David Nichtern is a senior Buddhist teacher, Emmy Award–winning composer, and sought-after mentor who bridges the worlds of mindfulness, creativity, and entrepreneurship with uncommon clarity and heart. A lifelong practitioner in the Shambhala lineage, David has spent more than 40 years guiding others into meditation practice, authentic insight, and practical spiritual integration.
He is the author of two celebrated books—Awakening From the Daydream: Reimagining The Buddha’s Wheel of Life and Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck—and the founder of Dharma Moon, a global mindfulness platform offering teacher trainings and personal mentoring. As a Grammy-nominated music producer and guitarist, David has also collaborated with Krishna Das and brought kirtan and conscious music to stages worldwide.
His teachings and insights have been featured in The New York Times, HuffPost, The Midnight Gospel, and popular podcasts including Duncan Trussell Family Hour, Buddhist Geeks, and You Made It Weird. Whether he’s leading a meditation, producing music, or offering business guidance, David invites students to align with their purpose, wake up to the present moment, and walk the spiritual path with grounded wisdom.
