Seeking a practical master/instructor

[spiritualseeker21]

Seeking a practical master/instructor-

Hello everybody, . I am seeking a spiritual master, not in a guru-initiatic type, but more a technique-type. not because i dont want or is not necessary or is not relevant but because i think is not for me now. Does somebody know some real master in Sandiego, Ca? i am new in USA and the only thing that i know of spiritual teachers in California is that: theres a lot of pseudo-master and pseudo-instructors. I am lookings of pros and cons of teachers in that area that teach techniques like vipassana/samatha/dharana(concentration) or at least just Shikantaza(i am using buddhist terminology but that can be hindu, christian, islamic or whatever) 

Thank you

[Balder]

Hi, spiritualseeker.  My practice tradition is Buddhist, but I don't know (personally) of any teachers in the San Diego area.  I know there are Vipassana, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhist centers in the general vicinity of San Diego, but I don't know anything about them.  I am aware, however, of a good Christian contemplative community there (which has some Buddhist influence):  Contemplative Outreach of San Diego.

[spiritualseeker21]

Yes, i heard. But, i wanna more options, but, if I do not have anymore options, it is what it is.

[Mary W.]

In Escondido, CA (northeastern San Diego County) we have Deer Park Monastery, a practice center in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. I don't know much about the place, but it might be a good resource for more information for you. 

[Mary W.]

Also, there is a Fourth Way (Gurdjieff work) teacher in the SD area affiliated with the website Esoteric Talks. The contact page there could get you in touch with him. 

And -- who knew! -- Wikipedia has a list of sanghas in San Diego County:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sanghas_in_San_Diego_County,_C...

[spiritualseeker21]

Thanks, Mary, for the recommendations :)

[Mary W.]

You're welcome. (I volunteer with Contemplative Outreach of North San Diego, btw. :-)