Dear Friends of the Tang Institute,
February in New England is a challenging month. The cold weather and short days often send us into hibernation. But mindfulness teacher Matthew Hepburn's recent visit lured over 250 of us out of our homes for talks and meditations that left us feeling inspired and united.
The timing was perfect. As we near the launch of the Workshop in March, we have begun to think more about time and ritual. Because the Workshop will be each student’s sole academic commitment during the spring term, we have a broad and blank canvas to explore when it comes to student experience. Priya Parker’s book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, has helped us think about how best to create spaces that are a deliberate departure from the everyday.
In particular, Parker's emphasis on intentionally creating a “temporary alternate world” has been a meaningful point of departure as we think about designing our opening overnight off-campus retreat, daily morning meetings, and other routines that we hope will become rituals—opportunities for reflection, community, and meaning-making.
As we look toward spring, I'm happy to share this and other news with you below.
Warmly,
Andy Housiaux
Currie Family Director of the Tang Institute
