Hi, I’m Bodhipaksa, and I set up Wildmind in 2001 with the help of several friends who offered me their time and technical support when I was a grad student with no financial resources at all. I’m a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order, I’ve been a practicing Buddhist since 1982, and I’ve been teaching meditation since the late 1980’s.
I’m the author of Wildmind: A Step-by-Step Guide to Meditation, a book called Living as a River, which explores the Buddhist teaching of not-self though a traditional reflection on interconnectedness called the Six Element Practice, and Vegetarianism: A Buddhist View, which is a book on Buddhism and the practice of vegetarianism. Additionally, I’ve written I Can’t Believe It’s Not Buddha! (a book on fake Buddha quotes), This Difficult Thing of Being Human (on self compassion), and A Year of Buddha’s Wisdom (which is a collection of daily readings, reflections, and meditation suggestions). I’m also the author of ten audiobooks of guided meditations.
In Oct 2012 gave a TEDx talk on compassion.
I was given the name Bodhipakṣa when I joined the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1993 (although at that time it was called the “Western Buddhist Order”). “Bodhi” means enlightenment and “paksha” (there’s a dot under the “s” which gives it a “sh” sound) means “wings.” So my name means “Wings of Enlightenment.”
I was born and brought up in Scotland, although I now live in the US. For three years, I was the director of Dhanakosa retreat center, in the Highlands of Scotland, and after that I ran the Edinburgh Buddhist center. For three years, I taught Buddhist meditation in the Religious Studies department at the University of Montana, before moving to New Hampshire.
I love teaching meditation. It’s had a tremendously positive effect on my own life, and I’ve seen it have an equally large effect on the lives of my students. Over and over again, students have told me how learning to meditate has changed their lives.
For many years I’ve been excited by the potential for bringing the benefits of meditation to millions of people over the Internet. That enthusiasm is what led to me setting up Wildmind.
Wildmind started as a project while I was completing a Masters degree in Montana. Supported by a grant from the American Council of Learned Societies, I worked with Dr. Alan Sponberg to develop an innovative Internet based meditation course for the University of Montana, and that experiment formed the basis of Wildmind.
I hope you find these materials useful, and I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to drop me a line using the comment form below. If you want to write more privately use the “contact” link above — the message will get to me.
I also have a personal website where you’ll find links to all my publications, YouTube videos, etc., as well as information about the meditation coaching that I do. It’s at Bodhipaksa.com.
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Hi Bodhipaksa,
Last year, as a member of the Open Circle, I was quite the smart-arse at a time when Shrijnana had her hands full and could well have done without the extra bother of dealing with me.
I did eventually realise this, and quit.
Older, and probably no wiser, but after some metta practice, and looking to take part in the Urban Retreat, I’ve now found the grace to offer an apology, which perhaps you’ll pass on.
I continue to find Wildmind very useful, with its continual improvements.
With metta,
Mike
Dear Bodhipaksa,
Your meditation insruction has turned my life around. Never have I experienced such comfort and peace from a human voice. So glad I have discovered you. I have also turned a few open-minded friends on to your meditations. Thank you so much! Patty
Hi Patty,
I'm so glad to hear that you've found my meditation teaching to be helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share your appreciation.
Hi Bodhipaksa,
I was looking for the way to recite the Buddhist Mantras correctly, I tumble across your site. Your, information published here are quite informative. Just let you know that you have done a great service for all of us who are seeking for guidance, I thank you for that and keep up this good work.
With metta,
Tuan
You're very welcome, Tuan. The mantra section is the busiest part of our site, and I'm glad to be able to pass on what I've learned.
I took a berathing meditation course from your website 4 years ago- i notice that you dont offer those any more- is that correct??
Hi Kum Kum,
I'm not too sure what course it is you mean. We have four regular courses that we run every month, but we also sometimes host courses taught by other teachers. Perhaps it's one of those that you're recollecting?
All the best,
Bodhipaksa
Bodhipksa --
Your meditations are key to my daily life -- every AM. Is your Wildmind orgaization strictly an online experience or do you host or lead live meditation groups?
Mike in Newburyport, MA
Sunada teaches classes in Somerville (https://www.bostonfwbo.org). I do some teaching at Aryaloka in NH (https://www.aryaloka.org) but since I have a new baby I don't get out much these days! I'm looking forward to getting back to teaching.
Hello from Scotland I found about you whilst doing a search on Amazon one of the people who had written a review had mentioned your Scottish accent this was for me a reason to purchase 2 of your meditations discs I have recently been off work due to stress and have suffered from very painful IBS and anxiety I have suffered from panic attacks over the years and require tranquillisers to go on flights or long journeys due to claustrophobia I am desperate to find something which will help me become much calmer as I have always been a nervous and anxious person.I enjoyed reading about you and look forward to practising meditation to help me become much more relaxed in every day life
Hi Margaret,
Thanks very much for writing. I hope the CD helps you to feel more at ease with yourself. Feel free to let me know how you get on.
All the best,
Bodhipaksa
Hi,
I love the idea of teaching meditation to prisoners. I just contacted Dr. Kent Kiehl of the Mind Research Institute (in the US). He performs fMRIs on violent prison inmates who are undergoing cognitive psychotherapy and studies the results. I asked him if he knew of any studies of prisoners who have undergone any kind of relaxation therapy. He said he has heard of this in some prisons but did not know if there were any studies about it.
Anyway, I found Wildmind and you and thought I would ask if you knew of any prisons where relaxation therapies were performed (like shiatsu or reiki, etc.)?
Thank you for your time!
Robin