BIOGRAPHICAL INFO

"The entire flux of the historical contents of my being I owe to people and conditions outside of myself. My body lives moment to moment only through the grace of gifts from the earth and sky; my language and life-world come from my culture; my genes come from my ancestors; my skills come from my teachers and experiences; and so forth. Here are a few of the conditions and people to which I am indebted." - HG

A native of rural northern Vermont, Hans was influenced very early on by his father’s unusual blend of scientific pragmatism and Rosicrucianism and learned forms of meditation and pranayama before grade school. Years later, after having been immersed in predominantly intellectual high school and university atmospheres, he became intrigued by pychospiritual approaches to human flourishing. An adventurer at heart, he was drawn to investigate a variety of traditions from the inside out.

Hans began by immersing himself in an exploration of diverse Eastern and Western philosophical, psychological, and spiritual approaches to well being -- including Buddhist approaches to meditation and enlightened living; yogic approaches to well being; Jung's theories of individuation and compensation; teachings and meditations from Jewish and Christian mystics, Rosicrucianism, Jose Silva, Mikao Usui, Michael Harner, Israel Regardie -- and many others. After three years of intensive intellectual and experiential inquiry, this investigation came to a turning point in 1995 when Hans had a profoundly transformative experience of nonduality (called kensho in the Zen tradition) which resonated with the teachings of Buddhism; Meister Eckhart; Eckhart Tolle; Krishnamurti; Heidegger; Gebser; and many others.

This awakening experience initiated a decade of interest in and focus on deepening meditation practice. Rediscovering life and texts from a transformed point of view, Hans came to a deep appreciation of Buddhist and yogic approaches to theory and practice; Heidegger's phenomenological approach to Being; integral approaches to philosophy/psychology/spirituality; and positive psychology. During this decade, Hans went on to study Buddhist and other forms of yoga in North America, India, and Europe. He attended intensive (one to two weeks of all-day immersion) retreats such as:

Buddhist Philosophy Teachings
with the Dalai Lama at his temple in India

Insight Meditation Retreats
with meditation masters Shinzen Young; Henepola Gunaratana;
Yogavacara Rahula; Vimalaramsi; Pra Ajahn Jumnien; and S.N. Goenka;

Zen Meditation Retreats and Big Mind Facilitator Trainings
with Zen Master Genpo Roshi;

Dzogchen Meditation Retreats
with Dzogchen Masters Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Traga Rinpoche;

Nonsectarian Nondual Meditation Retreats
with Adyashanti; Richard Miller; and Peter Fenner;

The School for The Work
with founder Byron Katie;

International Intensive Training in Nonviolent Communication
with founder Marshall Rosenberg;

Integral Life Practice
with Ken Wilber and the ILP Training Team

Hans has also attended teachings by Jack Kornfield, Larry Rosenberg, Ram Das, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Lama Lobsang Gyatso, Lama Palden Caroline Alioto, Stephen Cope, Narayan Liebenson Grady, Robert Livingston Roshi, S.N. Goenka (in person), Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Gen Mondrub, Gangaji, and many others.

Hans and meditation teacher Shinzen Young after a retreat in Arizona (2001).

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Hans earned a B.A. in Philosophy and German at the University of Vermont -- with one year at Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg (Germany). He went on to complete an M.A. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness at the California Institute of Integral Studies -- with several classes at U.C. Berkeley. He subsequently completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Tulane University -- with one year at the Freie Universität Berlin. His research interests include Heidegger; Buddhism, Gebser, Comparative Philosophy, Phenomenology of Spirituality, and Environmental Ethics. Click here for a more detailed academic bio.

INSPIRING TEACHERS

Below are some brief notes by Hans on teachers with whom he's spent at least a week.

"In addition to my graduate work and independent practice and studies, I have attended at least a solid week of intensive teachings, retreats, and/or trainings with each of the following teachers. I am grateful to these people for the wisdom and compassion they have shared with me."

Rina Sircar, Ph.D.

