Part 6 of Encountering Basic Goodness: Mind

In this 8-session exploration David Perrin & Shanté Paradigm Smalls lead meditators of any practice level in cultivating stability, clarity, and strength in body, speech, and mind through meditation techniques which draw on ancient wisdom for the contemporary world. Each session consists of short talks, meditation sessions, Q&A, and experiential learning. Sessions are 90 minutes and can be attended live or students can watch the recoding later.

Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls (They/Them) is a teacher and student in Vajrayana/Tantric Buddhism. They currently study under Lama Rod Owens and Lama Justin von Bujdoss, co-founders of Bhumisparsha. Shanté began studying and practicing Buddhism at age 17 and has practiced in Zen, Sokka Gakkai International, Shambhala, and Bhumisparsa communities. They began on the teaching path in 2009 and were authorized by the Shambhala lineage to teach meditation and buddhadharma in 2015. Shanté is focused on the healing impact of meditation in Black, Indigenous communities, and People of Color communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and incarcerated and recovery communities. Shanté is a Teacher on the Liberate App and is a Lead Teacher on Weekly Dharma Gathering, which they co-founded and curate. Shanté identifies as a Black person descended from enslaved and trafficked African Indigenous people. Shanté is queer and genderqueer. They live on Canarsie Munsee Lenapehoking Territory (Brooklyn, NY).
For my teaching schedule and podcasts/youtube videos, please see: https://linktr.ee/shanteparadigm
Teachers: Lama Rod Owens and Lama Justin von Bujdoss

Lineage: Tantric/Vajrayana: Shambhala, Kagyu, Nyingma, Rimé

Sangha: I do not belong to any organized sangha. I practice with emergent Black and BIPOC communities, as well as Bhumisparsha, Weekly Dharma Gathering, and Racial Justice & Dharma

Root Guru: The Kongma Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche*.
*NB: In 2018, credible allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse were revealed against Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, to read more about this: https://bit.ly/32RqR5R. I have not studied or practiced with the Sakyong since 2018.

Private Instruction:If you would like to work with Shanté as a private meditation student, please email their Dharma Assistant, Daesha Elliott at assistant AT shanteparadigm DOT com. Shanté is currently prioritizing Black and Indigenous, and People of Color students, as well as Queer, Trans, and Intersex students. This is a dana-based (donation) relationship.