NCMC Teachers and Instructors
Ib’nallah S. Kazi Spiritual Director and Meditation Medicine Teacher
Cornelia Santschi Lead Insight Meditation Teacher
Marcie Barth Meditation Teacher
J. Javier Cruz Insight Meditation Teacher
Andrea Lee Meditation & Mindfulness Instructor
Ihsaan R. Muhammad Mindfulness Presenter
Andrew Coombs Mindful Business Presenter
Keyana Jones Mindful Hiking Leader
• For their Bios go to the Leadership Section.
Visiting Monastic Teachers with NCMC
Bhante Buddharakkhita Theravadan Buddhist Meditation
Visiting Lay Teachers with NCMC
Khalil Maasi Moyo Kazi Qigong, Qigong, & Mindfulness Meditation
Dr. Rebecca Li Chan Meditation & Dharma
Shaka Georges Qigong & Taichi
Visiting Presenters & Instructors with NCMC
Kamilah Crawley Mindfulness Presentations
• Go to the Visiting Teacher & Presenter Bios Page to see their Bios.
NCMC also invites guest teachers and instructors to assist us in our programs.
Our Teacher’s Ethical Guidelines
A Teacher recognizes the implicit trust placed in him or her because of the unique power of the Teacher-Student Relationship. A Teacher consciously avoids any relationship with a student that is exploitative in any way, i.e., he or she never uses such a relationship for personal gain or benefit.
It is the responsibility of the Teacher to maintain a conscious and professional relationship with students and with other Teachers. A Teacher recognizes that the Teacher-Student Relationship involves a power imbalance. This is true even with a student who is no longer studying with the Teacher.
Teachers accurately and honestly present their experience, knowledge, and skills and lead from within these contexts. Teachers support an inclusive and safe practice community that welcomes and respects diversity.
As NCMC Teachers:
- we are committed to the principal of non-violence (physical, emotional, social, psycho-spiritual). A Teacher never engages in harassment, abusive words or actions, or coercion of students or former students. A Teacher shows sensitive regard for the moral, social, and religious standards of students, and avoids imposing his or her personal beliefs on others.
- we are committed to the principal of refraining from theft including physical, intellectual, and social property as well as identity, lineage, or associations. We agree to respect the properties of others by not taking what is not given to us or that does not belong to us. We also agree to bring consciousness to the use of all of the earth’s resources in a respectful and ecological way. This means leaving as few traces as possible.
- we are committed to the principal of refraining from false or misleading speech, gossip, and character assassination. We agree to speak that which is true and useful for our students and community. We agree to cultivate conscious clear communication, and to cultivate the quality of loving-kindness and honesty as the basis of our speech.
- we are committed to the principal of restraint from intoxicants that cause heedlessness or loss of awareness. Substance abuse is the cause of tremendous suffering. We agree that there should be no use of intoxicants during programs and retreats or while on premises. We agree not to abuse or misuse intoxicants at any time. We agree that if we are aware of any teacher who has a drug or alcohol addiction problem, to immediately address the issue with the community.
The Teacher-Student Relationship should be nurturing and supportive but with a level of respect for the student’s best interest. With that in mind NCMC Teachers:
- will not advise a student to go against the advice of his or her health care provider.
- will strive to build the student’s connection to the teachings and to his or her own soul and personal spiritual development, rather than to any personality.
- will treat all communication with students with respectful and appropriate confidentiality.
- will refrain from all forms of sexual involvement with students as they are unethical, even when a student invites or consents to such behavior. Sexual behavior includes, but is not limited to, all forms of overt and covert seductive speech, gestures, and actions.
- will refrain from all forms of financial involvement with students as they are discouraged and may be subject to a disciplinary review. Financial involvement includes but is not limited to loans, gifts, and business relationships. Donations or gifts for teaching or mentoring services is acceptable. If you have any question about financial involvement, contact us at info@newarkmeditation.org.
(The last two points shall be in effect for as long as the Teacher is in a Teacher-Student Relationship and for not less than 6 months after the student has ceased taking any classes or training from the Teacher.)
If a Teacher is unable to continue the teacher-student relationship, the Teacher will, upon the request of the student, connect the student to other appropriate Teacher resources via NCMC.