Jeffrey Brooks, the founder of the Great Western Vehicle (an engaged western contemplative tradition), was a simple householder who studied and practiced ethics, philosophy and contemplative practices in his spare time for over 30 years. His contemplative lifestyle has been based upon a daily practice of ethical conduct, study and reflection, journaling and meditation. Through this practice path he has mastered the 8 meditative absorption states (jhana/samadhi), as well as many of the spiritual faculties (lokuttara balani), such as a pleasant abiding in the here and now (Di.t.thadhammasukhavihaaraa), knowledge & vision (vipassana), Out-of-Body (manomaya), clairaudience (dibba-sota) and recollection of past-lives (pubbenivasanussati). Jeff has since retired from the householder life, took up monasticism, went on a 3-year retreat, and taught himself the Sanskrit and Pali languages. He now teaches the contemplative arts and philosophy and translates Asian literature full-time.
While this retreat is geared to the advanced contemplative who is either interested in cultivating meditative absorption (samadhi) or has attained it and wishes skilled guidance, due to Jeff’s skillful practice of meditation and the associated attainments (phala) he has been leading several international peer-level web-based dialog groups in service to advanced contemplatives, thus he is qualified to advise students at any level of experience.
