Our faculty and guest teachers are amongst the most skilled non-dual teachers living today. It is an unparalleled occurrence to have them come together in this manner to uplift a cohort of meditation teachers-in-training. Expect pointing-out-instructions from those deeply qualified to offer them.

A non-dual teacher is a person who has become skillful supporting others to co-explore the essence/truth at the center of their being.  You will become certified to teach the trans-lineage non-dual viewpoint and myriad forms of nondual meditation.

This program does not qualify you to represent yourself as an Advaita, Zen, etc Meditation Teacher.  Why?  This is an overtly a trans-lineage training. We use the term in the general sense of “not-two” that we find in myriad mystical systems, both East and West. Advaita (not-two) or Dhyanna/Ch’an/Zen (absorption) are the subject of this training. That said, it would be disingenuous to imagine that you could represent yourself as a Zen or advaita teacher.  In this training we honor/acknowledge the Chinese Mind, the Vedic Mind, etc (as well we should!) without assuming that we can claim these traditions as our own, without transmission from a Master.  We are attempting a delicate balancing act - grounding ourselves in tradition, without plundering/co-opting the traditions in a disrespectful manner.

Wait. A taste of the experience you want to introduce to others is key. If you desire to share meditation, but sense that you haven’t yet had one or more tastes of awakening, we ask that you no yet advertise as a non-dual meditation teacher.

No. There is a difference between a non-dual meditation teacher (one who has at least a glimpse of the collapse of the separate self) and the non-dual awakened meditation teacher. The former is what you become certified in. The later is (obviously) not something that occurs on a schedule.

Before offering pointing-out-instructions to others as an awakened teacher, the first person you must successfully offer the instructions to is…you.

No. The teachers Jonathan trained with -  Jean Klein, Adyashanti, John Prendergast, Rupert Spira, Roshi Haller, etc were asked to teach by their own masters after many decades of 1:1 mentorship.  Dharma Transmission is something that gets passed down from awakened teacher to student, a blessing and confirmation of a student to teach at the hightest level, based on years of tracking/sensing their readiness.

In many places, it can be quite challenging to find a local non-dual meditation teacher. We’d like to see non-dual meditation taken “to the streets” - make it more accessible, without watering it down.

The proximate cause was that a student asked Jonathan if he would train him to be a meditation teacher.  The deeper-level causes included the following:

• In some locals, meditation has become synonymous with mindfulness.  While mindfulness is beautiful spiritual expression, there is more to meditation.

• Though mindfulness has been adopted for general health (ex, stress reduction programs), the essence of meditation is sometimes partially obscured of lost..  

• Meditation has become associated with technique and protocols…it is more than that.

• Meditation can become self-centered rather than Self-centered.

• Meditation and engagement can feel like poles.  They are not.

Participants are prepared to create and guide nondual meditation groups of their own, while, if it's desired, to continue to train over many years or decades until such time as a thorough embodiment ripens. This isn’t just a matter of learning the steps of various meditation protocol and sharing them…its about a commitment to live from the non-dual viewpoint at whatever depth you are capable of and share that view, as best you are able. So…its about an orientation more than a protocol. 

It is okay to not immediately hang out your shingle as a meditation teacher - there is no expectation on this. You may wish to have many more retreats and or/mentorship under your belt. Then again, you may start sharing meditation and the ‘non-dual viewpoint’ with others immediately at the conclusion of the program, one-to-one or in a group setting.

Yes. Some of our trainees are meditators with decades of experience.

Yes. Some trainees will have years of experience teaching another meditation approach (ex. Mindfulness). You may wish to deepen your own practice and skill as a meditation teacher by steeping in this 2-yr deep dive into the direct-path systems of nondual meditation.

Compared to a 75 hour certificate training, this 150+ hrs training is robust. Our program goes much deeper than some of the easier to obtain teacher certificate programs available.  This program has rigor.

Compared to a 30 year training in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, with a capstone 3-year silent retreat, this training is a walk-in-the-park.

If you cannot make the large group calls LIVE, you can watch the recordings at your leisure.  That said, we recommend attending as many of the LIVE large group gatherings as possible.

Everything!

Non-dual - This concept points to the highest truth, and therefore sounds remote and obscure, ripe for corruption by the egoic mind.

Meditation - This word seems to infer that doing/practice leads to enlightenment - and therefore is unintentionally misleading.

Teacher - This term can create separation, unwholesome hierarchy, and a swelled ego.  In a sense, there are no teachers…just good students.

