bill stauffer

Bill Stauffer is a former university administrator who retired in September of 2018 to devote more time to his spiritual practice through the skillful means of teachings, books, sangha and meditation.  Bill has been studying and practicing Buddhism with various teachers since 1995.  However, his primary teacher has been Geshe Losang Samten of the Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center (CTBC) of Philadelphia with whom Bill has practiced since 1995.  

Bill was secretary of the CTBC for a year around 2000 and served as President of the CTBC from January 2002 through the end of 2007.  Bill has been leading services and teaching at the CTBC for more than 20 years.  He has also taught at other venues.  For example, Bill was the founder and leader of Loving-Kindness practice at the Philadelphia Meditation Center from 2000 – 2006.  He was the founder and leader of Dharma Discussion practice at the Philadelphia Meditation Center from 2006 – 2016.  Bill has taught 12 week courses on Buddhist Philosophy for Temple University’s OLLI division.

Bill’s main interest in Buddhism is the foundational teachings such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, Buddhist Ethics, Mindfulness of Breathing, and the Four Immeasureables. He often practices the contemplation of impermanence, suffering and no-self. The Pali texts are his special love. When giving talks, Bill likes to draw from the Pali.

Bill enjoys contemplating spiritual truth from various perspectives.  Even though Buddhism is his primary path, Bill finds it helpful to hear from other traditions too.  His spiritual interests were first stimulated by Walt Whitman who Bill still considers to be a friend and teacher.  Walt is the person who convinced Bill of the truth of rebirth.  Bill has been studying yoga since 2007 and especially loves the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Bill was raised a Christian and enjoys hearing Christian teachings that summarize core teachings of the Buddha.  For example, see Jesus’ teaching on impermanence at Matthew 6: 19-21 and see Jesus’ teaching on loving kindness as the highest skillful means at 1st John 4: 7 – 8