Seaside Center for Spiritual Living is honored to welcome Jeffrey Zlotnik to our stage Friday, April 3, for "Meditation: Cultivating Compassion One Breath at a Time." 

Developing a daily meditation practice is critical during difficult times. Learning how to live with love and compassion, not hatred and anger is vital for happiness. Together we explore how this plays out in our lives so we can bring change into our hearts, ultimately creating a healthier community. 

Jeffrey Zlotnik is Co-Founder & CEO of the Dharma Bum Temple (www.thedharmabums.org), Founder & CEO of The Meditation Initiative (www.meditationinitiative.org), Co-Founder of Delta Beta Tau (www.deltabetatau.org) Co-Ed Buddhist Fraternity at SDSU and Co-Founder of Buddha for You Gifts & Books (www.buddha-for-you.com) now located inside the Dharma Bum Temple.

After graduating from the University of Arizona in 1997 with a B.A. in Psychology, Jeffrey built a successful eight-year consulting career. He started attending Hsi-Fang Buddhist Temple in 2003 and was President of the English-speaking community for two years. In 2005, he walked away from his career and moved to a Buddhist Monastery in Taiwan where he lived with monks in the Buddhist College for one year. At the end of 2006, he co-founded the Dharma Bum Temple in downtown San Diego before relocating to its current location in University Heights in April of 2017.

The Dharma Bum Temple does not advocate one school of Buddhism; it is simply a bridge for people to learn about Buddhist practice and meditation welcoming 500-700 people every week. The Dharma Bum Temple offers Introduction to Buddhism & Meditation classes, Dharma Talks, Homeless Outreach, Prison Outreach, Family Classes for Kids & Teens, Dharma Bum Life Program, Visiting Monks, Nuns and Buddhist Scholars, Engaged Buddhist Programs, Women's Buddhist Leadership Program, Silent Retreats, Classes in Spanish, Buddhist Recovery Program for Overcoming Addictions, College Meditation Groups and More - ALL FOR FREE!

Jeffrey has worked to bring the mental health benefits of mindfulness and meditation to more than 100,000 people for free since 2003. He began meditating in 1996, while working at a Group Home for abused teens and noticed tremendous changes in their attitude after meditation. Jeffrey has led free meditation for Homeless Teens, K-12 Schools, Adult & Juvenile Prisons, Diabetes Patients, HIV Support Groups, LGBT Community Center, San Diego Pride, Seniors Centers, Wounded Warriors & Active Military with PTSD, UCSD Medical Center, Sober Living Homes, Superior Court Judges, Susan G. Komen, Braille Institute, Jewish Family Services, TEDxYouth, Catholic Charities and Victims of Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking.

Jeffrey’s background includes non-profit volunteer work with prison re-entry programs for Second Chance and the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, an organization dedicated to peace and non-violence for youth impacted by gangs. He coached youth & high school baseball for fifteen years, one of his greatest joys.