William Van Gordon, PhD, is currently associate professor of Contemplative Psychology at the University of Derby, UK. He is widely regarded as a leading international expert in Contemplative Psychology and in the last five years alone, in addition to three books, Van Gordon has published more than 100 academic papers, including in some of the world’s leading psychology and medical journals. He also writes a regular blog on Contemplative Psychology for Psychology Today. Prior to joining academia, Von Gordon was a Buddhist monk for ten years and previously worked in senior management roles for Marconi Plc, PepsiCo International, and Aldi Stores Ltd. He regularly gives keynote speeches, lectures, and workshops on meditation and contemplative practice.
Edo Shonin, PhD, is a psychologist and was a Buddhist monk for thirty years. He sits on the editorial board for numerous journals including Mindfulness and the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Shonin is internationally recognized as a leading authority in the research and practice of Buddhist meditation. He has more than 100 academic publications relating to mindfulness and Buddhist meditation. Shonin is coeditor of Mindfulness and Buddhist-derived Approaches in Mental Health and Addiction, and The Buddhist Foundations of Mindfulness. He regularly gives keynote speeches, lectures, retreats, and workshops at a range of venues all over the world.