Office Hours

“Office Hours” are opportunities for open-ended discussion about Multidharma. Conversations focus on all aspects of the model, including how to apply it in your own particular case. I am a scholar specializing in Asian spiritual and healing traditions, but I embrace a multifaceted approach that celebrates diverse individual experiences. I will try to meet you where you are, but I expect everyone to agree to the following before attending:

1. Please read the book or watch some videos to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary of “threads” I use to talk about the awakening process before joining Office Hours, so that we’re on the same page. Please note that I am not a medical professional, therapist, or coach. Office hours are strictly for informational purposes, and should not be construed as health advice of any kind. What I provide is never a transmission of “ultimate truth,” but rather ideas, concepts, and frameworks that I hope can be helpful for you to make better sense of your spiritual experiences.
2. My participation in these sessions is in no way connected with my “day job” as a university professor. I am exercising my right to independently engage in private religious and spiritual activity in a way that doesn’t involve my employer. That being said, the only professional training I have is as a professor, and these sessions are explicitly modeled after the office hours professors hold with university students. Since this is not a typical satsang, I may speak or behave in ways that are different than what you are expecting. If you do not find what I say or how I say it to be helpful, then I will have no hard feelings about you deciding that these sessions are not for you. 
3. Please respect other participants’ time by keeping your questions brief and to the point. This is not a space for you to relate personal experiences at length. Some people attend Office Hours as invited colleagues and friends of mine. I often will ask these people to share their thoughts with the group in order to introduce an alternative perspective on a particular topic. If you have not been invited in this capacity, please don’t try to teach or explain to others during the meeting. 
4. Please use Zoom’s hand-raising function to queue up to ask a question that changes the subject. If you have a very quick follow-up question that is directly on-point to what is currently being discussed, just unmute yourself and jump in. Also, feel free to use the chat as much as you like during the session to comment or ask questions in passing, but please keep your all of your contributions on-point and constructive. Finally, feel free to ask even the most basic questions about the model; these are usually extraordinarily useful. 
5. You are responsible for the energy you bring into the meeting space and whatever experience you have while participating here. At the same time, it is my responsibility to try to create a positive and supportive space for everyone. If I feel that someone is disregarding any of the expectations or norms listed here, I am required to take appropriate measures to maintain a productive and safe environment — possibly including “uninviting” certain people from these meetings.
6. Whoever you are, wherever you are in your spiritual journey, or whatever you’re going through as a result, you are very welcome in this group. I value and celebrate diversity of experience, backgrounds, ideas, and personalities. Thank you for being here. 🙏