Melina Bondy

Hello! I started meditating in 2003 after I found “Call Me By My True Names,” a poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, on the internet. I soon attended my first retreats in Asia and North America and never looked back. I first studied with Insight teachers Molly Swan and Norman Feldman at home in Canada then in 2012 I ordained with the Vietnamese Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village, France. I spent six challenging and insight-filled years inside the monasteries and another 3+ years outside of the monasteries sharing mindfulness practices with communities across Canada and the US, taking time for longterm silent retreats in the Insight tradition, and training in anti-racism. I’ve now left the robes behind but my dedication to meditation and mindfulness for all remains the same. In the spring of 2021 I knew it was time to return to lay life and share what I've learned with a broader community.

I am a queer, white settler in Canada, a cancer survivor and a writer. It is my honour and my passion to support people in practical and creative ways to develop mindfulness, compassion, and joy in daily life.

You can find out more about me and my work at: www.melinabondy.com

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