MONROE — Mark Winwood, who founded a Tibetan Buddhist group in Florida, moved to Monroe and is offering weekly teachings on a 2,500-year-old religion that remains unfamiliar to many Americans.
People interested in learning more include some who simply are intellectually curious to those going through difficult times in their lives with health, relationships or financial issues, he said.
The teachings, which are free, aren’t designed as personal therapy sessions. But “over and over I’ve heard from people who come to these teachings that say, ‘This has been so helpful in what I’m going through or gone through.’ ” He summarizes his teachings as “installing Western life with Tibetan Buddhism compassion.”
Winwood, 63, has experienced some of life’s challenges himself. As a founding vice president of law.com, he rode the heady wave of the dotcom boom followed by its economic collapse when that bubble burst. He’s been divorced twice. He has six children and two grandchildren. “I’ve lived through things that everyone lives through,” he said.
It was some of these very experiences that finally led him to a “what the heck” moment to make a trip to India. There he met Tibetans living in Darmasala, India. The Dalai Lama ended up there after fleeing Tibet following the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. Many other Tibetans soon followed.
Winwood returned to India in 2005 to learn more about their faith and culture. Winwood said he saw characteristics among the Tibetan people “I had never seen in my life,” including a humble, friendly, generous attitude even as they were living as refugees in a Third World country. It was on this trip that he met a Swiss Buddhist nun who told him: Go teach.
When he returned to his home in Florida, he was interviewed by a newspaper reporter who wrote of his interest in sharing his understanding of Buddhism. “A week later, I had a living room full of people,” he said. At the time, it was a little frightening, he said, thinking, “I can tell you about India and Buddha.” Since then, it has become his life’s passion. He formed The Chenrezig Project to help others know more about Buddhism.
He and his fiancee, Kathy Adams, moved to Washington about a year ago and settled on a five-acre farm near Monroe where they have two horses and lots of fruit trees. Teachings are now offered in their home. Winwood said he hopes to someday offer classes at public libraries or a yoga studio.
“I’m not trying to convert anybody,” he said. “I do believe everybody has in their heart the Buddha nature, a perfection of wisdom and compassion.
“Buddhism really is a way to navigate the mind of well-being, which is a mind of mental health and patience,” he said. “It’s very practical. Well-being day-by-day is what this is all about.”
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com
The Chenrezig Project offers non-denominational teachings on Tibetan Buddhism on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at 21616 Yeager Road in Monroe. The meetings are free and open to the public. Those with no Buddhist and meditation experience are welcome to attend, as well as those with regular practices. More information is available at info@chenrezigproject.org or www.ChenrezigProject.org. A recent e-magazine is available at tinyurl.com/o8t6u79.
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