BRIAN KIMMEL will inspire, encourage and motivate you towards positive change. His loving candor, humor and openness have been a continued inspiration to those seeking happiness, peace and liberation. He is an inspirational speaker, meditation teacher, musician and licensed massage therapist. Through his many offerings you will experience and learn to cultivate great joy for life and a deep-seated peace that lives within your heart.

From an early age, Brian was motivated with a mission to heal the world. He began work with survivors as a survivor himself, and at age twelve testified in court against his former stepfather who sexually abused him. His stepfather’s conviction and imprisonment was an unlikely catalyst that brought him towards awakening his capacity to love, but the healing and recovering had just begun. At age thirteen he began to produce and perform in benefit concerts, and for non-profit organizations, to showcase his original compositions and to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes. His early life, though supported in many ways by his gifts in music, was a tumultuous journey through depression, anxiety, thoughts of committing suicide, shame, guilt and an intense frustration over a society that could not support his deeply needed transformation. He discovered yoga and meditation in 1996 which offered to him a support and nourishment he did not find through “conventional” methods. His yoga teacher, Marsha Valentine introduced him to the work of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and over years of practice and in beginning to teach the skills that he had learned including: mindful-breathing, stretching, walking meditation, deep listening and total relaxation the conditions of his life improved. A peaceful approach to healing and recovering soon revealed itself, and with it came the motivation to share his insight with others.

Brian began to lead groups interested in mindfulness meditation in 1999. The practices he offers, though deeply influenced by Engaged Buddhism, are ecumenical, and can be put into practice by anyone, from any tradition who would like to learn how to bring their mind and body back together, to embrace life and to live free of anxiety and despair. He has continued writing music and performing, and has traveled the world sharing his message of love and living in beauty. He moved to Las Vegas from Washington State in 2004, and with the help of friends founded the Tuesday Night Mindfulnes Group that he continues to help guide and facilitate. In 2006 after several years of mentorship and training he was ordained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village, France, as a lay member of the Order of Interbeing, an international community made up of monks, nuns and laypeople helping to build and support communities of mindful living and social service projects around the world. He traveled with the International Plum Village Delegation to Vietnam in 2007, and spent three-months on retreat at Deer Park Monastery with the community in 2008. Brian is currently in the process of writing a book for survivors, and offers talks, workshops and retreats on the topic of healing and recovering.

   THE ORDER OF INTERBEING- was formed by Thich Nhat Hanh and his associates in the mid-1960s at a time when the Vietnam War was escalating and the teachings of the Buddha were desperately needed to combat the hatred, violence, and divisiveness enveloping his country. From its inception and into the present, the Order has been comprised of all four membership categories of the original Buddhist community: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen.

According to the Charter of the Order of Interbeing, “The aim of the Order is to actualize Buddhism by studying, experimenting with, and applying Buddhism by studying modern life.” Understanding can only be attained through direct experience. The results of the practice should be tangible and verifiable. The Charter lists four principles as the foundation of the Order:

1. Nonattachment from views: To be attached means to be caught in dogmas, prejudices, habits, and what we consider to be the Truth. The first aim of the practice is to be free of all attachments, especially attachments to views. This is the most important teaching of Buddhism.
2. Direct experimentation: Buddhism emphasizes the direct experience of reality, not speculative philosophy. Direct practice-realization, not intellectual research, brings about insight. Our own life is the instrument through which we experiment with truth.
3. Appropriateness: A teaching, in order to bring about understanding and compassion, must reflect the needs of people and the realities of society. To do this, it must meet two criteria: it must conform with the basic tenets of Buddhism, and it must be truly helpful and relevant. It is said that there are 84,000 Dharma doors through which one can enter Buddhism. For Buddhism to continue as a living source of wisdom and peace, even more doors should be opened.
4. Skillful means (upaya): Skillful means consist of images and methods created by intelligent teachers to show the Buddha’s Way and guide people in their efforts to practice the Way in their own particular circumstances. These means are called Dharma doors.

   Treasure Root Sangha- Treasure Root Sangha started to meet in 2004 as a small group of practitioners in Green Valley, Henderson as the Tuesday Night Mindfulness Group.  Many of us met through a local Vipassana Group and wanted to start meeting to practice in the Tradition of Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh.  With continued support we met weekly and monthly for days of mindfulness and weekend retreats.  The group was moved to the northwest side of Las Vegas in 2005.  We continue to meet on a regular basis and by e-mail announcement.  Our meetings usually consist of Sitting, Walking, Deep Listening Meditation and a short evening program.