Who am I?

That's one of the most profound questions we can ask on the spiritual path. On the deepest level, it seems, we are all One. On the surface, we differ somewhat but share what is most important- we all want to be happy. 

I bring together my years of dedicated meditation practice, a keen interest in Buddhism, and a deep study of Ram Dass's teachings. Add to this a passion for creative expression as spiritual practice.

As a certified meditation teacher and author of the upcoming book "Living the Teachings of Ram Dass,"  I share a unique integration of:

• Classical spiritual wisdom made accessible for modern life
• Practical mindfulness techniques for stress, relationships, and daily challenges
• Creative practices that unlock both artistic flow and spiritual insight
• Community support for sustained practice and growth

Here's my story....

I was born in Brooklyn, NY, into a loving family that valued kindness and humanistic ideals, including the arts. Although spirituality wasn't a big interest in our circle, I had some early experiences that gave me the sense there might be something bigger out there than what I could see with my eyes. But because that sense wasn't really supported in my environment, I gravitated towards music, which also gave me a sense of the oceanic, of a field of existence that went way beyond the sense of being landlocked in a limited, separate body. As a young kid playing my cello in the orchestra, I was overwhelmed by the feeling of being surrounded by so much beautiful sound. At 11 years old, I knew that music would always be my everything. But the universe had other plans: there would be so much more than just music.

Encountering big difficulties as a young guy entering the adult world made me reach back towards that ineffable something I had sensed as a kid- that thing out there that was bigger than me, bigger than all of us. I was blessed to have an older friend who saw me struggle and, as a solution, introduced me to meditation. She played a key role in the direction my life would take. 

While I pursued my career in music, having wonderful experiences in the ordinary world (see below), I began my pursuit of the unordinary. I tried to find what lay beyond the visible world by reading esoteric books and attending workshops. I learned from many teachers and tried many paths. Finally, I faced a difficult moment when everything seemed to be falling apart. It was at that critical juncture that Ram Dass entered my life.  

Enter Ram Dass

Beginning with a 'Heart to Heart' phone call and continuing with a series of personal retreats, Ram Dass became the central teacher in my life, my mentor, and the one person I can say had the greatest impact in my life. RD opened me up to the hidden dimension within, the space of loving awareness that is the essence of who we all are. Almost more importantly, he connected me to my heart, which had been walled off from me since many years. To say that he played an important role is an understatement. My life would not be what it is without him in it. 

When I was at RD's Maui home on retreat, Krishna Das, the incredible, world renowned chant artist, came for a visit, and we jammed. That small kirtan in the living room was the beginning of the next chapter of my life, playing in KD's band and with other amazing artists like Nina Rao, whose album Anubhav I was blessed to produce, and Tibetan singing nun Ani Choying Drolma.

All along the way I have had wonderful playing opportunities in the 'ordinary' world, like being heard on the Grammy winning work of Brad Mehldau, on tv and film scores like A Walk in The Woods with Robert Redford, and being featured on a Billboard #1 album by Jeremiah Fraites of the Lumineers. Parallel to my cello life, I've pursued songwriting, received international airplay and hit the Americana charts. My whole life, I have thought about the creative process and for many years, how we can infuse it with our spiritual being. 

Since Ram Dass left the body, my journey continues. I realized that to carry his teachings forward in an authentic, embodied way, I would need not only to continue my search and practice, but also train as a teacher. I became certified as a teacher of mindfulness meditation through Dharma Moon and Tibet House U.S. and went on to do additional training in one-on-one mentoring. These trainings prepared me to work with groups and individuals, two approaches that I love equally. 

Today, I continue to deepen my own learning with incredible teacher and author Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Under his tutelage, I am deeply engrossed in the study of Buddhist philosophy and the practices of Tibetan Buddhism. This combination of study and practice has proven very helpful in really understanding the teachings, not only of the Buddha, but of Ram Dass as well. 

Today it is my sincere wish to help you experience the loving awareness within yourself, that you already are, and to sustain that experience through all you do. Whether using the framework of the Buddhist dharma or that of Ram Dass and his Bhakti world, I am dedicated to helping you move through life's many challenges, find the vision of your highest truth, and live with more joy and peace.