The miracle of being on this earth is so profound, you know, such a blessing. When we come into presence and touch the moment, we connect with the beauty around us. Yes, there’s lots of messy stuff going on in this world, but there’s so much beauty too that we miss because we’re not present. This is the practice; this is the path we’re on. The path of liberation starts here in this moment, in this body right now. The mind could take us into the past, into the future, into me, mine, and I; into you, into all kinds of emotions. The mind could just take us and whirl us around everywhere! But the body is always present. And we find in our practice that resting in the body is a real refuge.
nakawe cuebas berrios
Residential Retreat Teacher
Nakawe Cuebas Berrios feels blessed to be able to study and journey through different healing and spiritual traditions in her life. The common thread between the many traditions that have touched her path has been the belief that health and wellness depend on a balance between the mind/heart, body, and spirit. The healing systems that she has studied are: Midwifery, Chinese acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and yoga. Spiritually the practices are Lucumi (Cuba), with roots from the African Yoruba culture and indigenous ceremonies. These practices helped to strengthen her connection to the Earth and Cosmos. Her ancestral home is Puerto Rico, blending the Spanish, African and Taino Indian roots that flow from her ancestors, and give her guidance and strength daily. Her Nuyorican roots are honored by her experiences growing up in New York City.
By profession she has been a Midwife for 40 years and has worked doing home, hospital, birth center births and now works in a community health center in the Bronx providing services of midwifery/well women health care.
For over 20 years she has immersed herself in the teachings of the Buddha. She completed the IMS Teacher Training Program, studied in the Dedicated Practitioners Program and Community Dharma Leaders Program affiliated with Spirit Rock. She shares the Dharma by teaching on retreats and is on the Teachers Council of New York Insight. For 10 years she has served as a mentor with the BAUS Prisoner Correspondence course.
Nakawe believes we all have the potential to live a life of wisdom and compassion for our benefit and for the benefit and happiness of all beings. These are the teachings of liberation, the truth that she wants to share. She gives gratitude to all her teachers who have guided her throughout the years.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with nakawe cuebas berrios through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.