The former executive director of Spirit Rock Meditation Center filed a lawsuit against the renowned Marin nonprofit in June. Spirit Rock fired back two months later by filing a counter lawsuit.
Allegations in the two lawsuits don’t seem to align with the spiritual organization’s mission of providing its flock with “teachings to manifest wisdom and compassion in all aspects of their lives, for the benefit of all beings.” Some might even argue that Spirit Rock’s counterclaim represents the antithesis of its stated mission.
Both sides make some damning accusations in their lawsuits filed in federal court. Richard Aubry, hired as the executive director in December 2022 and terminated in March 2024, asserts that Spirit Rock ended his employment without notice, refused to pay wages and severance, made defamatory statements and discriminated against him, among other charges.
But Spirit Rock has a much different narrative in its lawsuit against Aubry, accusing the former director of fraud, theft and more. According to the counterclaim, Aubry’s theft involved submitting non-business items on his expense reports.
Not surprisingly, Spirit Rock denies Aubry’s claims, and he rejects those of his former employer. So, what in the name of Buddha is going on?
Neither party responded to requests for an interview before the print deadline. Still, a quick review of the center’s history and future plans may hold some answers.
Located on 411 acres in Marin’s unincorporated community of Woodacre, Spirit Rock was founded in 1988 by a small group from the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts. Jack Kornfield, who trained as a Buddhist monk, and Sylvia Boorstein were among them. Both became internationally known teachers and have published numerous books on spiritualism.
For years, Spirit Rock consisted of several portable trailers for the meditation center and staff living quarters. A few buildings followed in the late ’90s. Then, in 2015, a new administration building and housing for teachers and staff opened. The following year, Spirit Rock unveiled a beautiful new 11,850 square foot meditation center building.
Practitioners can participate in drop-in meditation groups, retreats, class series, trainings and family programs, most focused on the Buddha’s teachings. Depending upon the source, it is estimated that 4,000 people attend programs at the facility annually, with another 40,000-50,000 joining online.
And the center has plans for a major expansion with more new buildings. A recruitment firm’s recent job listing for the now-filled Spirit Rock executive director position states the anticipated project costs will range from $25-$35 million, and the current annual operating budget for the institute is $9 million.
Aubry’s lawsuit against Spirit Rock doesn’t provide the operating budget or the planned costs of the expansion he describes as “a second retreat campus” on the property. However, he states the organization has financial issues, despite Spirit Rock’s initial presentation to him that it was “fiscally and financially successful.”
“Rather than the positive financial state he was told during his interviews, the budget actually projected a significant loss for the fiscal year that began October 2022,” according to the lawsuit. “Revenues from fund-raising activities were grossly overstated, without any input from the Development Director who had grave concerns about being able to meet such fund-raising numbers.”
The former executive director also claims he discovered during his first month on the job that the budget for the second campus project had tripled or quadrupled, and Spirit Rock had previously given him figures that were “aspirational.” Clearly, Spirit Rock and Aubry didn’t get off to a great start, and it went downhill from there, according to the lawsuits filed by both parties.
Yet Aubry’s education and professional experience seemed a good match for Spirit Rock, a California nonprofit religious corporation. As a trained psychologist, former Stanford University professor, assistant provost at Tulane University and a leader of nonprofits for decades, he checked the boxes to run the meditation center’s operations.
While declaring that he performed his Spirit Rock duties in “exemplary fashion,” Aubry recounts bumps in the road. He details in the lawsuit that when he suggested ways to cut costs for the planned second campus, some members of the Spirit Rock board of directors began “viewing him negatively and labelling him as not believing in the ‘power of the Dharma [the teachings of Buddha].’”
The board declined to follow Aubry’s advice to cancel a retreat that he believed would result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars. “The huge loss was sustained,” the lawsuit says.
In March 2024, the continuing rifts reached a climax. A woman named in the lawsuit as “Employee A” led the short-staffed finance department. Consequently, it took months for her to prepare the monthly reports for October and November 2023 showing the comparison between the budget and the actual revenue and expenses, according to the lawsuit.
There was a large difference, indicating that Spirit Rock was over its budget, caused by Employee A making a mistake in her revenue projection formula, the lawsuit asserts. Aubry said he immediately informed the board of directors.
For the next two weeks, the executive director worked with staff and a board member to find solutions. On March 27, he made a presentation to the board, which included suggestions for reducing staff to address the budget issues.
The board promptly terminated him after the meeting. Based on Aubry’s contract with Spirit Rock, his salary was $250,000 annually, and it called for three months severance pay, unless the center terminated for a short list of serious offenses.
Aubry’s lawsuit states that Spirit Rock informed him that he was being terminated with cause for “violating his fiduciary duties.” The employment contract provided that he should have been given 30 days to “cure” that issue, which he was not. Still, Spirit Rock refused to pay him severance, he claims.
