Interview: Mary Stancavage

About Mary Stancavage: ABOUT MARY STANCAVAGEI started cultivating a spiritual practice over 30 years ago and picked up my first Buddhist book, Start Where You Are by Pema Chödrön soon after that. It resonated with me so completely – this was the life I was attempting to live. I practiced meditation sporadically over the next several years and had a regular yoga practice. In 2005 I began studying with Noah Levine and eventually completed the first cohort of his teacher training. I was empowered to teach Buddhadharma in 2009 and have been facilitating groups and teaching ever since. I have also studied with Arinna Weisman, Ruth King, Gil Fronsdal and James Baraz.As part of my teaching life I taught meditation in recovery centers in Los Angeles. These practices can offer a way out for so many suffering from addiction and indeed, have helped me in my own recovery of over 37 years. I also completed the Chaplaincy Training Program through the Sati Center and served as a volunteer chaplain at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles.  The Year to Live practice, based on the book by Stephen Levine, was transformational for me and I have facilitated several groups over the years and continue to bring this much needed practice and reflection on our mortality and humanity to my students. For me info: https://marystancavage.org/