The mind training and establishing of samadhi is not achieved by the force of will, but by putting the right conditions into place for the mind to stabilize in a state of ease and calm by itself. The same way that we cannot will ourselves to fall asleep (have you tried? and how did it work?!), we cannot will ourselves to a state of samadhi. We can only put the right conditions in place, with right attention, ease, kindness to ourselves, gentle yet persistent effort (atapi), and the mind will naturally settle into a state of calm, just as a child who is fed and rocked gently will fall asleep in her mother’s arms.
Nikki Mirghafori, PhD
Residential Retreat Teacher
Nikki Mirghafori, PhD, is a Buddhist teacher and Artificial Intelligence (AI) scientist. She is a lineage holder in the Theravada tradition, empowered by the living Burmese meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, with whom she practiced the jhanas and detailed analytical (Abhidhamma-style) vipassana. She also received empowerment from the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, Insight Meditation Center, and is a Stanford-trained compassion cultivation instructor.
At Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Nikki serves as a Stewarding Teacher as well as on the Board of Directors. She also teaches at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. Nikki’s teaching style combines clarity and warmth, and she delights in exploring deep Dharma topics with practitioners as well as mindfulness in daily life. Mindfulness of death, in particular, is one of the areas of her interest and expertise.
Additionally, Nikki has been a researcher and inventor in AI, holds multiple patents and author of scientific research articles. She has directed international research programs as the Principal Investigator, mentored postdocs and PhD students, taught graduate courses at UC Berkeley, and been a scientific advisor to Silicon Valley technology startups.
As an Iranian-American, Nikki has taught contemplative practices internationally and aspires to serve as a champion for wisdom and compassion in our world, as well as ethical AI in our zeitgeist.
Nikki Mirghafori's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land | Hybrid
October 26 - October 31, 2026 | Monday - Saturday | 5 nights
Befriending Mortality: Living an Awakened Life Through Mindfulness of Death (Maraṇasati)
Spaces Still Available! We all “know” we will die, yet we tend to ignore this fact and put our collective head in the sand. Rather than running away from our mortality, we can harness its power to stay aligned with our deepest values and to live and love more fully. Fully embracing life’s impermanence can engender a deep freedom and letting go. Through mindfulness of death maraṇasati practice, we become more present for this miraculous, passing show called life with gladness and gratitude.
Retreat | Online | Hybrid
October 26 - October 31, 2026 | Monday - Saturday
Befriending Mortality: Living an Awakened Life through Mindfulness of Death (Maraṇasati)
Spaces Still Available! We all “know” we will die, yet we tend to ignore this fact and put our collective head in the sand. Rather than running away from our mortality, we can harness its power to stay aligned with our deepest values and to live and love more fully. Fully embracing life’s impermanence can engender a deep freedom and letting go. Through mindfulness of death maraṇasati practice, we become more present for this miraculous, passing show called life with gladness and gratitude.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Nikki Mirghafori through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.
