Welcome to Currents of Dhamma

I’m making use of this Substack platform to share a Dhamma journey through a series of essays I have written over the years and also share new writing that is currently in progress. These essays differ in many ways, but upon reflection, do share a common thread of practice, teaching and introspection that spans close to five decades. While these essays were written with students of SN Goenka in mind, they may also be of interest to fellow Dhamma travelers from other practices and traditions. My intention in sharing this writing is not to plant a flag in the ground of right or wrong. Rather it’s to share the journey of a fellow Dhamma traveler who was drawn in by the currents of Dhamma. I will release this series of essays periodically in the chronological order in which they were written. As a subscriber, you will receive them in your inbox as they appear. You can also find them—if you’ve missed any—on my substack in the archive. I invite you to share your own reflections on what you read in the comments section at the bottom of each post.

I first started practicing Dhamma in Aotearoa (New Zealand) my home country, under the guidance of the late John Coleman in 1977 and soon after with SN Goenka, or Goenkaji as he is affectionately known. Along with my wife, Maureen and a small group of friends, I helped found and start the Vipassana Meditation Center, Dhamma Dhara, in Shelburne in 1982. In 2008 Maureen and I also helped establish the Southeast Vipassana Center, Dhamma Patapa, in Jessup, Georgia. In the role as Center Teachers we nurtured the center's growth, trained Assistant Teachers and guided students in entry-level 10-day courses as well as longer courses up to 30-days. In addition to these rich experiences, I feel incredibly fortunate to have guided a number of 10-day courses inside Donaldson Maximum Security Prison in Birmingham Alabama. The award winning documentary The Dhamma Brothers along with the book Letters From The Dhamma Brothers tells the heartwarming and inspiring story of the inmates who participated.

While the Currents Of Dhamma series of essays does reflect a period within the Goenka tradition, I now consider myself an independent Dhamma practitioner. The essay in this first series, “From The Buddha To Us…A History Of Twists and Turns” investigates some of the core questions that I felt compelled to unpack on the journey to self reliance. I’m currently working on a new series of essays, titled Thus I have Wondered, which will explore a delicate journey from deeply valued years within the confines of a tradition to independence and further Dhamma growth.

The Buddha’s teaching is the path that leads~~~it does not ask us to comply, make assumptions, adhere to authority or doctrine. It propels us into investigation. It requires each of us take ownership of our unique journeys and putting truth first. “Truth first” does not mean some kind of absolute. Rather, truth will be relative and bound within the various developmental stages of mind and heart that are common to all sincere seekers. Making a commitment to an uncompromising investigation requires being comfortable with the uncomfortable. My intention is to share this traveler's journey with those who might find themselves in similar currents of Dhamma growth and development. In sharing we offer comfort and support to each other.