This October, Tergar Schools is honored to contribute to Stanford University’s 12th Annual Contemplation by Design Summit, a free global gathering dedicated to “the power of the pause”. From October 15–27, faculty, students, and community members will come together online to explore research-based contemplative practices that cultivate calm, clarity, compassion, competence, and creativity. Registration opens on September 15th.
As part of this year’s program, Tergar Schools will offer four sessions that reflect our vision of education as a path of awakening and human flourishing.
The first session, a keynote address entitled “Education as Awakening: Reimagining Learning Through Basic Goodness,” will be led by our founder, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, on Tuesday, October 21, 7:00–8:15 pm PT | 10:00–11:15 pm ET | Oct 22, 10:00–11:15 am HKT. Mingyur Rinpoche will share his vision for transforming education by rooting it in the recognition of basic goodness, the innate awareness, compassion, and wisdom within each of us. His talk will inspire educators, caregivers, and learners alike to see how education can nurture not only knowledge, but also the qualities of heart and mind that lead to meaningful lives.
The following two evenings will feature interactive workshops with Susan Kaiser Greenland and Justin Kelley, PhD, who will guide participants through the Tergar Schools life skills framework.
On Wednesday, October 22 (7:00–8:30 pm PT | 10:00–11:30 pm ET | Oct 23, 10:00–11:30 am HKT), the workshop Seeing Clearly: Cultivating Awareness in Everyday Learning will introduce the first cluster of life skills: SEE (Awareness). Participants will explore practices such as steadying mind and body, pausing before responding, and listening deeply. These skills help learners meet life’s challenges with steadiness, curiosity, and care.
Building on this foundation, the second workshop, From Understanding to Action: Life Skills for a Wise and Compassionate Response, will be held on Thursday, October 23 (7:00–8:30 pm PT | 10:00–11:30 pm ET | Oct 24, 10:00–11:30 am HKT). This session explores the next two clusters of the framework: UNDERSTAND (Wisdom) and RESPOND (Love & Compassion). Through practical tools and engaging activities, participants will discover how to make thoughtful choices, reframe challenges, act with purpose, and grow meaningful connections.
Finally, on Friday, October 24 (7:00–8:15 pm PT | 10:00–11:15 pm ET | Oct 25, 10:00–11:15 am HKT), Karma Shenden will lead Resting in Awareness: A Guided Contemplation. Karma Shenden is an ordained Buddhist monk, an outstanding graduate of Tergar Osel Ling, and a chief contemplative teacher at Tergar School. His session offers a direct experience of resting in awareness, a foundational practice that nurtures presence, calm, and clarity.
We are delighted to share the work of Tergar Schools with the Stanford community and beyond. These four sessions reflect our commitment to education that awakens awareness, nurtures compassion, and equips learners with life skills for a joyful and resilient future.
All events are free and open to the public. Register here.
