We are happy to introduce our two newest board members:
Connie Rhodes and Terry Varner.
Connie Rhodes
Hi All! I feel honored and excited to be a part of Mid America Dharma’s board. Their presence in the community is a gift to all who are participating including those who are giving service. Thank you! Learning, teaching and sharing the Dharma is close to my heart.
I live in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. I have been practicing Vipassana meditation
since 2005. Insight Meditation is my primary practice. I have had the privilege of learning from the teachings of Robert Brumet, my primary in house teacher.
I have led in house retreats at Unity Village Headquarters and have participated in many residential retreats as well as on line retreats. I completed The Power of Awareness course with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach in 2022.
In January, 2023, I completed a two year program, Mindfulness Meditation Teachers Certified Program (MMTCP). This was sponsored by Sounds True, Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. My practice has led me to Temple Buddhist Center (TBC) in Kansas City, Missouri for learning and practicing the teachings of the Buddha as well as participating in many book studies.
I’m looking forward to being of service with Mid America Dharma, learning,
growing spiritually and being a light for those looking to deepen their practice.
Terry Varner
I became a member of the board of Mid America Dharma in the fall of 2022. I was happy to accept the invitation to join the board. I look forward to helping out in every way I can to develop the practice of the Dharma in the Midwest. I am sure my involvement with Mid America Dharma will help me to continue my practice and help others receive the teachings as well.
I began my study and practice of Buddhism in 2011 when my brother invited me to attend a sangha in Webster Groves, Missouri (just outside of St. Louis). I was intrigued to say the least. I enjoyed the Dharma talks given by the teachers, which included Bridget Rolens and Jon Yaffe, and I tried my best to sit still for 30 minutes in meditation. With these first attempts at meditation I believed I was off on a great journey of spiritual growth. And I still believe that today.
Over the 12 years since sitting my first sangha I have attended many retreats in the Midwest. Some of the teachers I have had the pleasure of sitting with include Bridget Rolens, Jon Yaffe, Shinzen Young, Shaila Catherine, Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia, Philip Jones, Rebecca Bradshaw, David Chernikoff, and Annie Nugent. I haven’t attended a residential retreat since early 2020, the beginning of the covid pandemic; but I hope I can soon have the meaningful experience of another residential retreat.
On the last day of 2020, I suffered a stroke. (I’m 68 years old.) Although it was a relatively mild stroke—I didn’t have any paralysis or significant cognitive impairment—my practice, especially meditation, was impaired. Today I can say that, fortunately, I am again practicing at the level I was at before the stroke.
In July of last year, I moved from St. Louis to Lexington, Kentucky. I am, however, still connected to the St. Louis sangha. Online, I attend Lucy Freeman’s biweekly Metta Group and Bridget Rolens’ weekly Dharma meeting. I am also a member of the Joy Group, a biweekly, online book club featuring the best Dharma-oriented books.
Through it all I have learned much about compassion, wisdom, the cessation of suffering and the development of joy—ideas that will serve me well and which I find…enlightening.