Senior Theravadin Teacher Deborah Ratner Helzer joined us on January 7, 2024 with a talk entitled Surprise!
Biography:
Deborah Helzer began practicing Buddhist meditation 30 years ago, to reduce stress while working on her engineering degree. She has been teaching at Insight Meditation Society since 2004, as well as with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC, where she lives. She has studied and practiced with notable Western and Asian teachers, including Joseph Goldstein, Steve Armstrong, Venerable Bhante Gunaratana, and also spent a year as a Buddhist nun with the late Sayadaw U Pandita, in Myanmar. Her teaching style reflects the influence of the 20th century Burmese master Mahasi Sayadaw and his emphasis on clear, non-judgmental awareness. She, additionally, is one of the senior teachers leading retreats at the Twin Cities Vipassana Collective, and since becoming a mother, has been actively exploring practice within family life.
Northfield Buddhist Meditation Center 