Mindfulness is Heart-fullness

The art of meditation is something amazing and for which words consistently fail to capture. Another way of saying this is that the art, the practice and the experience of meditation is ultimately ineffable. Meditation brings you into a direct experience of pure being, which is your own true being. This is totally beyond words and concepts and yet includes all words and concepts, just as the ocean includes its waves.

I offer personalized mindfulness & meditation training to individual students and small groups (and occasionally classrooms) which is rooted in tradition and yet adopted to fit our modern life and needs. The particular goals and practices and material we will cover will depend on what your own needs and desires are. We will explore how bringing mindfulness to your life and relationships and work will help serve yourself and others.

I completed two different mindfulness instructor programs, one of which was with the Mindfulness in Schools Project, and received a Masters in Buddhist Studies from Naropa University.

I first began to practice mindfulness meditation at the age of 18 and have made an effort to have a consistent practice since then. I feel this is important to mention this because it is important to practice mindfulness consistently over time in order for it to take root and effect more genuine transformations. Also, it is important to recognize how unique each one of us is, and therefore your own practice of mindfulness, of knowing your own being and expanding awareness with precision and gentleness, will look different for each of us,

I have personally studied and practiced with a number of different teachers from different lineages and traditions, including Ashtanga yoga, Zen and Vajrayana Buddhism.

My first official meditation ‘retreat’ was with Thicth Nhat Hanh, and for two weeks we simply practiced mindfulness. There was little ritual and little that was even ‘religious.’ That retreat seems so long ago and yet when it comes to mind it is almost as if a part of me never left and never wanted to leave. The single word ‘mindfulness’ really contains the essence of all the teachings of Buddhism. But my own experiential knowing of what that means has deepened and transformed over the years and I hope will always continue to do so.

My wish is for everyone reading this to take a moment and know their true being, as it shines through your sense fields, your sight, your hearing, your feelings, your consciousness, in this very moment. Whatever you are experiencing, right now, you can know your true being within- not separate from- this present moment experience. As one great teacher said, ‘Look at the one who is looking at this. To see that, is to see the ultimate.’

I have taught mindfulness to grade school students and incorporate it, when helpful, into coaching and psychotherapy. When I teach ‘mindfulness’ I emphasize embodiment. Becoming more deeply embodied is a key to making your meditation practice come alive. In being in touch with our felt sense of being something magical begins to happen. We come to our senses. Literally. Our home is our body and our body is something mysterious, something vast, something beyond what our thoughts can grasp. Our body is the world, our body is the universe.

For those who are interested, I would like to mention my main meditation teachers here out of a sense of great respect and appreciation. These include Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Reginald Ray, Ph. D, Dr. Nida Chenagstang, and the Dalai Lama

In addition, Thict Nhat Hanh, Lama Tenpa, Chokling Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, B. Alan Wallace, Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche, Anam Thubten Rinpoche, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche and all of my teachers from Naropa University have all been important teachers for me as well. Thank you for taking the time to read this and please send me a message if you would like to learn more or if you are interested in personalized meditation instruction and support.