Personal bios of open dharma teachers
Jaya
Ashmore, immersed herself in meditation and in India starting
in 1986. Born in the United States, she studied religion and art at Harvard.
She is based in Lucknow, India, where she spent over 6 years with Poonjaji,
a teacher of non-duality. Jaya has practiced the Japanese healing art of
Jin Shin Jyutsu since 1994. Authorized to teach Dharma by Christopher Titmuss,
she has had the privilege of facilitating retreats around the world since
1999.
Ajay
Pal Singh was born in a small village near Lucknow, India
in 1957. After finishing advanced degrees in Sanskrit, Law, Economics and
Social Work, as well as a diploma in Yoga, he gave himself to spiritual
practice at the age of 29. Four years later, he quietly began to be a spiritual
friend to many. Beginning in Lucknow, where Ajay and Jaya first became friends,
they started to offer the retreats that evolved into Open Dharma.
Gemma
Polo Pujol, was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1976. Inspired
by St. Francis of Assisi, she started meditating on her own, at the age
of 11. Then starting in 1992, she practiced Zen intensively for ten years.
During this time, she was also a contemplative nun for two years and a Catholic
activist in Latin America. While working as an organic beekeeper, she completed
studies Agriculture, International Development and Religious Sciences. Based
in India since 2002, she has been offering retreats there and around the
world mainly with Open Dharma.
Personal bios of prinicipal open centre caretakers
Zohar
Lavie fell in love with meditation in 2000 and has since
been exploring further ways of expressing truth and love.
In 2004 Zohar’s dream of combining meditation with social work grew into
a group called Sanghaseva. Sanghaseva offer opportunities for people to
reconnect with themselves, others and the Earth.
Zohar was encouraged by Jaya Ashmore and Christopher Titmuss to begin teaching
meditation retreats, and in October, 2006, she assisted with teachings on
an Open Dharma retreat in Israel.
Nathan
Glyde started meditating in India in 1999 and has been managing
meditation retreats worldwide since 2000.
Nathan is committed to exploring creative dharma practice, opening ways
for more people to deepen their connection to life.
In addition to a having a great love of silent retreats, he has organized
silent peace walks (“Dharma yatras”) in France and Israel, and organizes
and facilitates retreats through Sanghaseva.
