Ajahn Candasiri is one of the most senior Theravada Buddhist nuns in England. She was one of the first four women to be ordained as an Anagarika, in 1979. She took the ten precepts as a Siladhara in 1983. Since that time she has lived in community, either at Cittaviveka or Amaravati Buddhist monasteries, where she helped to establish the nuns' community and training. She also teaches meditation retreats elsewhere in the UK and abroad. She takes a special interest in Christian-Buddhist understanding.
Bhante Bodhidhamma started training in Soto Zen in 1977, then in the Mahasi Theravada Tradition with Sayadaws U Rewata Dhamma, U Janaka and U Pandita. In 1986 he ordained, subsequently spending eight years at Kanduboda Mahasi Meditation Centre in Sri Lanka. He has been teaching in England, Ireland and internationally since 1998. From 2001- 2005, he was the Resident Teacher at Gaia House. He founded Satipanya Buddhist Retreat in Wales, a meditation centre devoted to the Mahasi tradition. For more information about Bodhidhamma and Satipanya Buddhist Retreat, please visit www.satipanya.org.uk.
Christopher Titmuss is a former Buddhist monk, who has been teaching Awakening and Insight Meditation around the world since the 1970s. He is the founder and director of the Dharma Facilitators Programme and the Living Dharma programme. He gives retreats, participates in pilgrimages (yatras) and leads Dharma gatherings. He was the co-founder of Gaia House retreat centre in Devon and is the author of numerous books including Light on Enlightenment, An Awakened Life and Transforming Our Terror. He is also a campaigner for peace and other global issues. He lives in Totnes, Devon.
Gongkar Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoche is the present throne holder of Dzongpa, a branch of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Sakya Trizin recognized Rinpoche as the true reincarnation of the Dzongpa throne holder, Dorje Dhenpa Thunmi Kunga Namgyal. For information about Rinpoche, please visit www.vkm.org.uk.
Ken is a founder member of the Network of Engaged Buddhists and its current president. He has a background in radical politics and Zen Buddhism. He has been an influential teacher and writer over many years within socially engaged Buddhism. One of his most important books, The New Social Face of Buddhism, addresses the question of Buddhist social theory. Recently, Ken has been teaching retreats on emotional awareness and is breaking new ground on the theme of Buddhist insights into intimate relationships. He is a guest teacher with the Western Chan Fellowship and at Gaia House in Devon. He uses creative experiential methods to blend with his Dharma teaching. He is also an authoritative interpreter of Dogen and a talented Haiku/Haibun poet. He lives in Wales.
Lama Ahbay Tulku Jigme Thupten Tendar Rinpoche was born in Darjeeling, India in 1973. When he was nine years old he was fully initiated into monkhood. In 1986, aged 12, he was recognized as an reincarnation of the hermit Lama Lobsang Tenzin by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. One year later he was enthroned as Tulku in Gaden Jangtse Monastery. At the age of 17, he was admitted to the congregational debate on the first chapter of Abhisamaya (Perfection of Wisdom), and six years later, to the congregational debate on Madhyamika (Middle Way). He currently offers teachings in India, Europe and the USA.
Leigh Brasington has been practising meditation since 1985 and is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khema, who confirmed his practice and requested that he begin teaching. Leigh assisted Ven. Ayya Khema starting in 1994, and has been leading retreats on his own since 1997 in both Europe and North America.
Martin Aylward began practising Dharma at the age of 19, spending several years in Asian Buddhist monasteries and with Himalayan hermits. He is co-founder and resident teacher of Moulin de Chaves Meditation Centre in South West France. He has been teaching internationally since 1999.
Rob Burbea has been practising and studying Buddhist meditation and Dharma since 1985 with a variety of teachers in England and in the USA. He has been teaching since 2004 and is currently Resident Teacher of Gaia House and a guiding teacher. He is a co-founder of Sanghaseva, an organisation dedicated to exploring the Dharma through service work internationally.
Rob Preece is a contemplative psychotherapist and a practicing Buddhist since 1973. He has spent many years in retreat in the Himalayas. Since 1985 he has been leading meditation retreats following the instruction and guidance of his teachers. He has taught at Sharpham Buddhist College in Devon, and was a trainer at the Transpersonal Centre in London. His work explores a bridge between Transpersonal Psychology and Buddhism and he has a particular interest in spiritual pathology. He leads meditation retreats and workshops comparing Jungian and Buddhist psychology. His books include The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra and The Wisdom of Imperfection. He is also an experienced Tangkha painter.
Venerable Kassapo (also known as Ngawang Khyenste la) is an English-born monk, who has received extensive training in all three traditions of the Dharma. He has been meditating since he was 11 years old. He is one of the senior monks of Gongkar Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoche (the head of the Dzongpa lineage of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism). Kassapo’s root gurus are: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche and His Eminence Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoche. Kassapo has a deep understanding of the Buddha’s teachings and how to apply them practically in our modern world.
Yanai Postelnik has practised and studied Buddhist meditation and teachings for over 20 years and has been teaching internationally since 1992. He is much inspired by the Theravadin Thai Forest tradition and regularly leads courses in the natural world. He lives in Devon, England and is a Gaia House guiding teacher.