David K.

Your Vocation and/or Hobbies: Professor of Biochemistry at the UW Medical School. My hobbies are woodworking and home repair, both for the Seattle Shambhala center and for low income folks through a fantastic local organization called Rebuilding Together Seattle.

Years Meditation: 6

How has meditation been of benefit to you? It has allowed me to deal with stress in a much more even-keeled way, and allowed me to gain a much better perspective on failing (which happens almost constantly in scientific research). I also find the teachings intellectually stimulating and challenging, which has opened whole new horizons for me to contemplate.

How has Seattle Shambhala been of benefit to you? I have been very happy to find a community of people who are warm, engaging and thoughtful, and who have a passion for helping others. I particularly value the community’s non-dogmatic approach to Buddhism, and their willingness to engage with my sometimes idiosyncratic perspectives.

What’s your favorite activity, open house night, holiday or other center program? and why? I particularly like the weekend programs since it gives me a chance to let some of the daily preoccupations fade way and become more immersed in the teachings and the meditation.

What was your first experience at Shambhala like? I came to the Ballard satellite center when it was first starting up and although I wasn’t sure whether or not I would like it, I was struck by how welcoming the group was, and I liked the mixture of 30 minutes of meditation and 30 minutes reading and discussing some dharma teaching. I still really like the group and the format and am there almost every week.