John Baker has been an active student and teacher of Buddhism for more than 54 years. A close disciple of Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, he co-founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, serving as its CEO for the first three years of its existence and teaching Buddhism there for five. He also co-founded and co-directed the Karma Dzong Meditation Center in Boulder. He is the co-editor of Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism and The Myth of Freedom and the author of numerous articles. After 23 years in private business, he retired in 2000. He has continued to teach Buddhist thought and meditation practice throughout North America, delivering lectures, weekend programs, and multi-month courses. Today he is a senior teacher in the North American Buddhist community and at the Path of Awakening Buddhist Center. He has led month-long meditation programs at Shambhala Mountain Center and Karme Chöling Meditation Center and has taught at the Vajradhatu Seminary. John lives again in Boulder, Colorado and with his partner, Valerie Robin.