Kevin Griffin is a Buddhist teacher and author best known for his work integrating Dharma and recovery. His 2004 book, “One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps” was instrumental in the emergence of a Buddhist recovery movement. He has been practicing Insight meditation for over forty years and teaching since the late 1990s. His recovery dates from 1985. His classes and retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center have been a cornerstone of that community since 2003. He has taught in a wide range of settings including Esalen, Kripalu and Omega Institute; diverse Buddhist centers; academic and research institutions. He is a co-founder of the Buddhist Recovery Network and one of the first teachers for Mindful Schools, an organization that takes mindfulness practices into elementary schools. His interest in the suttas of the Pali Canon has been a prime source of study and teachings. He trained in the first cohort of Community Dharma Leaders at Spirit Rock.

After dropping out of high school in the late sixties, Kevin worked as a professional musician. The high point of his career was working with an Afro-Fusion band called Lofty’s Zzebra. After getting sober, he went back to school and discovered creative writing. He completed a BA in English at UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing at UC Irvine. Though his novels were not published, he eventually began writing about Dharma and recovery. Five of his books comprise a series on this topic, including a workbook, a book of daily reflections, a book exploring the idea of Dharma as a Higher Power, and a book on cultivating joy in recovery. His latest book is Living Kindness: Metta Practice for the Whole of Our Life.

His style of teaching is loose and playful. He tries to make the Dharma accessible and practical