3 children, Male. My meditation practice has had a crucial impact on every aspect of my life. Through it, I've found a way to hold my experiences with compassion and to be more present and accessible on a moment-to-moment level. Obviously all of this is an on-going process of deepening my awareness through daily sitting, attending IMCW Wednesdays regularly, being in sangha (including YLM), and continually going to week-long silent meditation retreats and many other teaching programs.

Since 1996, Rob Arner has dedicated himself to all facets of mindfulness, and relaxation techniques.  His teachers have included Tara Brach, Joanna Macy, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, Greg Kramer, Stan Grof, Vitae Bergman and numerous other teachers. For almost four decades, Rob Arner has instructed and coached tennis in clubs, and schools here in Bethesda and at various resorts working closely with former world champion Pauline Betz Addie. For over three decades he has been a green leader championing environmental improvements, establishing model recycling and watershed protection programs in this region and across the U.S. Rob has received extensive facilitator training and is an All Game Guide.

Male, Four children and two stepchildren, all over 21. I began meditating in 1972 as a TM practitioner. In the early 90’s, I became a Vipassana practitioner and a member of the IMCW community. I have participated in a number of retreats and seminars conducted by Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. I also have an MSW degree and have engaged in counseling.

Stay-at-home Dad. I'm a dedicated student of all things meditation and buddhism focussing on traditional Theravadan teachings, pranayama breath work and Qi Gong. I've been practicing meditation since September '08. Before that I studied Tai Chi and the writings of Jiddu Krishnamurti. My main interest is eradicating suffering, working with chronic pain, and faithfully following the Buddha's path to liberation. A foundation of Sila (morality), regular retreats, depth therapy and a rigorous daily practice have been effective for increasing my happiness, equanimity and insight. My 2-year old son is my greatest teacher.

I have been a student of mindfulness for over thirty years. My life’s work is to bring mindful awareness practices to inner-city communities including families; elders; women in shelter; and the non-profit staff who serve them. I am trained in MSBR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) and have a special interest in mindful parenting.

I have 10 years meditation and 6 years mindfulness experience, 5 years involvement with IMCW, training in and currently teach mindfulness (MBCT), am a mindfulness-based psychotherapist and mental health nurse, 20 years in 12-Step programs, have taken multiple mindfulness classes/workshops and week-long silent retreats, and attend two kalyana mitta groups.

I sit 1-2 hours daily. I attend five KM groups and two Sutta study groups monthly, and I attend at least two 10-day retreats yearly. This practice has dramatically improved my life, but it requires diligence. I enjoy sharing experiences of the spiritual path, so I offer mentoring to others with similar intent.

Location:  Berkeley, CA

Status: Accepting new mentees.  I’m available by phone

I first became interested in Buddhism in 1990, listening to tapes by Jack Kornfield.  Since then, I've developed a regular sitting practice including vipassana, metta and tonglen.  I began to sit retreats in 1998.  Since 2000, my primary teacher has been Tara Brach.  I'm also deeply influenced by Pema Chodron and Ken McLeod, and inspired by Suzuki Roshi, Tenzin Palmo and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  I'm drawn to the relaxed style of vipassana taught by Sayadaw U Tejaniya.  I think that each of us has to find a way of practice that works for us -- a journey that can be quite personal and idiosyncratic.  Illuminating this idea, a favorite quote, by Lama Yeshe: "Whether we sit with our arms folded this way and our legs crossed that way is of little consequence.  But is extremely important to check and see if whatever meditation we do is an actual remedy for our suffering"