In this episode, I am joined by my friend Miles Bukiet. In our conversation, Miles shares about his journey over the last 10 years from living as a monk in Thailand, to completing two years of solitary retreat (ie: living in a cabin in the woods, meditating for 10 hours a day, living on rice and beans). In our conversation, we talk about his journey with Buddhism, the importance of a teacher, and his involvement in NYU's Center for Psychedelic Medicine.

Miles shares about his work with interpersonal meditation, compassion, and his deep dedication to better understanding the body, healing trauma, increasing happiness and reducing suffering in the world. I hope hearing Miles' story can inspire us all to 'follow our nose' when it comes to exploring what makes us come alive. Miles gives us all permission to chart our own path and live lives of greater depth and continual growth.

You can stay connected to Miles through his website and the new Madrona Meditation app. If you'd like to learn more about Dharma Gates, you may check out their offerings here, as well as read about NYU's Center for Psychedelic Medicine.

Miles Bukiet brings a decade of intensive study in a range of mind-body disciplines to bear on his work as a teacher, coach, and consultant. He leads meditation retreats, coaches individuals one-on-one, is part of a team building a meditation app, and is the co-founder of Dharma Gates, (a non-profit that connects young people to intensive meditation practice). Much of his training was with Buddhist teachers including two years of solitary retreat and several years of living at monasteries and practice centers in the United States and Asia. He also has also completed a 1,600 Alexander Technique teacher training and is currently finishing a Master’s of social work while working at NYU’s Center for Psychedelic Medicine. He is a perpetual student of the body, Buddhism, meditation, and trauma among other things.