At an early age I longed to find deep meaning in life. When I was eighteen I decided to take a semester abroad program through The School For International Training in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy located in India, Nepal and Tibet. During that time I met and took teachings from His Holiness, The Dalai Lama . I also participated in a one month meditation immersion course at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. This was the beginning of my journey in Tibetan Buddhist practices that changed my life forever. Passionate about meditation I went into silent retreats guided by my teachers and continued my studies and practice for three years off and on in India at Tushita Retreat Center. Upon returning to the United Satates I helped to open Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, CA with Dr. Chiu Nan Lai where I continued my practices and studies, and began to teach. From the day I listened to the Dalai Lama's teachings in India I knew I had found my path and I have continued on this path to the present day. I have taken numerous teachings over the years from the Dalai Lama and other Lamas and teachers, including an online semester course on meditative techniques at Maitripa Institute with Yangsi Rinpoche.
My commitment to the practice of Tibetan Buddhism is an integral part of my life. As I continue on this amazing journey my hope is to share what I have learned and benefited from so that you too can find well-being and contentment in life through meditation and yoga. I have led meditation classes to individuals and groups throughout Vermont for people of all ages and faiths since 2000.
I helped facilitate the visit of The Dalai Lama to Middlebury College in 2012 (pictured here during his visit).
Beginning meditation with the awareness of the breath allows the mind to settle. It breaks the usually continuous flow of thoughts and emotions. This causes such thoughts to subside for the moment. Thus, by occupying the mind with our breath, we cleanse it of all positive and negative conceptual thoughts and thus remain in a neutral state of mind unspecified as either constructive or destructive.
Because an unspecified state of mind like this is unburdened and supple, it is relatively easy to generate it into a constructive state. After some time in this settled state we are able to focus on an inner clarity that leads to a place within which we have not yet discovered. It is a state of mind totally rested, peaceful and fully awakened to experience the truth at the moment. The longer one remains in this state of mind without any distraction, one can experience their true nature.
Live recording at Vergennes Congregational Church.
Short 10 min meditation
Short 10 min meditation recorded for Middlebury College Students
Short 10 min meditation recorded for Middlebury college students
Short 5 min meditation recorded for Middlebury College students