Teachers

Karen Patrick, LCSW

Karen, founder of Living Now: Resources for a Purposeful Life developed the organization as a resource to help people find joyful purpose and meaning in their daily lives. Intrinsic to Living Now is generosity practice supporting women and children in diverse cultures. Though, this has proven deeply rewarding and beneficial, her first love remains teaching mindfulness meditation.

She is currently a student of Dzogchen master Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Bon Buddhism, the indigenous culture of Tibet, where she studies Shamanism, Tantra and Dzogchen (2000-present). She has also studied with Toni Packard in Meditative Inquiry, Springwater, N.Y. (1994-2000), and Charlotte Joko Beck, San Diego, Calif. (1991-1993), and was blessed to take week-long discourses with the Dalai Lama on three occasions. She also studied the basic philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism (Lam Rim) from Zasep Rinpoche and others in the Gelugpa linage (1992-2000).

Karen has studied the Christian Mysteries since the late 1970s and has studied Buddhism since 1989. She received certification to teach Mindfulness Meditation in 1997. Karen emphasizes distilling the essence of meditation practice from its cultural influences emphasizing joyfulness, clarity and spaciousness. She has even combined teaching mindfulness in art and writing. Karen’s book Mindfulness Meditation (pending publication fall 2006) is a study guide for individuals or groups to learn and grow in mindfulness meditation.

Karen, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice counsels individuals, couples and families. Her counseling work is deeply informed by principles of mindfulness meditation. Clients receive the benefit of her ability to teach meditation and facilitating the therapeutic process. The principles of mindfulness and developing presence are also employed in her work as a consultant in helping people grow their own businesses and find purpose and meaning in their life She has used her teaching skill in a variety of settings:

• She was on the adjunct faculty of Indianapolis University school of Social Work (IUPUI) where she taught a variety of classes including introducing and teaching Spirituality in Social Work Practice (1999-2002);
• She is on the Indianapolis Gestalt Institute faculty (1992 to present) She has also been the director of the Bodywork and Gestalt therapy program where she taught the integration of energy/body work with gestalt therapy;
• She has taught energy work since 1981;
• She has taught seminars on meditation in the workplace, in chronic pain centers and in numerous retreats;
• She has worked with others combining yoga and mindfulness meditation and in creative projects combining mindfulness in writing and art.

Karen's work reflects her grounded knowledge of the field, her spontaneous joy and deep insight making her work a safe enjoyable process of growth and change.

T.K. Stumm

Coming soon.