in established institutions. As the Buddha said, you have to work things out for yourself. The teacher–student relationship is informal and one-on-one Students relate to the teacher as a person. The teacher's function is to point the student to their own knowing, not to set himself up as special. As a meditation consultant, the teacher offers guidance, support, and instruction specific to the student's unique experience. The Unfettered Mind retreat format integrates traditional and modern Traditional teachings and meditation instruction are presented in Western language and framework. Innovations include daily, individual interviews, and practical application exercises that move the practitioner into their own experience. Unfettered Mind is envisioned as a network for the development and distribution of resources for spiritual awakening Unfettered Mind has no temple, center, or formal organization. There are no members, only participants, both local and virtual via the internet. Teacher and practitioners share responsibility for initiating and running projects. The sole purpose is for the participants to create resources and opportunities for practice. The core element is an "environment of awareness": any situation in which one or more people are directing attention into the mystery of knowing and helping each other to wake up. Examples: practice groups, study groups, group or individual retreats, practice consultations, workshops, classes. Another element is to provide web-based resources that are direct aids to practice. These include book recommendations, practice guides, text and prayer translations, podcasts of retreat teachings, podcasts of classes, the opportunity to put practice questions directly to Ken McLeod, and podcasts of question-and-answer sessions between Ken and students. Another key element is the teacher training program. McLeod trained long-term practitioners who have significant experience and understanding, and whose paths lie outside established institutions. McLeod has written, "We feel that most people, when provided with the right training and guidance, will naturally seek to create environments in which they can transform conceptual understanding of spiritual teaching into experiential knowing, and thus resolve their deepest questions about how to make freedom, compassion and awareness alive and active in their lives." Publications by Ken McLeod Books Articles Podcasts See also Tibetan Buddhism Lojong Kalu Rinpoche References External links Unfettered Mind Website An Arrow to the Heart Ken McLeod's Blog Unfettered Mind Recommended Reading 1948 births 20th-century Buddhists 21st-century Buddhists Canadian Buddhists English Buddhists Living people Tibetan Buddhist spiritual teachers Tibetan Buddhists from England Tibetan Buddhists from Canada Canadian lamas Shangpa Kagyu