Guest Teachers
Richard Skoonberg
Richard began his formal Buddhist practice over 20 years ago at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center. While there, he received the Bodhisattva Precepts in a special ceremony (Jukai) and became a formal Zen student. He often led Newcomers sessions, participated in ceremonies, gave Dharma talks, organized weekend retreats, and was the assistant to the Tenzo (cook). In 2011, Richard joined others in founding Red Clay Sangha, a non-sectarian Buddhist community. There he regularly leads retreats, workshops, and Sunday services. He has studied with teachers in different traditions including Zen, Insight, and Thien Buddhism taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. He is also the co-leader of the Buddhist Meditation Group at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Marietta. Richard has been a Sangha member at the Roswell Insight Meditation Community for over four years.
Richie Essenburg
Richie is the facilitator for Mindful Marietta, a meditation group located in Marietta, GA. He has co-facilitated a local Kalyana Mitta group, and he has been a guest speaker at Roswell Insight Meditation Community and at Wild Heat Meditation Center. He has spent the last several years developing trainings and instructional talks related to the intersection of Western and Buddhist psychology for those new to meditation and experienced meditators.
Richie’s meditation practice and his formal training are based in the Insight/early Buddhist tradition. While his training is rooted in early Buddhism, Richie offers instructions and talks that are inclusive for everyone interested in mindfulness, meditation, and to living a meaningful life free from suffering.
Richie has a passion for sharing mindfulness as a way to better work with stress, anxiety, depression, and the ups and downs of life. Richie’s approach to facilitation and instruction is laid-back, personal, accessible, and compassionate. He hopes all that attend feel a sense of belonging.