When: April 2025 to January 2026 (more details below)
Where: Zoom / virtual
Cost: Gift Economy / see below
Registration: Apply here
Brief Summary
Come together in a teacher-led small group for a 10-month deep dive into the most essential teaching in Buddhism: The Noble Eightfold Path.
While you will learn the core philosophies of the Buddhist Path, the emphasis of this year will be on (1) community learning and (2) putting the teachings into practice in our daily life.
The core of the program will be twice-a-month 1hr group sessions on Zoom. We’ll use as our primary practice manual, Gil Fronsdal’s book, “Steps to Liberation,” which offers a short reading on each “Fold” of the Eightfold Path, along with weekly practice exercises. Here is a sample.
The first meeting each month will introduce the month’s practice material, along with a short meditation and lots of discussion time. The second monthly meeting will mostly be a check-in and guided discussion on how practicing with that “fold” of the Eightfold Path has been coming along.
There will also be an option to meet with another group member 1-on-1 each month, in order to more deeply integrate the material.
In a nutshell, this offering is designed for people who already understand some of the basics of the Buddhist/meditative path and want to “go deeper,” particularly through weaving the dharma more fully into their everyday life & doing so with the support of consistent community.
Inclusions
- Twice-a-month 1 hr group Zoom meetings — between 6 and 8 people per group.
- Optional monthly one-on-one 30-minute discussion with another participant.
- A private online Discord / group forum.
- The support, accountability, structure, and continuity to allow for real depth.
Commitments
- Meditate at least 20 minutes per day, at least 5 times per week for the entirety of the program
- Make attending the twice-a-month meetings a real priority in your life. As sometimes life happens, it’s fine to miss some sessions here and there, but just make a genuine effort to show up.
- Create the time, space, and energy to put more into the program than just attending the formal meetings. More specifically, factor in about 5-10 minutes of weekly reading, 1 hour of weekly journaling/focused-reflection, and an earnest effort to weave the practice exercises into your daily life. Here is a homework sample.
- Able/willing to access the Discord forum (link to be shared). I will post the weekly homework and updates through here, as opposed to email.
Eligibility
- Completed a minimum of one year of at least semi-regular meditation practice or have attended a silent meditation retreat of at least six nights
- Attended a minimum of 3 things I’ve taught. You could have come to morning meditation three times, or, say, one daylong, one course, and one workshop. Anyone who has previously done the mentorship program also qualifies.
- The ability to meet for 1hr on Zoom on a weekday, once a month, between 3pm and 6pm Pacific Time.
Time/Date
- The program will happen the 2nd & 4th week of each month, between 3 and 6pm Pacific Time on a weekday. As people submit applications, I will try to find the time that works best for the most people — it will be the same each week.
- Note: we will meet the third week of December instead of the fourth.
Cost
This program is being offered on the Gift Economy (aka 100% on donation). I do not think of this as meaning “free” or “low value,” but is rather proposing a system of radical inclusiveness, accessibility, open-heartedness, and mutual support.
Of course, this gift economy system is nothing new — it’s been the lifeblood of the Buddhist tradition for over 2,600 years!
Before applying, I ask that you read over this article I wrote on the Gift Economy, and reflect deeply on the basic question of, can I think less in terms of “how much can I have?” and more in terms of “how does my wise heart move me to give?”‘
How to Apply
Please fill out this form. I will initially review applications on Jan 27th and hopefully notify people later that week. Then I will be on retreat all of February, and if space is still available in March, will review applications as they come in.
If you have any questions or would like more information, you can email me, or I’m also happy to hop on a short call to discuss if it’s the right fit for you!
Testimonials
Below are a handful of testimonials from the mentorship program I lead, which mixes 1-on-1 meetings with the small group sessions that will be central to this program..
Past Participants from the five-month Mentorship Program:
“David is a jewel of a spiritual teacher: Calm, genuine, patient, knowledgeable, and open-hearted.”
“David is an experienced, dedicated and caring teacher. He is flexible, down to earth and poses great questions to guide the way!”
“David’s mentorship program was a game-changer for me, because it gave me the opportunity and encouragement to go deeper in my meditation and mindfulness journey for a longer period of time.”
“The mentorship program was super helpful! The 1-on-1’s and the group sessions were inspiring and helped develop my personal practice. David’s thoughtful and pragmatic reflections were gems!”
“David’s own depth of practice and years-long commitment to the Dharma creates an invaluable support for anyone on the path. In addition to his wisdom, David is very warm, compassionate, approachable, and a generous listener and good communicator.”
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From students who have been working with me over the last few years:
“David has really been so helpful to me and has guided me the past year within my practice. His ability to listen and his softness and caring attitude make him an ideal teacher.”
“Through David’s coaching I have been able to unwrap issues that I’ve long had through the practice of meditation. Totally life changing.”
“Having David as a mentor has changed my practice quite dramatically. He is an excellent and compassionate listener. His suggestions are quite precise and helpful.”
“David is a superb mentor, always listening deeply and offering insight.”
“David has been an insightful and practical mentor, which is a great combination. He has good suggestions on resources — books, types of guided meditation, retreats. I really appreciate his taking the time to provide that kind of backup.”
“David is kind and sensitive and also knows how to laugh and relate to what I share with him. He has been very supportive in my mindfulness practice and I truly use the resources he sends me after every session. He has added to my practice significantly!”