Teachers & Staff

Jake La Botz

Winter Mediation Intensive Teacher

After getting clean from heroin addiction and searching to understand what his life was for, Jake was lucky to discover the dharma of Chögyam Trungpa and then to begin working with Reggie as his teacher in 2003. Along the way, he also learned a lot through participating in 12 Step programs, Jungian analysis, and several years training in Aikido. Over the last few years he's taught meditation in prisons, and during Covid has been sharing the Dharma Ocean teachings online. Professionally, Jake is a songwriter and performer.

Norman Elizondo

Winter Mediation Intensive Teacher

Norman has been an ardent student of meditation since 1994. He began his training and practice in the Theravada tradition. In 2001, he became a student of Reggie Ray and began training in the Tibetan Kagyu, Nyingma, and Shambhala traditions. A cofounder of Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, Norman has been working with struggling young people and their families since 1998. Norman offers the teachings in a way that invites students to explore their unique experience on the journey of meditation and to trust that experience.

Abigail Weinberg

Winter Meditation Intensive Program Coordinator

Abigail Weinberg found Reggie Ray’s teachings in 2012, after life as she knew it fell apart. It soon became clear that falling apart was the way to go. Abby continues to appreciate how the powerful and alive teachings of this lineage break open life to reveal its utter perfection.  Abby lives in NYC and works to identify nature-based solutions to climate change, though she can often be found in a small tipi in the woods with her partner and son, who offer her continual propulsion along the path. 

Paul Adams

Winter Mediation Intensive Tech Coordinator

Paul has been practicing in the lineage of Chogyam Trungpa for 21 years. He became a member of the Dharma Ocean Sangha in 2014 and a Tantrika in 2016. Paul has worked as an IT Executive for 22 years and previously held senior operations management positions. Paul joined the Dharma Ocean board in May of 2020 with a focus on Operations and Technology.

Bruce Gaber

Meditation Instructor

Bruce has been practicing meditation in the tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche since 1985. He began studies with Reggie Ray in 2014 and became a Tantrika in 2016. He also studies with Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, and Khandro Rinpoche. In his pre-retirement years he was a research biochemist. He now has an active new career as an artist working in metals and visual arts.