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Dear friends,

Last month I had the joy of returning to Dharamsala, a place that holds a very special place in my heart. It is where my journey in the Tibetan tradition truly began.

In 1989 and 1990, I spent nine months in India, several of them in Dharamsala. It was there that I first met His Holiness the Dalai Lama, met my first teacher, Ngakpa Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche, and began to study and practice Tibetan Buddhism in a serious and committed way. Looking back, I could not have imagined how profoundly those months would shape the rest of my life. Sometimes i call it my second gestation period.

Thirty-four years later, I found myself walking those same paths again.

This visit was especially meaningful because I was there with the Compassion Institute, teaching alongside wonderful colleagues and sharing practices that continue to inspire my own life. One of the highlights was the opportunity to once again receive blessings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Every encounter with him reminds me of the extraordinary power of kindness, compassion, and joyful presence.

Another deeply moving moment was returning to the monastery of my first teacher, Ngakpa Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche, who passed away many years ago.

Standing there brought back countless memories of those early days of practice, curiosity, uncertainty, and discovery. I was also able to spend time beside the statue that was installed in his honor, something I had the privilege of helping with years ago.

Returning to Dharamsala reminded me that while much has changed over the decades, the heart of the path remains the same. Practice is not about arriving somewhere else. It is about continuing to return, again and again, with openness, dedication, and gratitude.

During my first time in Dharamsala, someone had shared a simple saying with me that has stayed in my heart: “Dig many wells until you find water. Once you find water, keep digging.”

I have often reflected on those words.

In our lives, we naturally explore different teachers, disciplines, and experiences. There is wisdom in searching. But there is also wisdom in recognizing when we have found something that truly nourishes us and then giving ourselves fully to it. Depth comes not only from seeking but from staying, practicing, and allowing the teachings to transform us over time.

As I look back on these past thirty-four years, I feel nothing but gratitude for all my teachers, friends, students, and communities that have accompanied me along this path. The journey continues, and I look forward to continuing to share it with all of you.

My digging has led me to focus more on the practices of breathing, movement, and meditation of Tibetan Yoga. Below, I share some opportunities online and in person.

With gratitude,

Queridos amigos,

Me da mucha alegría compartir que Meditaciones en Español continuará este año como parte de Tibetan Yoga Wellbeing.

Durante los últimos años, estas meditaciones han sido una hermosa oportunidad para reunirnos, practicar juntos en nuestro idioma y cultivar presencia, calma y comunidad. Estoy muy agradecido con todas las personas que han participado a lo largo del camino.

Quiero expresar un agradecimiento especial a Fernando Scaglia, quien ha apoyado estas meditaciones en honor a su madre, Telma Elizabeth Ferrari, y a Lidia Ramírez, quien ha estado presente desde el principio, ayudando a construir y sostener este programa, y que continuará acompañándonos como anfitriona de las sesiones.

Me entusiasma mucho poder seguir ofreciendo este espacio en esta nueva etapa.

Las meditaciones seguirán siendo gratuitas y abiertas a todos.

Próximas fechas | 5:15–6:00 PM, hora central:

• Junio 23

• Julio 14

• Septiembre 22

• Octubre 20

• Noviembre 17

• Diciembre 15

Espero que puedan acompañarnos y que sigamos construyendo juntos esta comunidad de práctica.

Se pueden registrar con este enlace.

Con cariño,

Dear friends,

As the year unfolds, I find myself looking forward to two very special retreats on the East Coast this fall, both held in places that I deeply love and that have become meaningful homes for practice, reflection, and community over the years.

In September, I will return to Omega Institute in upstate New York, a place that always feels alive with creativity, learning, and human connection. Early autumn there is especially beautiful. The trees begin to shift colors, the air becomes crisp and spacious, and the land itself seems to invite us inward. There is something unique about waking up in that environment, walking between workshops, hearing music in the distance, sharing meals and conversations, and gathering for practice surrounded by nature and community.

There, from September 13–18, we will explore the magical movements of Tibetan Yoga, integrating breath, movement, meditation, and the subtle body. These practices help us reconnect with the body, settle the mind, and rest more deeply in what the Tibetan traditions call our natural state of being. Also, that same week my friend and great teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn will be teaching a workshop with his son Will. It’ll be wonderful to be on campus with him again.

Then on November 12-15, I will return to Menla, the Land of the Medicine Buddha, nestled in the Catskill Mountains. Founded by Tibet House’s Bob Thurman, Menla carries a different kind of vibe, and has a wonderful Tibetan Spa. In late autumn, the mountains become quieter, the forests deeper and more contemplative, and the whole landscape feels naturally supportive of inner practice. It is a place that invites healing simply through being there.

This retreat, Tibetan Yoga Wellbeing: Heart Practices, Life-Force & Longevity, will be especially meaningful because I will be joined by my dear friend and wonderful cardiologist, Dr. Mauricio Obón. Together we will explore practices and perspectives that nourish the heart, cultivate vitality, and support longevity and quality of life. I will share Tibetan Yoga practices working with breath, movement, awareness, and subtle energy, while Mauricio will offer insights from medicine and lifestyle practices that support heart health and wellbeing in our everyday lives.

