Teachers

Bodhi Path Teachers

Bart Mendel

Bart has been a Buddhist practitioner and teacher for over 40 years and has taught extensively throughout the US, Canada and Europe. From years of mixing the dharma with an endless stampede of worldly challenges, Bart’s teaching style has evolved into a natural blend of eloquence, insight and humor.

Immediately upon meeting his first teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1976, Bart embarked on an intense path of practice and study. Through accomplishment of numerous solitary and group retreats, Bart has spent over two years in retreat practicing the various teachings and empowerments he received from Trungpa Rinpoche. Bart served as Resident Director of Shambhala Training in both Austin, TX and Halifax, Canada where he resided from 1986-1995.

Bart became a student of the 14th Shamarpa in 1995 and two years later, he and his wife Suzan Garner accepted Shamarpa’s invitation to establish a Bodhi Path Center in Santa Barbara where Bart served as resident teacher for ten years.  Bart and Suzan are Directors of Dharmakaya, Inc and Siddhartha Foundation International. In 2015 they founded the nonprofit Mindworks.org that provides a complete online program of mindfulness and Buddhist meditation training, which includes teachings by many of the Bodhipath teachers.