DECEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER
- Kaya Fruchtman
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
When we pause and reflect on our lives, we most likely can recall dozens of friends and loved ones who brought color, joy and surprise to our lives: a kind-hearted cafeteria worker or quirky teenage boyfriend; a rambunctious canine or hilarious roommate; a trusted boss or loving parent. Such memories can bring smiles and tears.
Chances are many of those we recall are no longer a part of our lives. If we are fortunate, we may have remained in contact with some - but often we find that those that helped make our lives worthy and wholesome have moved on to unknown places. Friends come and go - new faces, unexpected departures, sad passings; no doubt, those we love and appreciate come and go.
In our Buddhist practice, this constantly shifting landscape is our fundamental spiritual ground: a “groundless ground” that invites us to not only appreciate those who have moved on, but also to more deeply and intentionally welcome the countless beings we encounter every day of our lives. Now, in this very moment wherever we are – this “groundless ground” encourages us to be gracious, attentive and accessible to all we encounter.
In fact, we may even consider treating everyone we encounter as guests.
This is not to say, of course, that we should run around preparing holiday feasts and accommodations for every sentient being we encounter – though some of us may want to do such things! As “hosts in the groundless ground”, we are not trying to control life’s circumstances. Rather, by treating everyone we encounter as our guests, we run the risk of savoring life’s unvarnished melodies fully - with confidence, respect and grace.
In a very real sense, we are deeply indebted to everyone we meet in this “groundless ground” - to all our guests. For, if we look carefully at all those we encounter, we may discover that our friends, neighbors, pets, colleagues, even strangers & cranky rivals are our teachers, who, of course, deserve only our best.
Michael Carroll
Notes from Bill
We are looking forward to December 11 when we can have a community discussion with Irini Rockwell to learn about the Five Wisdom Energies, or the Tibetan Buddhist system known as "the five buddha families." Please join us!
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped last month's event with Anam Thubten go so well. He was pleased with how the film showing and reception went.
We recently started publishing some interviews where Michael Carroll sat down with guests to connect for an open, honest, and curious conversation about how they have applied mindfulness in their work and in their everyday life. The first two were released in November, and you'll find them in the Wisdom Seat Podcast.
We're currently analyzing our community survey results, which are shaping our 2026 plans and giving us valuable insight into our community's practice and interests. Thanks to all who participated!
-Bill Moriarty
Exciting News from Sanskrit for Mere Mortals!
We're thrilled to share that Dr. Varun Khanna has just opened registration for Kickstart Sanskrit, his first online Sanskrit course! This integrated learning experience will teach you to speak, read, and write Sanskrit from the ground up—no prerequisites needed.
The course runs for 15 weeks starting January 20th, with two 90-minute sessions per week. Early-bird pricing is available until December 20th, and there are limited scholarships for those facing financial obstacles.
If you enjoyed our Mindful Gathering with Dr. Khanna back in August (where we explored the vibrations behind "Om" and broke down the Heart Sutra mantra), you won't want to miss this opportunity to dive deeper into Sanskrit with him.
Watch our August conversation: https://youtu.be/17XM3Gq2XxU
Learn more and register: sanskritformeremortals.com/kickstart-sanskrit
A Mindful Gathering with Irini Rockwell
The Five Wisdom Energies: A Buddhist Way of Understanding Personalities, Emotions, and Relationships
Thur, Dec 11 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST
Zoom
Join us for a playful and accessible exploration of the Five Wisdom Energies. The book invites us to celebrate our strengths and work with our weaknesses by learning to identify and use five basic personal styles or energies. This is the first general-audience book on a Tibetan Buddhist system known as "the five buddha families"—an insightful way of understanding human behavior and promoting personal growth.
Wednesday Meditation
Ongoing offering: Online meditation every Wednesday evening
6:15 to 7:30 PM EST
Holiday Hiatus: Last meeting Dec 17th and Returning Jan 7, 2026
Worldwide Wednesday evening online sitting meditation practice.
We, at The Wisdom Seat, invite you to meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 – 7:30 PM Eastern Time to practice the sitting meditation discipline as taught in the Buddhist & Shambhala tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Nyinthun: Everyone is welcome!
Ongoing offering: Nyinthun (in-person and online)
The first Sunday of every month.
All day sitting interspersed with walking meditation. The word nyinthun*, is Tibetan for “day session.”
In understanding dharma, Trungpa Rinpoche placed a strong emphasis on mindfulness/awareness meditation practice. This community practice of Nyinthun - all day sitting interspersed with walking meditation - gives us the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of our mind, make friends with our immediate experience and rediscover our natural sanity.
Please take a look, and sign up to join us for some nyinthun retreat days. It is ok to join for as much of the day as you can.
Collaborative practice undertaking with The Wisdom Seat & The Profound Treasury Retreat
The Wisdom Seat encourages as many opportunities for practitioners to engage in the discipline of mindfulness/awareness (shamatha/vipashyana) as one can engage in. We are happy to invite the Profound Treasury Retreat (PTR) with their offering of Sunday sitting.
PTR community is hosting a 2-hour sitting session from 9:30am to 11:30 am EST
There will be meditation instruction every third Sunday of the month, given by a qualified meditation instructor.
Dates: December 14th, 21st, 28th
Here is the Zoom link for this session: Sunday Sitting Zoom Link
All are welcome to attend.
Karmê Chöling
Dathun
Led by Dr. Elain Yuen
Weekthun: Dec. 29 - Jan. 4
Half-Dathun: Dec. 29 - Jan. 11
Dathun: Dec. 29 - Jan. 25
An extended meditation retreat at Karmê Chöling in upstate Vermont. Meditation retreats are profound and transformative experiences – allowing one to discover the basic sanity of oneself and one’s world.
Elaine Yuen is an educator, chaplain and researcher. She has been a student and teacher in the Shambhala community since the early 1970’s. Between 2010 and 2012 she was a professor at Naropa University where she taught courses on pastoral caregiving (chaplaincy), contemplative education and Buddhist studies. Elaine is deeply interested in how we shape our social interactions with caring and authentic presence. She continues to explore the interfaces between Buddhism, meditation, creativity, and contemplative care-giving. Her website Contemplative Chaplaincy can be found at elaineyuen.com. She will be supported by a team of experienced meditation instructors. Regular dharma talks, individual meetings, and experiential exercises will be included.
25% Discount on Tuition when paid-in-full by Oct. 31.
Learn more & register at:
Sopa Choling/Gampo Abbey
Attention: Vajrayogini Practitioners
Announcing a very rare opportunity to practice inner and secret Vajrayogini.
The retreat at Sopa Chöling has a few vacancies and we’re inviting you to apply.
A few details:
You must have completed the Vajrayogini mantras and attended an amending fire offering (see Dorje Denma Ling schedule, June 2026).
Optional:
Part 2 of this retreat is optional and includes outer, inner and secret Chakrasamvara. For this, Chakrasamvara empowerment is required.
Questions? Write to threeyearretreat@gampoabbey.org
That things are empty, free, and devoid of arising, not knowing this, beings wander in the cycle of existence. Thus the compassionate one helps lead these beings
to these truths through hundredfold means and reasoning.
—Sutra quote from The Essence of Eloquence
So grateful for the continued online meditation sessions on Wednesday evening and various
programs throughout the year. I appreciate your goodwill, devotion to the three jewels. Best wishes, Mary