Ian Daishi Koebner has practiced Zen for over 20 years and is a Hōshi (dharma holder) at the Village Zendo, White Plum Asanga, in New York City where he grew up. At Melt he will offera zazenkai, a half-day retreat, with ample periods of meditation, a Dharma talk, and time for reflection.

The purpose of zazenkai is to devote an extended period of time to meditation. Give yourself to the opportunity to slow down, to step away from your habitual ways of being, and appreciate your life as it presents itself moment to moment.

Ian lives in The Hague with his family. He is the past Director of Integrative Pain Management at the University of California, Davis and currently consults internationally on projects examining the public health potential of the arts.