Find a Mentor

I’ve been a meditator since 2006, when I was first introduced to meditation in the halls of Narcotics Anonymous while in early recovery from opioid addiction. My intimate experience with that suffering and its causes became an inroad into the acceptance and letting go into kindness and compassion that comprise the path to the end of suffering. I’m a retired therapist and addiction counselor turned meditation teacher. Clinically trained in Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention in 2017, I have been teaching a modified version at local Kolmac clinics since 2018. I graduated as a certified meditation teacher in 2021 in Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s MMTCP Program. I’m a grateful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great uncle, and brother, and it would be my privilege to support you on your meditation journey.

I am a 67-year-old male. I’m married with two children and retired. I’ve been training and practicing for over 30 years. My practice has been consistent since 2004. I believe through understanding what the Buddha taught and developing a meditation practice, life’s challenges can be overcome more easily. Keeping the Dharma in mind throughout the day is very useful and supports our time in formal meditation and formal meditation time helps us move through the day with skill.

I look forward to sharing the Dharma and my practice.

I came to meditation desperate to find relief from lifelong struggles with anxiety, shame, self-hatred, perfectionism, and over-achieving. I sat my first retreat with Tara Brach in 1994 and have since fallen in love with Buddhism in all its depth and wisdom. 

At my first month-long retreat in 2003—the first of many long retreats—I experienced moments of being completely at peace for the first time in my life. My practice continues to evolve and yield fruits of gratitude, joy, and connection beyond what I ever imagined possible. I resonate especially with the heart practices, am drawn to the teachings of mystics of all faith traditions, and have strong ties to Quakerism and the 12 Steps.

Affinity: 12-Step recovery (Al-Anon and Workaholics Anonymous)

I’ve been meditating for 30 years but attended my first class with Tara Brach just seven years ago. I didn’t know what to expect but quickly discovered Vipassana meditation offers a path toward self-knowledge, freedom, and peace. I dove in with both feet and have participated in many IMCW retreats and in Jonathan Foust’s Year of Living Mindfully. I’m a member of a KM group and the Contemplative Law Group. I’ve seen first-hand the transformative potential of meditation for my relationships, my work, and my outlook on life. I hope in mentoring to provide encouragement and support to others, particularly those just starting out.

When I’m not meditating or spending time with my wife, teenage kids, and dog, I’m a civil rights lawyer at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Rachel began formally meditating with the IMCW community in 2012 but had interest in mindfulness meditation for almost a decade prior. She has been on several week-long (and longer) retreats and has experience navigating the myriad number of challenges encountered during a sit. She has participated in a deeper structured practice through Jonathan Foust’s Year of Living Mindfully for 2 consecutive years and an active member of KM (spiritual friends) sitting groups. 

Since 2016, she’s been leading a secular mindfulness meditation class at her job and is a meditation instructor to incarcerated adults through Insight on Inside (IOI). Her other practices have included long distance running, hiking, and breathwork.

I have had a daily meditation practice since 2003, and have been teaching meditation since 2010. I love metta, and I resonate to cultivating happiness in my practice and in my daily life. I have studied qigong and yoga as well. Meditation brings me peace, joy, and a sense of loving community. I lead a weekly meditation and am part of a long-running KM group.

I personally have been well-served by the dharma practices as I have navigated my chronic illness, and would be happy to share what I have learned. I have one child, and have also learned what the benefits the dharma brings to parenthood.

Deepening interest in bodywork, mindfulness through cooking, baking, dharma: 50+ years; Shaolin Kung Fu, Iyengar Yoga: 17 years; Vipassana & Metta: 4 years; Retreats: 20+ shorter retreats; Year of Living Mindfully 2009-10; seven day: IMCW Spring, New Year; Spirit Rock Emptiness Study Retreat; careers: Diversity, Technology, Science and Art Teaching, Painting. I have one child.

Affinity: 12-Step recovery

I have been meditating for a number of years and am currently teaching meditation/mindfulness in jails and elsewhere. I have participated in weeklong silent meditation retreats and the Year of Living Mindfully, a year-long group program of strong meditation and mindfulness living. Helping others in their practices is something I feel grateful to be able to try to do. I am a retired attorney and civil and family law mediator.

