These mindfulness experts and Buddhism scholars can help you cover modern forms of meditation.

Manuel Lopez Zafra is an assistant professor of religion at the New College of Florida in Sarasota. He is an expert on Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism, and Hinduism. He also has a popular blog that explores his other interest – religion in popular culture, especially in television and films.

Nancy Sylvester is founder and president of the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue, a Catholic nonprofit in Detroit, Mich. that seeks to “educate, resource and organize people of faith to reflect, analyze and act on the critical issues of church and society.” She is a sister with the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and […]

Jonathan Montaldo is one of the foremost Thomas Merton scholars and interpreters of  his writings. Montaldo has served as associate director of the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living, director of a retreat center near Merton’s Abbey of Gethsemani and director of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. Montaldo is also editor of the 10-volume Bridges to Contemplative […]

Clifford Saron is a research scientist at the University of California, Davis’ Center for Mind and Brain. He studies the effects of long-term meditation on the brain.

Lobsang Tenzin Negi is the founder and director of Drepung Loseling Monastery in  Atlanta. He directs the Emory-Tibet Partnership, which focuses on Buddhist meditation and science. He is an expert on Tibetan Buddhism and meditation.

Pamela Ayo Yetunde is a pastoral counselor in Atlanta and a graduate of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Community Dharma Leader Program, as well as a Buddhist chaplain. She is the author of Vigil: Spiritual Reflections on Your Money and Sanity. She is an expert on Buddhist meditation.

James Baraz leads the Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley and is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center where, in addition to leading retreats, he coordinates the Community Dharma Leader program. He created and teaches the Awakening Joy course, is on the international advisory board of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and leads meditation retreats […]

Jan Willis is a professor emerita of religion at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. She is one of the earliest American scholar-practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. Time named her one of six “spiritual innovators for the new millennium,” while Ebony called her one of its “Power 150” most influential African Americans. Some of her books include The […]