The key to invoking blessings is devotion, which is aroused by sadness and renunciation.
This is not a mere platitude, but is born in the center of one's heart
and in the depths of one's bones."
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
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