Guest feature: dr. don giles
Dr. Don Giles, Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1995 from the University of Kentucky. He has taught philosophy and world religions for over thirty years.
Don was born into a Catholic family and was raised with a strong sense of commitment to leading a spiritual life. That commitment would eventually lead him to the seminary and theology school, as he considered both priesthood and monasticism as possible vocations. Dr. Giles attended Catholic seminary at St. Pius X and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s - The Athenaeum of Ohio.
Don began his personal, spiritual journey at the age of 14 when he became an apprentice to a Native American Shaman. Don spent seven years learning the art of Shamanism under the direction of his benefactor, Bill. He studied Centering Prayer with developer and spiritual guide, Fr. Thomas Keating, a Cistercian, Trappist monk and priest; spiritual iconography with Orthodox priest and specialist, Fr. Robert Arida; Tonglen, a form of Tibetan Buddhist meditation with Dorje Löppön Lodrö Dorje; tai chi and meditation with Taoist master, Lo Han Tzu; Vipassana (mindfulness) meditation with Burmese Theravada Buddhist master, Venerable U Silananda; Zazen meditation with Soto Zen master, Dainin Katagiri Roshi; spiritual Contemplation with Carmelite nun and monk, Mother Tessa Bielecki; Mysticism with Catholic Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast; Kensho (seeing one’s true nature), Koan (thought-mind-word dilemmas), and Samu (physical work done with mindfulness) training with Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk, Ven. Eido Shimano Roshi; Buddhist meditation with Chinese Buddhist nun, Venerable Yuen Yi; Vajrayana Buddhist teachings with Naropa Institute/University founder, Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche; and the teachings and writings of Thomas Merton with Mr. James Finley. In the summer of 1986, at the age of 26, Don received Dharma transmission and Inka Shõmei in a ceremony held at Naropa (Institute) University which was co-celebrated by Dainin Katagiri Roshi, Soto Zen master, and Burmese Theravada Buddhist master, Venerable U Silananda.
In the academic realm, Dr. Giles has taught at the University of Kentucky, St. Catharine College, the University of St. Francis, within the Kentucky Community College System, and dual-credit courses at various high schools. He has served as President of the Faculty Government, Chair of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Chair of Humanities, Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Don has several books available on Amazon Books in the areas of philosophy and spirituality.
Informally, Don continues to meet with and instruct a number of individual students in a variety of approaches, techniques, and insights from within various spiritual traditions.
In our friendship with Dr. Giles, we have found an abundance of perspective, mysticism, and laughter together. He has exemplified an understanding of karma and dharma that is a joyful opportunity of learning to each of his students. We are honored to have him as a guest that will be offering a class with us on Saturday, October 19, 2024. His class will last from 10am-3pm, with some breaks during class. Class is $30 per person.
For details on this class, please see us in-store.