The Middle Way Initiative Newsletter: October 2026

Timeless Wisdom to Remedy Extreme Thinking

Happy Halloween!

Greetings to Everyone,

Here we are again…it’s fall already, but things are not winding down! In fact, we have many wonderful programs ahead of us this year. Venerable Thubten Chodron and Sangye Khandro will each join us for OQ Live Conversations, and we just released the new 703 podcast, “The Two Truths: Not Two, Not True”. It’s a juicy episode. Michael and I recorded this one on our new mic and we were delighted that the sound is even crisper. We will hold a live OQ Podcast Forum to discuss it, October 31 - Halloween morning. See you there!

MWI continues to thrive as an organization, due to our amazing team, the quality of our audio podcasts, and the wonderful guests we have had this year so far. We began the year with Tsoknyi Rinpoche speaking on “Essence Love”; Erik Pema Kunzang shared his insights on the topic of “Looking at Reality”, and Dolma Gunther and I had a stellar conversation about “Supporting the Teacher’s Vision”.

We are getting ready to begin our annual fundraising drive for 2026, which supports our activities in 2027. We will use funding to continue to produce our high-quality programming. For all programs, no one is turned away for lack of funds. Our work is truly a labor of love, which deepens our sense of community with all of you.

November 1st, we’ll be kicking off our Donor Campaign which again will feature a beautiful art print incentive! Please do consider supporting us as this year comes to a close. In the seven years since MWI was founded, we have become a strong and stable educational non-profit. We rely upon the generous support you have given in the past and hope you will continue to support our mission of offering timeless wisdom to remedy extreme thinking.

We can’t do this work without you!

Love,
Elizabeth

Registration Open! OQ Live with Thubten Chodron on November 7th

Venerable Thubten Chodron is an author, teacher, and the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, a pioneering Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western nuns and monks in the US. Ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun in 1977, she has studied extensively with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, and other Tibetan lamas. She received full ordination as a bhikshuni in 1986. Venerable Chodron teaches worldwide and is known for her warm, practical, and humorous explanations of how to apply Buddhist teachings in daily life. She is also involved in prison outreach and interfaith dialogue. She has published many books on Buddhist philosophy and meditation and assisted His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the writing and publication of The Library of Wisdom and Compassion, a ten-volume series of teachings on the Buddhist path.

Episode 703: The Two Truths: Not Two, Not True

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In episode 703, Elizabeth asks the question: "If the absolute nature is not to be found within the nature of appearances themselves, where else would we find it?” She takes us on a journey to explore this question through the Buddha’s teaching on dependent arising, Nagarjuna’s two truths, and a curious teaching she received directly from her own teacher. The investigation reconciles common confusions about the essential teaching of the two truths.

Listen to Episode 703

OQ Forum October 31: Registration Open!

Please join Elizabeth on Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 10am- 12pm MT USA for her third Open Question Podcast Forum, “Awakening to The Nature of Appearance.” In this group setting, Elizabeth will lead us in opening up and more deeply exploring her latest Open Question Podcast episode 703: “The Two Truths: Not Two, Not True”. This podcast forum will include guided meditation, teachings by Elizabeth, and a rich opportunity for discussion and questions.

The recommended prerequisite for participating in this forum is to have listened to Elizabeth’s most recent Open Question Podcast episode: 703.

Join us for what is sure to be a heart-warming and illuminating discussion with Elizabeth.

This event is offered livestream via Zoom in English. Zoom has an option for auto-generated translation captioning, which participants can activate on their own screens.

Desvendando o Sutra do Coração com Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel

Note: This event is hosted by Paz e Mente in Brazil and offered in Portuguese.

14 e 15 de novembro de 2026

Temos a alegria de anunciar a pré-inscrição para o evento presencial com Lama Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, “Desvendando o Sutra do Coração”, que acontecerá nos dias 14 e 15 de novembro de 2026, em Florianópolis (SC).

O Sutra do Coração é o ensinamento do Buda mais recitado no mundo. Muitos o entoam a partir da devoção — e isso, por si só, já é profundamente significativo. No entanto, suas palavras são riquíssimas em significado e, quando examinadas com atenção, revelam uma sabedoria capaz de transformar a maneira como percebemos a nós mesmos e o mundo em que vivemos. Elizabeth tem grande alegria em ensinar o Sutra do Coração. Para ela, a cada recitação e contemplação, o sutra revela algo novo e iluminador. Durante o encontro, ela apresentará o contexto histórico do sutra, explicará por que ele é tão importante e prático para o nosso bem-estar e conduzirá uma exploração de seu significado mais profundo.

O fim de semana incluirá: Ensinamentos, Meditação guiada e Recitação do sutra.

Além disso, haverá amplo espaço para diálogo, perguntas e respostas, promovendo trocas significativas — algo que Elizabeth aprecia profundamente em seus encontros.

Vagas limitadas.

Inscrições: www.pazemente.com.br

Opening the Heart Sutra with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel in Brazil

Note: This event is hosted by Paz e Mente in Brazil and offered in Portuguese.

We are happy to announce the pre-registration for the in-person event with Lama Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, “Opening the Heart Sutra,” which will take place on November 14–15, 2026, in Florianópolis (SC), Brazil.The Heart Sutra is the most widely recited of all the Buddha’s discourses in the world. Many simply recite the sutra from the heart of devotion - which is profound. However, the words of the sutra are rich in meaning, and when we look more deeply into them, we encounter wisdom that transforms the way we see ourselves and the world we move about in. Elizabeth loves teaching the Heart Sutra. For her, each time she recites and contemplates the sutra, it reveals something new and profound. She will guide us through an understanding of the context of the sutra, why it is so important and practical for our wellbeing, and begin to help us open up its profound meaning. The weekend includes teachings, guided meditation, and chanting of the sutra. Elizabeth likes to engage her audience, so there will be plenty of time for dialogue and questions and responses with her.

Limited spots available.
Registration: www.pazemente.com.br

Recordings Available for Purchase! OQ Live: Dolma Gunther

If you did not register for the event, you may purchase recordings in English and Portuguese translation.

Learn More about Recordings

New Recordings Platform

Dear MWI Community,

We want to let you know about an upcoming change to our online video platform. Vimeo On Demand (VOD) will shut down permanently on November 20, 2026. We are moving our post-event recording sales to Vimeo’s new OTT platform. When you register for an event, you will continue to receive a code to view your free recordings on Vimeo.

The new OTT platform is for those who did not register and would like to purchase and watch recordings after the event. We expect this new service to be simpler and easier to use.

Please visit the new MWI Vimeo page here for available videos to purchase:
https://themiddlewayinitiative.vhx.tv/products

Our existing free Vimeo video library and Showcases used for free access for event registrants remains available. However, recordings previously purchased through Vimeo VOD will no longer be available after November 20, 2026. If you previously purchased a recording through VOD and your one-year viewing period has not yet ended, please email us and we will be happy to help. admin@middlewayinitiative.org

Thank you for your patience as we make this change, and for your continued support of The Middle Way Initiative.

Independent Study Course

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

Learn about the Independent Study Course

Elizabeth Mattis NamgyelOctober 22, 2026Comment