Portrait from the Beyond the Cushion archive for the theme Teachers

Theme · Portraits

Teachers

This collection brings together Buddhist teachers from different lineages, backgrounds, and communities, offering a glimpse into the many ways the Dharma is being studied, practiced, and shared in contemporary life.

Theme overview

Many images of a modern teacher


This collection brings together Buddhist teachers from different lineages, backgrounds, and communities, offering a glimpse into the many ways the Dharma is being studied, practiced, and shared in contemporary life.

Lisa represents the Insight tradition, drawing on meditation, community practice, and an accessible approach to bringing Buddhist teachings into everyday experience. Dennis teaches from within the Zen tradition, emphasizing direct practice, interconnectedness, and the ongoing nature of awakening. Michael’s journey through yoga, meditation, and Tibetan Buddhism reflects a path shaped by deep contemplative experience and an inquiry into the nature of mind and reality.

Together, these teachers reveal that there is no single image of a Buddhist teacher in the modern world. They are householders, community leaders, longtime practitioners, and spiritual guides whose lives have been shaped by different traditions and circumstances. Their portraits and stories offer a rare opportunity to encounter the people carrying these teachings forward.

In their words

4 practitioners on teaching


  • Portrait of Dennis MembersDennisVideo · 4 min
  • Portrait of Grace MembersGraceVideo · 5 min
  • Portrait of Gareth MembersGarethVideo · 9 min
  • Portrait of Christopher MembersChristopherVideo · 5 min

Watch their full stories

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