MENTORS AND TEACHERS Jim Bedard Jim Bedard has been practicing Buddhist meditation for 25 years. He became a student of Roshi Kapleau in the early 80's and a disciple of Sensei Sunyana Graef in 1996. Jim has also practiced for several years in the Theravada tradition. He sits with a group in Peterborough where he gives dharma talks and offers private instruction. Adele Brown MSW RSW Adele Brown is a Registered Social Worker and has a private practice in Toronto and the Owen Sound area. Along with her general practice, she also specializes in Grief and Bereavement Counselling. Adele takes a holistic approach and understands that the spiritual component is not separated from life’s crisis and difficulties. Adele is sensitive to different faith systems including Buddhist philosophy and psychology, Christianity and Earth-centered spirituality. She believes that every individual is innately connected to their source of healing but through life’s conditioning and experiences that connection is veiled. Her practice reflects and honours the conviction that through support and guidance we can move toward the realization of our true nature. Adele uses a variety of modalities to facilitate healing. Lama Sonam Gyatso Lama Sonam Gyatso received the higher ordination as Karma Konchog Sonam Gelong, from H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa at the Dharmachakra Monastery in Rumtek, Sikkim, in 1972. Sonam then lived the life of a Buddhist monk for ten years. Returning to Canada in 1982, he received the lama couple ordination from the Ven. Kalu Rinpoche, the Ven. Sayadow U Thila Wunta and the Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche. During twenty years of constant travel and meditation retreat work with Namgyal Rinpoche, he met and studied with H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa, H.H. Sakya Trizen, the Ven. Kalu Rinpoche and other high lamas, receiving all the major Empowerments of the Tibetan lineages. He also translated numerous Sadhanas and Wongkur texts into English. In 1998, after further retreat work, Sonam Gyatso was authorized by Namgyal Rinpoche to transmit the Vajrayana Empowerments and has since visited several centers to give WongKur and teachings. Charlene Jones MA M.Ed Charlene D. Jones received dreams as a small child which gave her the key to staying alive during a life and death situation in her teens. She met her root guru Karma Tensing Dorje Namgyal Rimpoche at 18 who understood the power of dreams as meditation and a path to liberation. She travelled to India with her guru and during that time was initiated by His Holiness Chogyam Rimpoche, His Holiness Sakya Trinsen and also met with the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. Charlene was the first woman Chairperson of the Dharma Center of Canada and in this capacity, hosted His Holiness the Karmapa on his visit to Canada in 1977. She travelled and studied for several years before entering university and completing two masters degrees. In 1998, Charlene completed a yearlong retreat on dreams and bodywork. and uses these vehicles, along with meditation, to assist others in experiencing their True Nature. She is co-author of two books of poetry, has twelve years experience of performance poetry, and is most proud of being the mother of a wonderful son. Ajahn Kusalo Ajahn Kusalo, originally from New Zealand, spent much of his lay life in the building industry. In 1990 he moved to the monastery in Wellington, New Zealand and ordained as a monk in 1992. After five years, he moved to the Amaravati Monastery in England. There, in addition to his monastic duties, he was involved in family and youth activities and developed a range of educational resources. He currently resides in Ontario. Musa Muhaiyaddeen (Emanuel Levin) Musa Muhaiyaddeen (Emanuel Levin) is a direct disciple of the Sufi Master, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, one of the most revered Sufi teachers in the 20th century. . He has travelled to many parts of the world lecturing on the wisdom and meaning within the Sufi teachings. Musa Muhaiyaddeen is president of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship in Philadelphia. Philip Starkman MSW Philip Starkman MSW is a Psychotherapist and Lifestyle Counsellor.. He has been practicing meditation for over 40 years and is the teacher of Spring Rain Sangha in Toronto. As a young man, Philip’s search for answers led him to teachers and teachings in many different countries. He had his first profound 'mystical' experience in Jerusalem but it was Hindu meditation traditions that gave him a focus and discipline that formed the foundation for future practices and led him to seek out authentic teachers in India. Spending four years there, he was introduced to Buddhist Vajrayana by Geshe Ngawang Dhagyey whom the Dalai Lama had appointed in the 1970's to teach Westerners. Later, there was a retreat with Goenkaji and teachings in Bodh Gaya with the Dalai Lama. It was in 1982 however, while in retreat in Burma at the Mahasi Sayadaw Centre, that Philip really dove into the BuddhaDharma. The renown Vipassana teacher U Pandita was the head teacher under Mahasi Sayadaw. The profundity of the Abhidharma teachings hooked him. His training as a psychotherapist immediately found resonance in this expanded understanding of the psyche. A brief stay in a forest monastery in Thailand was followed by another big practice dive. This time into the midst of Japanese Zen under Tangen Roshi in Obama Japan. The years in Japan were followed by more Vipassana, as well as Vajrayana practice in North America and India. (www.springrainsangha.com) Rev. Wayne Walder Rev. Wayne Walder is the minister of the neighbourhood Unitarian Congregation, a multifaith community in Toronto. He has had the opportunity to live in Christian, Sufi & Buddhist communities. Please note that due to the quantity of emails received, response time will vary. The lectures and opinions of our presenters are not necessarily representative of those of Snow Lion.