Ann Shawhan
I have been on a spiritual journey for as long as I can remember. As a child, I searched for a deeper understanding of compassion in the New Testament. In my late teens and twenties, I was drawn to the practice of yoga, influenced by Richard Hittleman and B.K.S. Iyengar. Over time, my path expanded to include the study of psychology and various forms of Buddhist practice. Discovering TWIM transformed my life, bringing a peace and clarity I hadn’t known before. If you feel called to explore this practice more deeply, I warmly invite you to join one of the online retreats I offer through the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center. You can learn more and register HERE.
- ANN SHAWHAN, FNP-C
- PROFILE: Meditation Coach, Nurse Practitioner, Retired
- LOCATION: Blackburg, Virginia
- CONTACT: annshawhan@aol.com
Bio
In her formal education, Ann pursued creative arts and medicine where she earned multiple degrees. Beginning is 1974, she was a resident student at Still Point Institute—a meditation center in California where she studied Theravada Buddhism and practiced vipassana and other types of meditation techniques. As a dedicated practitioner, she attended dozens of lengthy silent retreats led by renowned teachers including Anagarika Munindra, Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzburg, and Venerable U. Silananda Thera.
In 2008, she began to practice tranquil wisdom insight meditation—TWIM mentored by the Venerable Bhante Vimalarmasi. Ann’s enthusiasm to practice prompted her to ordain temporarily as a Buddhist samaneri, or novice nun, where she was precepted and mentored and by Vernerable Bhikkhuni Obhasa. Subsequently, she received teaching training and teaching experience at the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center and certified as a TWIM meditation guide.
Ann is the mother of two daughters and a retired FNP-C certified family nurse practitioner. When she is not meditating, Ann loves to garden at the family Virginia home. She continues to lead online retreats regularly and welcomes new students to learn TWIM throught the Dhamma Sukkha Online retreat program.
Ann's Ordination in 2022
Ann trained as a Buddhist samaneri, or novice nun in a two week temporarily ordaination at Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center in southeast Missouri. She was precepted and mentored and by Vernerable Bhikkhuni Obhasa, a fully ordained Buddhist nun, Buddhist studies, and meditation teacher.
