"T is for tender, tenacious, truthful, trusting, Teacher, tolerant, and so much more!" -Kaira Jewel Lingo (Dharma Teacher, former Buddhist nun)
Hi, my name is Anthony and my friends have always called me "T".
As a teen, I found myself struggling with addiction and cycles of harmful behavior. With the help of my teachers, mindfulness teachings on wisdom and compassion, a feminist analysis of systemic oppression, and a strong supportive community around me, I now find myself twenty years into a path of personal and collective liberation. My vocation grows out of the lessons I've learned along the way. I'm grateful that I get to inspire and support others to also live an awake, engaged, and embodied lifestyle of joy, activism, and deep healing in line with their highest values.
I am most happy when facilitating personal transformation, whether for myself or others. I am skilled in creating an environment that is emotionally safe enough to allow each person's natural brilliance to shine forth. I value building diverse and strong long-term relationships in order to counteract the disconnection and isolation of mainstream US culture; Relationships that then lead to the development of resilient communities that can hold inevitable conflict and support personal and societal transformation. I understand that a large portion of any individual's healing work will be in relation to the ways they were and continue to be harmed by oppression, and learning how we can join together to take a stand for love and justice.
As a teen, I found myself struggling with addiction and cycles of harmful behavior. With the help of my teachers, mindfulness teachings on wisdom and compassion, a feminist analysis of systemic oppression, and a strong supportive community around me, I now find myself twenty years into a path of personal and collective liberation. My vocation grows out of the lessons I've learned along the way. I'm grateful that I get to inspire and support others to also live an awake, engaged, and embodied lifestyle of joy, activism, and deep healing in line with their highest values.
I am most happy when facilitating personal transformation, whether for myself or others. I am skilled in creating an environment that is emotionally safe enough to allow each person's natural brilliance to shine forth. I value building diverse and strong long-term relationships in order to counteract the disconnection and isolation of mainstream US culture; Relationships that then lead to the development of resilient communities that can hold inevitable conflict and support personal and societal transformation. I understand that a large portion of any individual's healing work will be in relation to the ways they were and continue to be harmed by oppression, and learning how we can join together to take a stand for love and justice.
Some of the work I do:
- One-on-one session work with clients (Organic Intelligence and Dharma Mentorship)
- Lead teacher at Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, where I teach week-long teen meditation retreats and lead diversity trainings, multiracial liberation, and relational mindfulness.
- Co-founder, ally, and teacher of Young Adult Sangha at East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC).
- Coordinate and teach meditation for teenagers at the weekly Teen Sangha at EBMC in Downtown Oakland, and a similar series of classes in the Spring at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin.
- Teach mindfulness in high schools including Drew School, Lowell, Crystal Springs Uplands, Lick Wilmerding.
- Co-Founder and Co-Facilitator of "Third Jewel--Creating Sangha"-- a weekly Relational Mindfulness practice group
- Teach young adults yoga and mindfulness for YearUp
- Teach daylong professional development in mindfulness for public school teachers in Pajaro Valley
- Lead Multiracial deep refuge group at EBMC
- Leader and practitioner of co-counseling workshops and one-on-one sessions since 2007; Assistant Teaching classes and workshops for Men of Color ending Sexism and Male Domination, US'ers ending US Nationalism, People of Color healing from internalized oppression, teenagers, and allyship of all kinds.
- Other passions include social justice, sports, nature-connection, and silly games.
Training and Certifications:
- I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2004 and worked for five years at UCSF and Harvard doing scientific research on the psychological outcomes and benefits of mindfulness-based practices. (Academia left me feeling separated from the teaching and group facilitation work I love, so for the past nine years I have been thriving in the world of relational healing, mentorship, and education)
- Yearlong Commit2Dharma program at EBMC in 2011
- Facilitator-1 training at Against The Stream Buddhist Meditation Society in 2017
- Heart and Mind Curriculum certification for teaching mindfulness to elementary schoolers in 2013
- Completed the 3-year Organic Intelligence practitioner training (HEARTraining)
- I have practiced Buddhist meditation since 2003 including many weeklong and monthlong retreats at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, and CA Vipassana Center, as well as extended periods of practice in a monastery in Thailand
- My other side projects include laser-cut social justice art, Thai massage, and a mobile barber shop owner
"Anthony, you have taught me so much about accepting myself for who I am. No amount of words can describe how much you’ve impacted my life." -Zora (Student from Teen Retreat)
