My life and work is inspired by 50 years of Buddhist meditation practice and study combined with a personal journey to positively change my mind and heart through a wide range of spiritual, energetic, somatic and psychological techniques.  It is my aspiration to share with others whatever I have learned that might be of benefit.

Particularly during this time in history, I am inspired to support others to access their deepest resources in order to meet life and all its individual, relational and collective challenges, with as much calm presence, good heart, interdependent respect, and clear awareness as possible.

I have found the Buddhist understanding of the causes of suffering and the sources of freedom to be extremely accurate, practical, and totally applicable to our 21st century lives. I do my best to translate that understanding into hands-on terms that can fruitfully be applied to ourselves, our relationships, our professional lives and communities.  I was one of the first Buddhist practitioners to integrate mindfulness with pragmatic daily life skills in my “Mindfulness of Listening and Speaking” group trainings beginning in the 1990’s.  This union of meditative skills with daily life applications continues to be a hallmark of my work.

In more recent years my healing journey has drawn me into the power of using collective fields of intentional attunement, deep listening, and open receptivity to create positive change and transformation for ourselves, our communities and the natural world.  These fields can access many levels of intelligence to illuminate our world in these difficult times.  I periodically offer both online and in-person opportunities to experiment with these fields together.  My long-time involvement with earth-based shamanic practices dovetails with this interest in the power of collective fields.  I feel strongly that Mother Nature and the non-human world are necessary and potent participants in whatever collective intelligence may guide us to be of benefit to Life.

I hold a master’s degree in psychology and have trained intensively in a variety of spiritual practices in all three schools of Buddhist meditative traditions (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana), including mindfulness, concentration, loving kindness, compassion and altruistic motivation. I bow in gratitude to all the teachers, mentors, counselors, and spiritual friends who have offered me teachings and nurtured my path.  For me, meditation and various forms of heart-mind training have been essential elements in learning to lead a happy and meaningful life.

My past professional path included project management, writing, research,  substance abuse counseling, and private practice as a counselor and coach. You can view my professional experience and resume here.

I now consider myself an “elder”.  As such I share consultation and coaching for individuals; offer groups to learn and practice caring presence and attunement; conduct rituals and ceremonies to honor the natural world and our ancestors; and convene “collective field experiments” to invite guidance toward our positive evolution.

Details of my meditation training and academic education include:

Buddhist meditation and training

  • Study, practice and intensive silent retreats in the three major schools of Buddhism, 1974 – present.
    • Theravada:   Vipassana practice with Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzburg, Jack Kornfield, Myoshin Kelley and others; including numerous 10 day retreats and five longer retreats of 30+ days at Bucksport, Maine, Insight Meditation Society and The Forest Refuge, beginning in 1974.
    • Mahayana:   Zen residential practice at Providence Zen Center under the guidance of Zen Master Seung Sahn; including self-retreat of 100 days and 49 days, plus multiple 7 day retreats, 1977 – 1985.  Study and practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh with Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday, 2000 – 2017.
    • Vajrayana:   practice and study under the guidance of Nyingma lineage holder H.E. Dza Kilung Jigme Rinpoche, including multiple 7 day retreats, self-retreat of 30+ days, and 7 years of Shakgya non-residential year-long program, 2010 –2022.  Retreats and teachings from other great lineage holders (2002-2025), including Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, and Phakchok Rinpoche, as well as Western lamas including Lama John Makransky.
  • Advanced Study and Practice Program, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Barre, MA, 2006-07.
  • Certified Instructor in The Relaxed Mind seven meditation series by Dza Kilung Rinpoche, 2017

Secular meditation training

  • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Training, UMass Medical Center, 1999.
  • Thomas Huebl Practice Group Leader in Transparent Communication, since 2021.

Academic education and licensing

  • B. A., Liberal Arts, State University of New York at Old Westbury, New York.
  • M. A., Psychology, California State College at Sonoma, Rohnert Park, California.
  • Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional, State of Rhode Island, 1991 – 1998.