Both retreats feel, in different ways, like opportunities to step outside the speed of ordinary life and reconnect with something quieter, deeper, and more essential.

I would be very happy to share these spaces and practices with you.

With warmth,

Dear Friends,

May 15th will be my last day at The Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute (MBSI) in an active role. I will continue as Founding Director, and I truly rejoice in all the growth and development since its inception in 2018.

Our new director, Jasmine Shah, shared a very kind farewell message that also included members of my Advisory Board, and I leave with deep appreciation for all of them. You can read it here.

This transition feels bittersweet, though I knew at some point it would come. As I reflect on these years, I feel immense gratitude for all the people I had the opportunity to connect with, the classes we shared, the projects we developed, and the many organizations that partnered with MBSI.

At the same time, I am not retiring. My work has always been rooted in the broader field of mind-body practices, and I now find myself focusing more fully on breath, meditation, and the magical movements of Tibetan Yoga. This is not something new for me, but rather a continuation of what has been at the heart of my work for many years, including my PhD dissertation, my books, articles, and online courses.

I am also beginning a new chapter with the creation of a non-profit organization, Tibetan Yoga Wellbeing, which will soon have its own website and identity. In the meantime, I will continue sharing this work through my ongoing offerings, including workshops, online courses, retreats, and Meditaciones en Español.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or reflections. I look forward to continuing this journey together and hope to see you along the way.

with warmth,

Empathetic Joy is one of the Four Immeasurables, the capacity to feel genuine happiness for the well-being and success of others. Or more simply, rejoicing in the goodness of others. Last week at Esalen, while teaching on these qualities with my dear friend Eve Ekman, I was reminded just how alive and powerful this practice can be.

While we were there, we heard the beautiful news that His Holiness the Dalai Lama received a Grammy Award for his audiobook Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I felt a spontaneous surge of happiness, a warmth that surprised me in its intensity. That feeling of joy for him opened a door to a memory from many years ago.

In 1989, during my first trip to India and Nepal, I traveled through Ladakh and Kashmir. At that time, I knew very little about the Dalai Lama, yet I was deeply moved by the immense reverence Tibetan monks held for him. The monks I met in the monasteries in Ladakh were incredibly kind with me. Even though we shared no common language, they offered me a place to sleep and food to eat. We communicated with our eyes, our hands, and our smiles. It was a simple and profound exchange of shared humanity.

Later, after visiting the sacred Amarnath Cave, I was on my way back toward Kashmir and staying with a generous Muslim family. It was there that we heard the news that His Holiness the Dalai Lama had received the Nobel Peace Prize. I remember feeling an unexpected and heartfelt joy, almost as if someone in my own family had been honored. That moment stayed with me. It was my first clear experience of empathetic joy beyond a friend or family member. It was a happiness not rooted in my own achievements, or those close to me, but in the goodness and recognition of another that i barely knew.

Hearing now, decades later, that he received a Grammy awakened that same feeling again. Of course, the context is different; the world has changed, and so have I, but the essence of that empathetic joy remains the same. There is something deeply nourishing about allowing ourselves to celebrate the success, wellbeing, and recognition of others. It is like a smile that comes from the heart rather than the face.

I invite you to notice these moments in your own life. When someone you know, or even someone you do not know, experiences success or happiness, see if you can pause and open your heart. Let yourself feel glad for them. It is a subtle but transformative practice that softens the mind and connects us more deeply with one another.

Here is a link to the audiobook:

In the coming months, I will be engaging in several gatherings and teachings, and I will also be returning to Nepal, to my teacher’s monastery, the retreat place where he spent his final days and where he passed away in meditation. These journeys continue to remind me of the importance of lineage, gratitude, and the simple power of the heart. For more information, email me at info@alechaoul.com.

May we continue to cultivate empathetic joy together, celebrating the light we see in others and allowing it to illuminate our own path.

With warmth,

Ale

Dear Friends,

       I am feeling very grateful and excited as this year begins, with January between Costa Rica and Esalen Institute. There is a sense of movement, creativity, and momentum that feels supportive as new teachings, gatherings, and journeys unfold, feeling the energy of the Year of the Fire Horse soon to begin. In February, I will be offering programs and gatherings in Houston, and later in the year, returning to some of my favorite places such as Ligmincha International, Menla, and Omega Institute. These spaces and communities continue to feel like homes for practice, learning, and connection.

One journey I am especially looking forward to is another trip to Nepal. This time, I hope to explore not only the Kathmandu Valley but also either Tibet or Lower Mustang, spending time in the mountains. What makes this trip particularly meaningful for me is returning to the places connected to my teacher, Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak, who passed away last year. I feel deeply called to visit his meditation retreat, his monastery, and other sacred places where we can meditate, practice Tibetan Yoga, and connect with the lineage in a very direct and embodied way.

There is something profoundly nourishing about being in those landscapes, where outer nature and inner practice meet. I am looking forward to this pilgrimage, both outside and inside, and to sharing what emerges from that experience with all of you.

With warmth and gratitude,

Ale