Modern Zen and Buddhism
Join us for one or more events; scroll down or click this button, for list of current offers
Experience a better life.
As the speaker and facilitator, David B. Alexander brings his experience as a psychotherapist, consultant, partner, and parent, as well as integrating a lifelong practice and teaching of Zen meditation and Tai Chi Chuan.
David has studied Zen / Buddhism not just as an academic but has focused on experiential understanding of the important principles expounded in this teaching. Zen / Buddhism believes deeply in the inherent value and capability of each human being, and encourages us to make the efforts to achieve that great potential.
The various presentations and discussions about Zen / Buddhism are dedicated to making clear the principles for a better life, with more joy and less suffering through a profound and subtle teaching
These events are enriching, safe opportunities for learning. After 50 years of Zen practice with leading masters, as well as learning from the lessons of life, David B. Alexander presents and discusses the meaning of this ancient teaching for each of us. Zen and Buddhism are the study of, and the connection with, our true selves.
After presentations, there is always time for questions and answers as well as discussion.
Note: if any attendee does not wish to join in a discussion, but prefers to observe and absorb, that preference will be respected.
Events take place online via Zoom, and may in the future also take place in Long Island or Manhattan at announced addresses.
Webinars can be joined via ordinary phone, but for a full experience use of a computer will allow observing other attendees and those who are speaking. Attendees who do not wish to be seen can disable their video. Except when they are about to speak, attendees should mute their microphones so as to hear the webinar discussion and avoid adding background sounds.
"I thought the the webinar was outstanding. Although I have some familiarity with the concepts of nonviolent communication, I felt that the webinar greatly expanded my knowledge in this area and gave me useful information and techniques that I can apply to improve my relationships with my family and friends."
Ken Z.
The amount of information was terrific, dialogue was great. I wouldn't change anything. I thought meeting everyone was wonderful and having the dialogue. I am interested in attending more webinars.
Karen C.
Perfect. Very Comfortable interaction. A professional presentation. I liked listening to your personal experiences and those of others.
Michele F.
I thought it was very effective and constructive. I enjoyed the candor of presenters and openness to discuss concerns and clarify.
Karen S.
"I thought the the webinar was outstanding. Although I have some familiarity with the concepts of nonviolent communication, I felt that the webinar greatly expanded my knowledge in this area and gave me useful information and techniques that I can apply to improve my relationships with my family and friends."
Ken Z.
The amount of information was terrific, dialogue was great. I wouldn't change anything. I thought meeting everyone was wonderful and having the dialogue. I am interested in attending more webinars.
Karen C.
Perfect. Very Comfortable interaction. A professional presentation. I liked listening to your personal experiences and those of others.
Michele F.
I thought it was very effective and constructive. I enjoyed the candor of presenters and openness to discuss concerns and clarify.
Karen S.
Upcoming Zen and Buddhism Events
To register for an event click "Buy now", or click the "Add" button for shopping cart to join more than one event
Saturday, May 30 · 11am – 1pm ET
Something is pulling at you. A calling to find peace, or meaning... or both.
Maybe it's an unspoken restlessness within a life that is fine in many aspects.
Or maybe it's the sense that you're moving through your days too quickly — busy and productive, but feeling that there should be something more. You may have heard the word "Zen" a hundred times and wondered what it actually means, beyond the coffee mug messages and the corporate wellness posters.
This workshop is for people who want to find out.
Zen Buddhism is one of the oldest and most practical wisdom traditions in human history — not a religion based on faith in the unknown, not a set of rules to follow, but a way of seeing clearly our wonderful life, even in the middle of the noise and changes of daily life.
The lotus flower, one of Buddhism's enduring symbols, grows from mud and through muddy water. And yet, it appears suddenly above the water and opens fresh and pure. We can do so, as well, in the midst of all our activities.
In this two-hour live workshop, David B. Alexander — a licensed psychotherapist who has practiced Zen for over 50 years — will walk you through the core teachings of Buddhism and what they actually mean for the way we live, think, and relate to ourselves and others. There will be a brief, accessible history of Buddhism — where it came from and how Zen emerged from it.
In this interactive webinar you'll start to explore:
- The Middle Way — the art of finding peace and fulfillment without rigid extremes or rigid ideas
- The Four Noble Truths — Buddhism's foundational insight into why we suffer, and the genuine possibility of moving past that
- Meditation — in two short practice intervals
- The Eightfold Path — a practical framework for living in a way that benefits yourself and everyone around you
- The Three Treasures — the supports that keep a practitioner grounded and moving forward in a healthy way
This isn't a philosophy lecture. It's a living conversation about how ancient wisdom applies to modern life — your relationships, your work, your inner world, your search for meaning. There will be space for questions and genuine dialogue throughout.
About David
David B. Alexander is a licensed psychotherapist who has practiced Zen since 1970 — studying with teachers at the New York Zen Center in the '70s and '80s, and more recently as an active practitioner at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, NY. He has been personally encouraged to offer public teachings by Enkyo Roshi (Pat O'Hara) of Village Zendo and Zen Master Wu Kwang (Richard Shrobe) of Chogye Zen Center.
He is also a 40+ year practitioner and teacher of Tai Chi Chuan, and a licensed psychotherapist whose clinical work draws on principles of gestalt therapy, existential therapy, and Nonviolent Communication.
When David teaches Zen, he isn't translating something he read. He is sharing something he has lived.
Psychotherapy sessions are available online across New York State, and in person in Roslyn Heights, NY. A free 15-minute consultation is available for those curious about individual therapy. All inquiries are confidential.
Saturday, May 30 · 11am – 1pm ET
Something is pulling at you. A calling to find peace, or meaning... or both.
Maybe it's an unspoken restlessness within a life that is fine in many aspects.
