Justin Whitaker, co-founder of GuideFul (right) with his friend Ven Jin Ho (right) in China.
A life of meditation and study
Justin Whitaker is thirty-six years old, has a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, and wants to give people all around the world access to a comprehensive meditation practice through a platform called GuideFul.
I first met Justin Whitaker when I attended one of his intensive mindfulness workshops, which he was hosting in our mutual hometown of Helena, a small city located next to the continental divide in Big Sky Country, also known as “Montana.”
When you think, “Buddhist philosopher” or “meditation teacher,” Justin may not be the first thing that comes to mind. He’s tall, built like an athlete, and instead of a shiny bald head, he currently rocks a beard.
Nonetheless, Justin is one of those calming forces that makes everyone feel at home and helps create a harmonious environment for everyone in his class. His workshops bring together people of all stripes, including experienced meditation practitioners, novices, seniors, teenagers, home-makers, and stressed-out white collar types.
Justin has dedicated his life to the practice and teaching of mindfulness meditation. His studies have taken him all over the world and he’s been a student of the Dalai Lama, Soto Zen community, Vipassana, Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing, Lin-chi Chan (Rinzai Zen), and teachers focusing on Samatha (calming) practices. As an interfaith educator, Justin has also studied and practiced with Hindu, Catholic, and Muslim communities as well as secular/humanist contemplatives.
“My very first meditation experiences where actually when I was a kid. I remember being 5 or 6 and having trouble sleeping, so my mom would walk me through guided visualization exercises. I still remember one where I imagine myself as a bird on a beach and then taking off into the air,” Justin tells me. “But, as is often the case, I didn't keep those up and didn't find meditation again until I was 20. I was a fairly unhappy business major at my university and decided to just start taking fun classes. One of those was an introduction to Buddhism class, which featured a 'meditation lab' for an additional credit.
“I had been suffering from a lot of anxiety and depression in those days - and a fair amount of therapy and medication was keeping me going. But it was only with meditation, about 3-4 weeks in to a daily practice, that I began to notice a shift in how I related or responded to my anxiety. I was able to step outside of it and just watch. It was a very calming and freeing experience; joyful in fact. So I stayed with it and the more I practiced, the more I felt that joy and overall life balance settle in to place. At the same time, the depression and anxiety grew weaker and weaker or more 'distant' in my experience.”
Justin’s experience is close to my own. I began practicing meditation seriously just about two years ago to help improve my own mental health, which was suffering due to an anxiety disorder. Meditation was essential to transforming the way I related to my thoughts and my body.
Whitaker getting geared up for an EEG for a study on meditation, attention, and emotions.
Growing interest in the scientific community has resulted in study after study showing the real-life benefits of meditation, which can reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and depression, improve concentration, stabilize one’s relationship with their emotions, mitigate chronic pain, and benefit cardiovascular and immune health.
In 2003, Justin began teaching meditation for the benefit of his friends and family. He formed a campus sangha (a meditation community) at the University of Montana in Missoula. He continued his teaching while studying around the world, including in England, Spain, and India. He also became a highly respected blogger and podcast guest in meditation, mindfulness, and Buddhist communities. His blog, American Buddhist Perspectives, gets tens of thousands of visitors every month.
Meditation apps are taking off, but too many of them are one-directional
In 2017, Justin will be taking his knowledge, experience, and connections to a whole other level in an attempt to reach even more people who could benefit from a meditation practice. He’s the co-founder of GuideFul, which is described as a “unique meditation platform that emphasizes community, coaching, and convenience.”
“I'm a strong advocate for in-person, lengthy and intensive courses for those who really want to learn meditation and mindfulness,” says Justin, “but that kind of learning environment just isn't going to be a possibility for most people today. People are glued to their phones and millions, realizing the negative effects of that, are trying to at least use their phones as avenues to mindfulness.
Apps are taking off, and that's great. But too many of them are one-directional: a user pays, gets access to audio and automated bells and whistles that congratulate them on their 3-day meditation streak or some such thing, and nothing more.”
When I ask Justin what’s driving him to launch this new platform, he tells me that what excites him about GuideFul is the opportunity to bring meditators together in supportive communities of peers and guides; to do more than send an electronic 'thumbs up' when they sign up. We'll 'check in', we'll share our actual experiences and get actual advice from one another.
GuideFul, which launched an IndieGoGo campaign earlier this week offering a 60% discount to backers, already has over a dozen certified and experienced meditation teachers contributing guided and live meditations to the platform. When GuideFul officially launches later this year, it will also offer members access to mindfulness tips, video tutorials, Q+A podcasts, check-ins with meditation teachers, and a community forum where users can share insights, their experiences, and even their own meditations.
“I have taught college classes for years online, and I know the huge difference it makes to have good motivation and inspiration from a teacher,” Justin tells me. “I look forward to bringing that experience and knowledge to GuideFul Members.”
[UPDATE] Full disclosure: I have joined the GuideFul Team to help with its launch and management.