The Middle Way Initiative Newsletter: October 2023
Open Question Live Conversation: The Two Truths with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Jakob Leschly: Saturday, October 7th
Registration is open for our next Open Question Live Conversation “The Two Truths” with Elizabeth and Jakob Leschly on Saturday, October 7 at 10AM-12PM USA MT. Broadcast via Zoom in English with Portuguese simulcast translation.
“The Two Truths” is one of the most essential topics of the Middle Way tradition. Jakob Leschly returns as Elizabeth’s guest on OQ LIVE to help illuminate this subject with his characteristic lightness and humor.
Jakob is a Tibetan translator and meditator known for his skill in clearly communicating philosophical insights. He has studied with some of the greatest Vajrayajna masters of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, including Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and Kangyur Rinpoche. Since the 1990s he has served as an instructor for Siddhartha's Intent, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s Dharma organization.
Cost: $25 for Livestream via Zoom and recordings. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Open Question Podcast Episode 404
The Self: When Does Bread Become Toast?
In previous episodes we engaged in the liberating practice of looking and not finding, as we searched for something singular or independent. In this episode, Elizabeth explores the topic of permanence - the 3rd in this triad of classical Middle Way inquiries.
Elizabeth drops back into her grandmother’s kitchen as she takes us on a tour of the nature of time, what it might mean to ‘live in the moment,’ and the difference between impermanence and emptiness. The episode ends with instructions from Nagarjuna himself!
The Middle Way Initiative (MWI) Portuguese Translation Project
Since the founding of The Middle Way Initiative (MWI) in 2020, Elizabeth and the MWI Team have been committed to serving our Portuguese-speaking constituents, and in particular, our audience in Brazil. This month’s article provides background history on the MWI Portuguese translation effort. Cerys Tramontini is a founding member of the MWI Board of Directors supporting Latin American activities, including our Brazilian audience and Portuguese translation.
Our Portuguese translation work is generously provided by a dedicated team of translators who provide simultaneous translation at all of our live events, transcripts of Elizabeth's Open Question Podcast, and the online monthly Brazilian study group, which has been meeting with Elizabeth for several years.
Elizabeth’s inquiry-based teaching approach is notable for its unique ability to provide clear and accurate teachings on the Middle Way path. Through the years she has taught in Buddhist religious communities, such as Mangala Shri Bhuti, as well as secular programs, through The Middle Way Initiative and Paz e Mente Institute.
We enjoy the legacy and rich history of teachings of the Buddhadharma in Brazil, highlighted by the period of the 1980’s when several Tibetan teachers began establishing centers, including Changdud Tulku Rinpoche and Elizabeth’s husband, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. Elizabeth was first inspired by the people and culture of Brazil when visiting her brother, Chime Mattis, who lived in Salvador, Bahia for 17 years. The beautiful house he built would later become Guna Norling, one of the Mangala Shri Bhuti teaching and practice centers.
During Elizabeth´s teachings in the United States in 2018, Cerys Tramontini became a devoted student of Elizabeth. In 2019, Elizabeth was invited by Cerys and Paz e Mente Institute to teach a public retreat in Brazil. The in-person open public retreat had more than 300 people in attendance. Elizabeth’s teaching focused on the subject of interdependence, with Portuguese translation generously provided by Leila Francischelli.
Elizabeth then began teaching in the Paz e Mente postgraduate program. These teaching events demonstrated the longing and commitment of Brazilians for receiving the authentic Dharma. These teachings were the foundation for the ongoing collaboration between The Middle Way Initiative and Paz e Mente working together to share the Middle Way teachings in Brazil.
The Paz e Mente annual postgraduate peace training program is open to the general public. Elizabeth’s Middle Way teachings have become the core of the program, offering training as “peace agents” to professionals working directly with aspects of human suffering encountered in their professions including Mediation, Health Care, Education, Diplomacy, Humanitarian Aid and in Law. The program provides the opportunity for deepening participants' reflections and inquiry, which supports their peace-oriented activities. All of Elizabeth’s Paz e Mente teachings are translated into Portuguese by our dear Denise Kato.
“The Middle Way teachings offered by Elizabeth, at the Paz & Mente program, were truly the pinnacle of our peace agent training. In these teachings to position the mind to its best according to its nature, I began to observe life and relationships with more refinement and nuance. Observing life through contexts, and respecting each one of them is a significant change in all my work as a lawyer, and a big change in all my intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Really, in training for peace it is essential to study the middle path; and having the privilege to have these teachings with Elizabeth was amazing. To be a genuine agent of peace, we are invited to look with courage at the nature of relationships, and the nature of conflicts. I am deeply grateful for Elizabeth, MWI and Paz a Mente”. Sandra Brandão, Post-graduation program at Paz a Mente program, Lawyer, Brazil.
We hope you enjoy this background history of Elizabeth’s connection and commitment to supporting Brazilian students and practitioners in The Middle Way Initiative. We warmly thank our dear Brazilian community, with appreciation for their interest and support in sharing the genuine Dharma.
Upcoming issues of the MWI Newsletter will provide more information on our Portuguese translation projects and our translator team.
