Jon Bernie, author of Ordinary Freedom and The Unbelievable Happiness of What Is—Beyond Belief to Love, Fulfillment and Spiritual Awakening, is a contemporary spiritual teacher who offers a compassionate, heart-centered approach to awakening. From his early years growing up as an artist and concert violinist, Bernie always had a keen, questioning mind. This led him to discover a self-inquiry process that led to a life-changing spiritual awakening at the age of 16. Despite thinking he was on his way to medical school, he ended up becoming a Zen Monk.
Bernie’s teaching focuses on returning the attention to the already enlightened state that lies at the core of our human existence. He has four decades of practice and study in the Zen, Theravada Buddhist, and Advaita traditions, and was formally asked to teach by Adyashanti in 2002. He is also an experienced healer and teacher of somatic embodiment, trained in the Alexander Technique, Zero Balancing, Self Acceptance Training, and the Qigong system of Dr. Yu Penxi.
Jon Bernie works closely with individuals to facilitate awakening and deep emotional healing, and leads classes, intensives, and retreats in the San Francisco Bay Area and nationally. He also does intensive, one-on-one work with individuals both in person, and by phone or video chat.