Adyashanti
Born 1962 · Age 64
American spiritual teacher and author (born Stephen Gray, Oct 26, 1962). Founder of Open Gate Sangha; author of multiple books, audio/video recordings and online programs. Began public teaching in the mid-1990s and retired from active teaching in Oct 2023.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born Stephen Gray in Cupertino, California
Birth of Stephen Gray, later known as Adyashanti; grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Childhood athletics and early interests
Grew up as an athlete and became a competitive bicycle racer in his youth.
Encountered the idea of enlightenment; began Zen studies
At about 19 he read about enlightenment, felt compelled to practice and began studying Zen with Arvis Joen Justi.
Started intensive Zen training under Arvis Joen Justi
Began formal Zen practice with Justi (a disciple of Taizan Maezumi Roshi) — the teacher-student relationship lasted roughly 14 years.
Worked at father's machine shop
Supported himself working in his father's machine shop while deepening meditation practice; built a small meditation hut in parents' backyard.
Built backyard meditation hut and intensified practice
Constructed and used a dedicated meditation hut; meditated up to 2–4 hours daily as part of intensive practice.
First kensho (initial awakening) experience
At 25 he had a classic kensho: an intense realization of the emptiness of all things and an onrush of energy; an inner voice urged him to 'Keep going.'
Continued working while integrating awakening
After the kensho he continued meditating and working at the family machine shop while answering questions that arose spontaneously during practice.
Profound, stabilizing awakening (full realization)
At about 31 (after marrying Anne Marie Gunning) he experienced a deeper awakening that put prior questions to rest and initiated an enduring shift in awareness.
Married Anne Marie Gunning (Mukti)
Married Anne Marie Gunning (who later teaches as Mukti); partnership became central to his teaching and organizational work.
Concluded intensive 14-year study period with Justi
Around this time his formal intensive student period with Arvis Joen Justi (about 14 years) reached its mature phase; Justi would later encourage him to teach.
Begins public teaching with teacher's approval
Arvis Joen Justi asked him to begin teaching publicly; he started giving talks in small informal gatherings (e.g., above his aunt's garage).
Adopts the name 'Adyashanti' (primordial peace)
Around the start of his public teaching he began using the spiritual name Adyashanti.
Open Gate Sangha, Inc. incorporated (nonprofit)
A U.S. nonprofit was established to support and distribute his teachings, coordinate travel, produce recordings, and manage retreats and programs.
Publication: The Impact of Awakening (2002)
Open Gate Sangha published 'The Impact of Awakening: Excerpts from the Teachings of Adyashanti'.
Publication: My Secret Is Silence (2003)
Open Gate Sangha published a collection of poetry and sayings titled 'My Secret Is Silence'.
Audio release: Spontaneous Awakening (Sounds True)
Released a multi-hour audio program (Spontaneous Awakening) through Sounds True, expanding his recorded outreach.
Featured profile in The Sun magazine ('Who Hears This Sound?')
In-depth interview/profile appeared in The Sun (Dec 2007) discussing his awakening, teachings and style.
Publication: The End of Your World (2008)
Published 'The End of Your World: Uncensored Straight Talk on the Nature of Enlightenment' (Sounds True).
Publication: Emptiness Dancing
Released 'Emptiness Dancing' (Sounds True) further exploring embodiment after awakening.
Publication & online expansion: True Meditation; begins online courses/broadcasts
Published 'True Meditation' (Sounds True) and expanded online accessibility via courses and live internet broadcasts around this period.
Publication: Falling into Grace (2011)
Published 'Falling into Grace: Insights on the End of Suffering' (Sounds True).
Publication: The Way of Liberation (foundational teachings PDF)
Open Gate Sangha published 'The Way of Liberation' (freely distributed foundational guide to his teachings).
Archive growth milestone: recordings and DVDs scale up
Open Gate Sangha continued producing recordings; archive and global reach grew substantially (audio/video production expanded).
Publication: Resurrecting Jesus (2014)
Published 'Resurrecting Jesus: Embodying the Spirit of a Revolutionary Mystic' (Sounds True).
Retreats & intensives: five-night silent retreats grow in popularity
Five-night silent retreats and weekend intensives began to be oversubscribed; many events moved to lottery registration due to demand.
Appeared on Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday
Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey (Super Soul Sunday) about awakening and grace, exposing his teaching to a mainstream audience.
Publications: The Most Important Thing & The 30-Day Wake Up Challenge
Released 'The Most Important Thing' and a 30-day program/product with Sounds True; continued expansion of published offerings.
Publication: Sacred Inquiry (2020)
Published 'Sacred Inquiry: Questions That Can Transform Your Life' through Open Gate Sangha.
Publication: The Direct Way (2021)
Published 'The Direct Way' (Sounds True), offering practical exercises to evoke immediate awakening.
Global reach metric: mailing list & international audience
Open Gate Sangha reported tens of thousands connected (site notes ~30,000 free subscribers in 120 countries); archive and programs widely accessed.
Retired from active teaching (Oct 2023)
Announced retirement from active in-person teaching due to PTSD and long-term intense physical pain; stepped back from regular events.
Open Gate Sangha continues program delivery and archives
Organization maintained archives, online courses, Sunday Community Practice and self-guided options after his retirement; Mukti led key sessions.
Return to select live teachings and events (post-retirement)
After retirement, returned to selected live teachings/events in 2025 while primarily living in the Eastern Sierras with wife Mukti.
Archive scale: >800 audio recordings, >100 DVDs, 130+ broadcasts
By this time Open Gate Sangha's published archive surpassed roughly 800 audio recordings and more than 100 DVD videos; 130+ live internet programs produced.
Mukti's leadership roles in Open Gate Sangha
Mukti (Anne Marie Gunning) serves as co-teacher and President of the Board; she leads many retreats and the Sunday Community Practice program.
Key Achievement Ages
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