Tom Collings was born in Forest Hills, New York. In his twenties he moved to Japan for three years to practice Zen Buddhism at Chogen-Ji Temple in Shizuoka and aikido. In four subsequent trips to Asia he studied Taoist meditation, Tai Chi and Qigong. Back in America he worked for seven years as a psychiatric social worker, followed by twenty six years as a street parole and probation officer and police instructor for the NY State Dept. of Corrections. As a self described “street monk,” he has relished the challenge of testing Dharma practice during encounters with convicted felons, drug addicts and juvenile delinquents. Tom has taught de-escalation and violence prevention skills to diverse groups including police, hospital staff and residential care workers. His current interest is integrating mindfulness practice into police work. As director of the Long Island Asian Studies Center in New York, he leads training in mindfulness and Zen meditation, Tai Chi and Aikido. His hobbies include animal rescue, wilderness hiking, and long distance swimming.