The Middle Way Initiative Newsletter: December 2025

Timeless Wisdom to Remedy Extreme Thinking

MWI Annual Fundraiser Goal

Help us achieve our goal!

Your valuable contribution supports our wonderful programming: Open Question Podcasts, Open Question Conversations, plus NEW dialogue events with Elizabeth planned for 2026.

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Dear Friends,

We are in the middle of our annual fundraising campaign! I want to express that this work is really a labor of love for me. I’m doing this because I feel inside that I have to. I love these teachings so much and they're so important. In being able to discuss the teachings out loud, contemplate them with others and to bring in the liveliness of music and video, we are translating them for the people of this time and place. The language of the teachings of the Middle Way, Yogachara and Buddha Nature can get lost in the realm of scholarship. We need to be able to talk about them in fresh, contemporary language, without watering down their meaning. That’s really what we’re doing at MWI; we are refreshing the teachings and not letting them fall into obscurity. We are making them a practical, very living experience. That’s what I really care about.

When I’m teaching I’m explaining the material to myself in new ways, which creates for me a certain depth of understanding. This understanding never stops - it keeps opening and getting deeper. It then becomes practical and changes the way I see things. I want this for all of you. I feel too much devotion to these teachings to not share them. So for me, at the center of all this are the Middle Way teachings. I’m so grateful to you for your interest in them and for supporting The Middle Way Initiative. The main point is that I want these teachings, this wisdom, to be available to everyone. I really feel like you all share this enthusiasm with me. I’m so grateful for that. We couldn’t do this without you. We at MWI appreciate you. You are part of the team: Team Middle Way Initiative, Team Nagarjuna.

Thank you so much,
Elizabeth

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A Message From Dungse Jampal Norbu, The Middle Way Initiative Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Directors

As you know, The Middle Way Initiative is a relatively new organization and it has been finding its footing over the past few years. Considering how little time has passed, it’s been a tremendous amount of work, engagement and progress to raise The Middle Way Initiative to the organization that it is today. To have the reach that we do and to provide as many of these wonderful teachings and programs, is based on the enthusiasm of our members and the really deep commitment of the people who volunteer their time and effort to make this happen. This Donor Campaign has been one of the backbones for our financial fundraising, allowing us to provide this teaching material and keep the organization moving forward. This fundraiser really is of tremendous benefit making these teachings available – and available in so many different formats and languages.

This is a time where we want to celebrate the accomplishments of The Middle Way Initiative and to also let you know that it takes this fundraiser to keep things flowing. Your generosity and support over the years has made this possible. Like with a lot of public broadcasting, this program has been made possible by viewers like you.

We have some really wonderful prizes with your donation of $108 (at once or cumulatively over the year). Of course, the teachings themselves are the main prize, but we have some additional elements to offer: Fleet Maull’s book Radical Responsibility and Elizabeth’s book The Logic of Faith. Her book is signed and is the culmination of a lot of her discussions on faith, which are so important, especially in a contemporary setting where we tend to be less faith-oriented and more material-oriented. Our grand gift is a thangka print by the great artist Tara DiGesu, and this is a really lovely image of Manjushri. This is one of my favorite images of Manjushri that I have myself. It’s in padma red form, so this is a very magnetizing form of Manjushri. Dzigar Kongtul Rinpoche graciously consecrated the back of the tankgha by writing the three syllables of body, speech and mind - OM AH HUNG - in accordance with the tradition.

I invite all of you, or whoever is interested, to join the Donor Campaign and bring whatever support you can to this mission of The Middle Way Initiative, so that we can continue to spread the dharma and provide these services to all of you. The Donor Campaign deadline is December 31st. I encourage you all to join and keep this mission and enthusiasm rolling.

Independent Study Course

Registration is now open for our new and free Independent Study Course! This wonderful, self-paced course takes participants through Elizabeth’s annual teaching themes, readings, contemplation questions and meditation.

Podcast Episode 603: DISRUPTION!

In this episode, Elizabeth explores the third aspect of bodhicitta: absolute bodhicitta. She uses the story of the 11th century Mahasiddha, Tilopa, and his disciple, Naropa, to illustrate the necessity of disrupting delusion in the context of spiritual awakening. At the heart of it all lies a deep exploration of the meaning and experience of what is real.

Listen to Episode 603

Visit Our Online Store for Your Holiday Shopping!

Our high-quality products make great gifts while benefitting MWI. Check out our high-quality, responsibly sourced t-shirts, the MWI cap, hoodies and mugs. Please allow extra time for delivery.

Visit the MWI Store

Recordings Available in English and Portuguese

OQ Live Conversation: Taking Our Seat with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Dungse Jampal Norbu

As we mingle with our world, it gives us continual feedback. In one context we may be a star and in another we feel invisible. How do we maintain authenticity and genuinely find our place wherever we may be? As we move through life, how do we keep our hearts open while maintaining savvy and discernment? The practice of Lojong has some spectacular guidance around these questions.

Watch the Recording

Jennifer KernDecember 15, 2025Comment