Working with Mugen | Awakening Dharma

“I was drawn to Stephen because he talks openly and concisely about the jhānas and how to have deeper realisations with these meditations. Being able to talk about these practices in a practical manner has shown me the possibilities of where the practice can lead to.”

“I met Stephen during an incredibly difficult time… his gentle questioning, ‘What else is here?’ transmitted a recognition of great beauty in me that I’d neglected to see. In finding my own innate goodness, I came to know the innate goodness of life itself.”

“Stephen guided me into a whole new aspect of meditation that changed my perception of what meditation is about. In one-on-one meetings, Stephen always has useful and loving advice to offer.”

“Because of daily meditation practice and Stephen’s guidance, I feel more tender, capable, and peaceful in all aspects of life.”

“Stephen teaches in a clear, grounded, and thoughtful way, with a dash of humor. He has been an anchor for me as my practice has progressed over the years.”

“Stephen is the first teacher I have worked with who leaves me without a sense of inner conflict and whose conduct matches his teaching.”

“With Stephen’s thoughtful guidance—both in group talks and one-on-one sessions—I found a deep and lasting connection with my heart, and a taste of inner peace.”

Getting Acquainted

Meditation Teacher: Stephen Mugen Snyder, Sensei

Many students first discover Mugen through either word of mouth, his books, from interviews he’s given, or from his YouTube channel. These are all great ways to become acquainted with his teachings.

Next, you might want to attend a monthly sangha meeting, an online daylong retreat, or schedule a one-on-one.

Monthly Sangha

Joining the monthly sangha meetings is quite easy. These are 1-hour Zoom calls which include a teaching and a meditation. New faces are always welcome and there are many attendees showing up for the first time each month, so you probably won’t be the only one.

Online Daylong Retreat

Mugen teaches 1-day Zoom retreats regularly on different topics. These are usually 4-5 hours long and the typical format is a mixture of teaching, Q&A, breaks, and about three meditation sessions. Students comment at being surprised at how deep their meditations go for a 1-day retreat.

One-on-one

One-on-ones are a great chance to receive personalized instruction. You can talk about your practice more in depth and receive guidance about what programs to sign-up for. Sign-up for a complimentary 15-minute introductory consultation.

Working with Mugen on a Regular Basis

It is hard to generalize because there is no single pattern students follow but regular online teachings, one-on-ones, and in-person retreats should be considered. Regular contact helps build the student/teacher relationship and support students’ practice.

Online Mentoring Programs

Most students who work with Mugen on a regular basis join one or more of the monthly online mentoring programs. These are typically the same format as the online daylong retreats except the group becomes more cohesive and the meditations go deeper with regular practice.

Monthly One-on-Ones

Many students do a regular 30-minute one-on-one session once per month. Some students do more or less frequent one-on-ones, it just depends on what is unfolding in your practice.

In-Person Retreats

For students who are able to attend, regular in-person retreat practice is highly encouraged. It is helpful to first join some daylongs or a monthly mentoring group before attending an in-person retreat. Although, some students jump straight into an in-person retreat and this is also fine. There are numerous students who do not attend in-person retreats for many different reasons, so please don’t be discouraged if this is you.

Receiving the Precepts (Jukai)

Jukai is a commitment to yourself and to the path:

Students receive the precepts in a ceremony called Jukai.
Students commit to living by the sixteen bodhisattva precepts to the best of their ability.
Lastly, jukai formalizes the student/teacher relationship with a particular teacher (this is not a commitment forever, but for a period of time).

Steps include:

Communicate with Mugen about your interest in Jukai.
Attend a multi-month Zen precepts course which is taught semi-regularly (self-paced course coming soon).
Attend either six-months of a mentoring program and/or an in-person retreat. This is important so that Mugen has a chance to get to know you well enough to be able to choose a Dharma name for you.
Sew your own Rakusu.
Receive the precepts in a Jukai ceremony.

Jukai is only for students who feel moved to do it. Some students aren’t moved even if they’ve worked with Stephen a long time, and that is perfectly fine.

Some students attend the precepts course and don’t take Jukai.

Ethical Conduct

Association for Spiritual Integrity

The Association for Spiritual Integrity’s (ASI) mission is to foster the fundamental role of strong ethical principles in the ongoing development of spiritual leaders and communities. The ASI is a voluntary, inclusive, international organization of spiritual leaders, teachers and guides.

Awakening Dharma teachers abide by the ASI Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice and support their process for grievance procedures.

Awakening Dharma also asks that students review the student guidelines which offer wonderful advice to empower individuals on the spiritual path.

What is the role of a teacher?

Mugen is a warm-hearted teacher and creates a supportive environment but he isn’t the right teacher for everyone.

Are spiritual teachers necessary?

Working with a spiritual teacher can be incredibly helpful and rewarding.

All of Awakening Dharma’s teachers have spent years working under other teachers and still regard themselves as students on the path.

A realized teacher is teaching from their direct experience rather than from theory or concept. Locate a teacher who resonates with truth in a way you can see. Ask yourself, “Will I be content if I live from a similar realization?” This is important because few teachers can guide students into territories they themselves have not mastered.

― Stephen Mugen Snyder, Demystifying Awakening