Damien Abel

Damien Abel is a mentor, meditation & qigong instructor and a father of three. He draws on his training in Buddhism and comparative religion to help people find meaning, direction and peace in their lives.

Damien studied Comparative Religion at the University of Washington in the early 2000s. Following his formal studies, Damien went on to study and train in Buddhism, qigong and health with a variety of teachers and mentors through numerous training sessions, certification programs and retreats.

Damien’s teaching and practice focuses on:

• Developing a strong altruistic attitude

• Deeply contemplating death and impermanence and integrating the lessons that come out of that

• Building a strong capacity to abide in open presence

• Staying flexible and working dynamically with the actual circumstances of one’s life

• Training in cultivating joy and gratitude

Damien’s Leadership History

Since 2010 Damien has been personal mentor to dozens of students through Skype and on the phone. Through these mentoring programs, Damien has guided several students out of addiction, helped many find and build a daily spiritual practice, helped students find a balance between purpose and family and taught many how to find and listen to their own inner mentor.

Between 2012-2019 Damien was the host of the Vajra Body Vajra Mind podcast.

Damien has taught meditation in several Buddhist communities, and taught qigong at Thrive Fitness in Maple Valley, WA.

Damien served as Vice President of the Northwest Dharma Association between 2012-2014.

He currently works as paraeducator with special needs children, as a substitute teacher and as a stay at home Dad.

George Draffan

George is a Seattle-based teacher and coach who is passionately interested in bringing together diverse Buddhist and Taoist practices to benefit people.

He began studying Buddhism at the University of Wisconsin in the 1970s. Since then he’s received instruction and participated in many retreats with teachers in the Tibetan, Theravadin, and Zen Buddhist traditions. 

He’s also practiced Taoist philosophy and qigong for many years. His practice of embodied movement has been deeply influenced by physical labor, mountain hiking, and the gentle therapy of Feldenkrais. 

George’s practice and teaching emphasizes:

• Direct awareness of the body as the ground of all experience

• Relying on compassion, awareness, and skillful means

• Maintaining intention and flexibility in the midst of daily life activities 

Other influences for which George is grateful include:

• The mountains, rivers, and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest.

• The ecstatic, all-embracing empathy of the poet Walt Whitman, and the simple humanity of the poet Tu Fu.

• The writings of Stoic philosophers, who challenge us to use our innate abilities to free ourselves from self-imposed confusion and reactions. 

George has been a volunteer with the Northwest Dharma Association for more than 25 years, organizing events and at various times serving on the board and as executive director.

For a long time he worked as a freelance researcher and writer for grassroots groups. His current day job is residential landscaping.

If stubborn habits of attachment and aversion are not reversed, then meditation is as meaningless as a gopher hibernating in a hole.
~ Jamgon Kongtrul