ROBERT CUSICK trained at Stanford University in the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). He is a Certified Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) Instructor and teaches at Stanford University and in multiple other venues. He studied in the Soto Zen tradition while in residence at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, in the Ridhwan School’s Diamond approach with A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), and in the Dedicated Practioner’s Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center with Jack Kornfield and others.

As a long time meditator and former monk, Robert ordained in Burma under the renowned meditation master, Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, and studied with him from 2003 – 2012. Before leaving for Burma, he participated in the second Buddhist Chaplaincy training offered through the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies. Upon returning to the U.S., he served as the Retreats Program Manager, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He additionally trained with Frank Ostaseski and served for several years as a volunteer caregiver at the Zen Hospice Project ‘Guesthouse’ in San Francisco. Robert currently serves as an Educational Training Consultant to Kara in Palo Alto, CA where he provides 1:1 bereavement support and grief counseling for adults and children and teaches and co-facilitates trainings for Kara’s Adult, Youth & Family, and Community Outreach programs. Robert sits on the Board of Directors of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies.