About

What People Say


“Barbara's workshop is down to earth - with simple yet potent language of the experience of awareness.  In Eastern traditions, this is an experience of the non-dual state of consciousness.  Barbara speaks and transmits this consciousness in a user friendly way that can be understood.  As the mind grasps the concepts, and experientially exercises are introduced, one has the possibility of sensing the fundamental ground of one's being. As more boundlessness arises, people experience themselves as open and fluid, able to meet what is presented in everyday reality. This is very exciting to be shown this in a simple and direct way, and the benefits are significant.”  
- Michael Jaro, MA, LMHC 
Psychotherapist, Mindfulness-Body Oriented Counseling

"I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Barbara for more than 30 years…

and in a variety of different capacities.  Her extraordinary talent, incredible adaptability, and consistent dedication have been an inspiration to me and to those around her.  She adapts her presentations for different audiences in order to communicate well.  Her gift of intelligence combined with her unusual creativity make her a natural teacher for peace.  Her talents, clear mind, and experience add value and spirit to any organization, community, or project that she serves."   
- Katherine (Sissy) Corr, SND
Director, St. Julie Haiti Project, Baltimore, Maryland

“Finding myself in a situation where I had multiple commitments and very short spans of time available to meet them, I scheduled a session with Barbara to decompress and focus my attention to become productive again. Barbara's grasp of the situation enabled her to support what I needed. She was able to help me identify a place I was able to settle back into… where I was able to dis-identify with the "overwhelm". Instead of feeding into the already overwhelmed energy that was spiraling out of control, I was able to discover new found space within myself, space that allowed me to focus my awareness and deal with my priorities one at a time. Barbara helped me to see I can choose to operate from this more expansive space anytime I want to.

- AD, Client

"While working at the International Institute for Sustained Dialogue…

I was introduced to Barbara as a potential consultant on a national, college retreat program I was building. The retreat focused on dialogue, diversity/inclusion, empathy, and mindfulness. I engaged Barbara’s services to design curriculum both introducing retreat participants to mindfulness work and supporting the development of their own practices.

Barbara evinced a passion for this field from our earliest conversations - passion not only for contemplative practices generally, but also for practices tailored specifically to our audience of motivated college students. From day one, she sought to understand our underlying goals and strategies to better situate the mindfulness curriculum within the greater context of the retreat.

The work she produced exceeded expectations - incorporating “practical” mindfulness skills for college life and skills for self-exploration and self-awareness as young adults. She developed original, tailored curriculum - a rarity in this field.

Barbara offers a unique perspective in what is often a sea of sameness. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to leverage Barbara’s talents for the benefit of our students’ practices of self-inquiry, mindful interactions, and the start of a journey of profound growth."
- Christopher Scoville, Former Director PULSE Institute & Retreat at the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, Washington, DC.

“After two years of living in West Africa during the Ebola crisis I returned home changed.

Afraid I may be consumed by the pain and anger in my heart, intimidated by the prospect of re-creating a life, and feeling like a stranger in the family I returned to, Barbara’s clear presence and generous listening guided me “home” both within myself, my relationships, and my purpose.
She is whip smart, detailed and organized, and passionate about people having great outcomes for their lives. One part structure and inspiration, another part rebuilding connection - her coaching has been instrumental in helping me re-create mine.”

- JW, Client 

“Barbara radiates a deep value for spiritual deepening and transformation in herself and others. I have worked with Barbara on many occasions. Barbara maintains a view of the big picture while also being able to track the particular needs of any situation as they arise.  I recommend her highly and without reservation." 
- Randi Ameya Specterman, Ph. D.
former Open Gate Sangha Registrar & Mukti Events Manager, Open Gate Sangha, San Jose, California

Barbara Veale Smith

Barbara has a rich background in education, contemplative practice, and community service.

  • Two time graduate of Boston College, earning a BA in History and Economics in 1985 and an

    M. Ed. (Masters of Education) in Religious Education in 1994.

  • Fully Certified Realization Process Teacher, 2023

  • Fully Certified iRest Teacher (iRest updates the ancient teachings of Yoga Nidra  to a form made accessible for modern-day living), 2020

  • Psychosynthesis (a form of spiritual nondual psychology) & Open Focus™ Coach

  • Teaching career began in 1993, sharing a love of the world's religious traditions and contemplative practices with high school students.  

  • Introduced to silent meditation retreats and the nondual path starting 2006, guided primarily by Adyashanti and Mukti Gray. In addition to Adya and Mukti, primary nondual teachers have been: Judith Blackstone, Sharon Landrith, Richard Miller, Dorothy Hunt & Marlies Cocheret.

  • Co-created the contemplative practice curriculum and assisted in training the leadership team for the inaugural PULSE Institute, a project of Sustained Dialogue in spring 2014.

  • Decades of volunteer service for Notre Dame Mission Volunteers and the St. Julie Haiti Project.

  • Married in 1988 to Mark Smith and together they have two adult children, Conor and Tara.

  • Barbara loves the space and place where she lives on Big Alum Lake in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

  • Peace is Really Possible: Plenary Address at Psychosynthesis Conference

    VIDEO -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCQ16Me5H-s&t=3s

    Peace Is Really Possible:

    Moving Beyond Either/Or to the Both/And of Human Being

    Plenary Address - International Conference: "Psychosynthesis for the Future"

    Taormina, Italy

    June 2016

    Please note: Barbara gave this talk in Italy, prior to her introduction to The Realization Process and her work with Judith Blackstone.

  • Hosted Morning: Center for Nondual Awareness

    VIDEO -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH5VV2UG300&t=651s

    Barbara begins with an overview of relevant developments in neuroscience as they relate to making change, in order to frame one’s experience. In this talk, Barbara suggests how a problem based, separate, self-referential self came to be the default network in human development.

    The second portion of the morning is devoted to sharing practices that support shifts in consciousness, with an emphasis on expanding awareness at times of low risk, or moderate states of psychological, emotional and/or physical arousal and discomfort. Learning to practice when the stakes are lower, increases capacity to meet life’s challenges when the stakes are higher, thereby reducing reactivity and misalignment with realization.

    Please note: Barbara recorded this session prior to her introduction to The Realization Process and her work with Judith Blackstone.

  • The UNITY of Personal and TransPersonal

    AUDIO WITH SLIDES -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOiiB9pvSo0&t=2s

    Exploring Self: The Unity of Personal and TransPersonal

    trans·per·son·al, adjective

    /transˈpərsənl,tranz-/

    of, denoting, or dealing with states or areas of consciousness beyond the limits of personal identity.

    "transpersonal states of consciousness"

    In speaking of the essence of psychosynthetic training, Psychosynthesis founder Roberto Assagioli included the experience of both personal self and transpersonal Self in his 7 core concepts.

    Yet he also wrote, “There are not really two selves, two independent and separate entitites. The Self is one…” (Assagioli, Psychosynthesis, p. 17.) Assagioli was not alone, as many of the great spiritual traditions also assert a fundamental unity that Sources all of existence.

    Please note: Barbara recorded this session prior to her introduction to The Realization Process and her work with Judith Blackstone.