The Forest Way - The Teachers

Matthew Flickstein, a former psychotherapist, founded The Forest Way, Inc. in 1993. He has been practicing and teaching Insight Meditation for over thirty-two years. Matthew has studied with teachers from many spiritual traditions and at one time was ordained as a monk in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. In 1982, he co-founded the Bhavana Society Monastic and Meditation Center in West Virginia. He currently leads Two Year Training Programs with students who are dedicated to their spiritual development while living traditional householder lives.

Matthew has published three books, Journey to the Center: A Meditation Workbook, Swallowing the River Ganges: A Comprehensive Practice Guide to the Path of Purification, and a revised edition of Swallowing the River Ganges, entitled The Meditator's Atlas: A Roadmap to the Inner World, through Wisdom Publications. He is currently producing a spiritual documentary entitled With One Voice.

Carol Blotter has been practicing insight (vipassana) meditation since 1989 and has been teaching since 1999. She is a teacher for both The Forest Way and the Deep Spring Center.

Carol's primary teachers have been Matthew Flickstein and Barbara Brodsky. Barbara is the founder of the Deep Spring Center in Michigan and leads insight meditation and Dzogchen retreats throughout the world. Carol has also studied with teachers from other spiritual traditions.

Carol teaches insight meditation in retirement communities, elementary schools and at retreat centers. She has also taught deep listening practices and ways to resolve conflict through building unity.

Other Teachers associated with The Forest Way facilitate weekly meditation sessions, teach classes on Buddhist psychology and practice, and lead meditation retreats. They also support various projects related to the Dharma.