Tempel Smith
With a desire to fully awaken I have spent many years living in the wilderness, urban areas, monasteries and retreat centers. Along the way I have deeply understood the patterns in my mind, heart and body that lead to well being and those that lead to my own suffering. From formal trainings and education combined with person experience I have begun to guide people into their own awakening.
The foundation of this guidance comes through the Burmese and Thai Theravadin tradition as practiced in Asia and here in North America. My interests include the authentic and skillful translation of classical Buddhist teachings and practices into our modern American culture. To help with this translation I have drawn upon my background as a research scientist, a social service provider, and trainings in trauma healing and recovery.
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Tempel Smith began practicing vipassana and metta meditation in 1989 within the Theravada Buddhist tradition at Insight Meditation Society (IMS). Tempel focused his younger years on service and activism within nuclear disarmament, environmental protection, and working in crisis shelters for homeless and abused youth. In 1997 he spent a year in Myanmar (Burma) as an ordained monk with both Ven. Sayadaw U Pandita and Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, and later practiced in silence for a nine month retreat back at the IMS.
Since 2001 Tempel has begun to teach meditation and Buddhist psychology to a wide variety of people including prisoners, activists, youth, service providers, and those with severe and chronic illnesses. He founded the B.A.S.E. House in San Francisco - a residential community dedicated to living a socially engaged Buddhist life. Tempel spent a year in volunteer service for Zen Hospice, and in 2003 he initiated an international meditation retreat and program for teenagers and young adults which became iBme (Inward Bound Mindfulness Education). Tempel worked for the Buddhist Peace Fellowship in Berkeley coordinating the B.A.S.E. and Young Adults programs, and also has lead pilgrimages in Thailand, Burma, and India for the past ten years.
In 2008 Tempel joined a four year teacher training program run by Jack Kornfield, Spirit Rock Meditation Center (SRMC) and IMS, and leads the 2-year Dedicated Practitioner Program. The Dharma Tempel teaches is informed by western sciences and psychology, Theravada Buddhism, and somatic based trauma healing.