Meditation Courses | First Steps Teachers

Currently available to teach the First Steps course :

(English or Russian)

Courses offered on a Dana basis (sometimes described as for donations) are NOT free. Dana is a practice and exploration of generosity. Teachers generously offer their support for all sincere students, students support the availablity of teachers both monetarily (according to one's means) and by your own sincere and dedicated practice. Courses offered on a Dana basis may have small fees for facilities and require purchase of material goods, such as books and CDs.

Jason Adams

Experience: Zen meditation and training in the Northeast at various centers beginning in 1990. Engaged Buddhism since 2000, and Vipassana training with Mary Rees and at Spirit Rock Meditation Center since 2009. Many daylongs and longer retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and with Thich Nhat Hahn in the Boston area in 2001.

Biography:Jason has been practicing Zen, Engaged Buddhism, and most recently, Vipassana Meditation since 1990. He has been on several retreats, including a week with Thich Nhat Hahn and at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In daily life he is a trumpet player and and teacher. Jason lives in Houston with his partner, Kim, and has three lovely and excellent children.

Jason lives on the west side of Houston.

Hours: various (by arrangement)
Fee: Dana

Dmytro Ivakhnenko

Experience: Dmytro has been practicing Buddhist meditation since 1998, translated over a dozen books from English to Russian, and compiled the first concise Pali-Russian dictionary. He holds diplomas in Practical Psychology and Mathematical Methods of System Analysis, is a Certified Process Facilitator (Transformational Processing Institute, Los Angeles) and is versed in modern developments in practical psychology, e.g. Hakomi and Symbolic Modelling.

Biography: Born in the family of cybernetician and psychologist, Dmytro combines the systemic study of Pali texts with the knowledge of modern developments in Psychology. Having started in 1998 the first Russian-language Theravadin website, he supports Theravadin community under the umbrella of Buddhist Educational Fellowship.

Dmytro lives and works in Kyiv, Ukraine, and is also available via Skype.

Hours: 9.00 - 21.00 Eastern European Time.
Fee: Dana

Lawrence Ozenberger

Experience:

Larry has been exploring various meditation practices and forms of body work for most of his adult life. For eight years, he practiced in the Soto Zen tradition. After that, he devoted himself for a lengthy period to the practice of Aikido. He is currently serving as the Chief Instructor at an Aikido dojo in New Orleans. In 2007, Larry resumed his meditation practice in the Insight Meditation tradition. He has been a student of Mary Rees for several years and has been attending retreats with her and at the Insight Meditation Society and at Spirit Rock. Larry leads a weekly sitting group that meets at the Aikido dojo and is available to meet with people individually in person or via Skype.

Hours: by arrangement
Fee: Dana

Greg Van Meter

Greg VanMeter

Experience: I have trained in Insight Meditation with various teachers at Margaret Austin Center, Insight Meditation Society, and Spirit Rock Meditation Center since 1985. I'm also trained to present John Main's Christian meditation.

Biography: I've been going to retreats since 1985, and still find this practice interesting, valuable, and inspiring. I have an active work life at an engineer with an oil company, and have regular sitting practice on the bus commutes to downtown Houston. I also practice yoga, and integrate it with my insight meditation. I've completed two yoga teacher courses and am a certfied yoga teacher. On my free time, I like bicycling, spending time with my girlfriend, cooking, and reading.

Greg lives on the west side of Houston.

Hours: Weekends, Weekdays after 7 pm
Fee: Dana

Teachers, please update your listing here.

Available First Step Teachers