Later that evening, an email was sent to all Spirit Rock employees stating that “a significant error was made in the preparation of the current year budget” and Rick Aubry was no longer employed by the center. The email indicated that Employee A was not terminated. Rather, she was put on a transition plan to leave Spirit Rock.
Because Employee A is a 50+ Black woman and Aubry is a 71-year-old, white Jewish man, his lawsuit claims that he was discriminated against.
Spirit Rock filed a counter suit against Aubry two months later. The former executive director, according to the filing, submitted and was reimbursed for non-business expenses, including a trip to Davos, Switzerland, to the tune of almost $5,000. Additionally, Spirit Rock alleged that it reimbursed him for Uber rides and subscriptions to The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle and the Marin Independent Journal, also not work expenses.
In Aubry’s response to the counterclaim, he disputes these accusations, although admits that he unintentionally submitted for reimbursement a few Uber rides for personal use. And he denies Spirit Rock’s assertion that the Switzerland trip wasn’t approved by the board.
“This is so disillusioning to me,” a longtime Spirit Rock participant who spoke under the condition of anonymity told the Pacific Sun. “Jack Kornfield speaks about forgiveness. I’m concerned that they’re comfortable being so petty and vindictive.”
The participant, a retired school teacher, has been going to Spirit Rock for many years. She said that she has found great comfort there, especially with the teachings of Kornfield and Mark Coleman after her mother died. Her intent is to continue participating in Spirit Rock’s programs, adding that “the talks confirm my own sense of what is true, and not any adherence to any one philosophy, religion or teacher.”
A little forgiveness might go a long way when Aubry and Spirit Rock try to resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom. Last week, both parties agreed to mediation. Let’s meditate on that.
As a former Spirit Rock employee, I empathize with Mr. Aubry. I quit a job I loved because I felt discriminated against and knew that advancement opportunities were closed to me because of my identity characteristics. I think he is very brave to pursue this lawsuit. I hope that the organization can take a much needed look in the mirror and stop perpetuating harm against staff whose race, religion, and sexual orientation do not match up with those the org wants to promote.
As the former director of InsightLA on whose board Jack Kornfield also sits, I found the opposite to be true. I didn’t see any indication of discrimination against whites at all. Conversely every single teacher of color had complaints about the lack of awareness and sensitivity from their white colleagues including constant microaggressions and challenges to their competency.
Just because Employee A was put on a transition plan doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with identity politics. She wasn’t accused of financial impropriety, for example.
Spirit Rock has helped so many people throughout the world, including me. I am so grateful that it exists. It is disturbing that lawsuits have been filed. May a quick and amicable resolution be reached.
There are a lot of skeletons in the spirit rock closet. Hopefully this lawsuit will bring them to light. Like so many religious organizations, it needs a reality check from outside to get back on track. I hope this outside intervention can lead to some soul searching so that the org can stop causing so much harm.
It is unfortunate, at Spirit Rock egos abound.
It is good that the parties are engaging in mediation (in addition to meditation). With thirty two years mediating with disputing parents, I can attest to the benefits that can be achieved when disputing parties are open and have the welfare of their progeny foremost in mind.
I am writing to express my empathy for Mr. Aubrey’s experience. Unfortunately, I can relate to his sentiments. During my tenure at Spirit Rock, I consistently delivered high-quality work, maintained professional integrity, and adhered to the organization’s standards. My performance reviews and accolades from colleagues attest to my dedication.
However, I faced challenges that made me feel undervalued and excluded. A colleague bullied me and falsely accused me of misconduct. Despite reporting these incidents to management, HR, and the Director of Operations, I received no response, resolution, or acknowledgment.
The situation worsened after the COVID-19 layoffs. When I applied for a position I was well-qualified for, the Director of Operations responded in a manner that I found disheartening and discriminatory.
While my colleagues from diverse backgrounds supported me, management’s lack of action and accountability was evident. I hope that in the future, Spirit Rock will prioritize inclusivity, equity, and a culture of respect for all employees.
What would Buddha do?
I used to go sit with Spirit Rock, starting when they were at the small Community Church in West Fairfax. As they grew, it felt more and more like a continual fundraising shakedown of greedy grasping expansion to build this n build that, as more people drove and flew and consumed in circles, to come sit on a cushion and be still?
I’m sure the Buddha never made anywhere near $250,000 per yer, plus magazines and ubers?
Boo Hoo!
Personally, I’d rather stay home and sit n be where I is.
Ps, Merry Christmas, AND we really don’t need more stuff
Wow, just look at the Beauty of Nature
no need to do or undo, no need to buy and toss
Can we just Be?