I have been a dedicated student/practitioner of Nikaya Buddhism since 1996, studying and practicing primarily at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (BCBS) and the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, MA. During these years, I have had the good fortune to have studied with widely respected teachers such as Pali language scholar and former Executive Director of BCBS, Andrew Olendzki; Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia, BCBS resident meditation teacher; Gaia House guiding teachers, John Peacock and co-founder Christina Feldman; abbot of the Metta Forest Monastery, Thanissaro Bhikkhu; and founders and guiding teachers of Dharmagiri, a South African hermitage, Thanissara and Kitassaro. I am founder and Dhamma leader of the Insight Community of Southern Maine and bring to ICSM what I have learned from these and other wise teachers (as I understand their instruction thus far) and what I have learned from my ongoing independent studies, meditation practices and life experiences. As a psychotherapist, I incorporate Buddhist psychological theory and mindfulness-based strategies into my psychotherapy practice. I offer related workshops and programs to health care and mental health care professionals through Mind Meets Body Institute, LLC, a continuing education organization I co-founded in 2013 with colleague, Douglas Smith. As a human rights advocate, I am informed by the core teachings of the Buddha which emphasize wise understanding, ethical living and compassionate being-in-the-world as means to the ending of suffering. I view social action through human rights advocacy as an integral part of my spiritual practice. My particular focus has been on promoting full human rights for all people in Israel and Palestine. This is my 3rd trip to the region.