Cynthia Jurs

Biographical Information
"Cynthia Jurs has practiced in the Tibetan Vajrayana and Zen Buddhist traditions for 25 years and in 1994 received dharma transmission from Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh to teach Engaged Buddhism. She directs the Open Way Sangha in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which draws from all schools of Buddhism as well as other wisdom traditions to teach an approach to living in awareness in relationship to the Earth through dedicated practice, ceremony, retreat and pilgrimage. Since 1990 Cynthia has been facilitating a Tibetan practice to bring healing and protection to the Earth by filling and burying Earth Treasure Vases in places of need around the world. Her husband, Dr. Hugh Wheir, founded an organization she also helps direct called Animal Alliance, which is dedicated to addressing the imbalance between under-populations of endangered species and over-populations of domestic animals and wildlife and restoring harmony to the inter-dependent relationship between humans, animals and our shared environment with current projects on Indian Pueblos in Northern New Mexico, in Mexico and South Africa. Originally from Northern California, Cynthia has lived in New Mexico since 1987 and grows flowers and fruit and vegetables on 7 acequia-fed acres at the base of the Sangre de Christos. "


 * Executive Director, Alliance for the Earth
 * Faculty, Center for Whole Communities