Living with an Open Heart

Russell Kolts is a clinical psychologist and professor at Eastern Washington University outside of Spokane, WA, USA. Dr. Kolts is the author of The Compassionate Mind Approach to Managing Your Anger and, with Dennis Tirch and Laura Silberstein, the forthcoming Buddhist Psychology and CBT: A Clinical Guide. He has worked clinically in a wide variety of settings with patients with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, anger and attachment-related problems. He regularly gives presentations and workshops on using compassion and mindfulness-based methods to work with emotional difficulties and life challenges.

Thubten Chodron grew up near Los Angeles. In 1977 she was ordained as a Buddhist nun by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. She studied and practiced Buddhism of the Tibetan tradition for many years in India and Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, Zopa Rinpoche, and other Tibetan masters. She directed the spiritual program at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Italy for nearly two years, studied three years at Dorje Pamo Monastery in France, and was resident teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore. For ten years she was resident teacher at Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle.