Well, what would you like to know about me?

I’ve made the worst mistakes possible, in all facets of my life. And I’ve tried to learn from them.

I’ve had huge heartbreaks, and I’ve recovered. Sometimes more slowly than other times. But I’ve recovered.

I’ve come to see our Spiritual Lives as the ground we walk on, what feeds all the rest of our lives—relationships, work, peace of mind. And when we focus on enhancing our Spiritual Path, everything gets better. Miraculous!

I began my meditation practice in 1976, in my first year of college, and discovered a whole new world that inspired me then, and has lasted all these years to continue to inspire me today.

I’ve worked as a Spiritual Coach and Narrative Therapist since 1986. And I’ve led dozens of workshops, retreats, meditations, courses, and more, and trained hundreds of therapists in the Narrative Approach and in Family Therapy.

I’ve also led 119 portrayals through what I call “Living Theater”, portraying Mahatma Gandhi in the U.S. and in India, and given talks on bringing his philosophy into modern life. Over six trips to India, I’ve dressed in his garb, bringing his iconic presence into universities, schools, and peace festivals, teaching on Gandhi’s life and message.

I even was asked to give a talk on Gandhi’s philosophy to a group of social work students who were visiting Gandhi’s Sabamarti Ashram in Ahmedabad, with me sitting on his very seat in his home—I couldn’t stop crying! (The Gandhi portrayals and talks have been a very wonderful highlight of my life, I can assure you! Read a bit more about my incredible journey below … )

Throughout all the challenges, heartbreaks, triumphs, and successes, I’ve learned one important thing:

                        We human beings are infinitely resilient

                            when we set our minds to being so.

Nothing can stop a person who is determined to make their life great— Nothing.

My purpose in life is to help others see this power in themselves, and make it be real.

I’d love for you to get a copy of my first book that’s being completed here in 2022:

Becoming God: Discovering & Owning Your Divine Life

This book is a compilation of my own personal spiritual work along with my years of serving people as their Spiritual Coach.

It’s a challenging title, I know. Me, God? What are you talking about??? Have you lost it, Don?

No, I haven’t.

There’s a power invested in us, that is accessible to us all. And we don’t have to go out and create these god-ideas-and-stories in order to make sense of that power. We can own it, and live with it, and nurture and take care of It, and make use of this power in our daily lives.

It’s our’s if we’ll just find it and keep it.

“When the ripple recognizes its true nature as the ocean, that is a magnificent thing.” —Eckhart Tolle

Join me on this most exciting journey!

My personal spiritual path has led me to study many powerful teachings from great people who have lit the way. And in particular, I became a student of Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings around the 100th anniversary of his beginning the great social movement in South Africa that he started in 1906, which he called, Satyagraha. 

This movement and philosophy of justice and social change became known around the world as the practice of Non-Violence. So many people around the world, millions in truth, have been freed from colonialism, racial and gender oppression and dictatorships through the application of Gandhi’s philosophy and courageous action. 

A more accurate way to describe this powerful stand might be Non-Violent Non-Cooperation, With Love. That’s what Gandhi developed way back in 1906, and it  continues to inspire the world to this day.

Becoming “Mr. Gandhi” …

So on 9/11/2006, I hosted a celebration of the birth of Satyagraha at the Unitarian Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the U.S.A. This 100th Anniversary of Satyagraha was being celebrated around the world, so as my contribution to this global celebration I held a showing of the movie, “Gandhi” at my church, and then a discussion afterward. It went really well, and the church asked me to do a follow up discussion on Gandhi’s principles.

I did so, and that one went really well also. So I was asked to come back and do a pre-service event on a Sunday morning about five months ahead. I made a joke, saying, “Well, since Mr. Gandhi and I share the same hairstyle, why don’t I just come as him?” I never imagined that this joke would lead to a life-changing series of events for the next 14 years, leading up to today.

I did show up that day as “Mr. Gandhi”, and the audience got fully into the “Living Theater”, asking questions of me as “Gandhiji”, personal questions, political questions, spiritual questions. I stayed in character, and found a “voice” within that I never knew was there.

One 90 year old gentleman came up to me after the portrayal, and with tears in his eyes, thanked me for “nailing it”. He told me the story of his having followed Gandhi’s non-violent philosophy during World War II, refusing to kill, and being sent to prison at work camps along with other people who refused to fight. His life had been a testament to Gandhi’s philosophy. I was so honored by his words of thanks. 

This portrayal touched my heart and soul. I felt lifted up in my spirit. And it inspired me to do more, and that only grew over time, including six trips to India at the invitation of friends I let know about my portrayals of Gandhi. I’ve now taught Gandhiji’s philosophy 119 times, to thousands of people around the world, at universities, high schools, churches and peace festivals.

Bringing out my “Inner Gandhi” has changed my life, not just through all the teaching and thousands of wonderful, inspirational people who I’ve met, but changed my own heart and mind to be more compassionate, more kind, and more courageous in the face of injustice.

Gandhi has changed me for the better. And I’m so grateful for his presence in my life.