Guiding Teachers
A Guiding Teacher is one of the leaders of the organization. They have multiple years of practice, retreats, and teaching experience, have received transmission from senior Buddhist teacher(s), and are able to offer transmission to others.
Pascal Auclair (on sabbatical)
Pascal (he, him) is a TNI Guiding Teacher. He has been immersed in the dharma since 1997. He leads retreats in Europe and North America, often at the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. A co-founder of TNI, he enjoys sharing the Buddha's teachings with all curious people. (more info and schedule)
Listen to one of Pascal's talks: Self-worth, Selfing, Forgiveness, Wisdom & Compassion
Watch one of Pascal's videos: But Now it Can Be Otherwise
Roxanne Dault teaches meditation in Canada, USA and in France. She has been dedicated to this path for almost two decades, sitting on long retreats both in Asia and in the West. A Guiding Teacher at True North Insight, Roxanne teaches in a variety of environments including in a graduate program at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), in corporate settings and in incarcerated and other marginalized populations. Her teachings take root mainly from the lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw. She is trained in Somatic Experiencing®, a body-mind approach aimed at relieving the symptoms of trauma and stress. She speaks French, English and is learning her ancestors’ language, Anishinaabemowin. Learn more at roxannedault.ca.
Jean Esther, MSW
Beginning her formal training in meditation in 1975, Jean has trained in the Buddhist Theravadan tradition with renowned senior lay teachers as well as Burmese and Western Monastics since 1982. Over a number of years, Jean has engaged in intensive teacher training in both Vipassana practice and non-dual awareness. Her teaching is also informed by over 40 years of practice as a psychotherapist, focusing on the healing of trauma through an embodied somatic approach. She trained for over 20 years in Jungian psychology with Jungian analyst Marion Woodman. Respecting all of life through a social justice understanding informs her life and her teaching. Jean teaches at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, USA, Insight Meditation Community of Western MA, USA as well as various other locations across the US and Canada. Jean has served on the Guiding Teachers Council of True North Insight since 2015.
Muriel Ahmarani Jaouich
Muriel (she, her) is engaged in a Buddhist practice since 2006. Muriel has attended over thirty silent meditation retreats including a 6 week long retreat. She has completed seven years of Buddhist studies as well as a MBSR training with Jon Kabat-Zinn. Muriel is a first generation Lebanese-Armenian-Canadian, having come from a family directly affected by the Armenian Genocide. At True North Insight, Muriel is under the mentorship of Pascal Auclair & Daryl Lynn Ross. She teaches in hospitals, schools, corporations and other urban settings, helping meditation practitioners integrate mindfulness into daily life. In another life, Muriel has worked at Cisco Systems & VeriSign back in the height of Silicon Valley as well as at UNICEF. She now shares her passion for the Dharma by working for True North Insight. Muriel has a warm and gentle presence. She is also presently pursuing a Master's in Fine Arts (MFA) at Concordia university in painting.
Dawn (she, her) has been practicing and studying Insight Meditation since 2005, and has graduated from the first teacher development group of True North Insight, and Spirit Rock's Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training, Dedicated Practitioners' Program, and 4-year Retreat Teacher Training. She is known to teach with a playful, dynamic, and heartfelt approach, and leads daylongs, retreats, yearlong programs, and mindfulness workshops in Canada and the US for Spirit Rock, True North Insight, and for teens with Inward Bound Mindfulness Education. Dawn is also the author of “Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners”. For more information, visit dawnmauricio.com.
Daryl (she, her) is a founder of TNI and a guiding teacher. She has deeply engaged in contemplative practices for over 40 years with teachers and mentors from several Buddhist traditions, and practiced Christian spirituality as well. She served for 22 years as University Chaplain at Concordia University in Montreal. Co-founder of TNI and President of the Board, Daryl teaches local groups and intensive courses, mentors and counsels in personal meetings and offers a wide range of retreats. She lives and transmits the Buddhist teachings from the heart with a sensitivity to the unique path of each person.
Listen to one of Daryl's talks: Development of Meditative Awareness
Watch one of Daryl's videos: What is Calling Us Forward
Tara Mulay teaches and mentors dharma practitioners during retreat and in daily life practice. She was trained and authorized by the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and serves as a Guiding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Tara's journey into dharma practice began during her 20-year career as a criminal defense attorney. Her teachings are rooted in the Mahasi Sayadaw lineage, enriched by influences from other Theravadan and Early Buddhist traditions.
Of South Asian heritage, Tara was initially drawn to dharma practice by the Buddha’s teachings rejecting caste as a measure of worth and capacity for awakening. She believes that classical Buddhist practices—fostering compassion, non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion—are powerful tools for empowering marginalized communities.
Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community. She is a graduate of the 2017-2021 Insight Meditation Society teacher training program, trained by Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, and other international teachers. She has been practicing since 1999, and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner and Community Dharma Leader Programs. Jeanne is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), taught by Shirley Turquotte. She is a certified MBSR teacher, through the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Jeanne has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing, and is a certified Life Skills Coach Trainer with twenty-three years experience facilitating adult programs.She deeply appreciates metta and nature based practices as doorways to ease and peace. She is Métis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.
Jill Davey (they/them)
Since my first meditation retreat in 2008, I have been devoted to the study of the dhamma, the practice of Vipassana (Insight Meditation), and sharing this understanding with others. I have deep respect and gratitude for the traditional mentorship and invitation to teach offered by my teachers Molly Swan and Norman Feldman. I am particularly interested in connecting the relevance of these ancient teachings of awareness, wisdom and kindness to daily life experience. I support practitioners with courses, weekly meditations, residential retreats and 1:1 meetings. I bring my years of experience as a Community Worker and End-of-Life Doula to my teaching and am actively committed to the ongoing dismantling of internalized and systemic oppressions.
Since my first meditation retreat in 2008, I have been devoted to the study of the dhamma, the practice of Vipassana (Insight Meditation), and sharing this understanding with others. I have deep respect and gratitude for the traditional mentorship and invitation to teach offered by my teachers Molly Swan and Norman Feldman. I am particularly interested in connecting the relevance of these ancient teachings of awareness, wisdom and kindness to daily life experience. I support practitioners with courses, weekly meditations, residential retreats and 1:1 meetings. I bring my years of experience as a Community Worker and End-of-Life Doula to my teaching and am actively committed to the ongoing dismantling of internalized and systemic oppressions.