Dr. Sircar is a Professor and a Burmese Buddhist who introduced me to
Buddhist meditation, philosophy, and psychology in 1995.
She teaches at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
S.N. Goenka

S.N. Goenka is a Burmese business man who became a meditation guru. He has founded many meditation centers, including one in Northern India where I did my first long (10 day) formal silent meditation retreat in 1999.
HHDL - Tenzin Gyatso

I was fortunate enough to meet the Dalai Lama and attend a week of his teachings on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy which he delivered at his own temple in Northern India in 1999. I found him to be a remarkably inspiring man.
Lama Lobsang Gyatso

Also during my trip to India, I was able to study a variety of aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, including philosophy, visualizations, meditations, and other practices with teachers such as Lama Lobsang Gyatso.
Shinzen Young, Ph.D.

Shinzen Young is a brilliant and highly innovative teacher of insight meditation. I first met him at one of his retreats in Arizona in 2001. I've worked closely with him and consider him a mentor and a friend.
Bhante Yogavacara Rahula

After I became interested in exploring the synergy between meditation and yoga, I attended a retreat in Germany in 2003 with Bhante Rahula, who is a monk who teaches hatha yoga at his meditation retreats.
Sayadaw Dr. Nandamalabhivamsa

Sayadaw Nandamalabhivamsa is a Burmese expert in the Abhidhamma theory of consciousness. In 2003 I was able to study Abhidhamma in detail with him at the Buddhistisches Haus in Frohnau, Germany.
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, Ph.D.

"Bhante G" is a Buddhist Abbott from Sri Lanka and a renowned expert on mindfulness and the jhanas. I lept at the opportunity to attend his Dharma & Meditation Teacher Training in 2003. Very inspiring.
Bhante Vimalaramsi

Bhante Vimalaramsi is a jhana meditation expert who has authentic experience and -- unlike many monks -- is open about it. In 2003 I attended a retreat at his center in Missouri to clarify some practice issues.
Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.

Marshall Rosenberg is the genius behind a system of "Nonviolent Communication" designed to enhance life. I attended a 9-day International Intensive Training with Dr. Rosenberg in 2003. It was life-changing!
Pra Ajahn Jumnien

Pra Ajahn Jumnien is a meditation master's master from Thailand (featured in Jack Kornfield's _Living Dharma: Teachings of 12 Buddhist Masters_). In 2004 I attended a retreat with him at Spirit Rock.
Richard Miller, Ph.D.

Richard Miller is a teacher of mindful yoga, yoga nidra, and nondual awareness recognition. In 2005 I attended his Splendor of Recognition retreat and finally connected nondual language with experience. Wow!
Adyashanti

Adyashanti is a remarkable nondual teacher who initially trained in the Zen tradition but now draws on many traditions. In 2005 I attended one of his intensives and one of his retreats. Helpful, inspiring, and clarifying!
Byron Katie

"The Work" of Byron Katie is a compact approach to questioning (and deconstructing) stressful thoughts. In 2005 I attended a weekend workshop with her and then a 9 day Facilitator Training. Fascinating and very useful!
Peter Fenner, Ph.D.

Peter Fenner is a former Vajrayana Buddhist Monk. In 2006 I participated in his 9 month "Radiant Mind" course, which helps people from all backgrounds to enjoy and share the benefits of nondual awareness.
Tsoknyi Rinpoche

Tsoknyi Rinpoche is a wonderful teacher of Dzogchen -- one of the pinnacle non-dual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. In 2006 I attended an 8 day retreat and received rare Trekchö ("Cutting Through") pointing out instructions from him.
ILP Team & Ken Wilber

Ken Wilber is a mastermind of integral theory. In 2006, I attended the Integral Life Practice Seminar in which the ILP Team and Ken (via teleconference) offered an integral approach to conscious living.
Genpo Roshi

Genpo Roshi is a Zen Master and a successor of Maezumi Roshi. In 2006 I attended an intensive retreat and (5 months later) a 2 week Facilitator Training, both of which focused on Genpo Roshi's "Big Mind" process, a brilliant synthesis of Voice Dialogue and Zen Buddhism.
Zakir Hussain

Zakir Hussain is considered by many to be the world's greatest master of the dazzlingly complex and beautiful tradition of tabla -- the main percussion instrument of Indian classical music. I find his playing spiritually enlivening and transformative. I had the great opportunity to spend a couple of weeks studying tabla intensively with him in 2005 and 2006.
Traga Rinpoche

Traga Rinpoche is an inspiring Dzogchen Master in the Drikung Kagyu lineage. In 2009 I attended a retreat in which his lineage's exceedingly rare Thögal ("Crossing Over") Dzogchen teachings were offered for the first time in the West.