Adyashanti biography examples

American spiritual author

Adyashanti (AHD-yə-SHAHN-tee; Sanskritआद्य शान्तिः meaning 'primordial peace'; born Stephen Gray on October 26, 1962) is an American former spiritual teacher and author from the San Francisco Bay Area who offered talks, online study courses, and retreats in the United States and abroad.

Adyashanti biography examples

He is the author of numerous books, CDs and DVDs and, together with his wife Mukti, is the founder of Open Gate Sangha, Inc., a nonprofit organization established in 1996 which supports and makes available his teachings.

Life

In his 20s, Gray studied Zen Buddhism under the guidance of Arvis Joen Justi for fourteen years.^[1] Justi was a student of Taizan MaezumiRoshi of the Zen Center of Los Angeles.

Gray also studied with Jakusho Kwong Roshi of the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. At age 25, Gray began experiencing a series of transformative spiritual awakenings. While sitting alone on his cushion, Gray describes how he had a classic kensho,