Chris has been studying and practising meditation for over thirty years. He has extensive training in a wide range of classical traditions, including Zen, Mahamudra, Dzogchen, Vipassana, and Vedanta, as well as more modern American traditions such as Mindfulness and Shambhala. He offers mindfulness and meditation from a secular voice, so as to bring these timeless wisdom teachings to people from all faiths and backgrounds. In addition, he is certified in advanced trauma-sensitive mindfulness, neuroplasticity, and non-violent communication, all of which deeply inform his offerings and teachings.
In 2016 he began travelling and teaching mindfulness and facilitating retreats worldwide at centres in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, the UK, USA, and Thailand. In 2018 he began leading mindfulness practices and hosting retreats at the New Life Foundation in Thailand, before joining the Portugal centre in 2022. In addition to his current role at New Life Portugal, he offers online programs for many organisations, including Wounded Warriors, an organisation which provides assistance to soldiers wounded in combat and struggling with PTSD. Chris also facilitated mindfulness and gave talks on Buddhism on Celebrity Cruise lines from 2009-2020. He has a professional level membership with the International Mindfulness Teachers Association.
Being a lifelong student has shown Chris that there is always more to learn. This keeps him humble and honoured when he takes the facilitator’s seat. He cherishes the opportunity to help people find their inner wisdom and is truly passionate about learning. His main objective in his work is to offer contemplative practices which help to alleviate human suffering in all of its forms.
Training and Qualifications:
300-hour Mindfulness Teacher Training Course with the Engaged Mindfulness Institute (2021-2022)
‘The Joy Of Living Course’ through Tergar Online under tutelage of Mingyur Rinpoche in the Tibetan Dzogchen Buddhist tradition (2020-2022)
7-day online meditation retreat on the ‘Eightfold Path of Buddhism’ facilitated by Stephen Batchelor (2022)
‘Mindfulness. A Secular Approach. An 8-week Online Study Retreat’ facilitated by Bodhi College and offered through Tricycle Online Learning (2022)
‘The Manual of Insight’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters (2022)
‘Mindfulness of Breathing’ 9-week online study retreat facilitated by Ven. Analayo and offered the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies (2022)
‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead’ 1-month online study retreat facilitated by Andrew Holecek and Embodied Philosophy Institute (2022)
‘Igniting the Heart: Weekend Compassion Retreat’ facilitated by Pema Chodron and Tim Holmstead (2022)
‘Emptiness. A Meditators Guide’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Guy Armstrong through Wisdom Learning (2022)
‘The Four Noble Truths. A Secular Approach’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Bodhi College (2022)
‘Compassion and Impermanence’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Martine Batchelor, offered through Tricycle Online Learning (2022)
‘Authentic Communication’ 6-week online study program facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer through the Barre Institute for Buddhist Studies (2022)
‘Say What You Mean’ Mindful Communication 12-Week Online Study Retreat offered by the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies and facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer (2021)
‘The Way of The Buddha’ year-long study at Insight Meditation Society Online with Sharon Salzburg (2021)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with UMASS Amherst Online (2021)
Buddhist Psychology course taught by Robert Wright, PhD, Princeton University Online (2021)
‘After Buddhism’ 12-Week Online Study Retreat facilitated by Stephen Batchelor (2021)
‘Meditation in the Abhidhamma’ 10-Week study retreat through Wisdom Academy and facilitated by the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi (2021)
‘A Five-Day Study Retreat: The Resilience Summit’ facilitated by Rick Hanson, PhD (2021)
‘Power of Awareness’ Mindfulness Teacher Training Program facilitated by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach (2021)
9-Week ‘Satipatthana Sutta’ online study retreat facilitated by the Venerable Bhikkhu Analayo and the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies (2021)
Cultural Somatics Training facilitated by Resmaa Menakem (2021)
‘Return To Wholeness. A Guide to Understanding and Integrating Trauma’ online study program facilitated by Gabor Mate, PhD (2021)
‘Compassionate Enquiry’ 3-month online study program facilitated by Gabor Mate, PhD (2021)
‘Trauma Healing’ online study course offered by Sounds True and facilitated by Peter Levine, PhD (2021)
‘Mindful Communication’ 6-Week online study retreat offered by the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies and facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer (2021)
Positive Neuroplasticity Professional Training Course facilitated by Rick Hanson, PhD (2021)
The ‘Science of Wellbeing’ psychology course facilitated by Laurie Santos, PhD, Yale Online University (2021)
‘Seven Factors of Awakening’ online study retreat, offered through Bodhi College and Tricycle Magazine and facilitated by Christina Feldman and Jaya Rudgard (2021)
6-Day Online Silent Retreat facilitated by Fleet Maull and the Engaged Mindfulness Institute (2021)
Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness certificate program facilitated by David Treleaven, PhD (2020)
Monastic residency at the Fire Lotus Zen Centre in Brooklyn, NY (2013)
Completed two 5-day silent retreats at the Insight Centre Redwood City California under Andrea Fella and Kamala Masters (2013)
Studied Tibetan Buddhism and meditation with senior teacher Ken McLeod of the Kagyu tradition (2006-2012)
Studied Vedanta Hinduism with Ananda Marga (2002-2005)
Formal training at the Fire Lotus Temple in Brooklyn, NY (2000-2006)
Formal training at the Cambridge Zen Centre, Cambridge, MA (1988-1992)
Links:
https://www.suchsweetthunder.org/
Chris has been studying and practising meditation for over thirty years. He has extensive training in a wide range of classical traditions, including Zen, Mahamudra, Dzogchen, Vipassana, and Vedanta, as well as more modern American traditions such as Mindfulness and Shambhala. He offers mindfulness and meditation from a secular voice, so as to bring these timeless wisdom teachings to people from all faiths and backgrounds. In addition, he is certified in advanced trauma-sensitive mindfulness, neuroplasticity, and non-violent communication, all of which deeply inform his offerings and teachings.
