Insight Meditation Institute lead teachers of the Faculty
The lead teachers and founders of the Institute are Subhana Barzaghi and Alan Bassal. They are responsible for the spiritual vision of the organisation, the design of the curriculum and its teacher training programs.
Subhana Barzaghi - Mindfulness & Compassion Teacher
Subhana is a Zen roshi and a senior teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition. She is a resident teacher of the Sydney Zen Centre, founding teacher of both the Bluegum Sangha in Sydney and the Kuan Yin Meditation Centre in Lismore and is the co-founder and lead teacher of the Insight Meditation Institute. Subhana’s teaching emphasises liberation here and now through the practice of calm abiding and enquiry. She leads Zen and Insight Meditation retreats in Australia and New Zealand
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Will James - Dharma teacher pathway lead teacher & Mentor Will attended his first Insight Meditation reteat in late 1970s with Christopher Titmus, this meeting kindled a deep interest in meditation and a great love for the Dharma teachings and practices. Will is the guiding teacher at the Tallowwood Sangha in Bellingen NSW, he regularly leads retreats in Bellingen, Byron Bay and annually in Bali. Will teaching lays great emphasis on seeing into the ‘dependent arising’ and empty nature of all phenomena. This seeing makes possible for a deep understanding that frees the mins and opens the heart. |
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Teachers supporting the Dharma Teacher Pathway
The Institute’s Dharma Teacher Mentors are an integral part of our faculty. They offer wise counsel to the Institute and mentoring and support to individuals on the path of becoming Insight Meditation Dharma teachers.
The teachers listed here have practiced Insight Meditation for more than 20 years. Some have trained in monasteries in Asia. They have taught dozens of 5 to 10 day retreats, Dharma Gatherings, Mindfulness programs and a range of professional workshops over the years. They have mentored individuals, founded, supported and lead Sanghas.
Teachers also continue as students themselves, dedicated to ongoing study and dharma practice to deepen their understanding and embodiment of the Buddha Way.
The teachers listed here have practiced Insight Meditation for more than 20 years. Some have trained in monasteries in Asia. They have taught dozens of 5 to 10 day retreats, Dharma Gatherings, Mindfulness programs and a range of professional workshops over the years. They have mentored individuals, founded, supported and lead Sanghas.
Teachers also continue as students themselves, dedicated to ongoing study and dharma practice to deepen their understanding and embodiment of the Buddha Way.
Carol Perry - Dharma Teacher Pathway mentor
Carol has more than forty years meditation experience in the Insight tradition. She is a senior teacher with Melbourne Insight Meditation. In 1972 Carol co-founded a rural community called Dharmananda. She continues to live there with around twenty three people, working together to grow a wide range of organic foods and maintaining the land.
Carol is a long-time social activist on ecological issues and is passionate about supporting cohesive and harmonious community in all its forms. She has a mindfulness-based (Hakomi) psychotherapy practice in Lismore NSW and globally by Skype. She teaches a dharma-based workshop called Communicating Mindfully.
Carol has more than forty years meditation experience in the Insight tradition. She is a senior teacher with Melbourne Insight Meditation. In 1972 Carol co-founded a rural community called Dharmananda. She continues to live there with around twenty three people, working together to grow a wide range of organic foods and maintaining the land.
Carol is a long-time social activist on ecological issues and is passionate about supporting cohesive and harmonious community in all its forms. She has a mindfulness-based (Hakomi) psychotherapy practice in Lismore NSW and globally by Skype. She teaches a dharma-based workshop called Communicating Mindfully.
Jill Shepherd - Dharma Teacher Pathway mentor
Jill began practicing insight meditation in Thailand in 1999, and since that time has lived and worked at several meditation centers and monasteries in the US, Australia, England, and Thailand. She is a graduate of the IMS / Spirit Rock teacher training program in the US, under the guidance of Joseph Goldstein and Gil Fronsdal.
Currently, Jill teaches vipassana and brahma vihara retreats and offers ongoing study and practice groups focused on bringing the dharma into daily life. She also leads courses and non-residential workshops exploring the relational practice of Insight Dialogue, as developed by Gregory Kramer and colleagues
Jill began practicing insight meditation in Thailand in 1999, and since that time has lived and worked at several meditation centers and monasteries in the US, Australia, England, and Thailand. She is a graduate of the IMS / Spirit Rock teacher training program in the US, under the guidance of Joseph Goldstein and Gil Fronsdal.
Currently, Jill teaches vipassana and brahma vihara retreats and offers ongoing study and practice groups focused on bringing the dharma into daily life. She also leads courses and non-residential workshops exploring the relational practice of Insight Dialogue, as developed by Gregory Kramer and colleagues
Mal Huxter - Dharma Teacher Pathway mentor
Mal has been practicing mindfulness and related practices such as loving kindness and compassion for 45 years and been teaching it in both clinical and public settings for 30 years. Mal originally learnt these practices from the Buddhist tradition, ordaining as a Buddhist monk in Thailand for 2 years in his early 20’s. Mal has mostly practiced in the Theravada traditions but has also practiced with Tibetan and Zen Buddhist teachers.
Mal has been practicing mindfulness and related practices such as loving kindness and compassion for 45 years and been teaching it in both clinical and public settings for 30 years. Mal originally learnt these practices from the Buddhist tradition, ordaining as a Buddhist monk in Thailand for 2 years in his early 20’s. Mal has mostly practiced in the Theravada traditions but has also practiced with Tibetan and Zen Buddhist teachers.
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Angela McGee - Dharma Teacher Pathway mentor
Angela has been studying, practising and teaching in various contemplative traditions for over 30 years in India and Australia, beginning in the the Krishnamacharya Yoga Dharma tradition and then developing in Western Insight Dharma. Angela believes these ancient teachings are a complete map of the human life, mind and heart and can act as a guide to our potential for liberation and freedom from suffering. Angela regularly teaches with Melbourne Insight Meditation Group's weekly sits, residential retreats in Victoria as well as annual retreats in Bali. She is also a psychotherapist in private practice in Melbourne. |
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Lizzie Turnbull - Dharma Teacher Pathway mentor
Lizzie began her practice of Buddhist meditation and training in 1985 first in Tibetan Buddhism and then in the Zen and Insight traditions. Her comparative studies and love of the wide open fields of inquiry have led to a non-sectarian and contemporary perspective. Her years working as a psychotherapist, educator and sociologist, have provided many perspectives on the human condition. In her teaching Lizzie enjoys supporting whatever this mysterious movement is that lies within each of us - the awakening impulse that senses the freedom that is always already here. |