In 1957 I was introduced to Zen Buddhism by Alan Watts during televised classes from his studio at San Francisco State. This began the intrigue and interest in Buddhism, and as a result I started searching for books on the subject, and developed an appreciation for Buddhist art.
Sometime during the 1980′s, his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama came to the U.S for the first time to offer teachings to the public. It was then that I resumed an engaged relationship with Buddhism, and I had the opportunity to meet other people who shared my interest. I studied the work of Thich Nhat Hahn, and participated in his seminars on Buddhism and psychology. During the intervening thirty-year period many wonderful books have been published about the Buddha’s teaching, and meditation and yoga became apart of the popular vocabulary.
My first Buddhist retreat was with Ajaan Amero in Santa Rosa in 1993. Not long afterwards I began my relationship with my current teacher Ajaan Thanisassaro Bhikku.
For the past twenty years I have had the joy of being with a twice-weekly meditation and Buddhist study Sangha group he visits once a month in Laguna Beach, and participating in his twice-yearly Dharma retreats.
During this time I became interested in finding a way to have a Dhamma learning tool that would be user-friendly and inclusive for Buddhists and non-Buddhist. I wanted to find ways of sharing the wisdom and joy of the dharma with out proselytizing. My intention was to be able to access true happiness using the basic moral and social ideals of Buddhism. As a result, the MettaMap, the Formula, and the Equations evolved and since then, Dharma and the Metta, plus Another Step Toward Happiness ,the meditation cards evolved.
For the past eighteen years I have shared the Metta Map and the Metta System with clients, schools, families, leadership groups, and companies. It is with delight that I can report the book and the classes have A plus reviews, changing lives of the people who have benefited using the MettaMap.
In 2008 I had the privileged of taking the material to twelve universities in India. Metta ha been presented it at a workshop at the 8 Sahyadhita International Buddhist Women’s Conference in Asia and Auastralia
In 2009, I was given the Dhammachari initiation as lay minister, and the Buddhist name of “Mettavihari” by Bhante Walpola Piyananda at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles. This was a great honor for me and it is with humble gratitude that I accepted this initiation.
I don’t think of myself as a dharma teacher, but rather one who helps people learn how they can bring the dharma into their lives by using the Metta Map™ as a tool that brings clarity to their own understanding, hearts and primal energies. The MettaMap provides ways to become more skillful, mindful, and compassionate to all beings.
With Loving-Kindness,
Metta4All!
