We are honored by Teachers who represent lineages of Soto Zen, Korean Seon, Vajrayana, Vipassana, Theravada, and Dzogchen. They express the Dharma in modern, accessible ways, grounded in the traditional teachings and cultivated through their long experience as meditators and Dharma practitioners. Motivated by a desire to alleviate suffering, and seeking to illuminate the ethics of kindness, compassion, and skillful wisdom, our Teachers offer instruction in both concentration and insight approaches to meditation practice. This thoughtful eclecticism allows those who attend our classes to encounter the teachings of the historic Buddha through a variety of pathways.
Cultivating Growth
We actively support our Teachers’ growth by providing training opportunities, a voice on the Teachers Council, and skillful mentorship overseen by our Guiding Teacher, Jokai Blackwell Roshi. This continuing cultivation is clearly manifest in a welcoming heart and a profound generosity of spirit: our Teachers are accessible, approachable, and always happy to answer questions and offer appropriate counsel. We hope that they may long continue to provide benefit to you, the Sangha, the wider community, and all beings.
Jokai Blackwell Roshi
Moved to bring the heart of realization into the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Long Beach Meditation's Guiding Teacher, Jokai Roshi emphasizes the direct experience of awakening using contemporary language and time-honored methods.
Tim Colohan JDPSN
Tim is a Senior Dharma Teacher of the Kwan Um School of Zen. He started training in Los Angeles in 1985 and has traveled to Korea for many silent retreats. Tim is Long Beach Meditation's longest serving teacher, sharing the dharma since 2005. He currently teaches at various locations around California.
Franz Manfredi
Amazed and inspired by the incredible depth and diversity in every tradition of Buddhism, Franz endeavors to share the harmony he sees between them all. Rooted in his ongoing studies of the Suttas, Mahayana, and Dzogchen, Franz’s passion to share the teachings of the Buddha springs from the revolution they have created in his own life.
Rosamaría Segura
Rosamaría is passionate about sharing mindfulness practices in communities with limited exposure to meditation and wellness modalities. She teaches in both Spanish and English in non-profit organizations, public schools, and for people dedicated to socio-economic and environmental justice in the Los Angeles area and Mexico.
Jampa Kalsang
Jampa has been studying and practicing Dharma since 1994. Taking refuge in 2005 he began formal training in the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Following the advice and example of his teachers, he balances his style of teaching with the focus on view, meditation, and conduct. He maintains this balance in his everyday life with his wife, family, and work.
Brad Gibson
Brad has been studying Vipassana meditation since 1980, and studied many years in the Tibetan Mahamudra tradition. He is a retired school teacher and spends his time pursuing Buddhist studies, community gardening, and dedicated service to his family and neighbors.
Robert Lurye
Robert loves teaching the ancient wisdom and modern science of mindfulness with playful and compassionate curiosity. He is an artist, educator, and a dedicated meditation and yoga practitioner.
Guest Teachers
We are pleased to periodically host guest teachers and visiting former Long Beach Meditation teachers. In doing so we endeavor to provide an expansive perspective and understanding of meditation. Get to know some of our recent and upcoming guests.
Wendy Block
Wendy N. Block began practicing meditation at age 18, studying different traditions, including Buddhist, Hindu, and Advaita paths. She has been practicing Vipassana meditation for 20 years, and has helped teach and organize meditation programs in Long Beach for Long Beach Meditation and Insight LA. She is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the practice of meditation in small community settings and health organizations.
She has trained with cognitive psychologist Zindel Segal to teach Mindfulness- Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and facilitated mindfulness programs at Kaiser Permanente for adults and teens for many years.
Wendy teaches MBCT, Mindful Self Compassion, MICBT, (Mindfulness-integrated CBT) and Buddha’s Path classes. She completed the Dedicated Practitioner’s Program at InsightLA and Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and recently the MICBT program from UC San Diego. Her teachers are Trudy Goodman, Beth Sternlieb and Victor Bryd. She was authorized to teach Theravada Buddhism by Trudy Goodman and Sharon Salzburg.
She is a long-term student of the Diamond Approach.
She currently works as a therapist, integrating mindfulness and Buddhist psychology with psychotherapy.
Ann Pepper
Reading Huston Smith’s book, “The Religions of Man,” while in school first made Ann Pepper aware of Buddhism, Taoism and Zen. She began actively practicing Zen 23 years ago while working as a newspaper journalist covering ethics, religion and beliefs.
Over the years since, she came to see that Zen and life are one and the same. That recognition forms the heart of her practice and her teaching style. In 2015, she received authority to teach from Zen Master Ji Bong, an early student of the prolific Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn.
Currently, she serves as Ji Do Poep Sa Nim, or Dharma Master, for the Golden Wind Zen Community in Seal Beach.
Make a Difference
Support Our Teachers
Your donation supports our teachers and Sangha. You can also lend a hand by helping to set up and break down our weekly classes and special events. Doing so is of great help and service to the teachers, members and community.
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Meeting ID: 901 456 6014
Password: 042020
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