Heather Sundberg has taught Insight Meditation since 1999, and completed the Spirit Rock/IMS Teacher Training program under Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein. Beginning her own meditation practice in her late teens, she has completed more than 3 years of accumulated retreat time. Her retreat training includes Insight Meditation, Pure Awareness-Emptiness (MahaSati), Concentration (Jhana), the Heart Practices (Brahma Viharas), and Body-Based Energy Practices; upon which she bases the main themes of her teaching.
Heather has a deep connection with the essence of the Thai forest lineage, through her early
teacher Ajahn Jumnien, who trained her in MahaSati Pure Awareness practice for a number of years. With the blessing of Ajahn Jumnien, Heather later began teaching MahaSati Retreats.
Understanding that the essence of the MahaSati is accessing the wisdom of Pure Awareness in
all aspects of life, she began offering in-depth ongoing Trainings in MahaSati in 2016. Heather’s
other connections in the Thai forest tradition include her long-term association with Abhayagiri Monastery in California through Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. Ajahn Amaro was a main mentor during her Senior Teacher Training. She has sat retreats with Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Sucitto, and has connections with many of the Bhikkhunis who originally trained in the Thai forest tradition. For more information about MahaSati, please visit www.mahasati.info.
As a teacher, Heather’s style is warm and practical. She emphasizes embodiment, including strong heartfulness in practice. She carries an interesting combination of supporting a ‘less is more’ easeful style of practice, plus a passionate ‘no holds barred’ attitude about awakening.
Deepening Practice,
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