How the Karuna Basic Training Program Changed My Life

by Stephanie Robinett

At sixteen, I stepped away from my Catholic upbringing and into the vast landscape of Eastern spiritual traditions. My path led me to Buddhism and Hinduism, which introduced me to meditation and yoga. By my early twenties, I was deep in my practice, training to become a yoga instructor. Over the years, my spiritual journey expanded to include goddess traditions, paganism, and herbalism, ultimately shaping me into what I now consider a Pagan, Buddhist witch. My work in the healing arts as a sound healing practitioner, sacred ceremony holder, meditation leader, and medicine maker has been deeply fulfilling. Yet, I found myself longing for a deeper embodiment of the teachings I cherished. Enter the Karuna Basic Training Program—a profound and life-changing experience that shifted my understanding from merely reading the teachings to truly living them.

Pema Chödrön once said, "Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth." The Karuna program brought me face to face with that truth, taking me to the edge of my being and revealing the vast space surrounding my projections of ego, dualism, and attachment. It expanded my intensity capacity, allowing me to be with whatever arises in my body, speech, mind, and the world around me with a heart-centered presence. This has been one of the most impactful transformations of my journey—learning to stay, to breathe, and to witness, rather than react.

From Self-Study to Embodiment
Self-study had taken me far, but it had also left me circling the same conceptual understandings. Karuna offered me something no book or solitary practice ever could: a fully immersive, lived experience of the teachings and an incredibly supportive sangha to learn with and from. The instructors did not simply present information; they meticulously crafted experiences that allowed us to metabolize the teachings—to process them intellectually and through our bodies and lived realities.

During the pandemic, the Karuna team demonstrated unwavering dedication and adaptability, ensuring that our experience—whether online or in person—honored the gravity and fear that COVID-19 introduced into every aspect of our lives. Their commitment to holding space with awareness, compassion, and resilience mirrored the very teachings we were studying. It was a testament to the depth of Karuna’s teachings, which encouraged me to face my fears and embrace transformation despite the cost. As Pema Chödrön wisely states, "Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found within us." Karuna created an environment where I could fearlessly explore who I am at my core—and their commitment to this, even as the world seemed to be crumbling around us—or perhaps because the world WAS crumbling around us—was incredibly admirable and impeccably timed.

The Courage to Look Challenges in the Eye
One of the most significant aspects of my experience in Karuna was witnessing their genuine and decisive efforts toward inclusion. As a Black woman in the Pacific Northwest, I was used to participating in predominantly white spaces. Over the course of the nearly 4 years I participated in Karuna teachings, it was profoundly meaningful to see the program actively prioritize diversity in its learning materials and topics of study. From when I first engaged with Karuna in 2021 to my graduation in 2025, the program's growth in this area was tangible. The impact of their work in fostering inclusivity was not theoretical—it was felt, seen, and experienced in real-time. For that, I am deeply grateful.

I especially appreciated the Karuna team's openness to feedback and real conversations around these challenges. Melissa, in particular, exemplified what it means to live the teachings—not just recite them. The team's willingness to look these issues straight in the eye, to sit with the discomfort, and to actively work toward change is the highest testament to the power of this program. As Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche once said, "The essence of warriorship, or the essence of human bravery, is refusing to give up on anyone or anything." This includes the bravery to look deeply at ourselves and our communities, to hold space for discomfort, and to commit to transformation.

Living the Teachings, Changing the World
Because of Karuna, I no longer see challenges as obstacles—I see them as invitations to practice. Every difficulty, every emotional wave, every interaction becomes a space to embody the wisdom I have absorbed. What was once something to learn and comprehend has now become something to live and become.

I write this with deep gratitude and an open heart, honoring the immense effort it takes to bring Karuna to life—from the facilitators who lead it to the cohort who live it—the program is an incredible lift, but it is worth every ounce of effort. To those who are considering stepping onto this path, I say this: Karuna will change you in ways you cannot yet imagine. It will strip away illusion, fortify your heart, and guide you toward a way of being that is as expansive as it is grounded. If you are ready to move beyond reading and into living, I invite you to take the leap. The teachings—and your transformed life—await.