All that said, with all the caveats and cautions implied - we’ll use the term non-dual meditation teacher because the positives outweigh the negatives.description

Except for purchasing books, there are no additional costs.  That said, we will gently encourage you to periodically meet with your mentor 1:1 for an additional cost.  This is entirely optional.

As this is the pilot offering of this program - we are in the midst of  working this out.

Though meditation will usually produce a healthier and more equanimous ego -  that is not the main aim of the program. The aim of non-dual meditation is first about transcending the apparent self as the center of identity, and second to embody this understanding in the world.

No. We are certain that your 7-day retreat with a different meditation system, like a 7-day mindfulness meditation retreat, was a valuable experience on your spiritual journey.  That said, we want the entire cohort to experience a deep immersion in a specific style of nondual meditation. You have until the end of 2026 to complete this requirement…you needn’t delay your application until the retreat is complete.

Throughout the 2-year training program you will receive numerous assets for your teaching work, including guided meditation recordings, handouts, worksheets, etc to use in your teaching work.scription

Small Groups

When will the small “mentoring groups” be formed?

During the first week of the training we will send out a form for you to select a small group time that works for your schedule.  Wherever you are in the world, there will be a time that works for you.  We will have weekdays and weekends, morning, afternoon and evening small groups.

Who are the small group mentors?

Each small group mentor is a well trained meditation teacher with decades of meditation experience under their belt. Rest assured, you will experience capable mentoring from any of our mentors. 

Are the small “mentoring groups” recorded?

No. Being mentored, of course, requires being present at the meetings. Though missing the occasional small group meeting is permissible in urgent situations, the expectation is that every member of the small group commits to regular attendance. Throughout the program, your mentor will:  

• Facilitate monthly group calls with your “small group” of around six students.

• Guide you to develop the ability to co-explore your peoples meditation practice.

• Mirroring of your skills as you move through the program.

• Support you in your own meditation journey and developing your acumen as a teacher.

The lead teacher, Jonathan Gustin, is uniquely positioned to lead this training.  His yearning for spiritual awakening and embodied service is a thread that has moved through this entire life.  A few highlights:

• Jonathan was drawn to spirituality at a young age -  becoming impassioned for enlightenment at age 12. He made a vow in Jr. High School to wake up in service to life.

• He discovered his root teacher, Ramana Maharshi at 16.  

• Jonathan shared his first teachings and guided meditation at 16 yrs old to thirty high school students.

• In his late teens he journeyed to China to find a living Lao Tzu and to India to find a living Ramana Marhashi, ending up studying Advaita Vedanta with Swami Gokulananda in New Delhi.

• Majored in Comparative Religion in university, writing his senior thesis entitled, “Mysticism and the concept of the Self.”

• At 20, he had a vision of his soul-level purpose, as being “Whole Person Midwifery.”  That summer he published and edited a spiritual magazine - Perspectives On Life. 

• Attended dozens of meditation retreats, including a 30 day meditation retreat in the Tibetan tradition at 21.

• At 21 years old met the Lubavitcher Rebbe, initiating a study of Jewish Mysticism.

• He trained as a psychotherapist in graduate school (California Institute Of Integral Studies) in an integral spirituality context.

• Trained with Roshi Paul Haller. Took lay ordination (Jukai) in the Soto Zen lineage with Abbot Sojun Mel Weitsman, direct student and dharma heir of Suzuki Roshi.

• Discovered indigenous non-dual arts in his 20’s leading him to multiple Vision Quest ceremonies and beyond.

• Practiced as a transpersonal/integral psychotherapist for over 30 years. 

• Founded Green Sangha - a spiritual engaged environmental activist organization in 2000.

• Studied with European Sage Jean Klein, and Byron Katie. 

• Studied intensively with John Prendergast since 1995, Adyashanti since 1999 and Rupert Spira since 2013.

• Started Purpose Guides Institute (formerly Integral Awakening Center) in 2004.

Jonathan brings over 40 years of diverse trans-lineage practice and study to the craft of meditation, allowing him to discern the core understanding that runs through the various wisdom streams. 

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“While honoring my Advaita Vedanta and Zen background, my fidelity is to the human lineage of nondual wisdom. Though we would be foolish to conclude that the masters of yesteryear have faded into irrelevancy, we need to be stay open to the possibility that as the centuries and millennium pass, our understanding of meditation can and does evolve.  As humans change and evolve, so to, do the non-dual spiritual arts.  I favor an approach that is steeped in the best of the past while being open and innovating to meet the conditions and needs of an audience in the 21st century. This isn’t a smorgasbord course, where we sample various bits of numerous traditions.  This will be a single unique offering that journeys to the core of the non-dual spiritual arts to discover the hidden human lineage that belies them all.”