Naropa University describes itself as the "birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement" in the United States. It was founded in 1974 in Boulder, Colorado, by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Student Magdalena DeRosa reported one of her professors at Naropa University for sexual harassment. She thought she was entering a process that might take a few months or maybe an entire semester. Instead, it lasted nearly two years.

Something is cracking open in the spiritual and wellness world; and it has been for a while. Have wisdom traditions containing genuine gifts been composted into a product that only serves the very forces those traditions were born to resist?

It is no news that some powerful spiritual leaders with devoted followers have, for a long time, abused that power for dominance and, in many cases, for sexual exploitation. The Epstein files are not an interruption to the pattern; they are the pattern, made suddenly impossible to scroll past.

We want to reflect on the conditions—not just the men, not just the crimes, but the architecture of silence that held it all in place. What kind of spiritual culture produces that silence? What kind of spiritual culture makes it possible to look at harm and call it a lesson in perception? What has gone awry with our approach to spirituality when the latter can be used as a cover for abuse? How come much of the therapeutic and spiritual communities remain silent in the face of crimes witnessed by the entire world?

To explore these and related issues, this discussion brings together mytho-poetic spiritual teacher Bayo Akomolafe Ph.D., writer & podcaster Matthew Remski, author & playwright V, ceremonial leader Pat McCabe, spiritual teacher & psychologist Tara Brach and author & physician Gabor Maté in a wide-ranging discussion that will also invite audience participation.

The intention is to leave participants encouraged to find the spiritual inner strength needed to pursue truth without losing discrimination in the process, without giving away their power; to discuss compassionately, without judgment but with clarity, what the Epstein revelations can tell us about who we are, about our culture, and about the nature of how we construct reality; to move beyond a so-called equanimity and “non-attachment” that is indistinguishable from numbness and passivity in the face of harm, in the face of evil.

Gabor Maté https://drgabormate.com/
Bayo Akomolafe https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/
Pat McCabe https://www.patmccabe.net/
Tara Brach https://www.tarabrach.com
V (formerly Eve Ensler) https://www.eveensler.org
Matthew Remski https://matthewremski.com/

Science and Nonduality (SAND) contemplates and reveres the beauty, complexity, pain, and great mystery that weave the infinite cycles of existence. We explore beyond ultimate truths, binary thinking, and individual awakening while acknowledging humanity as a mere part of the intricate web of life.

Water Drumming (Liquindi) on River Lupe

Siberian Hermits: Agafia Lykova 

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For me it was coming back to the awareness of breath. That's it. That made me feel more settled and connected to my body.

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Inquest opens after woman found unresponsive in river

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Sources:

https://mh-v5.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25529414.inquest-opens-woman-found-unresponsive-river/

https://www.raincliffewoods.co.uk/event/mindfulness-course-8-week-course-starting-2nd-september-2023/

10th October 2025

Court

Christchurch

By Jess Skelton Reporter

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River Avon 

AN INQUEST has opened after a Christchurch woman was found unresponsive in a river.

An inquest was opened into the death of 52-year-old Claire Emma Rodway after she was found unresponsive in the River Avon.

Brendan Allen, area coroner for Dorset, formally opened the inquest into the death of Ms Rodway on October 8 at Bournemouth Town Hall.

The court heard that Ms Rodway was born in Margate, Kent, on May 31, 1973.

It was added that at the time of her death, she was a carer and residing at an address in Christchurch.

Coroner's officer, Chloe Day, told Dorset Coroner's Court that Ms Rodway was found unresponsive in the River Avon on October 2.

Emergency services attended and she was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Ms Rodway was formally identified in person with the comparison

Police have confirmed that there was no third party involvement or suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

A post-mortem examination was undertaken by Dr Blahut at Holly Tree Lodge on October 7.

Dr Blahut concluded Ms Rodway's provisional cause of death to be drowning.