In 2016 he began travelling and teaching mindfulness and facilitating retreats worldwide at centres in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, the UK, USA, and Thailand. In 2018 he began leading mindfulness practices and hosting retreats at the New Life Foundation in Thailand, before joining the Portugal centre in 2022. In addition to his current role at New Life Portugal, he offers online programs for many organisations, including Wounded Warriors, an organisation which provides assistance to soldiers wounded in combat and struggling with PTSD. Chris also facilitated mindfulness and gave talks on Buddhism on Celebrity Cruise lines from 2009-2020. He has a professional level membership with the International Mindfulness Teachers Association.
Being a lifelong student has shown Chris that there is always more to learn. This keeps him humble and honoured when he takes the facilitator’s seat. He cherishes the opportunity to help people find their inner wisdom and is truly passionate about learning. His main objective in his work is to offer contemplative practices which help to alleviate human suffering in all of its forms.
Training and Qualifications:
300-hour Mindfulness Teacher Training Course with the Engaged Mindfulness Institute (2021-2022)
‘The Joy Of Living Course’ through Tergar Online under tutelage of Mingyur Rinpoche in the Tibetan Dzogchen Buddhist tradition (2020-2022)
7-day online meditation retreat on the ‘Eightfold Path of Buddhism’ facilitated by Stephen Batchelor (2022)
‘Mindfulness. A Secular Approach. An 8-week Online Study Retreat’ facilitated by Bodhi College and offered through Tricycle Online Learning (2022)
‘The Manual of Insight’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters (2022)
‘Mindfulness of Breathing’ 9-week online study retreat facilitated by Ven. Analayo and offered the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies (2022)
‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead’ 1-month online study retreat facilitated by Andrew Holecek and Embodied Philosophy Institute (2022)
‘Igniting the Heart: Weekend Compassion Retreat’ facilitated by Pema Chodron and Tim Holmstead (2022)
‘Emptiness. A Meditators Guide’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Guy Armstrong through Wisdom Learning (2022)
‘The Four Noble Truths. A Secular Approach’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Bodhi College (2022)
‘Compassion and Impermanence’ 8-week online study retreat facilitated by Martine Batchelor, offered through Tricycle Online Learning (2022)
‘Authentic Communication’ 6-week online study program facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer through the Barre Institute for Buddhist Studies (2022)
‘Say What You Mean’ Mindful Communication 12-Week Online Study Retreat offered by the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies and facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer (2021)
‘The Way of The Buddha’ year-long study at Insight Meditation Society Online with Sharon Salzburg (2021)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with UMASS Amherst Online (2021)
Buddhist Psychology course taught by Robert Wright, PhD, Princeton University Online (2021)
‘After Buddhism’ 12-Week Online Study Retreat facilitated by Stephen Batchelor (2021)
‘Meditation in the Abhidhamma’ 10-Week study retreat through Wisdom Academy and facilitated by the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi (2021)
‘A Five-Day Study Retreat: The Resilience Summit’ facilitated by Rick Hanson, PhD (2021)
‘Power of Awareness’ Mindfulness Teacher Training Program facilitated by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach (2021)
9-Week ‘Satipatthana Sutta’ online study retreat facilitated by the Venerable Bhikkhu Analayo and the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies (2021)
Cultural Somatics Training facilitated by Resmaa Menakem (2021)
‘Return To Wholeness. A Guide to Understanding and Integrating Trauma’ online study program facilitated by Gabor Mate, PhD (2021)
‘Compassionate Enquiry’ 3-month online study program facilitated by Gabor Mate, PhD (2021)
‘Trauma Healing’ online study course offered by Sounds True and facilitated by Peter Levine, PhD (2021)
‘Mindful Communication’ 6-Week online study retreat offered by the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies and facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer (2021)
Positive Neuroplasticity Professional Training Course facilitated by Rick Hanson, PhD (2021)
The ‘Science of Wellbeing’ psychology course facilitated by Laurie Santos, PhD, Yale Online University (2021)
‘Seven Factors of Awakening’ online study retreat, offered through Bodhi College and Tricycle Magazine and facilitated by Christina Feldman and Jaya Rudgard (2021)
6-Day Online Silent Retreat facilitated by Fleet Maull and the Engaged Mindfulness Institute (2021)
Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness certificate program facilitated by David Treleaven, PhD (2020)
Monastic residency at the Fire Lotus Zen Centre in Brooklyn, NY (2013)
Completed two 5-day silent retreats at the Insight Centre Redwood City California under Andrea Fella and Kamala Masters (2013)
Studied Tibetan Buddhism and meditation with senior teacher Ken McLeod of the Kagyu tradition (2006-2012)
Studied Vedanta Hinduism with Ananda Marga (2002-2005)
Formal training at the Fire Lotus Temple in Brooklyn, NY (2000-2006)
Formal training at the Cambridge Zen Centre, Cambridge, MA (1988-1992)
Links:
https://www.suchsweetthunder.org/
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*Pending availability and only for stays that start before 31 March. Not applicable to extensions or weekend retreats.
