Donald Altman, M.A. LPC, is an award-winning writer who has spent time as a Buddhist monk in the Theravadan tradition and training with the Venerable U. Silananda. Donald works extensively with mindful meditation in his own life, as well as offering these tools to others through his books and classes. He teaches mindfulness and spiritual values around the country. He is dedicated to bringing these ancient practices in tune with modern living and to invite wellness into our stress-filled lives. Donald is also a member of the Burma Buddhist Association and the Dzogchen Foundation. Donald lives in the Portland area with his wife and their cats. An avid motorcyclist, he enjoys riding his motorcycle along the beautiful Oregon coast.

Counseling: Donald is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who obtained his Master's Degree from Lewis and Clark College (2004), where he was honored to present the commencement speech for his graduating class. For over three years he has worked as a Senior Mental Health Therapist at the Providence St. Vincent Eating Clinic. He is also the co-founder of West Linn Counseling, where he provides individual and group therapy. As a therapist, he takes a mindfulness-centered approach that is based on the idea that each client can tap into her or his own wisdom.

Teaching/Community: Donald is an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Graduate School, where he teaches a class on "The Contemplative Dimension in Education and Counseling." Donald has also taught mindfulness at Portland State University (Mindfulness Interventions for Healthcare Professionals) with Greg Crosby, M.A., LPC. In addition, he leads mindfulness retreats at Breitenbush Hot Springs and teaches other mindfulness classes. Donald reaches out to the professional community by serving on the Board of Directors of The Center for Mindful Eating.

Writing: A prolific writer whose career spans more than twenty years, Donald has authored several path-breaking books on mindful living. Donald was a staff writer for an EMMY-Award winning children's television (The Magic Door, CBS Chicago), won an American Medical Writer's Association Award, co-created the first interactive comic strip on America Online, and has had articles appear in New Age Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and Independent Business Magazine, among others.

On Mindfulness:

Ancient mindfulness training teaches how to be in the present moment. Imagine--with mindfulness you walk when you walk, eat when you eat, you pause when you pause, you worry when you worry. In other words, it teaches you to feel the inherent wholeness of your being here and now. Mindfulness brings mind and body into harmony; It gives you the strength and skill necessary to accept this moment for what it is. Most importantly, by seeing the truth, you can have the courage to to show up for your life. So simple a thing, mindfulness. Yet so essential to a joyful life and the full presence of heart and mind

On Living Kindness:

The 10 values of living kindness are often called Sanskrit work "paramis" or "perfections" in Buddhist practice. In truth, they are universal principles that can create a more compassionate, sane, and kind world. These are empowering principles that encourage you to share your gifts with others. Through the gentle and kind application of generosity, effort, patience, simplicity and concentration, wisdom, ethics, truthfulness, resoluteness, equanimity, and loving-kindness, each of us can light a lamp of awakening and lead a life that matters--at work, at home, at play.