I began meditating in 1984, nearly daily since 2004. I’ve studied with Anh-Houng, Deepak Chopra, David Nowe, Tara Brach, and Jonathan Foust, when I participated in the Year of Living Mindfully

I practice insight meditation, use guided meditations and mantra meditation, and also dynamic meditation and chanting as a way to connect with the here and now. I’ve attended many weekend and week long silent retreats, dozens of workshops, and have also studied in India.

My practice has led to greater centeredness, peace, compassion (including self-compassion), and openness to the mystery of life and love. I have three adult children and many interests, including NVC (I host a practice group) yoga, dance, shadow work, the Enneagram, arts and culture, and spiritual and personal growth. Finally, I am a Reiki master.

The Dhamma sits at the core of my life, and I am very happy to share that with others. I’ve had a steady meditation practice for the last decade, and have spent a great deal of time studying and practicing the Dhamma. I have a wish for everyone to be happy, and feel that spreading the Dhamma to others (meaning, you!) is the best way for that to happen. Some areas that I might be especially helpful to you include:

– Starting and maintaining a meditation practice.

– Integrating the Dhamma into your daily life.

– Accessing kindness, towards yourself and others.

– How to deepen your practice after developing a daily meditation practice.

– Understanding Enlightenment, and why you might pursue that.

May we all fully Awaken!

Jamie is the founder and executive director of InStill Mindfulness. He began studying meditation techniques in the late ’90s, and has been practicing mindfulness since 2003. Since then, his interest in mindfulness has led him to teach mindfulness in many settings, including retreats, public schools, businesses, independent workshops, and music festivals. He has staffed retreats for iBme and InStill Mindfulness, and written a short eBook on mindfulness practice called The Unenlightened Buddha. His work history includes much work with disadvantaged youth, music promotion and management, journalism, teaching, and corporate customer service. Jamie holds a BA in Psychology from Murdoch University, is an IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teacher, a graduate of The School for the Work with Byron Katie, and has completed Level I Focusing training.

My spiritual journey began over 30 years ago with 12-step recovery for Adult Children and Codependents. I have practiced meditation including mantra and yogic philosophy. In 2008-2009 I participated in Jonathan Foust’s Year of Living Mindfully, followed by several IMCW silent retreats which led me to train as a mindfulness-based psychotherapist. I regularly participate in various mindfulness retreats, practices, and continuing education courses.

While I have been on sabbatical from my therapy practice over the last 8 years, six new grandchildren offer ample opportunity for mindful practice.

I am honored to partner with others on this path and committed to discovering beauty amidst the mud of life.

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 think that each of us needs to find a way of practice that works for us—a journey that can often be quite personal and idiosyncratic.

I’m available by phone or Zoom. Currently, because of time constraints, I’m only available for practice consultations and occasional follow-up consultations, not for weekly or monthly sessions.

I’m blessed to feel happy and content. I attribute these treasured accomplishments to over 20 years in engaged 12-step recovery and approximately 15 years of Vipassana practice and exposure to Buddhist teachings, primarily from Tara Brach. I’ve attended multiple retreats at the Forest Refuge since 2015. These retreats, and those preceding them, have been an unexpected vehicle for both spiritual growth and emotional healing.

If you want what I have, then I can show you how to do what I do. I’ve sponsored numerous men in recovery. My particulars are that I’m 67, a father and grandfather, and am now retired from a career in government service.

Affinity: 12-Step recovery

David is currently a mentor for Cloud Sangha under Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield since 2021 and also is a visiting teacher for Insight LA where he co-facilitates retreats as well as leads Insight LA’s BIPOC group. David completed the two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Course under Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach graduation class of 2021. He is certified under Thutpen Jinpa’s Compassion Training Course at Vanderbilt led by William Thiele, Ph.D.

David is a devoted husband and father and musician. He is also a Martial arts practitioner and a “Laoshi ” (teacher in Chinese ) of Chen Taiji and Qigong (Mindful movement ) work. He currently teaches Mindful Movement and meditation for One Dharma Nashville. Here he co-founded One Dharma’s first BIPOC group since 2018. David has been teaching Qigong and mindful movement for the past 13 years as well as practicing Vispasana Meditation for 12 years. He has also had Somatic Integration training under Pawan Bareja in 2021, and teaches this as well.

Affinities: Afro, Cuban, Asian descent