Teachers

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Lama Marut
Lama Marut (a.k.a. Brian K. Smith) is extensively trained in the spiritual traditions of India and Tibetan Buddhism. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Religion and taught for over two decades in the academic world, first at Columbia University and later at the University of California, where he retired as Professor Emeritus […]
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Lauren Benjamin
Lauren began an intensive study of Tibetan Buddhism in 1999 and broadened the perspective and approach to her studies so as to be open to a wider spectrum of spiritual philosophy and practice. She began teaching in 2005 at Middle Way LA, which she helped co-found, under the guidance of Lama Marut (Brian Smith.) She currently serves […]
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Jeremy Graves
Jeremy Graves is co-author along with Culadasa (John Yates, Ph.D.) and Matthew Immergut, Ph.D. of The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science. Jeremy has been meditating for over 10 years, having accumulated a year-and-a-half of intensive deep retreat experience. He is authorized to teach by Culadasa.

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Mira Kingsley
Mira has spent her adult life in the study and practice of the Buddhist and Yogic traditions along with participating in the development of contemporary somatic based spiritual practices. She offers a spacious presence in which others may witness their own unique spiritual path take shape. For those who are so called […]
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Darin McFayden
Darin McFayden was raised a Christian. He has practiced Yoga since 1998 in the Satyananda/Sivananda Yoga tradition. Darin has studied the great texts of Yoga as well as those of the Tibetan Buddhist Sutra and Tantra systems under Lama Marut. More recently, he has done retreat with and studied the teachings of Upasaka Culadasa (Professor […]
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Lilia Mead
Lilia Mead has been teaching Yoga since 1996. After receiving her BA in dance and psychology from Bennington College she quickly discovered the power of the Path of Yoga.  She has studied with Desikachar,  Pattabhi Jois, Sharon Gannon, Rodney Yee, Ana Forrest and Genny Kapular. Since moving to LA with her family from Brooklyn[...]
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Brian Reid
While admiring the unshakeable groundedness yet passionate preaching of his Pentecostal minister grandfather, Brian was raised in a strong Catholic household. Thanks to some of his parents’ closest friends, he celebrated many Seder meals and discovered how Christ was actually raised as a Jew. By the time Brian got […]
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Rebecca Stanley
Since finding her way to the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and through the blessings of her teachers Lama Kimberley Teresa, Lama Douglas Veenhof, Kristina Pao-Cheng, Mira Shani and Ted Lafferty, Rebecca has been given the tools to help others help themselves. In 2009, she received her 300-Hour Yoga Alliance Certification through the Yoga Studies […]
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Claire Thompson
Claire began her Buddhist studies in New York City in the New Kadampa Tradition, while also practicing Yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Center. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2007, she started studying with Lauren Benjamin and Lama Marut and under their guidance went on to complete the 36-course program of Tibetan Buddhist studies. Claire […]
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Dima Yepishin
Dima has been debating his own spiritual confusion since his first introduction to Orthodox Judaism at age 12 during a summer camp in his hometown in Ukraine. Since then, he has graduated from a Jewish seminary, completed the 18 core courses in Buddhism at Middle Way LA and continues to study the advanced curriculum.
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