Dr. Nikki Mirghafori is an Artificial Intelligence scientist and an internationally recognized Buddhist teacher. She serves as a Stewarding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, where she is also on the Board of Directors, and a Dharma Teacher at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. She teaches with clarity and warmth on topics ranging from mindful leadership to cultivating kindness, with a rare expertise on mindfulness of death. Dr. Mirghafori is widely published in AI, has led international research collaborations as a Berkeley academic, and advised technology startups. She is of Persian heritage, an advocate for wisdom and compassion in daily life, as well as ethical AI in our zeitgeist.
Events with Nikki Mirghafori
Befriending Mortality: Living An Awakened Life Through Mindfulness of Death (Maranasati)November 2 - 6, 2025
Open to beginner and experienced practitioners. Previous silent meditation retreat experience strongly recommended. This retreat invites you to stop running from mortality and instead harness its wisdom to align more fully with your deepest values. In Western culture, death is often an avoided topic, despite being an inevitable part of life. Through the ancient Buddhist practice of mindfulness of death (maranasati), we can become more present for the fleeting, miraculous nature of our lives, cultivating compassion, wisdom, and gratitude. Reflecting on our impermanence frees us from clinging and fosters deep peace. By embracing our finitude, we can embody kindness for…