AudioDharma Speakers
| Tilda Zheng | Dr. Tilda Zheng is a Buddhist chaplain and tea master operating at the intersection of Eastern wisdom and Western care systems. As the Executive Director of the International Buddhist Chaplaincy Foundation and Head Facilitator for the Center of Lay Chaplaincy, she designs curricula across the U.S. and China. A former Buddhist chaplaincy professor at University of the West, Tilda is known for field-testing the tea ceremony in unpredictable,... | |
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Tom Harshman | Tom Harshman has served in a variety of spiritual care roles in hospital, hospice, higher education, specialized ambulatory (substance use, HIV, cancer), and congregational settings. Ordained as a Christian minister, board certified as a chaplain, and certified as an ACPE clinical educator, Tom’s most recent work was as the national spiritual care executive for CommonSpirit Health. Currently living in southern California, Tom provides... |
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Tony Bernhard | TONY BERNHARD is a Buddhist chaplain and teacher. He hosts study groups in Davis and has been teaching regularly for dharma groups around the bay area and central valley for over 25 years. Until the pandemic, he worked as a mental health counselor and chaplain for inmates at Folsom Prison and spent over 20 years with the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies coordinating continuing education programs for graduates of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma... |
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Trent Thornley | The Rev. Trent J. Thornley is the Executive Director and Director of Clinical Pastoral Education at the San Francisco Night Ministry. He is an ordained Buddhist Dharma Leader in the Nyingma lineage of Anam Thubten and Dharmata Sangha. He holds a M.A. in Buddhist Studies from the Graduation Theological Union and a Certificate in Buddhist Chaplaincy from the Institute of Buddhist Studies. Trent is also an ordained minister in the Metropolitan... |
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Vanessa Able | Koji Vanessa Able is a Soto Zen priest and practice facilitator. She is the leader of the online Introduction to Buddhist Chaplaincy Program at the Sati Center. Vanessa completed her Chaplaincy training at Stanford Healthcare, where she continues to serve as a member of the hospital’s Professional Advisory Group. Vanessa has also served in hospice and jail and is an active member of the European Buddhist Union Chaplaincy Network. She lives... |
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Vanessa Sasson | Vanessa R. Sasson, professor of Religious Studies at Marianopolis College, is a scholar of early Buddhist narrative. She is author of several works, including Yasodhara and the Buddha and more recently The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women, which tells the story of these first women, and highlights their courage and resilience as they journeyed towards the Buddha and asked for what was not at first easily given. |
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Walt Opie | Walt Opie was introduced to the dharma in 1993 and began attending regular insight meditation retreats in 2005, which he says greatly reduced his suffering. He is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders program and the Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program. Walt has led sitting groups for people in recovery since 2011. He has served as a volunteer Buddhist teacher with Buddhist Pathways Prison Project for over four... |
| Xi He | ||
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Ying Chen, 陈颖 | Ying Chen is a first generation Chinese immigrant. She took refuge to become a buddhist with Venerable Ji Ru in 1995 and was exposed to Chinese Mahayana Buddhism first. She has been practicing in Insight Meditation Center since 2005, and Dharma Ground since 2020. She currently facilitates the Insight Meditation Center support group for people living with health challenges and co-leads Asian Dharma Circle. As a wife, mother, and a lay... |