The Middle Way Initiative Newsletter: January 2026

OQ Live event with Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Free Independent Study Course and Year of The Horse 2026 Losar T-shirts Now Available! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ The Middle Way Initiative Newsletter: January 2026 Timeless Wisdom to Remedy Extreme Thinking Photo by T. DiGesu Dearest MWI Community, Happy New Year to you all! I can’t move on to 2026 until I express my deep gratitude to you all for your support towards our annual donor campaign. There has been so much generosity, so many kind words and enthusiasm for our work together, and I am deeply touched. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We have exceeded our fundraising goal, which is good, because my instincts tell me this is going to be a rich year for dharma and MWI. What do you think?  I feel a tremendous energy moving forward into 2026, and will give myself a quiet month in January to practice, study and contemplate in order to allow the content of our upcoming programs and teachings to become clear.   In February, I will announce our annual theme and release a podcast. We will also welcome an exceptional teacher, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, to an OQ LIVE Conversation on Valentine’s Day. The topic: Essence Love.  In 2026, in addition to our regular programming, I am going to be leading several new live online podcast-themed forums, called Awakening to The Nature of Appearance. If you are interested in registering for these, I look forward to having you. I will also be offering a series of short guided meditations. Stay tuned for more information. Congratulations to Yeshe Dawa who won our donor campaign drawing for the beautiful print “Manjushri” by Tara DiGesu. The second prize winner for my signed book, The Logic of Faith goes to Carmen Miller. The winner of our third prize, Radical Responsibility by Fleet Maull is Pam Pacelli. Meanwhile, I hope you also have a bit of time for hibernation here and there! With love and deep gratitude to you all! Elizabeth Thank You for Your Support! THANK YOU! Join us in celebrating a successful donor campaign! Your valuable contribution supports our wonderful programming: Open Question Podcasts, Open Question Conversations, plus NEW dialogue events with Elizabeth coming soon. Registration Open! OQ Live Conversation: Essence Love with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Tsoknyi Rinpoche February 14, 2026 8am -10am US MT ABOUT THIS EVENT Please join us on February 14, 2026 8am -10am US MT for our next OQ Live Conversation, “Essence Love” with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Tsoknyi Rinpoche has a special gift for communicating authentic dharma for the contemporary mind with both humor and depth. Rinpoche auspiciously chose February 14th - Valentine’s Day - as the date for this conversation, and so Elizabeth asked him to speak on “Essence Love.” Rinpoche describes essence love as “…directionless, like a natural field of unconditional well-being… [that] isn’t focused on anyone, even ourselves.” What does he mean by this? How does this relate to our lives, relationships, and the world we live in? Let’s find out! Join us for what is sure to be a heart-warming and illuminating discussion between Elizabeth and her esteemed guest, Tsoknyi Rinpoche. This event is offered livestream via Zoom in English and in Portuguese simulcast translation. EVENT PRICING $35 (USD) This event is an important source of financial support for The Middle Way Initiative teaching programs. Your generosity is appreciated. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.  Register Today   Register for the Independent Study Course  NEW “Year of The Horse” 2026 Losar T-shirts Now Available! Our Special Edition “Year of the Fire Horse” t-shirts are now available through our non-profit store, which directly benefits MWI. These shirts are festive for Losar 2026, and all through the year! These high-quality, responsibly produced shirts are available in a range of great colors and come in Unisex Comfort Fit (100% cotton) and Women’s Slim Fit (60/40 blend) styles. Price $29.99. Because shirts print in batches, please allow extra time for delivery. If you want your shirt by Losar (February 18, 2026), please place your order by January 25.  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  EveryBodhi Podcast: eB 144 - The Buck Stops Here We're quick to point a finger at another when anything’s wrong. Sometimes the accusation might even be reasonable, but the point is, we have a tendency to blame others. Passing the buck, though, has a gradual weakening effect on our own mind. In the service of integrity and resilience we must reach the point of exclaiming,“The buck stops here.” Jampal Norbu considers lawsuits, livestock, scapegoats and onion rings in the examination of Lojong verse 34, Do not transfer the dzo’s load onto the ox.  Listen to eB 144  The Middle Way Initiative. c/o Edward D. Gompers & Company, AC., 2001 Main St #401, Wheeling, WV 26003-2854, United States Unsubscribe