The Calm Mind Series

The Calm Mind Series was created during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in response to a simple but important question: How can we offer practical support to people navigating uncertainty, fear and emotional overwhelm?

Drawing on our experience in contemplative practice, education and human development, we created a freely accessible collection of conversations, guided practices and learning resources designed to help people cultivate calm, clarity and emotional balance in everyday life.

Although the project emerged during an extraordinary moment in history, its purpose has always extended beyond the pandemic. Uncertainty is not unique to a global crisis—it is part of the human experience. For that reason, the practices and conversations shared through The Calm Mind Series continue to offer practical ways of developing the inner resources needed to meet life’s challenges with greater awareness, steadiness and compassion. Today, the series remains an open and evolving collection of resources for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of meditation, mindfulness, pranayama, yoga nidra and contemplative practice while cultivating greater wellbeing and resilience.

We began this project in early 2020 while living in confinement at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. This gallery offers a unique glimpse into daily life during that period, capturing the atmosphere, simplicity and sense of community that deeply influenced the spirit of The Calm Mind Series.

Through these photographs and videos, you can explore the environments, moments and experiences that shaped the origins of the project.

To learn more about Kopan Monastery, you can visit their official website

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who played a crucial role in bringing this project to life.

Our heartfelt thanks go to our teachers, whose wisdom has guided our shared journey of study and practice. To our families and friends, whose unwavering love and support—despite the physical distance—have been the foundation of our strength. May we honour this care by continuing to cultivate kindness and connection in our own lives.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Ven. Tenzin Namdrol, the Kopan Monastery, and the monks and nuns whose constant prayers have been a source of wisdom and comfort, even before the challenges of the pandemic. We are equally grateful to the dedicated monastery staff—from the kitchen to reception, the library and the café—and to the beings who shared that space with us: Rocky & Ms. Julia, the monkeys, birds and butterflies. May their lives be filled with happiness and free from suffering.

We also thank every guest who generously shared their knowledge and experience, including those who spoke about their charitable work during the pandemic. And to our listeners—your presence, participation and support have been at the heart of this project. May the clarity and wellbeing you find here extend into your lives and the communities around you.

By dedicating the positive intention generated through this project, we aspire to contribute, in whatever small way, to the reduction of suffering, the easing of fear and the cultivation of goodness in the lives of all beings.

During the pandemic, we invited representatives from different charitable organisations to share their work through conversations and interviews. These dialogues offered insight into how they were navigating an exceptionally challenging time, the communities they supported, and the realities they were facing on the ground. Many of these organisations were already known to us, and we felt it was important to support their work during a period of increased demand and uncertainty.

If you would like to support their work, you can contribute directly through their donation pages. Every contribution helps sustain their efforts and the communities they serve. Thank you for supporting their work.