Cecilie Kwiat, a meditation teacher with some skill in crafting traditional practices to accommodate those with emotional difficulties, considers herself to be a Buddhist practitioner rooted in North American culture. She was attracted to the Buddha’s teaching by her first teacher Venerable Ananda Bodhi (later recognised as Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche by the His Holiness the XVIth Gyalwa Karmapa), who suggested that she consider stopping inner, rather than outer, wars. Since the mid-1960s she has had the good fortune to receive teachings from many excellent teachers from the three main schools of Sakyamuni Buddha’s lineage. For this rare and precious gift of Dharma she is most grateful. For many years Cecilie has focused on developing non-clinging, compassionate awareness to still the fires of suffering and ignorance, and her teaching aims to increase love, skill and a respect for the gift of what is present. She has taught extensively in North America, England, France, New Zealand/Aotearoa, and Australia. Currently she resides in Alberta, Canada. For more information : www.novayana.org