Ahjan Samvara (b. Geoff Malone) is the founder of the Ashira Buddhist Foundation, the abbot of the Ashira Forest Hermitage (2008-2018), and director of Ashira Buddhism. He is a former teacher of Dzogchen Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Karma Yoga, and the author of The Enlightenment Workbook of Buddhist Mysticism and JOB YOGA, imparting authentic ancient Buddhist teachings lucidly, so that the spiritual path becomes accessible and easily applicable for Westerners.

From the age of 6 Ajahn Samvara studied martial arts, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Chinese medicine under the instructions of master Wai Lee. Like the Shao Lin monks, Ajahn Samvara was taught by his Buddhist master how to make martial arts a spiritual practice.

At the age of 20 he was ordained a Buddhist Monk and was given the instructions and transmissions to be initiated into the highest doctrines of Dzogchen Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Mysticism by his Buddhist master Ram Rinpoche.

As a monk, though Ahjan Samvara primarily studied with Ram Rinpoche, he also studied at the Naropa Institute and at Kopan Monastery. His journey also led him to learn from other high masters, rinpoches, sadhus, and khenpos such as: Acharya Tshewang Khenpo, the respected Nyingma Dakini Yoga master Yuan Miao, Khenpo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche and the high siddhas of the Himalayas.

Well-versed in Eastern medicine, Ajahn Samvara has a background of over 40 years in Chinese medicine, and also imparted the healing knowledge and transmissions of the Tibetan Nyingma Dakini Medicine Buddha Yoga and Armruth Chikitse, an age-old Indian healing practice.

Before retiring, The Ahjan taught self-healing and performed group healing transmissions at his seminars, and also led inspiring spiritual pilgrimages to sacred places throughout the world including India, China, and the Native American Southwest.

Now, Ahjan Samvara works as a humanitarian, bringing his 20+ years of Buddhist training to help advance the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, as well as specific initiatives like addressing mental health and creating a global alliance of interfaith spiritual leaders. Ahjan's work is to support a more peaceful, just, and awakened world.