Matthew Flickstein
Encyclopedia
Matthew Flickstein is a teacher of insight (vipassana
) meditation. He was formerly a psychotherapist, and at one time was ordained as a Buddhist monk in the Theravada
tradition.
Flickstein’s primary teacher has been the Venerable Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
In 1982, Flickstein and Bhante Gunaratana co-founded the Bhavana Society Monastic and Meditation Center in West Virginia.
In 1993 he founded the Forest Way, a non-profit organization that provides a variety of retreat opportunities designed to nurture authentic spiritual growth. One of its guiding principles is to support a unified vision of spirituality in the world.
In 2007, Flickstein embarked on an ambitious path to produce a documentary film to promote spirituality and peace, entitled "With One Voice." The program interviews mystics and spiritual leaders from fifteen different traditions to attempt to discover the common truth among all faiths. It has been released worldwide on broadcast television and home video. In 2009, the film, co-produced by Canyon Productions
, Inc., won two Bronze Telly Awards.
Vipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
) meditation. He was formerly a psychotherapist, and at one time was ordained as a Buddhist monk in the Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
tradition.
Flickstein’s primary teacher has been the Venerable Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
In 1982, Flickstein and Bhante Gunaratana co-founded the Bhavana Society Monastic and Meditation Center in West Virginia.
In 1993 he founded the Forest Way, a non-profit organization that provides a variety of retreat opportunities designed to nurture authentic spiritual growth. One of its guiding principles is to support a unified vision of spirituality in the world.
In 2007, Flickstein embarked on an ambitious path to produce a documentary film to promote spirituality and peace, entitled "With One Voice." The program interviews mystics and spiritual leaders from fifteen different traditions to attempt to discover the common truth among all faiths. It has been released worldwide on broadcast television and home video. In 2009, the film, co-produced by Canyon Productions
Canyon Productions
Canyon Productions is a video-production company founded in 1992 by filmmaker Eric Temple. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, Canyon Productions does documentary and corporate video production...
, Inc., won two Bronze Telly Awards.
Books
- Journey to the Center, Wisdom Publications 1998. ISBN 9780861711413
- Swallowing the River Ganges, Wisdom Publications 2001. ISBN 9780861711789
- The Meditator's Atlas, Wisdom Publications 2007. ISBN 9780861713370
External links
- The Forest Way http://www.forestway.org
- Flickstein article on the Impediments to the Practice of Insight Meditation http://www.soulfulliving.com/insightmeditation.htm
- The Bhavana Society http://www.bhavanasociety.org
- "With One Voice" documentary http://www.withonevoicedocumentary.org/index.htm