|
|
Stephen Snyder, Co-Guiding Teacher Stephen began practicing Buddhist meditation
in 1976 at the age of 19, and has had a daily meditation practice from that time on. He practiced for 20 years with several
Western Zen masters. He participated in more than 50 retreats, receiving several ordinations. His primary practices
over the years have been Zen, the Tibetan Dzogchen Rigpa practice, and the Theravadan Jhanas. He has been a practicing
lawyer for more than 20 years, also serving as an advisor to a number of Buddhist and spiritual teachers. |
|||||||||||
|
|
Tina Rasmussen, Co-Guiding Teacher Tina learned to meditate in 1976, at the age of 13. She has meditated daily since 1993. In 2003, she completed a year-long mostly silent solo retreat, spending 8 to 12 hours every day engaged in spiritual practice. Her practices include the Theravadan Jhanas, Vipassana, the Bramaviharas, Tibetan Dzogchen Rigpa, Qi Gong, and Yoga. She has also completed many silent retreats of up to 3 months at retreat centers. Tina has worked as an
organizational development consultant for more than 25 years. She completed her Ph.D in 1995. At the age of 30, her first
business book was published by McGraw-Hill. Her second book was published in 2006.
In 2005, Tina attended the 2-month jhana retreat with Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, who ordained her as a Theravada Buddhist nun. During the retreat, Tina became the first American and the first Western woman to complete the entire Samatha path in the lineage of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw. Tina is the co-author of the book, Practicing the Jhanas, published by Shambhala Publications. Tina has been authorized to teach by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, and works as a spiritual mentor, professional coach, and OD consultant. You can reach her at RasmussenT@aol.com. |
|||||||||||
******************************************************************************************************************
|
||||||||||
Brian's lifelong curiosity and deep questioning
led him to pursue a path of personal development beginning in the early 1990s. His Buddhist practice began in Zen and expanded
to include the Theravadan tradition. In addition to an active and ongoing daily practice, Brian has participated in numerous
intensive silent concentration meditation retreats of up to 14 days in length with Tina and Stephen. In addition, he participated
in the year-long Awakening Dharma mentoring group.
Brian is currently authorized to offer dharma
talks and lead meditation groups, specifically regarding the practice territory from "first sit to first jhana."
He will be assisting with daylongs and weekend retreats in the near future. Brian travels extensively and is available for
talks at your location.
As a professional geologist for 30 years, Brian has worked in the U.S.,
South America, Africa and Eastern Europe and has founded and run successful public companies. He is an avid cycling enthusiast
and father to two adult children, and lives in the woods of eastern Washington state. You can reach him at bgavin@mac.com. To view a flyer for his dharma talk, please click the hotlink below.
|
|