Komyo Gundel

Since my childhood I have been a searching soul. Curious and interested in acquiring knowledge. Adventures and sensing the spiritual world showed me the way to a world beyond the material, my parents talked this down, but I knew that there was something more to life.
Inspired by a clip from a meditating monk in a monastery, I started meditating at the age of 12 and discovered that I could sit in full lotus. When my life was too incomprehensible or going against me, I would sit on top of my dresser and meditated for half an hour.
In my early youth I read and researched widely and deeply into the mystical, but after lightning struck the road right in front of me at age 17, I became afraid of it and completely shut it down for four years. When I got inspired again I took education in astrology and tarot reading, as well as the magic lessons associated with each card.
In 1986 I started Tai chi chuan and qigong, which has since been a permanent part of my life and everyday life. ‘A healthy soul in a healthy body’ goes the old Greek wisdom and there is something to that, because we experience the world and life through our body. It is still an exciting journey to experience deeper and deeper layers in the movements and energies and my body loves it.
It was a life changer when I met the old Japanese Rinzai Zen master Shodo Harada roshi in the summer of 1993, his clear, deep, loving guidance has been a source of inspiration for Self-realization/awakening since the first day.
Through several annual sesshins, 7-day long intense retreats, and several stays at the Sogenji monastery in Japan, the Zen master has ‘forged’ on my ego and energy. One day in 2008 I discovered that contentment filled me and that I did not take things particularly personally anymore. It had happened gradually, although there had been several spiritual experiences.
When I became a lay brother in One Drop Zen (onedropzen.org) I was given the dharma name Komyo – Bright Light – which has over time become the name I use.
I am married to Tilde, the 30+ years together in love and parenting our 4 children, have taught me a lot about communication, forgiveness, taking responsibility, cleaning up after my mistakes and not least putting my needs aside to be there for our four children.
Another imported part of my life is shamanism, already in childhood the gift of seeing spirits manifested. Yet it was first in the late 80s I took a course and began practicing it and still do. In 2006 Toltec nahualism (Mexican spiritual teachings) became central to my exploration of the mystical dimension of reality and to to live as a warrior. This has given me access to a lot of life wisdom and powerful magical experiences.
Self-development/inner work started for me with body-oriented psycho-therapy and courses for 5 years, later i had 10 years with life mastery and coaching courses and practice. The therapy gave self-insight, healing and methods for handling personal challenges/problems. The Landmarks inc’s life management and coaching courses cognitive understanding and new approaches to both the personal, relationships and dream project realization, as well as training in coaching and course management. Most recently I have been on and off to trauma therapy, which has resolved deep mental and emotional knots and released energy and given opportunities to act.
In my search, I am now studying to become cognitive behavioral therapist.
By profession, I am a trained educator and my work has spanned normal and special institutions, children, young people and adults, as well as management. For 14 years I have worked within the development of pedagogy for vulnerable children (ADHD etc.) and groups, and taught within relationship development, interior design, organization, movement, play and sensory integration and ninja training.
The last few years I have been teaching the Warriors Path – a course to self and life mastery and have 1 to 1 sessions as counselor as a second job.
Role-playing games is my hobby, which I do not have much time for. In 2000 I started the role-playing theater Inpersona for children and young people and led it for 14 years. (Inpersonachp.dk)
Over time, I have lived in collectives, at Christiania in Copenhagen Denmark and the Sogenji monastery in Japan.
I am a warm, vibrant, creative and committed person.
It is my call to create an intentional community that is in harmony with Mother Earth and all her children where spiritual practice and living together is at the core.