The Middle Way Initiative Newsletter: October 2025

Listen to OQ podcast episode, Disruption. Recordings available from two recent OQ Live Conversations. Losar T-shirts still available. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ The Middle Way Initiative Newsletter: October 2025 Timeless Wisdom to Remedy Extreme Thinking Photo Credit: Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel Hello Everybody, There has been a noticeable change in light where I live…do you notice it where you are? There is definitely a shift in seasons. The sun is lower and floods the house midday, which is good, because here it’s getting cool. This year has gone by fast. MWI is thriving 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. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche shared his deep understanding of the paramita of diligence; Jetsunma Tendzin Palmo dazzled us with her love of dharma; Fleet Maull championed the courage of radical responsibility; and Karl Brunnhölzl communicated a depth of knowledge that is rare to find. We are still making arrangements for our surprise fifth guest. We are getting ready to begin our annual fundraising drive for 2025, which supports our activities in 2026. 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 for all of us and deepens our sense of community. November 1st, we’ll be sending information about our end of year campaign which again will feature a beautiful art print incentive! Please do consider supporting us as this year comes to a close. In the six years since MWI was founded, we have become a strong and stable educational non-profit. Our goal is to be a financially self-sustaining organization. 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 New 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  RECORDINGS AVAILABLE! OQ Live Conversation: Clear Seeing with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Karl Brunnhölzl RECORDINGS ACCESS FOR LIVE EVENT REGISTRANTS Recordings are available for event registrants in English and Portuguese simulcast translation. If you registered for the event, you were emailed a code that will give you free access to the recording linked on this page: vimeo.com/showcase/clearseeing DIDN’T REGISTER FOR THE LIVE EVENT? Recordings in English and Portuguese are now available to watch through Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/oqlive2025 Karl Brunnhölzl is trained in the Karma Kagyud tradition of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. He translates Sanskrit and Tibetan to English and German, and has authored over twenty books, including the Heart Attack Sutra, and Nagarjuna’s, In Praise of Dharmadhatu. Karl was appointed by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche as one of five senior Western teachers for the Nalandabodhi sangha. In 2019, he was awarded the Khyentse Foundation Prize For Outstanding Translation for his groundbreaking, three-volume publication of Asaṅga’s work. RECORDINGS AVAILABLE! OQ Live Conversation: Radical Responsibility and Embodied Meditation with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Fleet Maull RECORDINGS ACCESS FOR LIVE EVENT REGISTRANTS Recordings are available for event registrants in English and Portuguese simulcast translation. If you registered for the event, you were emailed a code that will give you free access to the recording linked on this page: https://vimeo.com/showcase/OQLiveFleetMaull DIDN’T REGISTER FOR THE LIVE EVENT? Recordings in English and Portuguese are now available to watch through Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/oqlive2025 Fleet Maull is an experienced Buddhist practitioner, a senior teacher in the global Shambhala Community, a Zen master in the international Zen Peacemaker Order, and the founder of the Prison Mindfulness Institute and National Prison Hospice Association. Fleet is the author of two books, Dharma in Hell and Radical Responsibility. Fleet is truly an example of someone who has utilized challenging situations to mature and deepen spiritually and he has benefitted many through his activism. His insights and life experience will enhance our ongoing inquiry into the topic of bodhicitta, the practice of bearing witness and the meaning of “radical responsibility.” This event is offered livestream via Zoom in English and in Portuguese simulcast translation. Wilderness Dharma Movement (WDM) Chöd Retreat December 14-20, 2025 7-day residential Chöd retreat at Drala Mountain Center (Colorado) with Anam Thubten Rinpoche and Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel. Learn more at Wilderness Dharma Movement >> Tashi Delek 2025 Losar T-shirts are Now Available in our Store! Our Special Edition “Year of the Snake” t-shirts are now available through our non-profit store, Bonfire, which directly benefits MWI. These shirts feature the original artwork by Deborah Haynes and Amy Hayes that was selected in our Call for Creativity. The shirts are festive for Losar 2025, and all through the year! These high-quality, responsibly sourced and produced shirts are available in Unisex Comfort fit (100% cotton) and Women’s Slim Fit (60/40 blend) styles, in a range of great colors. Price $29.99. Because shirts print in batches, please allow extra time for delivery.  Order a Year of the Snake T-Shirt  The Middle Way Initiative. c/o Edward D. Gompers & Company, AC., 2001 Main St #401, Wheeling, WV 26003-2854, United States Unsubscribe