F.A.Q.

I teach Unified Mindfulness, a secular system of meditation designed by Shinzen Young.

I am also intimately familiar with a broad range of Buddhist contemplative techniques from the lineages of Theravada, Vajrayana, Zen, and Dzogchen, though I will not teach those techniques which are traditionally held restricted and secret unless I have received explicit permission and endorsement to do so from my own teachers.

My practice has been focused on the cultivation of Insight within a Buddhist context: awakening. Supporting you along this axis of development in a pragmatic, metaphysically neutral manner is my motivation for teaching.

If for whatever reason we don't fit or I know someone(s) I believe will be able to help you better than I can, I'll be delighted to refer you out to trusted friends, my own teachers, and respected colleagues.

I can also provide help in discerning appropriate intensive retreat options, short or long-term, if you're looking for that.

To begin with, it’s very clarifying to identify what your motivations and goals are for your practice, sometimes with reference to the Happiness Grid, which is reproduced below. From there, we can select techniques and strategies to best accomplish those goals with the tools and time available.

There is no one-size-fits-all for meditation. Together we can chart a course, and as time goes on we adjust to your interests, opportunities, and necessity.

In early sessions there will probably be more to discuss, so we'll likely spend less time actually practicing together. As and if we see more of each other more of our time will likely be devoted to interactive, real-time guidance.

Periodically, as new territory comes up for you in practice, we'll probably have more to talk about again, and your goals, motivations, and interests may change.

Everything is a response to context, but that's the general rhythm.

In gratitude for all the freely offered and heavily discounted instruction, hospitality, and kindness I’ve received along the Way I’ve chosen to teach meditation likewise on a dāna (donations) basis.

In practice, following each session I invite you to donate according to your means to support my ongoing service, training, and livelihood.