naj here. The Naga Center is based around a deep belief in environmental and social responsibility. This is reflected in a business model that is committed to a triple bottom line in which community and environmental impact are factored equal to or greater than, finances.

I do my best to engage these core values in many ways, but here are a few examples:

• Environment is always considered. From what paper to put in the printer to how often I fly to Thailand or accept requests to go and teach in far away places. I avoid plastic packaging in the snacks I provide for my students, clean with home made non-toxic cleaning agents, and provide compost and recycling containers. More than that though, I talk to my students about the connection between healing arts and having a healthy clean planet. For we do not have health without clean air and water. I have been known to provide voter registration forms to students and encourage political activism to mitigate climate change.

• 50% of profits from Ethics & Communication classes are donated to human rights and environmental charities.

• Here are some blog posts that reflect values of community and environment and have some ideas of ways to help

Love Tithing

Dana: The Art of Voluntary Donation

Saving Animals, Planet, Oceans, and Ourselves

Another important part of giving back is giving back to Thailand. There are many ways to do this, but one that I encourage is simply staying honest in our preservation of Thai medicine. Always be clear about what is and what is not actually Thai medicine as it has historically been practiced in Thailand. Right now there is a lot of dilution and corruption in the teachings that people are receiving. This contributes to the loss of traditional Thai medicine rather than the preservation. As more information becomes available to the western practitioner about Thai medicine, we have a responsibility to maintain clarity, give credit where credit is due, and to represent this cultural heritage of Thailand accurately.

You can learn more about giving back to Thailand in my Cultural Awareness online self paced 1.5 hour course that is offered for free or dāna.