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American Food Rebel Network Food. Mindfulness. Dharma. Recovery.

American Food Rebel Network exists to encourage individuals to subvert the increasingly industrialized food system and to reject popular nutritional dogma and instead cultivate a system of self inquiry and learn to rely on their own direct experience to determine what is right for them. There is an incredible amount of unnecessary suffering related to what and how we feed ourselves in the United States where obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, anxiety, depression and endless pharmaceuticals are accepted norms. This is all facilitated by a health care system that has largely failed us. Something is obviously wrong! Combining simple whole foods nutrition theory, mindfulness practice and the principles of Buddhist Dharma, I help people establish a simple model for health supportive eating and a truly "whole-istic" program approach to wellness based on the unique needs of the individual client. When we are willing come home to our bodies, minds and emotions and meet those experiences with a compassionate investigative awareness, then there is the real potential to transform our lives and liberate ourselves from old patterns of suffering. My intention is to help relieve as much confusion and suffering as possible and bring about more balance and happiness. I have extraordinary relationships with the people I work with. I love what I do. Wellness is an anti-establishmentarian act! - Pablo Das (Founder and director)

Individual diet, lifestyle and recovery counseling programs*

(All programs available in person and over the phone)

"Personal Revolution" food and mindfulness program:

Establishing a model for a health supportive way of relating to food is relatively easy. What's more challenging is getting to the bottom of why our behavior often goes contrary to our intentions. For this, another diet is probably not the answer. What is needed is to come home to ourselves and investigate the conditions in our own direct experience that inform our behavior. This is where the potential for true transformation exists. The issue may be about food or it may not. In this program we utillize simple whole foods nutrition principles and Buddhist mindfulness practices to investigate your experience while expanding the lens beyond food to include all aspects of your life including physical activity, spiritual practice, personal relationships and livelihood for a truly "whole-istic" approach to wellness. If you're interested in transforming your relationship with food in a lasting way...this is the program! Initial consultation is free.

Nutrition and Dharma based recovery support counseling:

What if our perspective on dependency didn't have to begin with the limiting belief that we are diseased? Is it possible that there are good reasons why one experiences dependency? From a Buddhist perspective, "suffering" is rooted in a desire for constant pleasure and an aversion to difficulty or pain. The most basic teachings asks us to understand deeply that life contains some difficulty and that this is part of the package. It is a normalizing statement of the human condition. The "suffering" that we add on top of the normal difficulties of being alive arises out of a desire to experience only pleasure. It could be said that some dependency is rooted in a similar delusive desire for life to be only pleasure and no pain. Dependent behaviors serve us well when our goal is to escape difficult conditions in the short term. They numb us out . But food and substances are a symptom. Why are we dependent in the first place? For this we need to come home to our own experience with an attitude of compassionate mindful investigation to turn toward the conditions that inform dependency and transform our relationship to them. Nutrition is one frequently overlooked aspect of recovery. An imbalanced intake of nutrients can, itself, create the conditions for dependency. Years of dependent behavior leave people with deficiencies that may themselves create conditions which impede sobriety. Utilizing a simple whole foods nutrition model as well as mindfulness practices and the principles of Buddhist Dharma we will work together to heal and fortify the body while investigating the mental and emotional conditions that inform dependency. Initial consultation is free.

Bio: All programs facilitated by Pablo Das. Pablo is a mindfulness based diet, lifestyle and recovery counselor and teacher. He works with individuals and groups around the country centralizing Buddhist mindfulness practice and principles in his work. He is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where he is also a presenter. He was trained in food therapy by Annemarie Colbin at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Culinary arts and Theory. Pablo was trained to teach Buddhist meditation by Noah Levine (author Dharma Punx) at the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society in Los Angeles where he is also teaches. He is a nationally distributed indie-folk punk musician playing in New York's Antifolk scene for over ten years. Pablo is also a volunteer at a crisis intervention and suicide prevention center for Gay Youth. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

* These committed, comprehensive, one on one counseling programs require a six month signed agreement.

Pablo Das teaching dates for 2009 ( For Pablo Das musical performances/shows please visit www.myspace.com/pablodasnyc )

Massachusetts

FEB 20th-22nd Rowe Center, Mass. The Path of Awakening: The Heart of the Revolution w/ Noah Levine

I will be co-facilitating this retreat with Noah Levine ( author, Dharma Punx) and offering teachings on the the role that the principles of Dharma and mindfulness can play in transforming our relationship to food, substances and all that we consume. I will offer food and mindfulness practices and answer questions. I will probably also be forced to lay out some Dharma-tainment with the six string anti-style.

www.rowecenter.org

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Philadelphia

April 12th (Sunday)

Philly Insight ( AKA: Philadelphia Dharma Punx)

Center City

Sunday

800pm-930pm

Dhyana Yoga 1611 Walnut St 4th floor in center city Philadelphia (above American

Apparel) As always, the teachings are free, donations accepted to cover expenses

(never let money keep you away, show up anyway)

I will be the guest Teacher at the Philly insight sunday night group.
click for more info  

www.myspace.com/phillydharmapunx  

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Massachusetts

April 24th-26th

Kripalu Yoga Center. Lenox, Mass.

The Buddhist Path to Freedom: Breaking the Addiction to the Mind

Returning to Kripalu. I will also be co-facilitating this retreat ( which is slightly more centered on exploring the relationship between dharma and the 12 steps) with Noah Levine ( author, Dharma Punx) and offering teachings on the the role that the principles of Dharma and mindfulness can play in transforming our relationship to food, substances and all that we consume. I will offer food and mindfulness practices and answer questions. I will probably also be forced to lay out some Dharma-tainment with the six string, anti-style! This is a great place and event. This is not a "recovery retreat" and you do not have to be in recovery to attend or to benefit.

www.kripalu.org.

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Northern California

July 8th- 15th

Spirit Rock Meditation Center

7 day Mens Retreat

w/ Noah Levine and Robert Hall

This is a 7 day, mostly silent meditation retreat for men with two of my favorite men: Noah Levine and Robert Hall ( www.eldharma.com )

www.spiritrock.org

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Los Angeles

Oct 9th-12th

Buddhist Recovery Network Conference.

More info to follow.