From an early age

I Internalized the Most Deceptive Idea.

“What I am looking for lies outside of me”

This belief set in motion an adventurous life, seeking love and excitement where the world told me to find it. I pursued passionate love in romantic relationships, bought trendy clothes, and went to adrenaline filled concerts. When life felt overwhelming, I escaped through endless forms of distraction.

Sometimes, it actually worked, and it felt incredible—until it didn’t…

One day my reality shattered,

with a simple sentence from my doctor: “You have genital herpes.”

In the past, I had experienced heartache, I had felt lost, and I had cried for weeks on end, but this time was different. As I sat alone, staring out of the fogged-up windshield of my car, I saw my life: a college degree, a loving partner, loving parents, friends, and savings. Yet, having genital herpes made all that feel insignificant.

I felt shame, confusion, and a deep sense of foolishness. Despite having so many good things in life, I realized how little I truly knew. The shock and alienation were profound, and I couldn't run from it. There had to be something I was missing.

I split up with my partner, quit my job, and did what lost people do: I wandered.

There has to be another way

Feeling lost and dissatisfied with life, I felt an urgent call toward something unexplained. After exploring countless books and the vast expanse of the internet, I took a leap and visited Oaxaca, Mexico, known for its psilocybin mushrooms. Drinking a cup of mushroom tea, the experience felt like coming home. What I was searching for suddenly seemed possible.

Days later, I opened my journal and, without thinking, wrote, "Live in a Zen monastery for one year." I couldn't explain it, but it felt right. Soon enough, I found myself standing in front of the gates of a Zen monastery. There, I trained intensely, learning to observe my mental habits, connect with my whole body, and inquire deeply into the nature of mind. It was both challenging and beautiful. Once again, I felt at home.

This practice led me on a journey of integration, showing me how to respond to each moment. However, despite my practice, some stubborn thoughts remained. The absolute silence of the meditation hall only seemed to amplify these deeply rooted thoughts.

One day, during one of our monthly retreats, I was introduced to "The Work." As I filled out the worksheet, something finally clicked.

A thought I held onto for 20 years

dissolved in 30 minutes

Combining the stillness I cultivated in Zen, with this precise inquiry was transformative. I now had a practical tool to address hidden thoughts like "I'm not good enough" and "I need her love."

With these methods, I looked into my fears, took responsibility for my habits, and opened my mind to new perspectives.

Unifying Two Methods

As the son of two immigrants, I've always lived between two cultures, integrating different worldviews into my life. This multiple perspective naturally extended to my spiritual practices: Zen Buddhism and The Work of Byron Katie.

I’ve connected elements from both, combining the grounded wisdom of Buddhism with the practical tools of The Work. This fusion supports a practice that addresses both existential crisis and that anger you feel when your roommate doesn’t wash their dishes.

Get to Know Me Quickly

Why Zen? Why The Work?

A mix of influences guided me towards Zen Buddhism including:

  • Meeting an incredible psychology professor named Sam, a Buddhist practitioner

  • Watching the PBS documentary about the life story of the Buddha

  • Taking a meditation course in college

  • Reading a random Reddit thread where one user suspected Zen as being the most difficult of the Buddhist schools to understand, I was intrigued

On a more practical note, Zen monasteries happened to have the most clear and accessible information about how to actually live in a monastery full-time.

I came across The Work during a five-day retreat at the monastery and it clicked instantly for me. I continued to practice and I’m now training to become a certified facilitator.

What was monastery life like?

I joined Great Vow Zen Monastery for their summer program and ended up staying for 2.5 years. Life there centered on community and dharma, with hours of daily meditation and shared work like cooking, cleaning, and building. As I stayed longer, I took on more responsibilities, including serving as the shuso for a year, managing the meditation hall, and organizing retreats. I worked closely with the two abbots, Hogen and Chozen Bays, who became my Zen teachers. Life at the monastery was both beautiful and challenging, offering deep support while also pushing us to continually work toward inner freedom—that's why we were there.

Favorite books?

There is a time to read and there is a time to practice. While at the monastery I had less time to read because the focus was on meditation, but here are some books that I was reading at the time that impacted my practice: After Buddhism by Stephen Batchelor, Seeing that Frees by Rob Burbea, and A Mind at Home With Itself by Byron Katie.

What do you enjoy about working with people?

People are so damn brave. Witnessing people who are vulnerable, courageous, and wise always inspires me not to hold anything back.