Matthew Flickstein was a practicing psychotherapist for twenty years, having earned his B.S. degree from the University of Maryland and his M.S. degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy from Loyola College. He completed his Ph.D. coursework at the Saybrook Institute.

Matthew has been a meditation teacher since 1978. At one time he was ordained as a monk in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. His primary teacher has been Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, a Buddhist monk for over sixty years. Matthew co-founded the Bhavana Society Monastery and Meditation Center in West Virginia with Bhante Gunaratana in 1982.

Matthew is the founder of The Forest Way, Inc., an organization that offers retreats, workshops, and mentoring programs for those who aspire to teach meditation. He has published two books through Wisdom Publications: Journey to the Center: A Meditation Workbook and Swallowing the River Ganges: A Comprehensive Practice Guide to the Path of Purification.

Matthew travels internationally leading meditation retreats, workshops and spiritual pilgrimages. He currently resides in Ruckersville, Virginia.