-The Middle Way Initiative Team
O Projeto de Tradução para o Português da the Middle Way Initiative (MWI)
Desde a fundação da the Middle Way Initiative (Middle Way Initiative) em 2020, Elizabeth e sua equipe têm se comprometido em apoiar os participantes lusófonos, e em particular, o público brasileiro. O artigo deste mês conta um pouco sobre os esforços de tradução para o português empreendidos pela MWI. Cerys Tramontini é membro fundador do Conselho de Diretores da MWI, apoiando as atividades na América Latina, principalmente o público brasileiro e os esforços de tradução para o português.
Nosso trabalho de tradução para o português é generosamente realizado por uma equipe dedicada de tradutores e intérpretes que oferecem tradução simultânea em todos os eventos ao vivo, transcrições do Podcast "Perguntas Abertas” de Elizabeth, e o grupo de estudos online mensal brasileiro que se reúne com Elizabeth há vários anos.
A abordagem de ensino baseada na investigação de Elizabeth é por sua capacidade única de oferecer ensinamentos claros e precisos sobre o Caminho do Meio. Ao longo dos anos lecionou em comunidades religiosas budistas, como Mangala Shri Bhuti, além de programas seculares, através da Iniciativa Caminho do Meio e do Instituto Paz e Mente.
Na década de 1980, vários mestres tibetanos começaram a estabelecer centros de estudos do Buddhadharma, incluindo Changdud Tulku Rinpoche e o marido de Elizabeth, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. Elizabeth foi inicialmente inspirada pelas pessoas e pela cultura do Brasil ao visitar seu irmão, Chime Mattis, que viveu em Salvador, Bahia, por 17 anos. A bela casa que ele construiu mais tarde se tornaria Guna Norling, um dos centros de ensino e prática de Mangala Shri Bhuti. A partir de tais movimentos, hoje desfrutamos do contato com tais ensinamentos preciosos.
Durante os ensinamentos de Elizabeth nos Estados Unidos em 2018, Cerys Tramontini tornou-se uma dedicada aluna. Em 2019, Elizabeth foi convidada por Cerys e pelo Instituto Paz e Mente para ministrar um retiro aberto no Brasil. O retiro presencial contou com mais de 300 participantes. Os ensinamentos de Elizabeth focaram no tema da interdependência, com tradução para o português generosamente fornecida por Leila Francischelli.
Elizabeth também começou a ensinar no programa de pós-graduação do Instituto Paz e Mente. Esses eventos demonstraram o desejo e o compromisso dos brasileiros em receber o autêntico Dharma. Eles foram a base para a colaboração contínua entre a the Middle Way Initiative (MWI) e o Instituto Paz e Mente, trabalhando colaborativamente para compartilhar os ensinamentos do Caminho do Meio no Brasil.
O programa anual de treinamento em paz da pós-graduação do Instituto Paz e Mente está aberto ao público em geral. Os ensinamentos do Caminho do Meio de Elizabeth tornaram-se o núcleo do programa, oferecendo treinamento de "agentes de paz" para profissionais que lidam diretamente com aspectos do sofrimento humano em suas profissões, incluindo mediação, cuidados de saúde, educação, diplomacia, ajuda humanitária e direito. O programa proporciona a oportunidade para aprofundar as reflexões e investigações dos participantes, o que apoia suas atividades orientadas para a paz. Todos os ensinamentos de Elizabeth são traduzidos para o português pela querida Denise Kato.
“Os ensinamentos do Caminho do Meio oferecidos por Elizabeth, no programa Paz & Mente, foram realmente o ápice do nosso treinamento como agentes de paz. Esses ensinamentos posicionam a mente no seu melhor de acordo com a natureza da realidade e passei a observar a vida e as relações com mais refinamento e nuances. Observar a vida por meio dos contextos, respeitar cada um deles é uma mudança significativa em todo o meu trabalho como advogada, e uma grande mudança em todas as minhas relações intrapessoais e interpessoais. Realmente, treinamento de paz é essencial estudar a visão do caminho do meio e ter o privilégio de ter esses ensinamentos com a Elizabeth foi incrível. Para ser um autêntico agente de paz, somos convidados a olhar com coragem a natureza das relações, a natureza dos conflitos. Sou profundamente grata a Elizabeth, MWI e Paz & Mente”. Sandra Brandão, programa Pós-graduação Paz a Mente, Advogada, Brasil.
Esperamos que você aprecie esta linda história e seus antecedentes de conexão e compromisso de Elizabeth com a the Middle Way Initiative (MWI), apoiando estudantes e praticantes brasileiros. Queremos agradecer nossa querida comunidade brasileira e expressar nosso apreço pelo interesse e apoio de todos em compartilhar o genuíno Dharma.
Próximas edições da newsletter do MWI ofereceremos mais informações sobre nossos projetos de tradução para o português e sobre a nossa equipe de tradutores.
Equipe the Middle Way Initiative
-The Middle Way Initiative Team
[Recordings]: Open Question Live Conversation: The Liberating Practice of Looking and Not Finding with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel & Andy Karr
Recordings are available for those who registered! “The Liberating Practice of Looking and Not Finding” with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Andy Karr.
If you registered for this August 19 event, you have received your access code to view for free (English & Portuguese simulcast translation).
Shop the Middle Way Initiative Store
The Middle Way Initiative is committed to making the Buddha’s middle way teachings accessible under the guidance of Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel.
Your contribution is used to support Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel's teaching events, the Open Question Podcast, and other projects.