Nikki is of Persian heritage, and was introduced to contemplative practices and yoga in the early 1980's, to meditation in 1991, and to Theravada Buddhism in 2003. She has studied with various Western and Eastern teachers, with a keen interest in intensive silent retreats. She studied jhanas and detailed analytical vipassana with the renowned meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw who instructed her to teach. She is also a Spirit Rock authorized retreat teacher, a Stanford trained compassion cultivation instructor, and a UCLA certified mindfulness facilitator. She teaches Buddhist meditation and contemplation nationally, and in particular, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, where she also serves on their Board of Directors. Nikki holds a Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley and has had an active career as an Artificial Intelligence scientist in academia and industry for over two decades.
A guided invitation to relax, and receive the sensations of the body, brushing with awareness from the hands, up to the face and down to the feet. And then opening the aparture of awareness further.
The last two characteristics of flowing and cohesion of the water element complete the instructions on the 12 characteristics of the four elements meditation.
At first glance, the four elements meditation practice may appear as an archaic understanding of the world. However, they reveal how we construct and perceive our world from a phenomenological perspective that connects to the Copenhagen interpretation of the quantum theory.
Vipassana as process (vs. content) meditation. Lucid dreaming practice as a method to examine our waking reality. Seeing the three characteristics of existence as the aspects of ultimate reality.