Or mayb…
What if changing the way you perceive and communicate could change everything?
Not just the words you choose — but the awareness that guides those words.
The ability to say what you actually mean and to hear what someone else is really saying. To move through conflict without shutting down or blowing up. To fully express love and appreciation. To show up in your relationships, your work, and your inner life with more clarity, more presence. In short, more of your true, best self.
That's what this series is about.
Over three Saturday mornings this spring, licensed psychotherapist David B. Alexander brings together two of the most powerful frameworks for human transformation available today: Nonviolent Communication and Zen Buddhist wisdom. Separately, each is profound. Together, they form something rare — a thorough understanding and principles for how to live and relate with authenticity, compassion, and true inner freedom.
The Series:
Session 1 — Introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Saturday, May 2: The practical foundation. Learn how to move from judgment and defensiveness to genuine expression and empathetic listening — in your closest relationships, at work, and in the conversation you have with yourself.
Session 2 — Zen and Buddhism 101: Finding the Source Saturday, May 30: The deeper ground. Explore the core teachings of Zen and Buddhism — the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Middle Way — and what they actually mean for your everyday life, your liberation from suffering, and your search for something more.
Session 3 — Childhood Influences, Our Inner World, and the World We Are Shaping Saturday, June 13: Our inborn temperament and our early family and social experiences affect dramatically how we perceive and act in the world. This includes the way we handle differences or conflict, how we express affection and love, and more. And through the messages we carry within us, we contribute to the nature of the society and world in which we live.
****************
Each session stands on its own. Together, they start to build something larger: a living understanding of how to communicate from your heart, from your wisdom, and not just from your surface.
Each session includes:
- Engaging presentation of core concepts
- Guided interactive exercises
- Live discussion and Q&A throughout
- Practical tools you can apply in your daily life
About David
David B. Alexander is a licensed psychotherapist based in Roslyn Heights, NY, with a practice that draws on principles of gestalt therapy, existential therapy, and Nonviolent Communication, as well as drawing on decades of Zen Buddhist and Tai Chi Chuan practice and teaching.
He has guided individuals, couples, and leaders through the challenges that we all face in experiencing a better life despite what are felt as external setbacks or our own mental blocks. He brings to this work not just clinical expertise, but the kind of depth that only comes from a lifetime of practice and a life fully lived.
Psychotherapy sessions are available online across New York State, and in person in Roslyn Heights, NY. A free 15-minute consultation is available for those curious about individual therapy. All inquiries are confidential.
What if changing the way you perceive and communicate could change everything?
Not just the words you choose — but the awareness that guides those words.
The ability to say what you actually mean an…
Not Able to Attend Any of These Dates?
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“David is a superbly gifted Organizational Therapist who is able to help guide entrepreneurs in growing their businesses while navigating the highly unpredictable environment that we find ourselves in.
Unlike many psychotherapists he has a long-established track record of working and advising in the real world, which allows him to help his clients deal with real world problem solving. If you have an established business which is coping with a changing times, or an entrepreneur looking to unlock growth and opportunities I would highly recommend David as a consultant.”
Michael Pinto
Entrepreneurial Product Designer and CEO of Very Memorable
“I had both the privilege and good fortune to first connect with David in 2019. In retaining his services, I found him to be highly professional, insightful, authentic, patient, and kind. I greatly appreciated his direct approach, thoughtful consideration, and engaging manner.
As it turns out, the feedback and insight he provided me turned out to be absolutely spot on, over the course of time. It is a pleasure to recommend David as a pragmatic, discerning, and intuitive counselor, therapist, and leader.”
Eben Wilson
Founder and CEO, Exaio Systems
“David recently did a presentation on non-violent communication on behalf of one of my clients, an HR firm. To say that he hit it out of the ballpark would be an understatement. He was engaging, used real-world scenarios and examples and provided the attendees with actionable take-aways to help them navigate the sometimes-tricky world of intergenerational workplace communication.
David is genuine and empathetic. Even during a brief training, his message resonated with this audience of business owners, HR managers and C-suite executives. We received extremely positive feedback from the attendees and highly recommend David for consulting and training in this area.”
Theresa Jacobellis
President, PrescRXptive Communications, LLC
“David is a superbly gifted Organizational Therapist who is able to help guide entrepreneurs in growing their businesses while navigating the highly unpredictable environment that we find ourselves in.
Unlike many psychotherapists he has a long-established track record of working and advising in the real world, which allows him to help his clients deal with real world problem solving. If you have an established business which is coping with a changing times, or an entrepreneur looking to unlock growth and opportunities I would highly recommend David as a consultant.”
Michael Pinto
Entrepreneurial Product Designer and CEO of Very Memorable
“I had both the privilege and good fortune to first connect with David in 2019. In retaining his services, I found him to be highly professional, insightful, authentic, patient, and kind. I greatly appreciated his direct approach, thoughtful consideration, and engaging manner.
As it turns out, the feedback and insight he provided me turned out to be absolutely spot on, over the course of time. It is a pleasure to recommend David as a pragmatic, discerning, and intuitive counselor, therapist, and leader.”
Eben Wilson
Founder and CEO, Exaio Systems
“David recently did a presentation on non-violent communication on behalf of one of my clients, an HR firm. To say that he hit it out of the ballpark would be an understatement. He was engaging, used real-world scenarios and examples and provided the attendees with actionable take-aways to help them navigate the sometimes-tricky world of intergenerational workplace communication.
David is genuine and empathetic. Even during a brief training, his message resonated with this audience of business owners, HR managers and C-suite executives. We received extremely positive feedback from the attendees and highly recommend David for consulting and training in this area.”
Theresa Jacobellis
President, PrescRXptive Communications, LLC