Mr Allen has adjourned the inquest for a full hearing to take place on March 31 at 10am, as well as requesting statements from Ms Rodway's family, GP, the police and mental health services if she was known to them.

Court

Christchurch

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Something significant has happened in the UK Buddhist and mindfulness world. On 12 January 2026, Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche — abbot of Samye Ling, the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the West — publicly resigned as Patron of the Mindfulness Association (MA), one of the UK's largest secular mindfulness training organisations. The two have been closely intertwined for 15 years; Lama Yeshe's brother, the late Akong Rinpoche, was central to founding the MA in 2010.

In his statement, Lama Yeshe explains that this previously harmonious relationship has recently broken down. The MA Board has cancelled all its courses and retreats at Samye Ling and Holy Isle (a retreat island off the west coast of Scotland) following allegations against Rokpa Trust — the charity behind Samye Ling — that are currently in the public domain. Lama Yeshe describes those allegations as "false, unsubstantiated" and characterises the Board's decision as based on hearsay.

He closes by saying he will continue the activities of his late brother and asks practitioners to keep developing wisdom, compassion and joy.

There has also been a striking governance change at the Mindfulness Association itself in the same window, visible on the public Companies House register. The MA (a Community Interest Company, SC378541) had been run by the same three directors since its founding in 2010 — a stable board for the entire 15-year life of the organisation. Then, within days of Lama Yeshe's resignation announcement on 12 January 2026, that began to change. Public filings show:

• 21 January 2026 — just nine days after the Patron's resignation — one of the three founding directors stepped down, and the remaining director was registered "Person with Significant Control".
• 28 February 2026 — a second founding director stepped down.
• 10 March 2026 — the registered office was moved from rural Aberdeenshire to central Edinburgh.
• 1 and 24 April 2026 — three new directors were appointed.

So in the space of roughly three months following the Patron's resignation, two of the three founding directors departed after 15 years on the board, the registered office relocated, and the board was substantially rebuilt — an unusually concentrated period of change for an organisation that had been institutionally stable for over a decade.

I'm sharing all of this not to take a position, but because it feels like a moment many in the UK mindfulness and Buddhist community will want to sit with. Samye Ling, Holy Isle and the MA have been such a significant part of the landscape for decades, and a public split between them, alongside this much governance change, is unusual.

A few open questions, if anyone feels like sharing:

• Have you trained with the MA, or attended retreats at Samye Ling or Holy Isle? How is the news landing for you?
• For those familiar with how Buddhist organisations have historically handled internal disputes — does anything about how this is unfolding feel familiar, or different?
• How do you make sense of news like this when it concerns an organisation whose teaching has helped you?
• Is there anything you would want to see from either organisation now?

Genuinely interested in hearing from people across the spectrum — students, teachers, retreatants, sceptics. Please keep it respectful so the thread stays open.

🔗 Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche's full statement (12 January 2026): https://www.samyeling.org/news/special-announcement/

🔗 Companies House filings (Mindfulness Association C.I.C., SC378541): https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC378541

Anyone got recommendations for good meditation retreat centres in the UK?

I've done a few retreats over the years and I’m looking for somewhere fairly quiet. I’m not especially attached to one lineage.

Lately I’ve been feeling pretty worn out from commuting, long hours, noise, and possibly a bit burned out so I’m hoping to find somewhere peaceful.

Ideally somewhere affordable and reasonably down to earth. I've looked at some of the bigger retreat centres already, some seem a bit overwhelming. I could do with recommendations from people who actually know retreats from own experience.

Not really looking for anything overly strict or intense.

Would really appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences.

Ugh… commuting is exhausting. Trains late, buses packed, everyone glued to their phones. By the time I get to work I feel totally drained before the day even starts.

I’ve been trying to do tiny mindfulness things – like focusing on my breathing or just noticing the little things around me and it sometimes helps. But honestly some days it really doesn’t.

Do you have any small mindfulness tricks that actually make commuting a bit less awful?